Which bag for Hasselblad outfit?

[Rob-F]

I've carried my Hasselblad outfit in a Domke F-2. Not bad, but could use a bit more room when carrying multiple lenses; and the 40mm CF won't fit this bag. Also have used my Lowepro Trekker backpack. Not bad, but what I don't like is the danger of everything falling out if I accidentally lift it while it's unzipped.

So: what is a good bag for a hassie outfit with 3 or 4 film backs, 4 or 5 lenses, etc. I though of Domke F-1x, but there may still not be a good place for the 40mm. What do you use?

 

[Steve M.]

I'm afraid I'm not much help. I just bought my first blad, an old 500C w/ silver 80 lens (love it!), and I use an Op Tech strap. It just came in the mail today, and I had that camera on my shoulder all day long and forgot it was there most of the time. Huge improvement over the thin Hasselblad strap.

For what you anticipate carrying, which is probably as heavy and bulky as a LF camera, it seems a backpack is the way to go.

 

[Rob-F]

I'm afraid I'm not much help. I just bought my first blad, an old 500C w/ silver 80 lens (love it!), and I use an Op Tech strap. It just came in the mail today, and I had that camera on my shoulder all day long and forgot it was there most of the time. Huge improvement over the thin Hasselblad strap.

For what you anticipate carrying, which is probably as heavy and bulky as a LF camera, it seems a backpack is the way to go.

Well, I'm not planning on carrying it very far. If it has to go any distance, I just carry the pieces I need.

 

[Dfin]

I use a Lowe-pro commercial, takes my 500c/m with 80mm f/2.8,A24,PME,150mm F/4,50mm F/4,spare A24,Nikon F90x-MB10 with 50mm,24mm F/2.8,85 F/1.8, Minolta 1VF, some spare batteries for the F90x,various odds & sods, small torch etc. . Weights a ton, do-able, JUST. Also,Mannfroto tripod in a mannfroto bag, this was my standard wedding kit for many years, I didn`t move very far from the car and somtimes had an assistant on big jobs. Oh, and the Metz 60 ct4 on th `Blad and SB26 on F90x, donkeys don`t carry as much,but this ASS certainly did.

 

[Nokton48]

I have a large Billingham, and when full of blads, it weighs a ton. Alot to carry for any distance, but not bad for short hops.

My everyday Domke Messenger 802 (with insert) gets the most use. I use it to carry my 40mm C blad lens/80mm lens, and the 350mm I carry on the body, over my shoulder. Extra film backs, film, meter, polaroid, filters, and all my personal items fit in the 802. If I switch to the 40mm, the 350mm fits in the messenger bag.

 

[ChrisN]

My Hassy kit has only three lenses and one body, but even that is sufficiently heavy that any shoulder bag would quickly have my back and neck out-of-kilter. I need to use a proper rucksack when carrying that weight. I use a Lowepro Rover AW II.

 

[bagdadchild]

I sometimes carry a Hasselblad 500 with the 80mm lens attached in a Mekko F-1X, the domke clone. The camera+lens just barely fits when its placed horizontally in a way so its perpendicular to the length of the bag. The insert on the Mekko is perhaps a little thicker than on the Domke so the Domke may have somewhat more space. If I place the camera vertically with the lens pointing up it fits without any problems, but the 80mm lens is quite small, I think the 40mm lens is protruding a lot more right? The bag is excellent but really more suited to smaller cameras+many lenses and extras. I agree that a heavy load is much nicer to carry in a backpack. I sometimes carry a Contax G2 +3 or 4 lenses, a Contax T, lightmeter+extras and the Hasselblad in the F-1X. It all fits in there but it gets heavy on your shoulder after a couple of hours. If you remove the insert you can carry practically any medium format camera. The Mekko bag is great value and top quality, so if you are looking for a shoulder bag canvas style I very much recommend it.

 

[Rob-F]

A backpack could be a good idea. I do have one, the Lowe-Pro Photo Trekker. It is optimized for 35mm cameras, though. The center compartment is not really quite roomy enough for the Hassie, especially with the PME finder fitted. Not that I can't stuff most of the gear in, but it's a bit overstuffed to the point of straining the zippers.

I'm wondering about the Thinktank Shape Shifter. Looks like it could work, from the photos on their website. But it doesn't have multiple small compartments for lenses and magazines. Has anyone tried it?
Here's the URL:

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/shape-shifter-backpack.aspx

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I used a Domke F1-X for my Hassy system with 3 lenses, but I don't have the 40mm so I don't know how that would fit. It is seriously heavy to carry, as ChrisN noted.

Now I'm using an older Tamrac bag I bought on Craigslist cheap that has dividers I can reposition and it works better for me. Its the same size as the Domke f1-X but is made of lighter weight nylon and has a nice shoulder strap, I find it easier on my skinny shoulders.

 

[Rob-F]

I finally got over the idea that it has to be a Domke F-1X. Now I am thinking that I was wrong to think of trying to transport or carry my whole Hassie outfit in one bag. As Chris N and others pointed out, that is too much stuff in one bag, thus too heavy (and bulky).

So I'm working with the idea of having a "go-bag" that holds whatever I think I need at the moment, like the camera body with a lens on it, two or at the most three extra lenses, one or two extra magazines, meter and film. Then the rest can stay in a "stay behind bag" in the 4Runner (or home). The trick is to see into the future to know what I'll need to bring and what to leave.

So far I bought a Tenba medium format bag on eBay. It should be here by mid-week. It will hold the camera standing up vertically with lens attached, and hopefully have room for enough lenses. The stay-behind bag might be my Domke f-2.

@Chris Crawford: I have at times converted my Tamrac size 10 bag with dividers to hold my Hasselblad outfit. It is large enough, though I probably won't want to carry it any distance fully loaded. At the moment it is holding my Nikon stuff, though. Finding another one like it might be good, though my present thinking is to work out of a smaller "go-bag."

@ Double Negative: I will have a look at the Nova 5. As a matter of fact, I'm using a Nova 1 as my Hassie overflow bag, for the 40mm and an extra back and some filters. Really good bag!

Thanks, guys.

 

[Rob-F]

I have also looked into a Lightware MF1217, which is not a bag, but a soft case with flexible dividers. It could be the "stay-behind" bag. But I might be all right with the combo of the Tenba and Domke F-2, so I think I will hold off on the Lightware for now.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I got tired of bigger or shoulder bags... Some years ago I bought a Delsey: it's a small, dark gray backpack made especially for medium format... I look like a student. Very comfortable and light to walk with. It takes body & 3 lenses, hoods, 2 backs, exposure meter, film and near 20 filters... No one would say there's a camera inside. It allows me to carry my equipment with both hands free for a long time, and I can also shoot my Hassy comfortably while the rest of my gear is with me and well balanced. I never looked back...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Rob-F]

Sounds like a good bag, Juan. You don't feel like having most of the gear in the backpack, and having to take the pack down when you need to change lenses, slows you down?

 

[Colin Corneau]

Google "Think Tank" bags - check out what they have.

Excellent quality, great variety of bags/accessories...designed by photographers.

I have no connection to this company, I just have their backpack -- travelled through China with it on my back carrying 3camera systems and it worked very well for me.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I don't use my Hassy for fast shooting anymore, and I don't change lenses on it constantly, and anyway changing one lens with that backpack takes me just a few seconds... I'm other times so worried about being fast, that with 35mm I carry three bodies with lenses all hanging and ready... But I found that fast or street shooting generally implies losing a bit of IQ no matter the format, so lately I tend to use my Hassy for slower and other times tripod shooting. With MF I prefer the backpack a lot to other bags I've used. For 35mm I don't even use a bag while shooting, just for carrying...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Vics]

I've never owned a Hasselblad, but whenever I see one I think of only one case- Zero Halliburton!
http://www.zerohalliburton.com/photography/camera_cases.jsp

V ic