the perfect camera bag?

Oh! I thought it was the type with egg size bumps on one side.

I have been using the white 1" thick foam pads from Container Store. It comes in 12" X 12" squares. I have been using carpet tape to keep it in place. You can make body and lens cradles out of it using the carpet tape too. I was think of going to something softer and that would keep equipment from sliding around.

I once had a big supply of gray urethan foam about 0.75" thick., smooth on both sides. However, I found that after several years it crumbled and left a big mess inside of the bag and on any equipement I had stored with it. I don't recommend that at all.

-Paul
 
I bought my bag at Ritz camera. This is my MOST used bag. If I am carrying my DSLR or my RF's it always seems to be just the right size.

I usually go out and shoot/shop, so the extra room when I am only carrying my RF's comes in handy.

http://www.tamrac.com/5248.htm

Adventure 8 - Tamrac
 
I received my Duluth Shell Bag over the weekend. It is an extremely tough looking bag. The leather straps ar at least twice the thickness of any I have seen on other bags. If it were filed with shotgun shells, it would weigh twice what I would carry in cameras.

The bag itself is deeper than I expected and not quite as long (side-to-side) as I expected. It looks like, after I fit padding, that it will hold two large SLR's with short lenses plus two telephoto lenses of at least 200mm each (side pockets) Nothing is going to accidentally fall out of this bag. It has three pockets, the main compartment plus the two outside pockets.

-Paul
 
I think you are missing a good bet. I own a Lowepro Mini Trekker back pack and a another similar Lowepro which is convertible to a shoulder pack. I own a number of small bags for one camera or two lenses. But my best buy was a diaper bag, complete with Winnie the Poo, from WalMart or equivalent for about $12. Lots of pockets. Waterproof (after all, if you prevent the liquid from leaking out, it won't leak in either. I added padding as needed as some of you have. No one steals diaper bags!! Lots of room for two Minolta Dimage A1s, a couple of rangefinders with several lenses, film, a paperback, etc.
 
The lowepro mini-trekker backpack is fantastic. I use it for my SLR system, or when I need to transport something on a train, up a mountain or while travelling etc. For actual shooting, I find backpacks rather limiting. For that the Domke 803 is perfect for a rangefinder setup, and I have a 20 year old tamrac shoulder bag (which I think they still make...or did until recently) which is good for the Mamiya 7 system or an SLR setup. It's all about the right bag for the right job. There is no perfect bag.
 
I agree about the Lowepro Mini-Trekker. It is the best bag I have ever had for carrying weight -- A Nikon F2, a Nikon FT2, and about seven lenses that both can use, plus the usual miscellaneous. But you are exactly right. The problem is getting access to your gear.
 
My wife and I used a diaper bag for many years as a combination diaper bag, camera bag and purse, although once we used a business briefcase as a diaper bag in order to blend into a crowd at a dinner.

The problem with most diaper bags is that they are designed to last about as long as it takes to potty train a child. So they wear-out rather quickly compared to a camera bag. Also, most of them are not designed to take a lot of weight. The straps are usually the weak point.

Some of the high-end diaper bags are very sturdy,like those from REI or Eastern Mountain, but they also don't look much like or cost like diaper bags.

Does anyone use tool satchels? They have very strong handles and hard bottoms. However, a bag that has Makita on the side may be a theft target even more than one that says Canon. Good tools can bring better prices on the underground market than cameras.

-Paul
 
Another good/sturdy shoulder bag is the Isreali paratrooper bag, sold by many surplus stores. It's not padded, but heavy duck/cotton and one can add their own custom foam padding.
Looks like a students book bag, OD with red wings on it.
 
The Israeli bag is a very nice bag at a good price.

I've been wary of bags that may have been used for shooting. I have a great little jute bag that I used for many years as a camera bag and then started using it to carry shotgun shells. I no longer travel on airlines with it.

A lot or airports have these sensing devices which purport to check for explosive residue on luggage. The operators wipe the outside of the bag with a cloth or paper wipe and then place it under a sensing device. I think that they are checking for nitrate residue from propellants and some explosive. If that is correct, then a shooting bag that has carried ammunition in the past ought to go off the scale.

So, in perhaps an excess of caution, I leave those bags at home and use only bags dedicated since new to cameras.

-Paul
 
Paul,
I hope they don't start using that "sniffer" thing on the ferry. I used to carry all type of industrial explosives in my truck for a former employer - LOL.
They'd have trouble with a lot of my gear, I still do a lot of target shooting. ~ ; - )
 
I have been using the Duluth Pack Shell bag for a couple of weeks now and it has become very useful. I added a padded bottom so I could set it on the floor without banging around the contents.

The single main compartment is big enough to hold a Mamiya C330 with an attached Sunpak 544 handle mount flash. Alternatively the same compartment will hold three 35mm cameras.

The two side pockets hold film, a small flash and an exposure meter. The whole thing is very deep. Makes it harder for things to fall out accidentally.

On another note, I just bought one of these today:

http://www.naneupro.com/product/lima.htm

It's a little weird looking and the green is not particularly attractive. However, it has a lot of pockets and two padded inserts. Considering the wet weather we're going through right now, the added water resistance is very comforting.

Also the price was right. I paid $30.

-Paul
 
My personal favourite for everydays walk is the Ben's Pizza XL by Crumpler. It easily carries my Hexar AF, my Bessa with the Summicron-M 2/50, a Tele-Elmarit-M 2.8/90, a Hama Film-Safe with 4 Rolls, a small digital voice recorder and some filters. And best of all ... it is orange. Does not really look like a photo bag :D
 
backalley photo said:
(snip)...but then one of the sales guys that i know reminded me that he had a nice billingham for sale, (his own, slightly used) for 75 bucks cdn. he didn't know the model but said it was one of the smaller bags.
i'm going to take a look at it on tuesday over the lunch hour.
i like those bags but not the prices...(snip)

joe
Click to expand...

Joe,
After your mention of the Billingham I looked into them and decide to pick up a relatively small one to supplement my two old Domke beaters -- its a well made and nicely constructed bag. Smaller than the Domkes I use and very adaptable, no regrets having bought it -- I like it.

D2

P. S. It's a Beta 12. I use a lot of Op/Tech lens cases and I think they call them "Soft-Wraps" (squares of neoprene with Velcro corner patches) to protct gear, so I don't get too specialized with comartments. I like things to be versatile as much as possible. I'd never heard of Billingham bags before -- thanks for the lead.
 
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nwcanonman said:
Paul,
I hope they don't start using that "sniffer" thing on the ferry. I used to carry all type of industrial explosives in my truck for a former employer - LOL.
They'd have trouble with a lot of my gear, I still do a lot of target shooting. ~ ; - )
Click to expand...

Believe me everyone, I've been downwind of Harold, and caught a wiff, it's nothing that anyone of you want to experience. Quite the knee-buckling aroma...

Russ
 
Aside from the larger bags needed for a trip, if anyone is interested in a great small pouch for their rangefinder, small lens and a couple of films for day use, here's my recommendation: www.m-rock.com/niagara.html#
This is an over-the-shoulder pouch that is well made, rain protected and padded that will accomodate your Leica or less without being obtrusive. Like most everything else, it's made in China but won't upset our trade balance at $20!
 
d2,

which model did you get?
i wound up buying that billingham and it's the s3 model.
it's advertised as being able to hold one rangefinder and 2 lenses and it does so perfectly.

joe
 
External Dimensions W 11" x D 4 3/4" X H 7 1/4"
Internal Dimensions W 9 5/8" x D 3 7/8" X H 6"
Material Waterproof canvas with top grain leather trim
Capacity rangefinder camera and two lenses
Colors Available Khaki or NYTEX Black
 
I have looked for and never found the perfect bag ("perfect" for me would also include a decent price).

I usually just use a daypack (currently I'm using one that came as a gift from IBM after a course took there). I put any extra cameras and lenses in a shawl or such (handy for myself when it gets cold or dusty wind picks up). I put the cameras, lenses and film in a plastic bag to protect from any leakage in heavy rain. Works for me when I'm just carrying my gear.

When I'm out shooting my camera hangs from my neck on an Op/Tech strap. I winter, however, the pockets of my down coat are so large I can easily fit the camera + lens. The Bessa R + J-8 or M2 + J-8 fit easily. The other pocket will hold my CV 25/4 and J-9. Other (chest) pockets are used for storing film and light meter. The coat in fact has thus become a "perfect" bag. :)
 
I recently bought a Domke J-803 for my Contax - I also carry a light meter and a few lenses. It's a fantastic bag - thin and hugs close to your body and really well built (mine is tan nylon). This is the best bag I've ever owned - better than the LowePro and Tamrac bags I now have in the back of my closet. And the postal carrier pad is excellent.

I paid about $85 for the bag and about $15 from bhphoto.com.
 
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