Yet another bag

[John Camp]

Found a neat rangefinder bag in an unusual place -- Best Buy. It's a "Case Logic" brand backpack, if you like that style; I do, because it resembles a book bag. This one has two sections, top and bottom. The bottom is set up to hold as many as six lenses in well-padded compartments (you can also reconfigure.) The top is designed to hold a small SLR, which means it's fine for a rangefinder. Inside the pocket, there's a special flap with velcro, pierced for a lense, so that flap can be tightened down over the body so that the body is secured inside the pocket and doesn't move around. If you don't want to use the flap on occasion, you can simply put it underneath the body; if you don't want it at all, it's removable. This pack also has a separate, dedicated, padded pocket for a laptop, as well as a half-dozen other handy pockets for accessories. Pretty nice. Not cheap -- around $100.

JC

 

[akptc]

JC, could you share the model number or some other info to identify the bag? - Thanks

 

[einolu]

I too found a great semi-great photo bag, might as well share it in this thread (not to steal your thunder). Its a small bag from Manhattan Portage that can easily fit a book, small notepad, waterbottle, my bessa + a lens + film and other odds and ends. It's a great little man-purse 😉.

http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=68&osCsid=

 

[visiondr]

My bag rocks

My bag rocks

I too have found "the perfect bag". The Courierware extra small messenger bag with camera insert is just right. They call it the "Incognito Field Camera Bag". I call it perfect. It has room for my MP, 50 'cron and at two other lenses (which someday I'll be able to afford) as well as other goodies, including notepad, film (lots) and much, much more...

P.S. You can remove the camera insert or purchase one seperately. It would make any courier bag a great camera bag.

http://www.courierwareusa.com/level.itml/icOid/20

Ron

 

[back alley]

for a camera and a few lenses or a couple of cameras and some lenses plus extras i find the mclassic bag hard to beat.

 

[Kyle]

I too have found "the perfect bag". The Courierware extra small messenger bag with camera insert is just right. They call it the "Incognito Field Camera Bag". I call it perfect. It has room for my MP, 50 'cron and at two other lenses (which someday I'll be able to afford) as well as other goodies, including notepad, film (lots) and much, much more...

P.S. You can remove the camera insert or purchase one seperately. It would make any courier bag a great camera bag.

http://www.courierwareusa.com/level.itml/icOid/20

Ron

Ron,

It looks like a great bag. Is there a way you can post some pictures of it with stuff inside? It sounds awesome, but $150 is a lot to risk if its not my cup of tea...

Thanks in advance if you can help!

-Kyle

 

[Bill58]

for a camera and a few lenses or a couple of cameras and some lenses plus extras i find the mclassic bag hard to beat.

I find the Mclassic stuff hard to pay for too..............

 

[John Camp]

As a bag fan, I like the looks of the M classic and the Domkes, but when traveling, I want something that doesn't say "camera bag." Cheap cameras aren't usually carried in camera bags, which makes almost any dedicated camera bag worth stealing; and when I finally get my hands on an M8, the bag (with seven lenses and a laptop) would be worth ~ $23,000. So I prefer a bag that looks like it might have sandwiches inside...

The one I described above is quite nice, but it does look like a book bag; a little garish, even. Has tie-downs for extra equipment on the sides, and a bungee-cord arrangment on the back where you might stuff a jacket. I don't think there is a model number... I couldn't find one anywhere on the bag. I think it's just the Case Logic SLR bag...made in China.

JC

 

[back alley]

i don't understand the logic of having good gear and wanting the cheapest bag i can find to put it in.
things like buckles, seams and straps need to be strong so nothing falls apart when on the move. i have a hard time trusting a cheaper bag. i do like book bags as they are made to carry substantial weight. i have used a camera bag liner in several bookbags over the years and that has worked out well.

 

[einolu]

The manhattan portage bag is very well made, though its not padded (I don't mind, my bessa has been in less hospitable bags). I like the fact that it doesnt look like a camera bag too.

 

[akptc]

Is this the bag? It looks very capable but quite hefty at 3lbs 3oz. Did yo find it heavy?

 

[visiondr]

Sorry Kyle, I don't have a digicam, so no pics of the bag. However, contact Courierware, I think they have a money back guarantee.

I had great service from them. After making the bag for me, Eric called to say there was a tiny flaw in the material under the flap and asked if I'd rather have $20 off of the purchase price or if I'd prefer he make me a new bag. He assured me that the imperfection would never worsen or affect the performance of the bag in any way. When I received the bag (I took the $20 off) I looked for several minutes before I could even find the flaw. It was tiny and insignificant. Today I never see it (and I'm picky). It was a sign of good customer service that he called before sending it out to ask for my OK. They have my wholehearted recommendation.

Ron

 

[Kyle]

Sorry Kyle, I don't have a digicam, so no pics of the bag. However, contact Courierware, I think they have a money back guarantee.

I had great service from them. After making the bag for me, Eric called to say there was a tiny flaw in the material under the flap and asked if I'd rather have $20 off of the purchase price or if I'd prefer he make me a new bag. He assured me that the imperfection would never worsen or affect the performance of the bag in any way. When I received the bag (I took the $20 off) I looked for several minutes before I could even find the flaw. It was tiny and insignificant. Today I never see it (and I'm picky). It was a sign of good customer service that he called before sending it out to ask for my OK. They have my wholehearted recommendation.

Ron

Thanks, I might try it out if I end up going on my trip to Europe in August. I prefer satchels to any other bag, but all of the ones I've ever used barely hold anything. If it holds everything you say it does it very well could be the perfect bag for me.

Just clarifying, the bag comes with an insert, right? I don't need to buy the bag plus insert, do I?

 

[ywenz]

i don't understand the logic of having good gear and wanting the cheapest bag i can find to put it in..

Some find it illogical to buy an expensive home theater setup but don't use the $200 audio cables. However, what they don't know is that the $50 cables are just as good.

The rule of diminishing return apply to many things... mclassic bags included.

 

[furcafe]

I have also had very good experiences w/the Courierware company (the Incognito Field Camera Bag was my 2nd "camera bag"). The drawbacks w/the bag that I've experienced are minor: Courierware's padded insert is on the heavy side (perfectly understandable if they're designed to withstand a bike accident, but perhaps overkill for pedestrians--you could get around this by supplying your own insert), it's a little small if you want to carry a lot of stuff, & I now prefer stiffer, more structured messenger bags (like those from Chrome).

Sorry Kyle, I don't have a digicam, so no pics of the bag. However, contact Courierware, I think they have a money back guarantee.

I had great service from them. After making the bag for me, Eric called to say there was a tiny flaw in the material under the flap and asked if I'd rather have $20 off of the purchase price or if I'd prefer he make me a new bag. He assured me that the imperfection would never worsen or affect the performance of the bag in any way. When I received the bag (I took the $20 off) I looked for several minutes before I could even find the flaw. It was tiny and insignificant. Today I never see it (and I'm picky). It was a sign of good customer service that he called before sending it out to ask for my OK. They have my wholehearted recommendation.

Ron

 

[back alley]

Some find it illogical to buy an expensive home theater setup but don't use the $200 audio cables. However, what they don't know is that the $50 cables are just as good.

The rule of diminishing return apply to many things... mclassic bags included.

the price of one mclasic bag is about the same for one hi fi cable. most home theatre outfits require way more than one cable.
not the same thing to me at all.
i agree that a cheaper cable is likely as good as a hi end cable but they are moving electrons not my precious camera gear. a good mclassic bag will last a life time and the cost when averaged is very low.

penny wise mr ywenz...

 

[visiondr]

Just clarifying, the bag comes with an insert, right? I don't need to buy the bag plus insert, do I?

Yup, the "Incognito field camera bag" comes with the insert. However, you may choose to get the identical bag (super-deluxe courier bag) without the insert and supply your own. The camera bag has a padded bottom while I'm not sure if the Super-deluxe does. The salesperson said he'd refund the cost of the insert alone if I didn't like it. The company is very flexible. Give them a call.

As to size, the insert has three compartments. That should hold your ZI body with one lens attached and two other lenses. The other pockets can hold film, et al. It is a soft-sided bag that seems to rest nicely across the hips/lower back (depending on how you wear it).

Good luck, have a nice trip

Ron

 

[egpj]

I confess that I bought a Leica Billngham bag. Looked at the measurements for the bag and thought that maybe this was the "Perfect Bag". Right now I am using a back pack made by Blackhawk Industries. It has separate pockets that I can place camera bodies or lenses (2 pockets on each side of the inner main compartment. Then there is a larger pocket along the front of the inner main compartment that holds my laptop. On the out side there are four large pockets that can hold lenses. Here is a link:

http://www.blackhawk.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=2040&d=

It is more expensive but they last for years. I have had mine for must be 3 years now and it still looks like new. Broken in though.

 

[nikola]

... just from the sewing machine... my girl made this wonder bag 🙂 for my birthday, tomorrow, as a present.... 🙂 bag is bought cheaply, but all that rainbow stuff is hand made...with love 🙂

pictures are behind this link 😀

 

[Kyle]

I need a girl that can sew!