The perfect case for the M8

[jaapv]

We all know- each camerafanatic has at least 5 camera-bags. But which one is perfect for the M8? The problem with any RF camera is that the lens compartments are usually too deep. But this one was absolutely perfect. it even has an opening flap on top giving quick access to the camera and two extra lenses. Lowepro Omni Traveller:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e32/jaapv/Picture003.jpg
My toe for scale :D:D
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e32/jaapv/Picture001.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e32/jaapv/Picture.jpg

[Nachkebia]

Too synthetic, needs natural touch, try again mate :D

This is mine and I love it :D

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/static/image/2006/10/20/borgen1_01l.jpg

[jaapv]

You missed the rolls of Kodachrome in there!! :p

[akptc]

Too synthetic, needs natural touch, try again mate :D

This is mine and I love it :D

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/static/image/2006/10/20/borgen1_01l.jpg Would you also hapen to have pics of the inside? - thx

[jaapv]

Too synthetic, needs natural touch, try again mate :D

This is mine and I love it :D

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/static/image/2006/10/20/borgen1_01l.jpg

Had that one in my hands as well today. Loved the look, but the dimensions were not what I wanted, more for SLR I thought.

[johnbuckley]

Jaap - nice tip. I like it. Thanks. JB

[akptc]

Yep, the NG bag does look better suited for an SLR outfit. On the other hand, the Omni Traveller seems like a winner for my (rf) gear.

[Nachkebia]

You get versions of NG bags, here http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/accessories/2006/10/20/4875.html

[akptc]

カメラなどを収納できるカメ, thanks! :angel:

[Nachkebia]

Welcome, even more here, http://www.supporthexperience.com/

[Ash]

For my own purposes, I really do like the look of the National Geographic bags, but not their price tag.

First things first - take a trip to the army surplus store, as their bags should really last the longest, being military issue.

[Woody Campbell]

Here's mine:

http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/acam7100.htm

Ideal for camera+lens and 2 or 3 lenses, plus battery, extra sd card, gray card, supplemental viewfinder, map, guidebook, passport and travel docs.

Looks like nothing on the outside.

Leica red on the inside.

A great walking around bag.

[truando]

there's only one for me: fogg's bags

http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/index.htm

アンヂさん、フォッグのバッグは一番。

[vrgard]

Here's mine:

http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/acam7100.htm

Ideal for camera+lens and 2 or 3 lenses, plus battery, extra sd card, gray card, supplemental viewfinder, map, guidebook, passport and travel docs.

Looks like nothing on the outside.

Leica red on the inside.

A great walking around bag.

Woody, how does this bag differ from the Domke F-5XB bag?

Thanks,
Randy

[AShearer]

Too synthetic, needs natural touch, try again mate :D

This is mine and I love it :D

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/static/image/2006/10/20/borgen1_01l.jpg

Nope: I have one and its not convenient at all. It's much flimsier than the Lowe Pro and doesn't have good organization, extra pockets etc. Nice looking but non-functional.

[Ash]

Sorry, Fogg bags are disgusting. But knowing how the system works, they're probably the most functional!

[wongyboi]

Crumpler FTW

[truando]

Sorry, Fogg bags are disgusting.

*that's* a strong opinion...

give them 5-10 years of daily usage and they look great!

[Ivanskavinsky]

Domke F-803 satchel.
Elegant, plain, tough :-)

[IGMeanwell]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=425884&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

This is my event bag

Slim, light ... the top has some rubber and repels water pretty well (at least it has for me when I got stuck in the rain a week or so ago) ... its nylon but it works really well when switching lenses

very comfortable shoulder strap

[V64]

Hello

I cant work out how the Small NG bags work. I want something which would take an M8+lens and two other lens with hoods attached - select three from CV 15mm, ZM 25mm, 35mm cron , ZM 50mm and a 75/90. Does the body+lens sit on top of the other two lenses, in the 'halfway (height?) pockets'?

Thankyou

Dvaid

[HAnkg]

Some nice bags (cheapest at top of list)-

Naneu Pro Lima:
http://www.naneupro.com/products.mdv?p=mo-l#

Artisan and Artist:
http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/index.htm

The Carnier French leather country bag: http://www.monochrome.de/cc/monoc/shop/rmiArt003.asp?artnum=00018819

Cartridge and fishing bags make for good camera bags as well. Barbour makes a pricey range but they are available from others and army navy much cheaper-

http://www.saddler.co.uk/acatalog/Gentlemens__Bags_By_Barbour.html

[John Camp]

I've got too many bags now, but I'm starting to look harder at the artist and artisan as carry bags. The problem with some of these bags, like the Fogg and Billingham, is that they absolutely scream, "steal me." They look like camera bags, and they look like expensive camera bags. Whatever's inside is going to be worth the risk. (Although I do like the black-on-black Billingham Hadley and that may not be too ostentateous.) I think the ideal M camera bag is one that looks like a small briefcase that might be full of nothing but paper, so a thief who's doing the calculation may figure that he'd take the risk and get nothing at all...it would carry one body and three or four lenses (stacked, if necessary, with a bit of padding between them), have a little padding, but not too much, and space for some odd bits and pieces including a map, small notebook, couple of pens, couple of memory cards in their plastic cases. It should have both a hand-rip and shoulder carry strap. It should be very water-resistant -- enough to fend off a good rain for at least several minutes -- look okay with a suit, and not weird with jeans & sweatshirt.

JC

[John Camp]

I've got too many bags now, but I'm starting to look harder at the artist and artisan as carry bags. The problem with some of these bags, like the Fogg and Billingham, is that they absolutely scream, "steal me." They look like camera bags, and they look like expensive camera bags. Whatever's inside is going to be worth the risk. (Although I do like the black-on-black Billingham Hadley and that may not be too ostentateous.) I think the ideal M camera bag is one that looks like a small briefcase that might be full of nothing but paper, so a thief who's doing the calculation may figure that he'd take the risk and get nothing at all...it would carry one body and three or four lenses (stacked, if necessary, with a bit of padding between them), have a little padding, but not too much, and space for some odd bits and pieces including a map, small notebook, couple of pens, couple of memory cards in their plastic cases. It should have both a hand-rip and shoulder carry strap. It should be very water-resistant -- enough to fend off a good rain for at least several minutes -- look okay with a suit, and not weird with jeans & sweatshirt.

JC

[Ben Z]

It looks like a nice bag Jaap. If I had an M8 though, I think I'd probably go for something in tan cotton...black synthetics might be a bit of a sore reminder :D

The problem with some of these bags, like the Fogg and Billingham, is that they absolutely scream, "steal me." They look like camera bags,

My wife says they look like purses and scream an entirely different message ;)

[Andy Aitken]

John, you do realise you've just described a Domke F803 don't you? Which is my choice BTW. Or a F5-XB if I'm going light. Or a Billingham Stowaway if I'm going very, very light (if only the strap was a bit longer. sigh)

[Fin]

First of all - thank you Jaapv for this -and many other tips (as well as your excellent photos) concerning the M8 - which I now own! However, with this post, I am with Nachkebia. I have the backpack version of the National Geographic (medium) and it's as close to that Holy Grail - the perfect camera/ laptop combo as I want to get.
The Billingham Leica case fits inside the camera compartment, or leave the Billingham at home and take the M8 body plus at least 4 lenses.
My 15" Macbook pro didn't fit the laptop compartment - but a little needlework sorted that out and now it's perfect as a completely modular M8/ laptop/ day hiker backpack. Plus it doesn't scream "Expensive - Steal me!"

[Way]

I like the Domke F5-XB but IMO the zipper gets in the way. Do away with the zipper and it'll be great.

[LichMD]

I've got too many bags now, but I'm starting to look harder at the artist and artisan as carry bags. The problem with some of these bags, like the Fogg and Billingham, is that they absolutely scream, "steal me." They look like camera bags, and they look like expensive camera bags. Whatever's inside is going to be worth the risk. (Although I do like the black-on-black Billingham Hadley and that may not be too ostentateous.) I think the ideal M camera bag is one that looks like a small briefcase that might be full of nothing but paper, so a thief who's doing the calculation may figure that he'd take the risk and get nothing at all...it would carry one body and three or four lenses (stacked, if necessary, with a bit of padding between them), have a little padding, but not too much, and space for some odd bits and pieces including a map, small notebook, couple of pens, couple of memory cards in their plastic cases. It should have both a hand-rip and shoulder carry strap. It should be very water-resistant -- enough to fend off a good rain for at least several minutes -- look okay with a suit, and not weird with jeans & sweatshirt.

JC

Amen to that John, I think you've hit the nail on the head for a daily carry bag.
I don't think what you describe fits for travel though. As an amateur photog my travelkit will usually consist of two lenses (28/2.0 and 50/1.4) and the M8, 4 SD cards and my laptop. Add in a notebook and pens, a book and my Ipod and the bag you describe is too small.
We're talking at least two bags a daily carry and a travel bag.
I think A&A or the small Billingham fit the former, which bag is best for the latter is where I'm having difficulty.

[StuartR]

I have had a ton of bags in the past -- from LowePro, Crumpler, Domke and Billingham, and the Billingham Nytex 225 is my carry bag of choice. Nobody likes the nytex (it is discontinued), but I think it is great. It is 100% waterproof, extremely light, and super strong. It really is the perfect stuff to make a camera bag out of...the 225 is big enough for two M bodies, a few lenses, a book and/or papers and magazines, film batteries, SD cards etc. It is superbly laid out, the strap more comfortable than any of the other companies, and it does not scream "camera bag".
The other bag that I have always really liked was the Domke J-803. In some ways it is even better than Billingham to work out of, but the problem is that it is not waterproof (at all, really). I spend a lot of time in rainy climates, so this is a deal breaker. It is not as well-made as the Billingham either, and it wears much more quickly. It is very well laid out however.

[HansRoggen]

I like this one: the Crumpler Twoten Daily (s). It fits an M8 and six lenses
and lots of goodies in the flap and the compartment on the front.
Hans

[alcyst]

This was a useful recommendation. I use a (Timbuk2) messenger bag daily, and it is great light bag for 1 camera with attached lens. But for carrying a body & more lens the Lowepro Omni Traveller is very good, the lens don't rattle around, and you can get 1 body & 7 lens(!) or other combinations in.