Which high end bag for your Leica M kit?

[ptpdprinter]

Here you go - the Louis Vuitton N58027, only $3500 USD: https://fstoppers.com/product/louis-vuittons-delusion-photographer-results-3500-bag-8123

If you carry the Hermes Edition Leica M9, you need a Hermes bag, not some old Louis Vuitton. Fortunately, a matching bag does come with the camera and lens set. I think the original price was $50,000. Since it is a collector's piece, the owner will never know if he has sensor corrosion. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Michael Markey]

A Billingham small ,Billingham F4 and a much larger Billingham 335.

I use the small every day ,the F4 if I want to carry my Canon 70-200 and the large 335 virtually never.

I bought the 335 new 25 years ago in Bath when ,quite frankly ,I didn`t know what I was doing.

The F4 was bought used from FFordes and is rather worn but ideal for when I want to carry a larger lense but its the small which has most use .

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Long ago I vowed never to own a camera bag that costs more than what I'll put inside it.

Domke is as "high-end" as I'll go. Besides being very practical their bags are a great value.

I think this happened when they (Domke) moved the production offshore.

According to their FAQ Domke bags are still made in USA.
Every one I have purchased had the MADE IN USA American flag label sewn in.

Chris

 

[Darthfeeble]

when did they go overseas?

when did they go overseas?

All of mine are USA made and purchased in the last dozen years or so. I can't speak to the new models but as recently as five years ago they were.

Domke made the best bags around (in the USA!) for a long time, unless you want to pay Billingham prices, which were absurdly over the top. I have several Domkes, a couple up to 25+ years old. The problem that came up around the middle '00s when I went to look at a new F5XB is that the quality of the material and stitching isn't anywhere near as nice as on my F5XB, which I bought new somewhere around 1990 or so. They're also skimping on the material and length of the overflap now, and the price is 3x what my F5XB cost me back when, even in adjusted dollars.

I think this happened when they moved the production offshore. All of mine are old enough that they were made in the USA ... I have F5Xb, F3x, F6, and a very ancient, unnamed one I bought at a flea market with a Rolleiflex 3.5MX in it for $90 in 1983. I gave my F803 to a buddy in England a decade ago ... he's still using it. Excellent bags, all of them.

All of mine are made in the USA, they have all been purchased within the las dozen years or so. ??

But for stuff I can buy new, now, with that old level of quality, the A&A and Billingham bags just satisfy me more.

G

 

[x-ray]

I bought my wife a Domke this year and another for myself and both were marked made in USA.

 

[traveler_101]

That's why I had to vote for "other" 🙂

I would want a bag that says "please steal this camera; it is well worth the risk."

 

[Rob-F]

If I saw this bag for $35.00 I wouldn't buy it. It doesn't look like it has good spaces for my gear.

 

[michaelwj]

AFAIK, Domke are all still made in the USA. The only thing that changed is that they are now owned by Tiffen - for a long time I believe.

 

[Robert Lai]

I just bought my Domke a couple of months ago. It is "Made in the USA", with tags proclaiming that inside.

 

[Godfrey]

...

I just bought my Domke a couple of months ago. It is "Made in the USA", with tags proclaiming that inside.

... and others too...

Hmm. I could swear that when I went to buy a new F5XB, it had a non-USA origin tag on it. That was around 2008. Could have been a fake, but it was at a reputable dealer...

From http://www.tiffen.com/domke_faqs.html :

Q: Are Domke camera bags still being made in the USA?

A: Yes, Domke camera bags are still made in the USA, but they may include some components of foreign origin. Virtually all other brands of camera bags are manufactured in the Far East.

At any rate, it was obvious that the materials and stitching were not up to the same standard compared with the bags I had/have (still do) that were a decade and more older than that. And sad to me: I was used to Domkes that were right up there with Billingham in materials and assembly quality, these later bags most definitely were not.

Perhaps they've become improved again since then. No way to know since there are very few dealers nearby anymore where one can look at any bags now...

G

 

[x-ray]

Looking at the bags I bought this year I think they've made improvements over my older ones. I have one that I've used probably 15-20 years and the new ones are just as good or better.

 

[rolfe]

I have to put in a word for the Wotencraft Ryder -- the criteria in the OP was "outfit", and the Ryder will hold a decent Leica outfit in style.

Rolfe

 

[Robert Lai]

The problem with the all leather bags is that they need so much maintenance. They will get scuffed up. The edges will start to lose their color. You have to clean and condition the leather periodically. Otherwise, it can dry up and crack. Also, in humid environments, it can become a fungus farm. I have a Coach leather briefcase that I use daily, and have used for more than 10 years. However, in that time I've had to strip the finish and redye it back to black. The edges especially, get worn and the color is removed. After the dyeing, the leather has to be reconditioned, and then polished. It's labor intensive.

For those reasons, I much prefer a canvas or ballistic nylon bag.

 

[peterm1]

My vote goes to Billingham. They just LOOK the part. There may be bags that are more protective in harsh conditions but for everyday use they are comfortable to carry because they are soft and they just look damned good. If you want to own a Leica its most likely in part because you like the classy and classic gear they represent. Billingham is both classy and classic. Having said that, if travelling I would never check my Billingham into checked baggage to travel in a plane's hold. Apart from the fact that it is likely to get pinched it would not give the protection needed when thrown around by baggage handlers.

 

[back alley]

i mostly use the domke f6...it holds 3 cameras with lenses attached...and the tenba cooper 13 slim...it holds the same plus has a space for my iPad pro 12"...

 

[John Lawrence]

Always used Billingham bags in the past, but having recently acquired a Fogg b-laika have used nothing but that. Both are great, and having a bag that's made of waterproof (as opposed to water resistant) fabric is important to me.

John

 

[ChrisPlatt]

If Coach made camera bags - real camera bags - I might bite.
It would be for my wife, of course... 😉

Chris

 

[tajart]

bags

bags

when i got a real camera bag, i bought a tenba for about $10, new. it would hold 500c blad, 2f, gossen meter, gray card, sketchbook, and later i could squeeze an m3 when travelling. i still have that bag, but graduated to billingham, and now have a couple foggs.
i gifted my grandson a bag from m-classic. lately i've started using my wife's hand me down marimekko shoulder bags which fit me well. considering adding an insert, but we'll see.
i often wonder if carrying too much weight over the shoulder compounds back problems.
all in all, there are a lot of good choices available.

 

[noisycheese]

I wonder if they have it in blue? ... :bang:

G

If so, it's probably $7000 USD.

 

[benmacphoto]

For what it's worth, the "new" line of Domke bags no longer feature the flag and made in USA.

The classic line of bags still have the made in USA inside the bag.