The Ideal Camera Bag?

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Recently I had to take several bodies and half a dozen lenses with me on a shoot. I used my old faithful Lowepro bag but my ageing shoulders did not like the weight so after all was done I bought a Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 backpack and all is good. I now have a cupboard full of bags, 13 of them, mostly Lowepro that once were all ideal.

I usually carry one camera and one lens with copius amounts of film stuffed into my pockets. Sometimes I would use a photo vest.

What is your ideal ( at the moment ) camera bag and why?

Peter
 
My ideal camera bag would be the little pocket pouch that doremon has on his stomach but since that isn't gonna happen anytime soon I actually just use a compact 4 pocket Jansport backpack. Nothing is more inconspicuous then that, not to mention that I can stuff other things into it too. As for my camera, I keep it in an ammunition utility pouch then just throw it in the backpack. I like using those because they are very well padded and pretty heavy duty, not to mention extremely cheap, I picked up 4-5 of them for less then 8 dollars all together last year at a sporting goods store (Sunbirds).

ps. a while ago I wanted one of those camera backpack things for long trips, but yeah, its like 2 and a half weeks pay for me...no thanks...the Jansport suits me well
 
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ARCHIVIST said:
What is your ideal ( at the moment ) camera bag and why?
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I have a LowePro ordinary bag and a small backpack which it fits inside.

The backpack is a cheap schoolbag or similar.
I can usually fit 2 'kits' into the LowePro bag,
and if I want - extra stuff in the backpack.
I don't always take the backpack.
My second 'kit' is usually a fixed lens camera, Lumix Fz20 / Canonet QL-17, GIII.
My First 'kit' is either the Bronica SQ, or Canon EOS-30 plus lenses.
Tripod I carry manually.

James
 
lately, i have been using a zing case for the zi and it goes into my backpack/daybag along with a lot of other stuff. i have some thin closed foam on the floor of the pack also.

for a one camera/one lens /film day, i use a domke 5xb bag. it's perfect for that and if i want i can also include a second body/lens/less film.

for taking it all, 2 bodies/4 lenses and film etc. i use an mclassic bag. i put the same thin closed cell foam in the bottom of the mclassic bags as well.

as of today, i have 2 black mclassic bags, 1 black, 2 sand 5xb bags...a couple of no name bags/an old book bag with padded inserts/2 aluminum cases but no diaper bags ;)

joe
 
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Anything Domke. I have the F-803, F-6 and F-2 and the best general purpose bag to work out of is the F-6. I'm thinking about getting an F1-X.
 
After some time looking for a camera bag/case (and even having an original ZI Omnica leather case), I found that the better choice was a simple polypropylene tool box filled with styrene foam inside, which is what I use when travelling. This is rigid enough to keep my Contax/Kiev set firmly seated and protected against almost everything (I made the case watertight). It carries all the accesories related to the cameras, including film.

For the everyday camera (Yashica Electro 35) I´m using a military style shoulder bag with spare room for a small beltpack for a minitripod and some film.

In case I carry a tripod, this one goes in a 4" PVC tubing piece with shoulder straps.

Ernesto
 
I use a Timbuk2 messenger bag and a Domke insert for my RF645. My Crown Graphic, however, is heavier so I use a Kelty backpack and inserts from photobackpacker.com.
 
I can't tell yah how many camera bags I've purchased, tried, and sold over the years. You just can't tell if it will fit your needs without a "trial" period. I've settled on three bags these days:
1) regular messenger bag from the Gap with a 3 section Domke divider set.
* Stealthy... doesn't look like a camera bag looks like 1 in a million messenger bags roaming around New York City. Quick and easy to open
2) LowePro slingbag
* Comfortable... great for long treks when I don't take too much stuff along.
3) LowePro 400 shoulder bag.
* Capacity.. large carries pretty much as much stuff as I can physically carry for any length of time.

- Also have a Pelican 1510 for storage and protection when in transit... but I don't consider it a camera bag per se.
 
I have a very compact over should er Tamrac model 5534. It holds MP, M8 and 6 lenses plus aother junk.
 
I don't know if it's ideal, but my everyday bag for the time being is my Domke F-5xb. It is small, compact, and can carry a couple of bodies, 2-3 lens, and film with ease. It isn't perfect, but it fits my needs.

I've also had a couple of Lowepro bags, which I still have and like. However, I use those more for my SLR stuff, while the Domke fits my rangefinders better.
 
my ideal camera bag would either be one with anti-gravity properties so it wouldnt hurt my back or neck no matter how heavy my cameras were, or the bag mary poppins had..
 
tomtodeath said:
my ideal camera bag would either be one with anti-gravity properties so it wouldnt hurt my back or neck no matter how heavy my cameras were, or the bag mary poppins had..
Click to expand...


The yellow and black checks might be a bit garish,
but Felix The Cat's magic bag might prove handy...

Chris
 
I have to admit I love my tan Billingham 335 with delta pockets. It's great for visiting; couple of Ms, video cam, lenses, flash etc no prob. The belt loops hold my tripod, but it swings when walking. A very classy bag that ages beautifully.
I have a small black Lowepro to walk around with, but synthetics just don't measure up.....thinking of a nice small black canvas type from Leica or Billingham.
 
I have a Canon shoulder bag that came with my SLR, but i dont use it. I dont like shoulder bags, because i dont like something hanging off me (except the camera). So, when I realy need a bag, then I use my regular backbag. Sometimes I hang the camera around my neck and keep it under my jacket while not shooting. For me, a perfect camera bag would be the one, that turns invisible and weightless when im shooting.
 
f5xb is great

f5xb is great

I have 2 dividers, one for film/lens blower/acc., middle section for RD1 w/ rokkor 40/2 mounted with heavystar shade, 3rd section either addl. lens, or miniDV camcorder.

for the DSLR, I have a padded 6 pack cooler that works will with room for a 2nd lens. If I put inserts in, I could possibly get 2 or 3 lens in there.

Both bags have extra batteries, SD cards, gps, and cell phones.

popstar said:
I don't know if it's ideal, but my everyday bag for the time being is my Domke F-5xb. It is small, compact, and can carry a couple of bodies, 2-3 lens, and film with ease. It isn't perfect, but it fits my needs.

I've also had a couple of Lowepro bags, which I still have and like. However, I use those more for my SLR stuff, while the Domke fits my rangefinders better.
Click to expand...
 
Over the years I've been through more bags than you can shake a stick at and finally came to the realization that it's not the bag was the problem but the strap. The first time I switched to the Optech "SOS" (and SOS-Mini for small bags) suddenly a lot of bags I previously hated turned out to be just fine. The SOS strap has a wide, thick, grippy pad that stretches as the bag bounces when you walk, so it absorbs the strain instead of transfering it to your shoulder. There are few inventions in photo gadgets that I think much of but this one is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread. The only bags that can't benefit are ones that the strap is sewn on, like Billingham.

That said, my ideal camera bag is one that will hold every body and lens I own... and be so feminine and fashionable that my wife will insist on carrying it :D
 
my ideal bag is whatever I have with me at the time!

It was my Technics record bag (no, I can't afford technics decks, I have 5 year old numark tt1650's ;)), but then I bought a shoulder bag, student style courier bag from H&M and that has suited me really well. I have my cameras and lenses in small protective pouches and chuck em in that bag.

works fine for me!
 
depends on what I'm planning at the moment I use my domke (the small one fx5b I think) but I use my hadley sometimes and if I'm taking my MF or SLRs with flashes I'll use one of my lowe pro rucksacks..still haven't found the perfect bag yet...
 
My two favourite bags are my little Billingham and my big Billingham. Not sure what models they are as I got em both secondhand. 225 and 445 maybe.

I sometimes just use an ordinary two compartment rucksack with stuff just thrown in, but if there is a chance of rain, it's one of the two Billinghams.

The best feature of the Billingham bag is that it's water proof, and that's very important to me.
 
To no surprise, a question of this type is going to generate a bunch of answers that say nothing except the personal preferences of the posters.
What is the best make of car? What is the best brand of camera?
 
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