Leica/RF sized bags review article on photo.net

I just realized that I don't think I ever mentioned that this article finally

went live onto photo.net.

 

http://www.photo.net/equipment/bags/small-bags

 

It's another one of my articles that got banished to the land of wind and ghosts

for one reason or another. But now that I wield the UNIX of power, I can finally

get them onto the site myself.

 

Nothing groundbreaking, just an article that looks at a bunch of bags that many

of us use for RF (or small digital) kits.

Thanks, Josh. I posted a comment in that thread.

Before Donke started making his own bags, they were made for him by a canvas tent making company called SMITH (in Chicago,I think). Afterwards Smith made their own bags which were about half the weight, and a lot more compact for the same interior room, of the Domkes. They were called "The New Yorker," the "Junior New Yorker," and I can't remember the third name.<P>I got mine from Ken Hansen, and while the largest one was lost in a home burglary the other two are still going strong. What a pity they couldn't compete.

Josh, thank you for a very good review. You have contributed a lot of effort to an

underinformed subject.

 

My own preferences are quite "off-broadway". I use two systems, while my few

fancier camera bags sleep in the cupboard.

 

My first system is this: I found about four small Cullman bags 15 years ago that are

not leather but of well padded leatherlike plastic construction. At most, one RF and a

small additional lens or lightmeter can be fitted into one of these, or two lenses in

within plastic bags or small Leica cases. I colour code each of the four Cullman bags

to know what I am carrying in each (i.e., colour film camera, digital camera, B/W film

camera, etc.). They all have shoulder straps and can be carried two or three at once. I

can swing these around, hit door frames or whatever and my equipment remains well

protected and readily available.

 

My second system is this: An old worn leather school bag or an unattractive fabric

case, within which I place padded dividers or sub-cases. The great advantage is that I

am not advertising the presence of high end photo equipment. Something hard to

avoid with many of the too pretty bags that are mentioned.

 

Does anyone else use similar approaches?

I carry my Zorki 4, or FED 3, or FED 5B, or any one of a number of 6x6 folders, in a CD player carrying case. It's great!

 

Has two compartments, one for one camera with lens and finder on it; one for a light meter. Also has a small side pocket, which is perfect for holding four rolls of film in their canisters.

 

On the front it has one of those web pocket things that everything gets caught in; I stow any paperwork and/or the Zone System exposure dial in that.

 

It's also got a fantastic, long, very adjustable nylon web strap.

 

I've got fairly conventional small-ish camera bags for Nikon SLR and lenses, meter, etc.

 

I've got cooler bags and backpacks for other miscellaneous equipment, from old 6x9 folders and Crown Graphic up to view camera equipment.

 

I especially like the CD carrying case and the cooler bags because they're funky and unpretentious and nobody knows what's in them. For the cooler bags, a little padding at the bottom is provided by an old (but clean) T-shirt.

excellent review. Tks much - P

Excellent set of reviews there Josh :-)

 

Something that should be said in respect of the Billingham Alice is that its utility can be greatly enhanced by attaching one or two Avea pouches to the side. This of course raises the price significantly, but if one has a number of Billigham bags for different kit then it becomes somewhat more 'economical' as the pouches can be switched-out as different needs arise. The Avea 5 is great for carrying a spot (Pentax Digital just fits) or incident meter, small flash, or for carting around the Leica Universal Polarizar kit and an extra lens (up to the size of a 75 Summicron). The Avea 3 is not as useful given its appreciably smaller size, but is good for carrying filters (particularly when using stack caps), auxiliary viewfinders and other small items more securely.

 

For example: I commonly use one Alice for carrying a 'Blad SWC/M and a Leica M body with an 35 1.4 Asph w/hood attached as a light walk-around kit. The Voigtlander right-angle finder for the SWC fits quite nicely in an Avea 3 pouch. A 'Blad 5xx body with 45 degree prism, back, and a 60 mm. lens w/hood fits nicely in the other Alice.

 

A far cheaper alternative that works remarkably well for a 2 body M kit is the Kinesis Reporter's Waist pack (http://www.kgear.com/a/A634.html). It is well made and well thought-out, and constructed of ballistic nylon with, thankfully, no velcro closures. One of its particular advantages is that it has a secondary internal compartment and two small zippered exterior compartments that allows for a fair bit of versatility it organizing one's auxiliary items. The bag's only real drawback is that it wasn't designed originally to be used as a camera bag, so one needs to acquire the optional shoulder strap and divider kit to make it truly useful--but that only raises the cost $10-12 U.S. The bag may also be attached (sans the removable shoulder strap) to a Kinesis belt and harness system as part of a day-hiking ensemble.