the quest for the perfect bag

Having gone through almost as many bags as Joe, I'm leaning more towards baggy pockets. I think that the main reason we have so much trouble finding "The Perfect Bag" is, beyond the impossibility of it, is that they are just cumbersome no matter how small.
 
i have pretty much gone full circle with the bags that i use...and am now using a quartet of domke bags...802 carries my work stuff, lunch, snacks etc plus an eos m with lens attached...the 803 carries my 2 fuji bodies plus lenses attached along with cards, batteries i pad mini etc...the 5xb has the eos m kit plus ipad mini...and the f6 for when i want it all with me at once or one kit and some extra room...
so, that is it...old fashioned domkes (or their clones).
 
I will never understand why so many people like Domke bags. The waxed canvas will leave everything greasy & sticky, the metal clasps take too long to open if you are in a rush, and the canvas is so thin that it easily rubs through in no time. Domke bags are stuck in the 60s and ignore any progress in fabrics and materials over the last half century.

I'm a huge fan of the Thinktank Retrospective bags. Check them out if you are not fanilar with them.
 
giganova said:
I will never understand why so many people like Domke bags. The waxed canvas will leave everything greasy & sticky, the metal clasps take too long to open if you are in a rush, and the canvas is so thin that it easily rubs through in no time. Domke bags are stuck in the 60s and ignore any progress in fabrics and materials over the last half century.

I'm a huge fan of the Thinktank Retrospective bags. Check them out if you are not fanilar with them.
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none of what you say has been part of my experience with domke.
i like think tank but they usually put too much padding and too many little pockets in their bags for me.
 
After 3 years Im rubbing through on one corner of my Domke bag. But my bag isnt waxed.

To each their own. If you don't like domke then fine with me.
 
Hmm. I think you have never had a Domke bag...

My F5XB has been successfully carrying my gear since 1989 .. It's not waxed, is still in remarkably good condition, carries just the right amount, etc. the only thing that's worn out with it has been the shoulder strap; I'm on my third. Similar for my F3X and F6. The twenty year old (then) F803 I gave to my friend in 2011 is still going strong too.

G
 
giganova said:
I will never understand why so many people like Domke bags. The waxed canvas will leave everything greasy & sticky, the metal clasps take too long to open if you are in a rush, and the canvas is so thin that it easily rubs through in no time. Domke bags are stuck in the 60s and ignore any progress in fabrics and materials over the last half century.

I'm a huge fan of the Thinktank Retrospective bags. Check them out if you are not familiar with them.
Click to expand...

Most decidedly not heavily waxed like my Brit Barbour jacket, but even that does not get sticky! Older Domke was not waxed, but were just canvas duck, which because of its tight weave is naturally waterproof.

Here is a photo of a 40 year old Domke Super Satchel F804, I have carried almost daily. It has been machine-washed quite a few times, so it is softer than new, and the postman pad has been replaced about every 5 years or so, when it just gets too grungy.

attachment.php


This is probably too much wear if one is fussy, but I am not, but this bag does have a cousin, a new smaller F2. I figure, looking at the worn corner it may not last more than another 10~15 years?

Retrospective Rain cover? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_FkqpWvv0 Probably not unless I take up wearing shoe covers. :)
 
Godfrey said:
Hmm. I think you have never had a Domke bag...
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My experience is based on owning a Domke F2 bag for over five years. I just think that Domke bags are highly overrated, old fashioned, and there are much better bags out there with better materials and features. They remind me of the canvas bags soldiers in WWI were carrying around ;)
 
For 1 body, 3 lenses and accessories (incl. film), I use a Thinktank Urban Disguise 30.
I don't think it's on the current catalog anymore but it pops up on ebay every so often.

The TT Retrospective 7 is nice too but a little on the heavy side for what it is.
 
mdg137 said:
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.
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I have one word: Raven

http://wotancraft.com/product.php?pid=150


Raven by unoh7, on Flickr


Raven 2 Bodies by unoh7, on Flickr

No problem for one M body with lens + 2 extra, as long as it's not 75 lux + .95 LOL

Unlike the Ryker, which is my main bag, this is light. Will also hold value better than anything. High quality, good starting price, and low production runs.
 
giganova said:
My experience is based on owning a Domke F2 bag for over five years. I just think that Domke bags are highly overrated, old fashioned, and there are much better bags out there with better materials and features. They remind me of the canvas bags soldiers in WWI were carrying around ;)
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But still, five years with a bag you don't love, you are loyal to your choices! :D
 
I am convinced that a "perfect" bag doesn't exist, or if then only for a while. ;)

mdg137 said:
I've been on another search to find a high quality bag, to hold a Leica M with lens attached, 2 other lenses, and some misc.

1 very small
2 light
3 very high quality
4 body hugging, not boxy
5 good protection
6 easy access to lenses, without having to dig or shift items around
7 will hold an M body with lens mounted, plus 2 other lenses and misc.
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In your case, I can recommend the Dothebag Mono 04.

1- Yes, pretty small.
2- Not featherweight, but light enough.
3- Definitely!
4- Feels great, neither boxy nor bulky.
5- Yes, pretty decent protection.
6- Indeed. And the best buttons I have ever used.
7- Enough space for an M, three lenses and some smaller stuff.

Some pics here: https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/eine-wunderschone-city-walker-tasche/

It bulks out a little with those two cams and 5 lenses (!) but is is really snuggly when loaded with just one cam and 3 lenses!
 
giganova said:
My experience is based on owning a Domke F2 bag for over five years. I just think that Domke bags are highly overrated, old fashioned, and there are much better bags out there with better materials and features. They remind me of the canvas bags soldiers in WWI were carrying around ;)
Click to expand...

To each their own.

Most of the more modern variants, like the Think Tank Photo bag you pointed to, seem over-stuffed, over-heavy, and not as nicely wearable as the Domke's to me. Most seem like a big box rather than a camera bag.

But that's why there are so many different bags out there: so many different tastes and preferences.
I have several different makes and types too.

G
 
My favorite bag is my Domke FX3. It may be old fashioned, but I've tried a few other bags and keep going back to this one. It holds two bodies, (M6/X100T) and two spare lenses, with room to spare for other things (film, sunblock, notepad, water bottle, etc.). It's just perfect for me.

I've had mine for probably 6 years or so and yes, it is wearing in some spots, but IMO, that's part of the charm of a Domke bag. When it's dead, i'll probably get another, maybe just a different color :D

This isn't my photo, but this is more or less what mine looks like at this point and I love it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/buckpago/2175627041/in/photolist-4jfE84-6tAUoR-4jfBrc-4jfL16
 
No love for Ona bags anymore?
I use the small bowery for my M246 with lens mounted and 3 additional lenses, two stacked.
The bag form nicely to the body.
Will soon get the Prince Street so i can cary my A7II body along too.
They are well made and in my humble opinion have a good amount of protection without being over bulky.
 
I've been looking for the perfect bag for 15 years. The only thing i've seen that was aesthetically close was a leather satchel that was not available/out of production as soon as i stumbled upon an image of it. I considered trying to commission someone to copy it, but doubted that person's comprehension of the 'design nuances' that made it appealing to me.

I want something that doesn't look like a camera bag, and doesn't look like a messenger bag. I have no interest in looking like a bike messenger, after spending 20+ years in midtown Manhattan, swarmed by the real thing. Why is this so difficult?

Problem is, there aren't any people with actual 'taste' working on this issue. Most of the 'solutions' look like they were either meant for:
• climbing everest in 2020
• climbing everest in 1944
• delivering contracts to an ad agency by a guy with dreads and 40 tats
• some Leica-toting, Dockers-wearing dentist's idea of Leather Luxury
• a fat, 1970s-era photojournalist, needing something to augment his khaki photo vest
• a non-fashion person's idea of what a fashion bag should look like.

I want something that can go from casual (jeans) to evening (blazer). Something with a little (understated) style. I barely even care about 'features.' But, aren't photographers among the most style-less people on the planet? Small market for what i'm looking for, apparently. At this point, i'm pretty sure i'm going to have to continue my strategy of adapting a bag with inserts and padding.

This is 'roughly' what i was after:
s6HqnLk.png

But, a bit smaller....
 
Tenba 995.
I bought it 25 or 30 years ago and have used it ever since for my SLRs.
Cost a ton at the time but has been worth every penny.
I found another one (used) about five years ago for $10.00 and spent another $25.00 or so to fix it up, and it holds my rangefinder kit.
For me the perfect bag.
 
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