Which high end bag for your Leica M kit?

[Contarama]

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.

https://youtu.be/LAfSfnykXfo

 

[Fraser]

none, when I'm using my M9 I either just go out with one lens (35mm) or if I do take another lens a 50 or a 90 it goes in my pocket, same thing with my Df standard zoom on the camera or maybe a 50 or 35 and 180mm in my back pocket.
Even when I'm working I don't carry a camera bag two dslr bodies wide zoom, tele zoom and a 300 on my shoulder.
Good luck with your choice.

 

[robert blu]

I voted Ona. But I'll be honest and say that it in part has to do with looks and personal style 😉

I work in a rather big international company where the dress-code is (unfortunately) not optional. Furthermore, I prefer to (always) have my camera on me - and in my opinion most dedicated camera bags look a little to much the part (and I might get fired for carrying a Domke). However, I find that Ona bags are okay to carry to work with a computer, a few docs and my camera, and still have a little extra room for film and whatever.

Kindly,
D

First welcome Savid to RFF !
I'm not much interested in an "high end" bag for my camera as I already said but I understand there can be moments because of business or other circumstances when someone would like to have a camera and a formal dressing is required, therefore the need for something appropriate and not looking too casual.
robert

 

[dave lackey]

First welcome Savid to RFF !
I'm not much interested in an "high end" bag for my camera as I already said but I understand there there can be moments because of business or other circumstances when someone would like to have a camera and a formal dressing is required, therefore the need for something appropriate and not looking too casual.
robert

What he said!!!^^^🙂

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Sorry, no camera bag looks good with formal attire, pricey and leather embellishments or not.

Chris

 

[Spicy]

Sorry, no camera bag looks good with formal attire, pricey and leather embellishments or not.

Chris

Right, which is why I'm looking for a nice bag that can accommodate a camera, and explicitly explained I am not looking for a camera bag (which is why Ona and Billingsham are out).

Basically if someone had a suit & tie dinner party but wanted to bring an M4 or M6 with them to go shooting afterwards, what bag would the discerning bachelor select? Or put another way, Henri Cartier Bresson was invited to have afternoon tea with the Queen of England, but HAD to bring his iPad, a letter/A4-sized notebook, and his M3 with a small lens attached because he was immediately leaving for dinner and drinks at a jazz bar in Paris. What bag should be recommended to him?

I appreciate that the "get a cheap bag so people don't steal it" answers have their place, but that is as willfully unhelpful as posting pictures of cats in halloween costumes on an astrophysics forum. No ballistic nylon, waxed canvas, velcro, denim, etc. That is not what I'm looking for.

This is a form exercise, not a functional one. Basically no cheaper than $300 and no more than $1500. Black and/or brown leather, probably a slim, soft briefcase-style.

 

[besk]

Suggestion: Have one made to order. Have a bag similar in appearance to a courier bag but smaller made from SOFT black leather. No visible adornments or buckles etc/
It would not be worn across the shoulder.

It would be just large enough for a small camera and extra lens. It would suit your requirements as well as if not better than any suggested. It wouldn't draw undue attention yet would be very functional.

Earlier I mentioned a BBB-evolution bag but it is black nylon.

 

[x-ray]

Right, which is why I'm looking for a nice bag that can accommodate a camera, and explicitly explained I am not looking for a camera bag (which is why Ona and Billingsham are out).

Basically if someone had a suit & tie dinner party but wanted to bring an M4 or M6 with them to go shooting afterwards, what bag would the discerning bachelor select? Or put another way, Henri Cartier Bresson was invited to have afternoon tea with the Queen of England, but HAD to bring his iPad, a letter/A4-sized notebook, and his M3 with a small lens attached because he was immediately leaving for dinner and drinks at a jazz bar in Paris. What bag should be recommended to him?

I appreciate that the "get a cheap bag so people don't steal it" answers have their place, but that is as willfully unhelpful as posting pictures of cats in halloween costumes on an astrophysics forum. No ballistic nylon, waxed canvas, velcro, denim, etc. That is not what I'm looking for.

This is a form exercise, not a functional one. Basically no cheaper than $300 and no more than $1500. Black and/or brown leather, probably a slim, soft briefcase-style.

I went back several times and read the OPs posts and nowhere did he mention formal attire or business dress for that matter. Perhaps that's was on your mind but many of us were addressing the OPs posts.

 

[noisycheese]

Asking "what High End bag should I use" is like asking what Gucci or Coach purse a woman should buy. Expensive brands are expensive because they are ....brands. If the goal is to have "High Cost" just buy whatever is most expensive. To me, it's vulgar to put a $300 rangefinder kit into a $600 bag.

The original question was about which high end camera bag people would choose for their Leica M kit - not for a couple of Zorki cameras. 🙄

Since an M camera and 2-3 M lenses can easily represent an investment of $10,000+ it seems within reason to spend $200-300 or maybe more on a quality camera bag that will provide a high level of protection for your M kit.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice bag for a single film M and maybe two or three extra rolls of film?

I read through the thread and think a lot of people are missing the point -- reasonably priced functional bags are great, but they don't always fit. My Domke F803 has served me well, but I can't bring around my Indiana Jones corners-worn-away adventure bag to somewhere that requires a suit.

Not looking for a "high end camera bag" (so Ona/Billingham are out), I'm looking for a high-end bag that can accommodate a camera on occasion. Something that's usually going to be business-formal/dinner-party appropriate, and carrying the essentials (accommodating enough for an iPad, notebook/documents).

Any suggestions for a bag and an insert, not necessarily from the same company?

I have a small bag by Longchamp, and it can accommodate a Leica body with a lens attached plus one other lens. It also has a couple of small zippered pockets on the outside that I use for filters, plus the backside has a snap pocket for postcards or a map. It's not padded but I really don't worry about it (sometimes I will store the spare lens in a padded pouch in the bag). If you look under 'cross body bags' in the men's section you'll find more or less what it is (it's something like the 'Cavalier' model). Definitely does not scream 'camera bag' and they look nice. They have other options if you want something larger as well, might be worth a look:

http://us.longchamp.com/products/men

If you're near Central Valley, NY (just north of NYC) anytime, there is a high-end outlet mall and there is a Longchamp store there. I got mine for less than 1/2 price there. There is also a store at 990 I St NW in DC. Might be worth dropping in and seeing if any of the bags would work for you.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Camera on my shoulder and a pocket for any extra film I might want along.

Phil Forrest

 

[mdarnton]

I have always carried all camera gear in a crummy book bag that doesn't beg to be stolen like the ones in the list, so I vote "no".

However: http://jokes.cc.com/funny-animal/fwko9c/bear-on-a-rampage
So keep carrying those expensive bags! 🙂

 

[Gregm61]

Fogg B Minor and the Leica Combination bag made by Billingham. Either of those in all black like the ones I have look no more expensive than most any other bag I have from Think Tank or Domke.

Some of the other colors available for the Fogg series can start looking more snazzy than I care for in terms of being "seen", like the dark green with brown leather.

 

[Spicy]

I have a small bag by Longchamp, and it can accommodate a Leica body with a lens attached plus one other lens. It also has a couple of small zippered pockets on the outside that I use for filters, plus the backside has a snap pocket for postcards or a map. It's not padded but I really don't worry about it (sometimes I will store the spare lens in a padded pouch in the bag). If you look under 'cross body bags' in the men's section you'll find more or less what it is (it's something like the 'Cavalier' model). Definitely does not scream 'camera bag' and they look nice. They have other options if you want something larger as well, might be worth a look:

http://us.longchamp.com/products/men

If you're near Central Valley, NY (just north of NYC) anytime, there is a high-end outlet mall and there is a Longchamp store there. I got mine for less than 1/2 price there. There is also a store at 990 I St NW in DC. Might be worth dropping in and seeing if any of the bags would work for you.

Ah, that looks excellent -- very much in the vein of what I'm hunting for. I'll have to give the website a look, as there seem like a lot of options, and ought to be able to swing by the I St store later on this week.

Many appreciations.

 

[PKR]

Camera on my shoulder and a pocket for any extra film I might want along.

Phil Forrest

Exactly..

I had a big city symphony orchestra as a client. I had to dress well when photographing during performances. One M with a 35 on my shoulder, a 50 and film in my coat pockets.

I metered days in advance during rehearsals and knew the hall light, so, no meter.

Never a problem.

I can't believe so much is being made over camera bags.

I've carried my cameras in paper bags, ice coolers, etc. I never thought about making a fashion statement.

 

[michaelwj]

I can't believe so much is being made over camera bags.

C'mon!

Camera bags are perfect because;
1) There is no objective best
2) There is no subjective best
3) They are not too expensive so you can buy lots
4) There are lots to buy
5) You can match them to your outfit
6) You can match them to the days activities

Therefore, we can discuss them forever and never reach a conclusion 😀

 

[LKSC]

Some years ago Fogg made a non-camera bag called the Jazz that was nevertheless padded to take a camera.
http://web.archive.org/web/20120402221327/http://www.foggspecialistbags.com:80/jazz.htm

 

[noisycheese]

Originally Posted by PKR

I can't believe so much is being made over camera bags.

C'mon!

Camera bags are perfect because;
1) There is no objective best
2) There is no subjective best
3) They are not too expensive so you can buy lots
4) There are lots to buy
5) You can match them to your outfit
6) You can match them to the days activities

Therefore, we can discuss them forever and never reach a conclusion 😀

I find it odd that the question I posed has been such a source of inflammation for some posters; at the end of the day, a camera bag is just a camera bag...

 

[John Lawrence]

I find it odd that the question I posed has been such a source of inflammation for some posters; at the end of the day, a camera bag is just a camera bag...

... that's heresy round these parts 😀

John

 

[ptpdprinter]

a camera bag is just a camera bag...

And sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Other times, not so much.