Which bag for Nikon RF?

dave lackey

dave lackey

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Just thought I would see what camera bag everyone recommends for the Nikon RF. I am specifically looking for a small bag to carry just the body with lens atached and a light meter.

Any suggestions?
 
Dave,
I couldn't find anything that I liked, so I made my own from bits and pieces of a generic bag, and a couple of nylon backpacks that our kids used in highschool.
Now that I've purchased a second body I'm going to have to find a bigger bag. Since I've not seen anything suitable in a camera store, I might just get a war-surplus canvas shoulder bag, and modify it to suit. I'd suggest you start your quest in a surplus store, and you might be pleasantly surprised to find something suitable at a fraction of the camera store price.
 
Body with one lens and a light meter?

Camera and lens over your shoulder, and light meter in a packet. Or am I missing something?
 
Yeah, Rob...I may do that this weekend. I like the idea of cheaper alternative and with a stealthier look.

Jon, the only you might be missing is that the majority of my time is not shooting, just walking, and I would like to keep the camera from damage by having it bang around. I have tried a fanny pack but need something padded.

Thanks,
 
I agree with Jon but I understand your desire to protect the camera as well. I use a Crumpler bag, Six Million Dollar Home I think. Anyhow, I can fit my S3 with lens in the middle, two other lenses to one side and my Canonet on the other. It's larger than what you are looking for but it is well made and well padded. The two or three m.d.h. might be the right size for you.
 
Dave: if you're looking for something cheap, small and stealthy, i can heartily recommend a Maratac Minebag. I've had mine for about 3 months and couldn't be happier - i can haul my S2 with a 50/1.4, one other smaller cam, about 12 rolls of film, a small Moleskine notebook, and various other small items with no problems. No padding, but it's built like a tank and you can always foam it out (or use inserts from another bag). The thing is tiny and best of all, it has no annoying flap. Here's a link: Maratac Minebag. I don't know if it's as small as you're looking for, but it's worth a look..

--c--
 
Why not consider the Domke F-5XA? There was a thread on this bag on RFF. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45673

img10214221241.jpeg
 
Only takes a few minutes with a straight edge and the zipper is gone. Kind of silly though as it appears the zipper is an important part of keeping the bag closed. I use a diaper bag I got for $10 at Target. I added a bit of close-cell foam to the bottom (old beer or soda can holder (keeps in the cold) that I cut up). I have a bit more if you would like me to send you a bit via the mail. The bag has a zipper around the upper edge but it's plastic and it's thermal insulated.

B2 (;->
 
Jet black, only reason I plunked down the $10.

When I was carrying a diaper bag a few years ago mine was a waist pouch. It was perfect for the right number of diapers I needed at the time (less as they and the diapers grew bigger), some wipes and a bit of dry food, a bottle or two and of course some zip locks for the dirties!

B2 (;->
 
Hello:

School lunch bags are padded and some come in a green close to " Leitz" green. Yellow and black must be out there as well. $3.00-8.00.

yours
Frank
 
sbug said:
I agree with Jon but I understand your desire to protect the camera as well. I use a Crumpler bag, Six Million Dollar Home I think. Anyhow, I can fit my S3 with lens in the middle, two other lenses to one side and my Canonet on the other. It's larger than what you are looking for but it is well made and well padded. The two or three m.d.h. might be the right size for you.
Click to expand...
I agree. Crumplers have excellent padding and look stealthier than regular camera bags. I own the 4 Million Dollar Home, which I think is perfect for a body, lens and light meter. That's what I carry every day in it: a Leica M2 with a Summarit and a Sekonic 308. But I just got a 6M to carry my Rolleiflex as well.
 
The Domke 5-FXA zipper is indeed plastic as it is with the slightly larger 5-FXB. I have no worries about the zipper scratching my equipment. I feel it is an excellent choice for a minimalist RF camera bag.
 
Agreed. So-called camera bags are usually overpriced for what they offer. I advise people that it's often more economical & easier to 1st find a bag that they like in whatever style & shape (I personally favor the smallest Chrome messenger bag), & then just use a camera-type insert that fits. However, I'm w/Jon Claremont in that if you're just carrying a body & light meter, it's much easier to simply use a shoulder strap on the camera; FWIW, I always use straps "bandolier" style, diagonally across the chest, & that usually keeps the camera from swinging around too much (as well as keeping it from slipping off the shoulder).

rbsinto said:
Dave,
I couldn't find anything that I liked, so I made my own from bits and pieces of a generic bag, and a couple of nylon backpacks that our kids used in highschool.
Now that I've purchased a second body I'm going to have to find a bigger bag. Since I've not seen anything suitable in a camera store, I might just get a war-surplus canvas shoulder bag, and modify it to suit. I'd suggest you start your quest in a surplus store, and you might be pleasantly surprised to find something suitable at a fraction of the camera store price.
Click to expand...
 
Furcafe,
I always carry three bodies on the streets; one on each shoulder, and one around my neck, so it's completely impractical to wear them bandolier style.
It took a great deal of experimentation to find the perfect solution to keeping cameras from slipping off my shoulders, but I finally solved the problem.
I sewed Velcro patches on each shoulder of my photovest, as well as on my camera bag and camera body straps.
The camera bag strap has patches on both sides so it goes on my right shoulder first, and one camera body strap sits on top of it.
I carry a motorized Nikon F2AS with a zoom-Nikkor 80~200 2.8 AIS manual focus monster (95mm filters!!!) that weighs about 8 pounds in total on my left shoulder this way, and it has never slipped even a bit, and I walk around on the streets for hours with this rig. For me, the ideal solution to the gripping problem.
I've also sewed the corresponding patches on my rangefinder camera straps as well, so one can hang off my shoulder without fear of slipping.
 
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Lowepro TLZ Mini

Lowepro TLZ Mini

I'm using a Lowepro TLZ Mini, which works quite well. I bought it almost on impulse, simply because I needed a small bag there and then.

With the lens facing downward I can fit both camera and my Lunasix 3 light meter. I normally keep only the camera in the bag, which leaves some spare room (see bottom left photo). This bag will also easily fit a normal SLR with a medium-sized lens (e.g. FE or FM body with a 28mm f/2).

The camera is well protected inside the bag, meaning you can safely carry everything in a regular backpack, etc. Myself, I normally leave the bag at home and carry the camera over my shoulder :)

241781722-M.jpg


Jarle
 
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Wow, that's some serious shooting. However, it is very possible to carry 3 bodies: I criss-cross 2 cameras bandolier style w/the 3rd around my neck hanging down in the middle. In that situation, it's better to have plain straps that don't have rubber gripper thingies so they don't get tangled up.

rbsinto said:
Furcafe,
I always carry three bodies on the streets; one on each shoulder, and one around my neck, so it's completely impractical to wear them bandolier style..
Click to expand...
 
The trouble with carrying multiple cameras bandolier style is, of course, that to get at the "underneath" body, you've got to remove the "top" body first, and I think it's too much trouble, and takes too much time.
Everyone does what they do. That's Sadoff's Law. You do what you do, and I do what I do, and after experimenting for umpteen years, I finally got everything to work just the way I want it. So, if bandolier style works for you, that's great.
Me? Velcoed straps and epaulettes, and cameras hanging down off my shoulders and neck at the ready, and the "gripper thingys" never get tangled up.
 
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