there is no perfect bag,

[monochromejrnl]

my primary bag is a Hadley which doubles as a work bag most days... (fits one M + lens and a netbook along with small notepad, keys, change, wallet etc..)...

my 'incognito' - cheap bag alternative is similar to this:

http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/Shoulder-Bags/Waxed-Europa/348

with a couple of domke inserts.. works great and about $100 with the inserts...

 

[Sparrow]

there are 12 rolls of film and some other stuff too

 

[tbarker13]

My perfect camera bag isn't a camera bag. It's actually more of a tactical/military bag. Very comfortable on the shoulder. It's light on padding, but I just tossed in a two-slot Domke insert and boom - perfection.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/FATBOY-S-TYPE-VERSIPACK-4p49.htm

It comfortably holds - in the main compartment - my M8 with a lens in one compartment, leaving the other compartment to hold two extra lenses. Outside pouch for a water bottle (or anything else you want in it.) Has an outside zippered pouch for batteries/memory cards. And it has several other compartments for whatever else you need to carry.

 

[ampguy]

the problem with this setup

the problem with this setup

whose interior looks about the same size and config as a f5xb is that it appears you need to remove the lens cap, and then slap a hood on, right?

I line my M's in the same orientation, but have more space so the hood can stay on. To support the lens from flopping downwards, I put a small beverage coil wrap under the lens to keep the camera balanced and ready to grab and shoot. I use this in both my mini single body small lens case, and the 5fxb, as well as the j803.

there are 12 rolls of film and some other stuff too

 

[Sparrow]

whose interior looks about the same size and config as a f5xb is that it appears you need to remove the lens cap, and then slap a hood on, right?

I line my M's in the same orientation, but have more space so the hood can stay on. To support the lens from flopping downwards, I put a small beverage coil wrap under the lens to keep the camera balanced and ready to grab and shoot. I use this in both my mini single body small lens case, and the 5fxb, as well as the j803.

No that is not the case

 

[dacookieman]

I've found my perfect bag... it's not QUITE big enough to fit everything I'd like to bring with me but that's part of what makes it perfect. I have a tendancy to bring way more than I need and kill my back in the process, this bag makes me think hard about what I'll actually need. It still fits two bodies, my netbook and half a dozen lenses when filled to capacity.

I have the same bag disaster_area! Except that I have the dark brown version. in fact, i got it after reading your review some time back.

I use the Artisan and Artist's insert for the bag and it is a perfect fit. 🙂 I find that the bag is great for a RF or two, but nothing more. Its unladen weight is about 1.2kg and that's some weight considering the bag is empty. Otherwise, a very lovely bag🙂

 

[back alley]

the 5xb is perfect for my slow kit.
one body with lens attached and 2 lens in there also.

i need a bag for the fast kit, one body with large lens attached and then 2 other big lenses in there as well.

 

[ChrisN]

Joe, if I remember the M-Classic correctly, the straps attach on the back panel, whereas on the Hadley the straps attach on the ends. That means that with the Hadley you can flip the cover over to the back and it will hang out of the way, and stay there, allowing esier access to the interior while wearing the bag. It looked like you can't do that with the M-Classic because the straps are on the back, preventing the cover from folding flat down the back while you are wearing the bag.

 

[cmogi10]

I got one of those Artist & Artisan bags used for a good price a couple years ago and havn't been inclined to get anything since.
It's this one
http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/gcam7000.htm


Although since lurking the boards again (like 3 days ago) I've been thinking about ordering one of these.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/592386-REG/Domke_700_02A_F_2_Ruggedwear_Shooters_Bag.html

I have to get off the internet!

Edit: I also have a naneu pro backpack that is awesome, but the zippers are a little worse for wear. It's fixable and not going anywhere.
I think I might look at a bag that is good for hiking and walking, I hate have a shoulder strap bag for that, fanny pack with a camera and some film is too bulky, and backpacks are hard to reach.

 

[paulfish4570]

Does this mean my Walmart Outdoor Products fanny pack is not perfect for a one-body, two-lens rig? And my Lowe Pro EX 140 isn't perfect for two bodies and three lenses? 🙁

Seriously, that little Lowe bag is compact, well stitched, and easily modified with the Velcro inserts. It is meant for a DSLR with big zoom, but it is a dandy one body, 2-3 lens kit. It has lots of little pockets for cleaning items, notebook, pen, extra close-up glasses and film. In a pinch, I can tote an SLR with lens, an RF and 1-2 small lenses.

The fanny pack is my go-kit: notebook, pen, close-up glasses, cleaning items, one extra lens, film. I can fit a compact RF such as my FED-2d, but I generally carry the cam separately.

 

[back alley]

come to think of it...my domke f6 might be a good bag for the bigger fast kit...

 

[ampguy]

Looks nice!

Looks nice!

Wow Carl,

That F-2 looks really nice. I'd wonder if having to open 2 clips would slow me down though.

I got one of those Artist & Artisan bags used for a good price a couple years ago and havn't been inclined to get anything since.
It's this one
http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/gcam7000.htm


Although since lurking the boards again (like 3 days ago) I've been thinking about ordering one of these.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/592386-REG/Domke_700_02A_F_2_Ruggedwear_Shooters_Bag.html

I have to get off the internet!

Edit: I also have a naneu pro backpack that is awesome, but the zippers are a little worse for wear. It's fixable and not going anywhere.
I think I might look at a bag that is good for hiking and walking, I hate have a shoulder strap bag for that, fanny pack with a camera and some film is too bulky, and backpacks are hard to reach.

 

[ampguy]

I have an EX-140

I have an EX-140

for one of my DLSR kits, it's OK, deeper and more squarish than a 5fxb, hard to imagine getting more than 1 body and 1 big lens in there with RFs.

Does this mean my Walmart Outdoor Products fanny pack is not perfect for a one-body, two-lens rig? And my Lowe Pro EX 140 isn't perfect for two bodies and three lenses? 🙁

Seriously, that little Lowe bag is compact, well stitched, and easily modified with the Velcro inserts. It is meant for a DSLR with big zoom, but it is a dandy one body, 2-3 lens kit. It has lots of little pockets for cleaning items, notebook, pen, extra close-up glasses and film. In a pinch, I can tote an SLR with lens, an RF and 1-2 small lenses.

The fanny pack is my go-kit: notebook, pen, close-up glasses, cleaning items, one extra lens, film. I can fit a compact RF such as my FED-2d, but I generally carry the cam separately.

 

[al1966]

I gave up trying to find a camera bag that works for me. The crumpler camera bags are just way too over padded though the standard messengers are nice, though I would prefer a Chrome. I have experimented with various methods of padding, in this I used a couple of laptop sleeves (neoprene) that I got from a pound shop. one was folded in on its self to make a lining and the other cut up for dividers etc. It works very well small and light and holds a fairly sensible amount of kit for city walking. The base bag is 'the Upgrade' a sellout at £5 so the bag cost was £7 😀.

 

[back alley]

come to think of it...my domke f6 might be a good bag for the bigger fast kit...

so, the answer was right under my nose all the time...the f6 works - maybe not perfect - but for now it works ok.

i'd like it a little less deep, maybe shave that outside pocket off and the damn strap is not long enough. makes no sense to me to have a long strap on the 5xb and not on the f6. i might see about getting an addition sewn onto it. another 6 inches and it would be so much better.

now i just need the 50/1.1 to arrive so i can properly fill the bag...

 

[ped]

Further to my post earlier, I have padded the folded up soft bag at the bottom of my camera bag with a square of foam at one end to support my lens as my camera goes in sideways. Now it fits like a glove, and is nigh on perfect. I don;t want to carry lots of lenses around, though I have space for one extra if needs be, and have my two spare batteries, wallet, hard drive, a4 documents, business cards, keys, and a silenced pistol all in one bag.

Cheers
ped

P.s I don't really have a silenced pistol but feel one would go well with this bag

 

[ped]

I gave up trying to find a camera bag that works for me. The crumpler camera bags are just way too over padded though the standard messengers are nice, though I would prefer a Chrome. I have experimented with various methods of padding, in this I used a couple of laptop sleeves (neoprene) that I got from a pound shop. one was folded in on its self to make a lining and the other cut up for dividers etc. It works very well small and light and holds a fairly sensible amount of kit for city walking. The base bag is 'the Upgrade' a sellout at £5 so the bag cost was £7 😀.

I like this - kind of satisfying to have made it yourself, isn't it?

 

[B.J.Scharp]

Sometimes you have to put it somewhere, like if you have to take a cr*p.

Or if you need both hands for climbing...

For that I, like Brian Puccio, have an R-strap.

What about during, rain, snow, cold? What if you carry two cameras?

Cal

Rain, snow, cold: It is my experience that if I can take it, my camera usually can too. And if it can't, what the point of going out in that weather? 😉

As for two cameras, for that I have this (although I don't (yet) have two M's)

I do often carry a backpack or a small waist-pack for other assorted items, and I often slip in one or two extra lenses (and loads of film) in that. For longer hikes, I have this strapped to my backpack (site in dutch, sorry). Will hold an SLR with a small to medium-sized lens, and can easily hold my M3 with lens and two additional lenses (and probably more). Directly within reach, and no more strain than a normal backpack.

All kidding aside, I heartily recommend the Chestpack for people who often hike with a backpack and a camera. Sure beats having to take the pack off each time you want to take a picture.

 

[Krosya]

After trying several bags and having gone through several camera sets, for what I have now I have found my perfect bags. All have travelled with me around the world and have always been secure, comfortable, fit well in a plane/under the seat, etc.
For SLR:Tenba:

For SLR And RF : Oasis (this one is just Perfect - love it):

and a small Oasis that can go over the shoulder or on a belt. Perfect fit for a Hexar RF with a CV 40/1.4 or Bessa R3M with 40 or Hexar AF:

 

[shadowfox]

Wow Carl,

That F-2 looks really nice. I'd wonder if having to open 2 clips would slow me down though.

Ted, I never use the metal clips on my F2, it's too cumbersome for frequent open and close when taking my camera out.

The velcro on the flap is enough for keeping things in and sticky-fingers out.

Another thing I like about the F2 is that after being used a while, it assumes that beat-up look that makes me look like just another guy on the street.

I dislike bags that call attention to itself, those are for the ladies 😀