That Man Bag thing again

OurManInTangier

OurManInTangier

An Undesirable
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I've got a big old Billingham bag that I inherited from someone at work and another massive Domke thing which I also picked up along the way. Between the two of them I house and move most of my kit for work, the trouble with them is that you end up taking virtually everything with you including your rapidly increasing spinal problems.

To avoid the problem I tend to stuff my jacket pockets with lenses, cleaning cloths, film, Flash cards, flash units and various sundries - I know, I buy jackets with ALOT of pockets. The trouble is that come the summer, even in the UK these days, its far too hot for a jacket so I've been looking at.....Man Bags!

Particularly for my non work photography where I want to carry a lightmeter, a couple of Leica fit lenses, phone, plenty of film and the usual other bits and bobs...as such I've been struggling to find a decent, non too colourful or expensive looking 'man bag' that actually has a flap and a zipper to offer relative security. I've ended up buying a very cheap Army surplus bag as a stop gap but could really do with any suggestions of anything anyone else has thats proved useful.

BTW - If it makes me look like Jack Bauer then thats OK, I can live with that, but I'd rather not look like a lycra clad 'extreme' bike courier as people will be more likely to punch me! :D
 
Hi Simon, I know you already have both a Domke and Billingham bag but for something day to day I would go with a Billingham Hadley (at the moment mine has a bronny with 2 backs, 3 lenses, plenty of film, lightmeter, leica minilux or CL and moblie phone) or the Domke 5xb (which has Bessa with lens, minilux or CL, lightmeter, film and phone). The Domke has flap and zip whereas the Billingham only has a flap but feels more secure than the Domke somehow.
 
I use a multi-pocketed canvas bag that I picked for about a tenner in a street market. Does the job fine, I can carry two bodies, a couple of lenses, film, phone, etc, and it has enough separate pockets to keep most of it sorted. Never seen the need for a dedicated camera bag. It's not waterproof but I always carry a few large plastic food bags in it, enough to bag everything in the case of heavy rain.

Ian
 
I'll second Ian, My favorite daily/field bag is a cheap canvas thing I got at a surplus store. I added a Domke insert and my wife sewed a piece of scrap material over the cheesey generic paratroop logo that was imprinted on the front flap. Cost all of $20 for the Domke insert and $10 for the bag. I paid too much for the Domke insert. :)
 
Domke makes several different sized bags.

I've been using various ones about 25 years now. I like the canvas no-frills feeling of them, especially after they've been used for awhile.
 
I may well just fiddle around with the surplus one I've got. I want to avoid going down the dedicated camera bag route as I'd rather just use something less obvious...even if its only me that notices anyway!

Ian & Kmack - are you guys happy enough without a zip to your bags or have you got that added bit of security from casually dipping hands? I'm actually more happy with a cheap old canvas thing as it looks less likely to hold expensive gear but in all honesty, apart from the 'dipping hands' fear on the tube or some such I'm happy enough to think my grumpy old sourpuss face is enought to deter most.
 
The Domke satchels are pretty low profile- no zipper, but a sturdy clasp. They don't look like camera bags to my eye, more like a briefcase. Just got a catalog from Duluth Pack- they make several bags that are small and not dedicated camera bags.

You might also look at the Globetrot Danish school bag. I use this for work- laptop, files and it has filled in as a camera bag. Fits the Domke inserts. Again, no zipper top, but very low profile- and it is 18% grey!
 
OurManInTangier said:
Ian & Kmack - are you guys happy enough without a zip to your bags
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Mine has a zip :)

Army surplus stores are probably a good place to find something similar. But I should have bought more than one when I originally got mine, as I'll probably never find another one again when this one finally falls apart. It's just right, so that'll be annoying.

Ian
 
OurManInTangier said:
I may well just fiddle around with the surplus one I've got. I want to avoid going down the dedicated camera bag route as I'd rather just use something less obvious...even if its only me that notices anyway!

Ian & Kmack - are you guys happy enough without a zip to your bags or have you got that added bit of security from casually dipping hands? I'm actually more happy with a cheap old canvas thing as it looks less likely to hold expensive gear but in all honesty, apart from the 'dipping hands' fear on the tube or some such I'm happy enough to think my grumpy old sourpuss face is enought to deter most.
Click to expand...

My bag is a messenger type bag with a huge flap that has a hook and d-ring closure. I usually wear the bag backwards, with the flap next to me and hooked when I am in a crowd. Flap out and un-hooked in places I feel safe.

In size and shape it is very similar to the Domke F802.
 
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OurManInTangier said:
Particularly for my non work photography where I want to carry a lightmeter, a couple of Leica fit lenses, phone, plenty of film and the usual other bits and bobs...as such I've been struggling to find a decent, non too colourful or expensive looking 'man bag' that actually has a flap and a zipper to offer relative security.
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Take a look at the Domke F-6. Complete description of this bag from several people in Joe's current bag thread. The Domke satchels are a wee bit too deep for short RF lenses but the F-6 is shallow and very suited to RF gear. Has a top + clasp and a zippered front pocket. Get one in olive green, wash it then spray it with a rain shower protectant product (like NIKwax) and you are all set. :)
 
My favorite camera bag is a British Army surplus small pack (on a shoulder brace, not set up as a backpack) from the 1937-pattern web set. Ought to be easy to find in the UK. I stuff a folded up towel down the back and bottom for padding, and it still does a very nice job holding my Bessa, 2 or 3 lenses, meter, and film (also cell phone, pencil, and notepad). It doesn't have a zipper, but the two friction-buckle straps close it tightly. It's a nice khaki color, and doesn't attract any attention to itself.
 
Not to challenge anyone's suggestions or preferences, but I still think that the Domke F-5xb is the best in which to carry a light rangefinder kit. Yeah, it looks just a bit like a man-purse (just ask my wife...) but it's small, secure, discreet, still holds plenty, fits a rangefinder well, is easy to insert/remove a rangefinder camera, etc. I realize I have been making this suggestion in multiple threads over the last year but I still feel that way about it.

Did pick up a Crumpler 2 Million Dollar Home bag recently to try out. But my concern with it is that it really only has 2 slots and I like the 3 slots of the Domke F-5XB to be able to hold the camera with one lens in the middle slot and another lens in each outer slot and/or some film or other goodies as needed.

-Randy
 
Thanks Ian, I've actually got myself an old army surplus bag that I'm currently using but that looks pretty much perfect. I'm going to try and track it down at the best price I can.

Thanks for the info!!
 
Look at the Domke F-803 satchel. It's kinda flat, like a messenger bag so it can fit 2 RF bodies, 2-3 lenses, meter and a flash comfortably. Domke has a couple of different inserts to fit. I'm now commonly moving the inserts around so i can carry my Nikon D-70, and a long lens easily in it too. These bags wear like iron, get softer and a little bigger with use and age. My black one does not look like a camera case,( STEAL ME, STEAL ME) but seems more masculine than a "Man Bag". I've outfitted mine with a strap and hook on the left end of the bag,(facing the front of the bag), to restrain it to my back side, (main strap over the right shoulder), so it doesnt get flinging around when I'm on the move. I also got a mailman pad on the main strap so it stays up on my shoulder, and does not cut into me when carrying the bag all day. I've covered motocross races all day in comfort, and had all the gear I need.

Robin
 
A little OT, but I am waiting for one of these (the black one) in the mail. I used a vest on some days during my trip to Morocco last month, and it was very liberating not having a bag. I am curious about this one. More casual, and the pockets are on the inside, making your stuff safer from pickpockets.
 
memphis said:
WWHD (What Would Hemmingway Do?)
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Order another drink and make wise cracks about Ray's vest after he left the bar. :D

I just am not feeling that one. :eek:
 
I was looking for something smaller than my usual messenger style bag and ordered one of these while I was picking up some other stuff at Freestyle:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=5333

Seems about perfect for a single M-body with a small attached lens, some film and maybe another lens or two.

And if anyone knows what a Holga is they aren't going to want to steal it or they'll just be confused as the bag costs half as much as the camera.
 
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