The Perfect Bag; The Impossible Dream

[robklurfield]

New and old.

Leica (what became the M-Classic) bag ... $19.00, including coffee stains, eBay.

Billingham Hadley Pro ... 12 years old now; looking a little deflated as its insert is being borrowed by another bag here.

Crumpler ... what is this? a Three Million or a Two Million ... about $25 on eBay used. This bag travels with me nearly every time I alight on my bicycle.

A leather bag labeled Land Rover that my wife picked up at a consignment shop for $10. A little too dainty for me. This one fills space in the closet.

My newest bag: a Brady Ariel Large. Not the usual though. These are made to carry trout. No kidding. Brady sells a rubberized liner. This bag doesn't have the liner and it won't be carrying trout anytime soon. This one is in wool. It was a Xmas gift from my Mrs. It is currently borrowing my Hadley insert while I debate what to use as a permanent insert. Unlike Tom A, I can't imagine using a towel as an insert without also imagining myself sweeping up broken glass from a dropped lens. I like that this bag is not one I'm likely to pass anyone else carrying and it sure doesn't look like a camera bag. The Hadley Pro insert is a tad too small. I'm thinking that a Hadley large will fit just right. I intend to use this bag until it becomes threadbare.

There's a Tenba bag somewhere in the basement feeling a little left out. Too damned bad.

 

[stitchohana]

have been using Think Tank retrospective 10 for the past 3 yrs (used to hold my D700 and lenses). Fit my iPad or MacBook Air, lens pen, blower, memory cards, rain cover for bag, wallet, car keys etc ...

 

[so54i88]

Some time ago, when I mainly was walking around with DSLR gear, I used LowePro or Samsonite backpacks or huge bags by Kata or Crumpler.
Now, that I mostly use my NEXes, I need something else.

For example this one:

German Army combat bag, large

😱 This is EXACTLY the same bag I have, for which I made the inserts (orange colour though) myself.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

I like the BBB and Leica Billingham Combo Bag. Perfect for my M-E and a couple lenses.

 

[outfitter]

Funny I have two Domke F-2s an F-8 (my daughter grabed that), a Billingham precursor to that Hadley, a Billlingham Polar (or something like that - very small), but I still seem to return to the Brady trout bag. Mine was a hand me down from a friend and must be 50 years old. The waterproof liner died years ago and the outer strap were fragile. The company that now owns Brady sent me gratis replacement strap a few months ago and the bag looks good to go for at least another 50 years. Currently a Linhof 220 is dwelling inside - that is a hard camera to bag in a compact package.

BTW the tiny Billingham is perfect for a RF body, meter and often an extra lens - real minimalist (but not quick draw).

 

[tuanvinh2000]

I fit in two M bodies with lenses and a Rolleiflex T comfortably (Rolleiflex fits nearly exactly into slot).

Do you buy extra insert for yours? I use the original insert and put my beatup Rollei in the no protection slot when out shooting but i'm planning to travel soon and the idea of no protection and sitting on the airplane above head compartment is scaring me off. I'm thinking a Tenba Pro 2 insert, any other suggestions guys?

 

[jkjod]

I'm wondering if any one has any experience with the

Incase point and shoot or Incase http://goincase.com/shop/incase-point-and-shoot-field-bag

or Incase Stussy Field Bag http://goincase.com/shop/incase-stussy-camera-field-bag

Basically same bag with a different design. Seems like it should do well with a camera and maybe one or two extra lenses.

 

[Range-rover]

For me is the Lowe pro Reporter series, S&F Reporter 300, It's just a great all around
bag I even have to smaller sizes. I did try the Crumpler million dollar bag, but it's like
a log.

Range

 

[furbs]

I use my first "real" bag, a Domke F-6. It fits my M4, film, an extra lens, and whatever books I need for school. It also has enough room for my F2 and a few AI-S lenses if I want to bring a film camera for a friend to shoot with. I seem to have discovered a little-known secret about bags - they weigh less when they aren't full! 😛

 

[jkjod]

Chris,

I did the same as you with a custom Timbuk2 classic messenger bag in gray wool (x-small) with the Snoop camera bag insert (x-small). Here are some images with an M9, Summicron-M 35mm ASPH, Summicron-M 50mm and Elmarit-M 90mm stowed in their respective cases. There is still room for an iPad in the back inner pocket. I also ordered the velcro silencers that Timbuk2 offers. You will love this bag.

Rick

This looks pretty nice. Seems to be the right size. I'd love to see some more pictures.
Is there room for an iPad or magazine/map?

 

[ChicagoMatthew]

I dont think I have ever met a photographer that didn't have at least, 4 camera bags. Personally, I don't want to look like I am carrying around a camera and while I don't think a regular person would know what a Billingham bag looked like, another photograher would.. so I try to use bags that are not made to be photo bags and house my photo gear in a Crumpler Haven.

Basically, the Crumpler Haven is the guts of a photo bag that allows you to make any bag your photo bag. They come in S, M, L and XXL. I have both the S and M. In the Small I can carry an M7, two lenses and film or an M7 and an M9 with lenses on it.. but its tight. In the Medium I can comfortably carry the M9 and M7 with lenses and film, batteries and filters.

They work great, highly recommended.

http://www.crumpler.com/US/Camera-Bags/Camera-Bags/Haven-L.html?LanguageCode=EN&SKU=HVN001-X06G60

 

[honozooloo]

Like others here, I've opted for a messenger bag with an insert when carrying an M or Fuji X camera. My reasoning was based precisely on the need for my bag to "not look like a camera bag". This is just personal opinion but in 2013, nobody carries a Billingham-style bag around unless they are carrying camera gear. And for those of us "in the know," a Billingham just screams EXPENSIVE CAMERA.

Also, my favored brand of messenger bag, Chrome, is an extremely robust bag in its own regard:

These bags are super comfortable, mine is 8 years old and still going strong. And they're real messenger bags, meaning they are worn high on the shoulder (not slung across the chest and low on your hip like a man purse) and are far more comfortable if you're spending the day on your feet with any kind of weight in your bag. Best of all I can tote all of my expensive stuff around without worrying about adverse (rainy) weather. The interior of Chrome's bags (including the flap) are lined with super heavy vinyl or plastic-impregnated canvas. Chrome's website calls it "military-grade, 18-oz truck tarpaulin liner." The liner is still waterproof after 8 years of abuse, in fact it's so waterproof I've actually tossed a few beers + ice INSIDE the bag (obviously not at the same time I'm carrying camera gear, duh) without any leakage:

You can find a wide variety of camera inserts on Amazon, just search for "Camera Bag Insert" and marvel at the options available to you. Personally I'm a big fan of the Ona Bags insert, perfect for an X or M camera, one or two lenses, and random odd bits (ND filters, batteries, cable releases, etc):

I use a medium Chrome messenger bag, but I suppose my setup could work with a Small or Large bag as well. This combination has protected my gear during travel for the past 8 years, and has seen everything from 20 degree London winter to 95 degree tropical rainstorms in Hawaii without skipping a beat or leaking a drop of water into it. And no matter where I was, I've surprised at least one person when I pulled a Leica out of it. Which is exactly what I was going for. 🙂

As far as anything DSLR-sized is concerned: I'm gonna agree with Bill about backpacks being king here. I prefer the Kata Owl or larger bags, if you haven't tried Kata before OMG you simply must. They have the most comfortable straps I've ever experienced. My standard "run out the door ready to shoot just about anything" presser rig involves a 1D mkiii, 16-35, 70-200 2.8IS, a 50 prime, 24L, 5dmkii body, batteries, and a 580EXii+battery pack. That's probably at least 20 lbs on its own and belongs in a backpack or rolling suitcase unless you've got an excellent chiropractor. I don't "travel light" with DSLRs anymore because I think the whole concept is contradictory given the fact that there are far more effective, smaller camera systems I'd take with me instead if weight or a backpack/suitcase are an issue.

 

[Ezzie]

You all forget. The perfect bag is a bag that contains the perfect camera, for the job, when you need it. That is the perfect bag 😉