yes, it's another bag thread (TLR this time)

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MelanieC

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TLR. What do you carry yours in? Yes, given that they have fixed lenses and usually not that many accessories this may seem like a brain-dead question, but bear with me please. I am not a fondler, I actually use this camera, but I'd really lke to keep it in good condition, so just tossing it into any old bag isn't really going to work for me.

I hate the leather case for my Rollei 2.8F and don't use it. I need some solution that's going to (a) keep it safe, (b) make it easily accessible (no drawstring bags stuffed into the bottom of another bag), and (c) either be movable from bag to bag, or allow me to carry accessories and perhaps another camera in the same bag.

Right now I am using either a Crown Royal bag, which is not padded, not easy to get into, and makes me look like a drunk. Or, I am using a Domke insert that is a bit tight and is not padded on the bottom (why the hell aren't these things padded on the bottom? what were they thinking?) and is a piece of crap materials-wise anyway. I can't tell by looking at pictures online which camera bags have the right sort of measurements.

I am willing to sacrifice a bit of style for function but to be honest I find most camera bags from "camera bag companies" (Domke, Tamrac) to be heinously ugly. Of these types of bags I find Mountainsmith and LowePro the least offensive. I wish that Crumplers were a little more stylish and had a little less velcro. In civilian life I carry a Timbuk2 messenger bag.

Just curious what you use. If it's one of the brands I pronounced "heinously ugly" I apologize. I want to know anyway.
 
I carry a timbuk2 bag everywhere and usually just throw my cameras into it. However I'm still waiting for my Yashica Mat to come back from CLA... so the only cameras i carry with me are my Zorki 4K, Nikon FE2, and Nikon D70...


I too wish the crupler bags were a little more stylish and had less velcro. I cannot stand the bags that are made by "camera bag companies". They all look so horrible.

I've been thinking about trying to find a photo insert to put into my timbuk2... but i dont know what i should get, etc.

I have a medium sized timbuk2. Have you tried putting any photo inserts into your bag? If so, which works best?
 
I use a Billingham Hadley Pro. The Rollei fits in one of the three compartments. There's just about enough room for two Leica M bodies and their lenses in the two other compartments, as well as film and other doohickeys in the two external pockets (although the bag really, really reaches its maximum capacity with this arrangement - and it taxes your shoulder).
 
I'd suggest getting a cheap closed-cell camping mattress and making your own padded-insert for inside your favourite messenger bag. That will be exactly the size you want of course. On the other hand, maybe the Rollei+padding is too wide for the bag ? Worth a quick measurement check anyway. Good luck.

EDIT: Ooops, now I see that zen-shooter also suggested a d-i-y approach.
 
I use some sort of crumpler devided in half by partitions - one half is for a tlr one is for an RF,pockets are for film,light meter ,filters etc.
 
Me, I like the F-5XB in sand. It will hold an Autocord standing upright in the center and whatever else in the side partitions.
 
Any ideas as to what inserts i could buy for my Timbuk2?

I dont really want to have to "make" my own as far as cutting up a closed-cell camping mattress... so i would prefer just inserts that i could use.
 
Melanie,

Calumet sells these lightly padded pouches that are for holding 4x5 film holders...two in a set...one red, one black...I have my 124G in a red one and then carry it in a Army Surplus bag...
You mentioned not liking the leather case...I just found mine and placed it back on the camera...trying to keep in mint condition...
Back to the padded pouch...I have an extra one if you would like to try it out...
 
An alternative to using a Crown Royal bag is using a thick fleece hat. I have a $7 watchman cap that I got from Old Navy while freezing in Minnesota last year. It fits snug around the Rollei but comes off easily. I throw both into an old beat up Filson canvas bag. As Hunter on the old tv show would say, "Works for me".
 
shutterflower said:
I use a LowePro Nova 1 AW. I use it for the RF645 and the Rollei, and they both fit well. THe Rollei fits like it was made for the bag.
Click to expand...


My Yashicamat lives in a Lowepro Micro and this bag too looks like it was made to fit the camera. These bags are quite well padded and offer good protection for your kit.


Dave....
 
jbf said:
Any ideas as to what inserts i could buy for my Timbuk2?

I dont really want to have to "make" my own as far as cutting up a closed-cell camping mattress... so i would prefer just inserts that i could use.
Click to expand...

I use a Domke insert in my Timbuk2 -- it fits the Rollei just fine, with room for a few other things. It's 8 inches high and 6 inches square, approximately. I don't know what it's called, but you can find the name on B&H or Domke's website. The key is to look for the insert that's 8 inches high -- that's the taller size.

The only negative is there is no bottom padding on the insert. I just put some bubble wrap in the bottom of the bag. If I come across some foam, I'll switch it out, but this works fine for me. I keep the Domke insert in there all the time, it's great for any camera. Domke also makes these wraps, which are nice to keep lenses and smaller things from bouncing around too much in the Timbuk2.

-Laura
 
A computer mouse pad makes an ideal bottom for a Domke insert. Pretty dense foam usually and everyone seems to have one stashed in a drawer somewhere or if not they are not more than a coupla bucks at your favorite office supply store.
 
I carry my Rolleiflex in a Billingham Panexia bag. It was made for the Hasselblad X-Pan for a short time and discontinued. It could've been made specially for a Rolleiflex, it fits that well, it's a vertical rectangular box shape. Room in the front pocket for film and some accessories. If you ever see one, grab it.
 
For a bag I would use my Billingham Alice.

If you want to put it in your Timbuk2 bag, I'd wrap it in one of those color coded Domke Protective Wraps, either 15x15 or 19x19.
 
Hi,

The domke 803 satchel works very well with rolleiflexes. Two of them easily fit in there together with accessories and film.

cheers,

Michiel fokkema
 
I'll also use a Crumpler bag. Very well made bags, but they are a bit weird with their naming conventions. I have the 'Budgie Smuggler' model. Whatever that means. I have my Automat in the middle with room on either side for odds and ends.
 

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another voice for the billingham alice... large front pocket for accessories, main compartment for the TLR, side section for 10+ rolls of film... should be able to squeeze a p&s in there as well...
 
I have the Crumpler 5 million dollar home and keep my TLR and rangefinder in it and love it. I just got back from India and it worked great. Just the right size.
 
The well known Rollei repairman Harry Fleenor has said that he sees a big difference in Rolleiflex cameras coming in for repair that have used or not used the Rollei case. Shock protection, dents, miss-alinement of the front focus plate, and dust are the main problems. Because I carry my Rollei over the shoulder and exposed when I'm using the camera (carrying it for the day), I use the leather case with the front off (easy to put the front on for storage). The big disadvantage being quickness in film changing, but then when I use the Rollei my camera use is slowed down anyway as each frame is thought out more with only 12/24. If I have the case off for quicker film changing and just need to put it in my everyday canvas non-padded shoulder bag or backpack I have a small soft fleece bag or rap ( Mont-bell brand here in Japan) that work fine and protects it from light contact or dust.
 
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