camera bag recommendations, please

[JoeFriday]

most of my photography is done in predictable situations.. I know in advance what lens I'll want to use, and I'm able to carry a couple extra rolls of film and a filter or two in my pockets.. but I'm planning on some weekend excursions where I'll want to have more gear along.. and I just realized I have nothing suitable to carry it

I'm looking for a nondescript bag that will hold a couple bodies, 3 or 4 lenses, film and filters.. something that's easy to carry while shooting at the same time

what do you use, and where should I look to buy?

[back alley]

are you telling us that you ONLY HAVE ONE BAG?

that is sooo unacceptable for a gearhead!

;)

like you i discovered a 'need' for different bags for different shooting situations.

i mostly go between 2 bags now, depending.

i just bought a little lowe pro mostly cause it was cheap and i use it strickly as a storage unit for the bottom feeders and the 85/2 lens. i didn't like them sitting around.

for when i use 2 cameras and maybe 3 lenses, i use the m classic bag.
i know some it cause it has no pdding but i rarely beat my (cameras in) bag against walls.
i put some closed cell foam on the bottom for some protection/insulation and it works just fine. this is the easiest bag to work out of that i have ever had. this is important for me as i use wrist straps and if i need a hand i must put the camera in the bag. easy in/easy out is key.

for one camera/one lens days (maybe 2 lenses) i use the billingham s3 bag.
total opposite of the classic. lots of padding, zippered top plus flap. not so easy in & out but not terrible either.

i suggest buying good bags used. cheaper & they are broken in already.

i never buy bags that scream canon or nikon on them but i on't shy away from 'camera' bags either. once that camera is in your hands everybody knows what the bag is about.

joe

[JoeFriday]

well, I have one small bag and one big-a$$ backpack.. the backpack has been used once in 2 years.. it's great for hiking while carrying SLR gear, but not at all what you'd want for street shooting, which is what I've been doing exclusively since finding this site

the Billingham S3 is about what I want.. only I'd like something slightly larger

[back alley]

look here (http://www.billingham.co.uk/home.asp)


joe

[peter_n]

Brett I really like the Domke canvas bags. Get one, use it as a doormat for a month or so, throw it into the washing machine then its ready for your gear. For a couple of cams plus a lens or two, filters + light meter nothing beats the Domke F-803.

Even better is a Safrotto clone model nr. CF700. Identical to the Domke in every respect except it comes with an outstanding 3-compartment insert and a shoulder pad. Look on eBay under "like Domke" and check the price with the seller - it was $37 and now it's $50.

[JoeFriday]

thanks for the info, guys.. while the Billingham are nice bags, I think that Safrotto is more what I'm looking for right now

[back alley]

i'd get one of them also but that shipping is a killer.

[JoeFriday]

I just B-I-N'd a Safrotto from a seller in CA.. $55 including shipping.. I can live with that.. that was one of the quickest camera decisions I think I've ever made.. LOL

[peter_n]

Awesome!! I think you'll really like the bag! :D

[back alley]

that included the shipping?

last time i looked they were shipped from china at half the cost of the bag.

good deal brett!

joe

[kuvvy]

Brett that's a good price. I just found the same auction. Dunno how much shipping is likely to be to the UK, he's quoting upto $30! I'm off to CA later this year so it might be cheaper to hang on until then.

Paul

[rover]

The shipping is expensive for the Saffroto bags, but when compared to the cost of buying a new Domke bag, they still are a little less expensive overall, and they actually offer more padding.

[JoeFriday]

yep.. it seemed like a good deal to me, too.. I was mostly just surprised to find exactly what I was looking for so quickly.. it usually takes me a week or two to decide what I want.. LOL

here's THE AUCTION (http://cgi.ebay.com/Camera-bag-like-F804-FREE-INSERTS-NEW_W0QQitemZ7532485173QQcategoryZ43442QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) that I got it at

[reagan]

joe ~ that definately sounds like a good deal alright. But after your "all this came out of one box" thread, I was going to suggest something with wheels ........ and maybe a motor!

[dcsang]

what do you use, and where should I look to buy?

Recently I was doing the same vacillating over bags. (boy.. that sure sounds odd don't it??? :D )

I already have a whack of them.
All LowePro.

I've got a LowePro Omni Trekker (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Hard_and_Soft_Shell/classic/Omni_Trekker_and_Trekker_Extreme.aspx) , a LowePro Compu Trekker Plus (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/CompuTrekker_Plus_AW.aspx), a LowePro Stealth Reporter 400 (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Shoulder_Bags/allWeather/Stealth_Reporter_400_AW.aspx), and I just picked up a LowePro LX 160 (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Shoulder_Bags/classic/LX_160.aspx).

Most of that stuff is used for my bulky 35mm or MF gear. Needless to say.. it depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going (travelling, wedding shooting or roaming around the city). The last item I purchased strictly for rangefinder gear. I've looked around and I couldn't justify the cost of another shoulder bag like a Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home or a Billingham L2 or Domke. The LX looks like it will fit 2 rangefinder bodies and a few lenses; offer me enough room for wallet, keys, film, pens, notepads etc. and still NOT look like a camera bag.

Sure I'll be "made fun of" for carrying a "Man Purse" but I've been humiliated in public far too many times to let something like this bother me :D

The best part??
I got it on Ebay from Henry's:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50504&item=7533844460

They're cheap!! So even if it turns out to be only "so so".. I'm not kicking myself for spending oodles of money on yet another bag. The reason they're cheap is because LowePro is not going to be making them anymore :) Discontinued products are always a bonus imho :) I'll be picking it up from the post office tomorrow.. if you want to see how it looks.. I can photograph it for you then :)

Cheers
Dave

[back alley]

that looks kinda cool.

i'd like a real world pic if you're up for it.

thanks,
joe

[peter_n]

Brett that's an F-804 clone that you got. Great price!! :D Tell us what you think of it when it arrives!

Looks like there is now a US importer of these Safrotto bags.

[JoeFriday]

yeah, I'm pretty excited about it.. I just hope I get it by next weekend.. I'm planning a trip to Chicago to shoot some photos in MILLENIUM PARK (http://www.millenniumpark.org/) with a rather attractive lady and I think I'll need to pack a few bodies and whatever lenses I can carry

[furcafe]

My standard advice on all bag-related questions: Don't get fixated on camera bags per se. Find any old shoulder/book/messenger/laptop bag that you find comfortable, then get camera equipment inserts (made by various manufacturers--I like those from Domke, Tenba, & Billingham) to hold your stuff inside the bag. The only trick is to make sure that the bag is big enough to hold the inserts--best to err on the side of too big as you can always fill the empty space around the insert(s) w/other stuff.

[akitadog]

Have been using a Domke F-803 Satchel for 3 or 4 years now for an M6, 2 lenses,light meter filters, film, etc. Have traveled a lot with this bag and it definitely does the job. Not too big or heavy. I also keep airline tickets, travel doccs, magazines etc. in the bag. I put a good quality Carabiner on the strap, and when I am sitting down somewhere, I clip the carabiner to a part of the chair, bench, railing etc. This prevents grab and run theft of your equipment when you are distracted. It has saved my gear at least once in Europe. ;)

Helmut K.

[JoeFriday]

funny you should mention the carabiner.. I was thinking of doing that, too

[SRMC]

Plus, if you have a carabiner on your bag, you can hang it from your tripod to add some weight and stability.

Steve
SRMC

[peter_n]

Unless you have a Gitzo, where there's already a hook on the bottom of the center column to hang your bag from... ;)