Which high end bag for your Leica M kit?

[back alley]

i think the tenba cooper bags would look good with a suit...

 

[Contarama]

After a ten year or so search for the "perfect" bag, I've given up and gone to a belly bag for a few lenses and an extra battery. Around the waist or even over the shoulder, they are easier to get into and way more comfortable.

That is what I do. Mine is a duck hunter's call bag. I modified the strap making it longer. Being in the car upholstery profession someday I am going to replicate said call bag in German canvas convertible top material. Then my bag will be perfect and high end.

 

[Talus]

I'm still searching for the perfect camera bag. So far my best option has been to use a messenger bag and line the bottom with a t-shirt for padding. When I'm out, I carry spare film, a pens, a small notebook, earbuds, and usually a bottle of water. Sometimes I'll bring an extra lens. When it's colder I'll stuff a light sweater into the bag too. My current messenger can swallow all of that and keep a good shape. I can't stand boxy bags and usually the dividers in camera bags don't allow me to carry these things.

 

[giganova]

I have a Domke F2 bag that is the worst thing I have ever seen. You need two hands to open the metals clasps (!), the canvas is paper thin and offers no protection whatsoever, and if you want it to be a little rain proof, you need to wax it, which makes all your gear grease. I'm sorry, but Domke is stuck in the 70s and I find their bags absolutely terrible.

Right now I am using an Ona bag and a leather bag that I bought on Amazon. both are absolutely fantastic! For extensive travel, when my gear is being kicked around a lot, I use a Thintank Retrospective which offers great protection. I also love the huge velcro patch and the fact that you can silence the velcro.

Both Ona and Thinktank are putting a lot of thoughts into their bags, which I really appreciate.

 

[Lux Optima]

I use an old Domke that is 100% water proof and is already very rugged. Looks fantastic with a new Monochrom and even better with an old M3.

I wax my Domke properly since a couple of years and I had never any problems with stains or greasy gear. Now and then I look for a more modern and fashionable bag but never found one that is so perfect for my camera and me.

 

[leicapixie]

A bag is all that's needed to carry a Leica or any camera.
Seeing how almost everyone here is paranoid about showing Leica Logos,
Goodness knows why an expensive looking bag.
I use inexpensive backpacks like kids at school.
Great when shopping.
Veggies and fruit go in first, Leica on top!

 

[jaapv]

Billingham for Leica

 

[noisycheese]

The poll shows that Billingham blows all other bags out of the water by a large margin.

That's comes as no surprise. Billingham provides outstanding quality and craftsmanship at prices that are well within reason, all things considered.

 

[d_c]

I have one of the Domke camera satchels for general use - nice and stealthy as it doesn't really look like a camera bag, has some space for extra stuff, and a continuous non-slip strap that goes all the way around the bag without any kind of clasp to fail. For family gatherings and small events I'll take one of the small Hadley digital bags.

 

[lxmike]

Billingham Hadley holds my leica and fuji gear no problem

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I always think I want to get a new bag. Then I don't. My Domke F3XB is great. The only thing I really need/want is a slightly larger bag for weddings like the F2 so I can fit all my stuff in one bag and just keep it the entire day without needing another bag or pouch for film and using my pockets for lenses (sometimes).

 

[narsuitus]

When I shoot upscale venues, I usually put two X-Pro1 bodies with three lenses (23mm f/1.4, 16mm f/1.4, and 56mm f/1.2) or one Leica M6 body with three lenses (35mm f/1.4, 21mm f/1.4, and 90mm f/2) in a leather messenger bag.


Messenger Bag by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Cyriljay]

I have a Billingham Hadley for my M cameras.and a bigger one for a general bag. They are not high-end but highly durable. I bought my camera Bag during 1998 and, still they are in good shapes and look unused. That's why I got them.

 

[Ronald M]

I use any canvas camera bag that I happen to own. There is no need to attract attention to Leica cameras by using high end bags. I use "low end bags".

Large tenba tool kit, commercial inserts, and overnight bag.

Do not dress well when carrying $20,000+ in camera gear.

 

[raid]

I love my $30 canvas camera bag. It is very functional. I include in it a couple of trash bags for rain cover should it start to pour rain suddenly.

 

[ellisson]

I use the Wotancraft Easy Rider bag (canvas version) for versatility. It can be expanded when extra room is needed, and it can be carried as a shoulder bag or sling/backpack. It fits my Leica M kit (compressed) or Leica R8 and 80-200 vario-elmar plus other lenses when expanded.

 

[agoglanian]

I have tried a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of camera bags over the years. Most have some features I enjoy and others that irritate me. I was a fan of the older Domke bags but I do agree that the newer ones just aren’t made to the same quality (the same can be said of their straps as well). It utilmately has now kept me away from their bags, which is disappointing as they are the classic understated bag.

I tend to favor my Filson messenger bag, the David Alan Harvey one they released a few years ago for their Magnum partnership. It has been well traveled with me thus-far and has held up admirably. It’s really the only bag I need, and though it’s not perfect it does what I want well enough. I’ve tried Billingham bags as well and they are indeed very nice, but I am not sure if they’re something I’m really going to want long term. I currently have a Hadley Small which is definitely a nice quality bag, but aesthetically it’s really just not “me”.

(Did I really just say that?)