TT Retrospective 10 bag? LowePro Exchange Messenger?

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dbarnes

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I'm looking for an inconspicuous bag that'll hold my two Bessa Rs, one with 90 Lanthar mounted and one with 35 Skopar. Plus a small flash and film, a Leitz table tripod and an iPad.

Anyone using the Think Tank Retrospective 10?

Or the LowePro Exchange Messenger?

A complication is that the Bessa + Lanthar + lens hood combination chews up bag space.

I like the Domke F6 but it's too obviously a camera bag. The Domke FX5B is too small. The FX5C and F10 don't appeal to me and the Domke satchels don't seem to have enough depth to fit the Bessa + Lanthar.

Any suggestions appreciated.
 
Have you seen the Billingham Hadley Pro? That will do you fine for what you mention. You can also fit your mobile, wallet,keys, much more in the front pockets.
 
I have the Exchange Messenger. It is a small bag, very (very) light, little padding, mostly formless, and quite basic. The Think Tank bags are sturdier, well padded, and holds its shape.

For a small bag, I love the EM. It's exactly what I need, nothing there to fool with. Easy to work out of. Small. For a bigger bag, I would go with the TT, because their inserts are great, and with a little work you can structure a really efficient bag with a little work.
 
Think Tank's advice

Think Tank's advice

I asked Think Tank's customer service folks this same question. They said that the Retrospective bags have seemed too large for the rangefinder drivers who've tried them, leading to returns. They recommended their Change Up bag, a hybrid fanny pack slash shoulder bag, as being the right scale. And holding an iPad easily.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/change-up-belt-pack.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3881908&op=1&view=all&subj=382121893654&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=382121893654&id=21678123158
 
I ordered the TT Retro 20 as a smaller alternative to my Domke F-2, but it was too large. I shoot a D90 with smaller lenses and the bag is clearly designed to hold a D3 sized camera with 2.8 zooms. Well made and thought out, but too big for me. Fortunately TT's customer service is excellent and the return and credit were handled in a timely manner.
 
An old maroon canvas Leitz bag that I thought I had lost resurfaced in a closet cleaning recently, so I'll probably try it out with my two-Bessa kit. I used to carry Nikons around in this bag, which has zero padding. But the Bessas are less rugged, so a foam insert will be in order.

I did take a look at the Exchange Messenger bag at Office Depot the other day, just missing a $20 sale price ($29 normally) on gray colored models. The bag looked pretty nice, just as Scott Wallick described above. Very simple and unobtrusive. No obvious place for the iPad to go, however.
 
i use the messenger bag and carry my ipad in it.
the front has 2 small pouches but i slit the stiches and made one pouch. the ipad fits perfectly.
 
I have the TT R20. It would be much too large for your combo. It's a brilliant bag for carrying a DSLR and a long lens attached. Not a RF kit.
 
Lowepro Exchange Messenger

Lowepro Exchange Messenger

back alley said:
i use the messenger bag and carry my ipad in it.
the front has 2 small pouches but i slit the stiches and made one pouch. the ipad fits perfectly.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Is it easy to slit the stitches of the Exchange Messenger bag?
I am also considering this bag for my M8 & an iPad (with Apple sleeves).
Does the front part fit ipad with Apple sleeves on it?

Thanks
 
very easy to slit. i used a new box cutter and it took about 30 seconds.

i have not used the bag in a while (been using my domkes w/o the ipad) and can't remember if the cover fit also...i was using the ipad with and w/o the cover trying to see which i preferred.
i will try in the morning and get back to you.
 
I'd be interested to hear about this as well. And if it's not too much effort, could you sneak a pic of it as well maybe with a suitable RF and the ipad in it?

thanks,
Juha
 
The exchange messenger is a very inexpensive walk-around bag that will hold what you're listing. Not for situations where you/your stuff may be banged around a bit.
 
I have the TT20 bag and I don't really consider it TOO big for the same type of gear you listed -- in my TT20, I have a ZI, 35/1.2, 90/3.5 and 21/2.8, NEX5 and 16mm lens, gorillapod, film and other things, including my netbook on occasion.

For me, the TT20 also doubles as my DSLR bag, and it works well for that too.
 
Lowepro Exchange Messenger

Lowepro Exchange Messenger

jlindstrom said:
I'd be interested to hear about this as well. And if it's not too much effort, could you sneak a pic of it as well maybe with a suitable RF and the ipad in it?

thanks,
Juha
Click to expand...

I couldn't resist & went ahead to get myself the Lowepro Exchange & cut off the center stitches, here is how it looks like.

Well, the bag is indeed a bit soft, it does serve it purpose.

Thanks "Back Alley" for sharing it

messenger.jpg


messenger2.jpg


messenger3.jpg
 
ThinkTank announced a Retrospective 5 for RF/micro 4/3 users. I'm glad they came out with it. I was casually looking for a new bag and I think I just found it.
 
One more vote for the Exchange Messenger. It came as a freebie when I bought my sekonic lightmeter and I almost sold it because it looked too cheap and flimsy. What a mistake that would have turned out to be!

It's the perfect size for a walkaround camera bag, if you happen to be the type to carry one RF body with a lens or two. The rest of the space easily fits water, film and a light meter.

On days when I'm going out but can't decide which cameras to leave at home, I've gone out with the bag fully loaded:
1) Hasselblad with 80mm planar
2) Leica M6TTL with 50mm lens
3) Polaroid 330 pack film camera
4) Sekonic lightmeter
5) 6-7 rolls each of 35mm and 120 film
6) 1-2 boxes of Fuji FP3000B/FP100C

It's a bit of a squeeze then, but amazingly, it all fits. I think the lack of padding is a big plus when it comes to squeezing an amazing amount of gear in that tiny bag.
 
the retro 5 looks very cool. big price difference (along with design and construction differences), so now there are two distinct options.
 
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