Godfrey
somewhat colored
There's a balance between conforming to your shape while holding their own shape, and between too much and too little padding. And between being too big and too small. The four bags I mentioned balance these things well. I have and use all four of them for different gear, at different times. They all are quite comfortable to wear once broken in.
As is the Domke F803 and F5XB. As is the Tenba Messenger Mini, which is surprising as it is a much larger bag with a lot more padding and structure.
G
back alley
IMAGES
...and some bags need to be used for awhile before they begin to 'hug' the body.
flyalf
Well-known
jloden
Established
Funny to see the Filson Harvey Messenger recommended three times in this thread already, I just picked one up fairly recently. It's been fitting the bill really well for what I needed, and I'd definitely recommend it too. But I still have to agree with the OP ... there's just no perfect bag as far as I'm concerned either 
The Filson conforms to my body well, carries 1-2 bodies with lenses, has a good layout in terms of pockets for what I needed, and it's weather resistant. But... the single center buckle closure isn't my favorite, the strap is slow to adjust (I prefer the quick-adjust strap on my Timbuk2), the strap pad needs a thicker cushion, and the sides could use better gussets for weather resistance. The insert is flexible enough to let the bag conform well, but I really wish it had at least a *little* more flexibility in dividers for carrying an extra lens or two.
In short, just like every other camera bag (or backpack) I've ever used it's great... it's just not perfect
The Filson conforms to my body well, carries 1-2 bodies with lenses, has a good layout in terms of pockets for what I needed, and it's weather resistant. But... the single center buckle closure isn't my favorite, the strap is slow to adjust (I prefer the quick-adjust strap on my Timbuk2), the strap pad needs a thicker cushion, and the sides could use better gussets for weather resistance. The insert is flexible enough to let the bag conform well, but I really wish it had at least a *little* more flexibility in dividers for carrying an extra lens or two.
In short, just like every other camera bag (or backpack) I've ever used it's great... it's just not perfect
agoglanian
Reconnected.
How is the strap length on the BLB version? I was always intrigued by that bag, but in general I'm quite happy with my Filson.
Matus
Well-known
Have a look at the Retrospective 5 or 7 from Think Tank. No - not the lightest, but very nice material and somewhere between stiff and huggy. Very well thought out interior too. The dividers seemed to have about the ideal thickness.
Oh, and what about Wotancraft Ryker - now that bag seems to have been made for Leica M camera - both design and price match On the serious side the bag is apparently nicely soft (look at the review from Steve Huff). I have actually just ordered Wotancraft Avenger (never payed half this much for a bag) - I am impatiently awaiting the delivery in the next few days.
Oh, and what about Wotancraft Ryker - now that bag seems to have been made for Leica M camera - both design and price match
On the serious side the bag is apparently nicely soft (look at the review from Steve Huff). I have actually just ordered Wotancraft Avenger (never payed half this much for a bag) - I am impatiently awaiting the delivery in the next few days.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
It's long enough for me to wear cross style with some adjustability. It carries a little more than a Hadley Pro but is a bit trimmer in size, and a touch softer (better wrap to the body).
This has been my favorite bag for traveling since I stopped using DSLR cameras on a regular basis.
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mdg137
Established
Have a look at the Retrospective 5 or 7 from Think Tank. No - not the lightest, but very nice material and somewhere between stiff and huggy. Very well thought out interior too. The dividers seemed to have about the ideal thickness.
Oh, and what about Wotancraft Ryker - now that bag seems to have been made for Leica M camera - both design and price match
The Ryker is quite soft, I have both colors. I have the Avenger as well, but I use it more for carrying larger loads, and without the insert, I used it today for carrying files to court!
I am a pretty big Wotancraft fan, I also have the paratrooper, but will probably be selling that. Great bag, just not quite working for me.
I tried the Retrospective 5, wasn't happy with it.
RObert Budding
D'oh!
I tried Billingham - too much padding and too stiff. I've also tried a Thinktank Retrospective - heavy, overly padded, and stiff. I've tried backpacks, too. Currently I'm using a Timbuk2 messenger bag. It's ok, but nothing special. It's just not as bad as the other bags that I've carried.
pharyngula
Established
I'd suggest having a look at another of the Filson camera bags - the Camera Field Bag. I use mine for an MP with attached lens, 1 or two other lenses, film and often include an RX1r in the main compartment as well. It has movable dividers, an internal zippered pocket and two good size external pockets. It conforms well to body when worn messenger style but there isn't much padding in the bag except at the bottom - but that works for me. Its made from their oil waxed "tin cloth" material. The main flap is accessed via a couple of snaps on bridle leather straps.
There are always trade offs but the trade offs in this bag suit me (e.g., less padding, better conforming to body, flap closure vs. zipper) as a great walk around shooter for an M sized kit, IMHO.
There are always trade offs but the trade offs in this bag suit me (e.g., less padding, better conforming to body, flap closure vs. zipper) as a great walk around shooter for an M sized kit, IMHO.
majid
Fazal Majid
Talks about the Goldilocks zone. There really isn't that big a difference between the Raven and the Ryker. Have you looked at the Dothebag line for Monochrom? They have a wide variety of sizes:
http://www.monochrom.com/dothebag.htm?websale8=mono-c&ci=000859&cc=y
grouchos_tash
Well-known
I have the Billingham Hadley Digital. It's maybe too small for you but I carried both my Leica IIIf and Voigtlander bessa both with lenses, a sekonic 308s and extra film in that bag the whole time I was in Italy. It has one moveable partition and a pocket at the front.
mdg137
Established
It may not seem like a big difference between the two, but the Raven has room for 1 body with lens mounted, with space for 1 other lens. I tried two lenses back to back in the slot, but the Raven is too short.
The Ryker can handle the body with lens, and 3 other lenses, more if you mounted them back to back.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
My perfect bag is always the next one I'm about to buy.
FrozenInTime
Well-known
So no one liked my Fermat joke.
Anyway - here is a bag which I think meets most of the OP's requirements:
It's small and light, not bulky. It is however not padded - but that could be provided with wraps.
The single leather fastener is very easy to use single handed as it's on a leather finger loop.
Waterfield Vitesse Cycling Musette:
https://www.sfbags.com/collections/shoulder-messenger-bags/products/vitesse-cycling-musette
Anyway - here is a bag which I think meets most of the OP's requirements:
It's small and light, not bulky. It is however not padded - but that could be provided with wraps.
The single leather fastener is very easy to use single handed as it's on a leather finger loop.
Waterfield Vitesse Cycling Musette:
https://www.sfbags.com/collections/shoulder-messenger-bags/products/vitesse-cycling-musette
sevres_babylone
Veteran
Interesting bag. The interior design looks like the BBB Stealth bag.
wpm
Member
I too have been interested in the Filson Harvey Messenger bag. It looks like it may be a bit too big for what the OP is looking for, but interesting. I'm curious, has anyone had any experience with the Marelli Slow Tools bag? Similar to the bag FrozenInTime chose but a bit smaller. Also much pricier. I'm facing the same concerns for the next bag, as of course, none of the ones I have quite fit the bill.
russelljtdyer
Writer
Sex is the Best Answer--as Always
Sex is the Best Answer--as Always
I've decided that the perfect bag is one carried by a beautiful assistant, preferably one that's also a sexual assistant, I mean sexual partner. Every bag has problems like the original poster said. The best bag is the one that holds everything I need and looks good and that a girlfriend will carry happily for me.
-Russell
Sex is the Best Answer--as Always
I've decided that the perfect bag is one carried by a beautiful assistant, preferably one that's also a sexual assistant, I mean sexual partner. Every bag has problems like the original poster said. The best bag is the one that holds everything I need and looks good and that a girlfriend will carry happily for me.
-Russell
majid
Fazal Majid
I was going to point out Andrew Wiles already proved it 2 decades ago (one of my classmates was at Wiles' original announcement in 1994, and another proved the modularity theorem that drew upon it), but that would be pedantic.
The search for the ultimate bag is more like the Tao. The bag that can be worn is not the ultimate bag. The brand that can be named is not the eternal brand.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I have both of these. At first the Retrospective 5 seemed a little too tight. It was hard to get into the small front compartments when the main compartment was filled with gear. In fact, I took it back--then changed my mind and bought it over again.
It is a little tight. The good news is I can get a lot of gear into this little bag! Recently I carried a Leica M with 40mm lens on it; an extra lens; an X100; a Digilux 6; 4 extra rolls of film; smallest rocket blower; microfiber cloth; lipstick brush; notebook; extra batteries for the digital cameras and the Leica. It has little pockets for the digital batteries. Oh, and it comes with a rain cover, and that is in there, too. So the small compartments are a little fiddly, but the good part is that if I'm willing to fiddle, I can carry a lot in a small bag.
The rain cover seems a little tricky--I think when the time comes that it starts raining, by the time I get it on, the rain will have stopped.
I bought the Retrospective 7 after watching Mike Thomas' excellent review on YouTube. Mike showed that it makes a good Hasselblad bag, and I bought it with
that in mind. I will give the 7 a field trial this summer.
Update: They came out with a Reto 6, and I bought it. It is like a "Retro 5 Stretch model." It's a bit longer than the 5, just long enough to allow one extra compartment; and comes with an additional divider to allow four compartments to the Retro 5's three. It's also deeper in the front-to-back dimension, just deep enough so I can get in two M lenses. So on a recent trip, I took an M7, M9, and 21, 28, 35, 50, and 90mm, plus film, filters, etc. and it all fit. Good bag. Good bag!