What have you just BOUGHT?

i've never heard or see a Maneki Dog until today 8-8-2024 ( p#12,725)...yea i'd like to see a Koby doll playing Table Tennis...

Maneki Neko, 招き猫, Japanese Beckoning Cat...

When the right hand (paw) raised, it's a male cat, waving people to come to store with money,

Left hand raised, it's a female cat waving for customers to come ...during night time 🤩😍👩‍🦰, so the Chinese come up with both hands raised maneki nekos...


in B-Mans Burger Shop, San Marino, Los Angeles County
Img by Taipei-metro

Yun-lin County, Taiwan

Img by Taipei-metro,
Canon T4i, Canon Lens 18-55

'Seven Lucky Maneki Nekos', Jin-feng Village, Taitung County, southern Taiwan

Hexar AF, Konica Hexar 35mm F2, Fuji Xtra 400, Photo by
Taipei-metro
 
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Still looking for an appropriate shoulder/sling bag for my smaller cameras (like the Leica IIIc). I've been looking at Wotancraft's "canteen bag" derivative and it's appealing to me.

www.wotancraft.tw

Canteener EDC Utility Sling Bag 2L - WOTANCRAFT

www.wotancraft.tw

That's a link to the 2L capacity model, they also have a 3.5L model. Has anyone else tried one of these? It's an interesting design, and with the camera insert add-on, it looks like it might work very well. Wotancraft bags are always very nicely made and finished too, and these are relatively inexpensive.

(It is a brand new product, and the camera insert kit isn't really available for another couple of weeks... but any thoughts would be welcome.)

G
 
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Godfrey said:
Still looking for an appropriate shoulder/sling bag for my smaller cameras (like the Leica IIIc). I've been looking at Wotancraft's "canteen bag" derivative and it's appealing to me.

www.wotancraft.tw

Canteener EDC Utility Sling Bag 2L - WOTANCRAFT

www.wotancraft.tw

That's a link to the 2L capacity model, they also have a 3.5L model. Has anyone else tried one of these? It's an interesting design, and with the camera insert add-on, it looks like it might work very well. Wotancraft bags are always very nicely made and finished too, and these are relatively inexpensive.

(It is a brand new product, and the camera insert kit isn't really available for another couple of weeks... but any thoughts would be welcome.)

G
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I looked at the Canteen bag in detail when I discovered it, since, like you, I find the concept appealing. I ultimately purchased the 3.5l Pilot in black (I purchased the 7l a few months ago). The 3.5l Pilot arrived today and on first inspection is a really impressive design which I expect to enjoy greatly.

The reservations I had with the Canteen 3.5 were as follows:
- The strap is narrower than the Pilot 3.5, and has no pad. The 3.5l Pilot has the same excellent pad and strap as the 7l. I found this unusual since both bags are the same 3.5l volume.
- The Canteen is totally unpadded. This means that even with the camera insert kit only the base and the dividers have any padding.
- The internal walls of the Canteen are not lined with the soft material of the Pilot series that accepts Velcro attachment. This means the dividers only attach to the base in the camera kit, and can only practically sit in a self-supporting “V” shape, which I do not think is an efficient use of space in a bag of its shape (incidentally, the 3.5l Pilot appears to be the same half-moon shape as the Canteen from an overhead perspective, but the dividers can be attached to the walls of the bag).
- The drawstring collar, whilst an excellent concept, is designed to be folded down against the inner walls of the Canteen, unless drawn in as a cover. This is apparently why the internal walls of the Canteen are left unlined with Velcro compatible fabric, since it would be covered by the collar. In the alternative, the collar could be made to fold over the sides of the bag, or collect neatly around the rim, to avoid this arrangement.

If some of these matters were addressed, the Canteen would be as excellent and appealing a design as the already extremely popular Pilot series. IMO, of course.
 
Mute-on said:
I looked at the Canteen bag in detail when I discovered it, since, like you, I find the concept appealing. I ultimately purchased the 3.5l Pilot in black (I purchased the 7l a few months ago). The 3.5l Pilot arrived today and on first inspection is a really impressive design which I expect to enjoy greatly.

The reservations I had with the Canteen 3.5 were as follows:
- The strap is narrower than the Pilot 3.5, and has no pad. The 3.5l Pilot has the same excellent pad and strap as the 7l. I found this unusual since both bags are the same 3.5l volume.
- The Canteen is totally unpadded. This means that even with the camera insert kit only the base and the dividers have any padding.
- The internal walls of the Canteen are not lined with the soft material of the Pilot series that accepts Velcro attachment. This means the dividers only attach to the base in the camera kit, and can only practically sit in a self-supporting “V” shape, which I do not think is an efficient use of space in a bag of its shape (incidentally, the 3.5l Pilot appears to be the same half-moon shape as the Canteen from an overhead perspective, but the dividers can be attached to the walls of the bag).
- The drawstring collar, whilst an excellent concept, is designed to be folded down against the inner walls of the Canteen, unless drawn in as a cover. This is apparently why the internal walls of the Canteen are left unlined with Velcro compatible fabric, since it would be covered by the collar. In the alternative, the collar could be made to fold over the sides of the bag, or collect neatly around the rim, to avoid this arrangement.

If some of these matters were addressed, the Canteen would be as excellent and appealing a design as the already extremely popular Pilot series. IMO, of course.
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Interesting. We all have different points of decision.

- I don't load up so much gear anymore that a wide strap and pad is all that essential. I like the PD Leash and, at most, the Slide Lite which I've used to replace straps on a bunch of bags in recent years.
- Nearly all the bags I use for carrying gear (a lot of my bags are used for storage only) are unpadded. I like the lighter weight, flexibility, and lower bulk of unpadded bags, and pad the contents of the bags instead with wraps as I feel is needed.

My concept for the bag I'm looking for is that it is mostly just an small open sack that I can grab what I want out of easily and quickly as I go on my walks, and the drawstring closure provides a small amount of security for when I might ride a bus or train, etc, or have it sitting in the trunk of the car. Looking at the sizing, a 2L bag is probably enough space for my needs—essentially, carry the IIIc with a lens on it, maybe a second lens, a spare roll of film, a couple of minor accessories, and my phone/wallet/keys is what I'm looking for. It would also serve for the Light L16, a Polaroid SX-70 type, or any of my Leica M or compact 35 cameras.

The biggest question mark is whether I might want occasional ability to carry an iPad as well, but I do that so rarely and have other bags that suit the notion fine already. I'm thinking small, light, mobile at present...

Still looking at different options. ...

G
 
Godfrey said:
Interesting. We all have different points of decision.

- I don't load up so much gear anymore that a wide strap and pad is all that essential. I like the PD Leash and, at most, the Slide Lite which I've used to replace straps on a bunch of bags in recent years.
- Nearly all the bags I use for carrying gear (a lot of my bags are used for storage only) are unpadded. I like the lighter weight, flexibility, and lower bulk of unpadded bags, and pad the contents of the bags instead with wraps as I feel is needed.

My concept for the bag I'm looking for is that it is mostly just an small open sack that I can grab what I want out of easily and quickly as I go on my walks, and the drawstring closure provides a small amount of security for when I might ride a bus or train, etc, or have it sitting in the trunk of the car. Looking at the sizing, a 2L bag is probably enough space for my needs—essentially, carry the IIIc with a lens on it, maybe a second lens, a spare roll of film, a couple of minor accessories, and my phone/wallet/keys is what I'm looking for. It would also serve for the Light L16, a Polaroid SX-70 type, or any of my Leica M or compact 35 cameras.

The biggest question mark is whether I might want occasional ability to carry an iPad as well, but I do that so rarely and have other bags that suit the notion fine already. I'm thinking small, light, mobile at present...

Still looking at different options. ...

G
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Godfrey, if these are your criteria, I would just grab the Canteen, perhaps with the camera kit. It is a very appealing concept. I have no doubt I will end up with one at some point, regardless, or perhaps because of, the differences from the Pilot series.

Perhaps consider the 3.5l. Even the Pilot of the same size has a very ‘contained’ horizontal surface area. Mind you, my reference is a Leica M, not LTM.
 
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Mute-on said:
Godfrey, if these are your criteria, I would just grab the Canteen, perhaps with the camera kit. It is a very appealing concept. I have no doubt I will end up with one at some point, regardless, or perhaps because of, the differences from the Pilot series.

Perhaps consider the 3.5l. Even the Pilot of the same size has a very ‘contained’ horizontal surface area. Mind you, my reference is a Leica M, not LTM.
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You echoed my thoughts exactly. I ordered one, and the divider kit, today ... and I went for the 3.5L size as that's the same capacity as their Mini Rider sling bag (which I find so handy for carrying gear when riding my bicycle). :D

The 3.5L would also allow me to stuff my light walking jacket in when I become a little too warm to wear it.

I'll see how the Canteener works out. It seems to fit what I had in mind very closely, and I haven't seen much else that's so close a match.

G
 
Godfrey said:
You echoed my thoughts exactly. I ordered one, and the divider kit, today ... and I went for the 3.5L size as that's the same capacity as their Mini Rider sling bag (which I find so handy for carrying gear when riding my bicycle). :D

The 3.5L would also allow me to stuff my light walking jacket in when I become a little too warm to wear it.

I'll see how the Canteener works out. It seems to fit what I had in mind very closely, and I haven't seen much else that's so close a match.

G
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Excellent! I’ll be keen to hear your impressions.
 
6mm x 3mm magnets and 12"x12" plexiglass sheets.

Doing some redecorating and we ended up pulling an IKEA KALLAX out of one of my kids rooms. Was volunetold it would be replacing storage for cameras.

I didn't like that it was open front and rear so I designed/printed stoppers for the back and then did the same to have plexiglass covers over the front. Mostly to keep my dog from smelling/licking everything. The openings are about 13 1/8". 13x13 plexi was much more expensive then 12x12. Designed/printed insets that hold the 12x12 plexi in place magnetically. Two shelves converted so far. Printing the rest of the covers and then will be gluing in the magnets.

Inner mounts in place...

IMG_6869.jpg

And with the Plexi on


IMG_6871.jpg

Next up with be second levels made from Plexi for more storage...
 
As my eyes age, I am finding it more difficult to focus precisely, so I am trying an experiment. I have just purchased a Canon VT Deluxe, with the appropriate 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm parallax correcting viewfinders. I will be keeping the rangefinder on the RF setting and mount an accessory light meter over it. I don't know if this will improve my photography, but it can't hurt.
 
Noodles. Photographed using a Voigtländer 50/2 Apo-Lanthar acquired earlier this year + Sony A7R4. An inconvenient combo for this sort of photo, as the camera's LCD doesn't have enough "flip" for easy viewing, and the lens's focal length required me to hold the outfit high above the dish. But enough talk about equipment, time to eat before the food grows cold.
_DSC6537.jpg
 
I bought an early 2 cam Leica 50mm Summicron-R to replace the Summicron-M I sold. Now I shoot mirrorless I can eat for a few months replacing expensive M lenses with cheaper R versions.
 
I have the 3 cam E55 Summicron-R and it is a great lens. Added bonus, in R mount there is less chance of a lens/sensor interaction screwing up performance.
 
Rayt said:
I bought an early 2 cam Leica 50mm Summicron-R to replace the Summicron-M I sold. Now I shoot mirrorless I can eat for a few months replacing expensive M lenses with cheaper R versions.
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Back in 2011-2013, about three years after the R system was discontinued, I managed to accrue 15 or 16 lovely R lenses, all purchased at astonishingly low prices (around $250 each)... often with an SLR body thrown in free. When I think of what those lenses and bodies once cost new, I shudder. I used them on Leica SL, Sony A7, Leica CL digital, and other mirrorless bodies. Then the Leica SL was released, and the SL and videographer communities started to notice how good all those R lenses were and how cheap they'd become, and all those SLR lenses became like gold again.

And I retired, moved to using the Leica Ms for most of my photography, both film and digital.

Over the decade since 2014, I've sold off most of what I once had, keeping only a few teles and macro lenses to use on the modern M bodies with the Visoflex and Live View. An early Summicron-R 50/2, a Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8, a Macro-Elmar-R 100/4 with Focusing Bellows, an Elmarit-R 135/2.8 and Elmar-R 180mm f/4 are what I've kept, along with macro tubes and 2x doubler. They all get regular use, but they're not as convenient in use as the M lenses for walking about and general use. The money I made (sometimes 3x to 4x what I'd paid back then) from selling them off funded buying what I have now in M bodies and lenses, in some part.

There's a continuum to this... :) I hope to keep on making photographs for some time to come. But Time is getting heavy on my mind as I come up on another signal birthday. The candles on the cake begin to be a forest fire... 😱

G
 
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