Camera bags that don't look like camera bags

<p>Hi all, <br>

First off, I do hope this question hasn't already been asked; the search for 'camera bag' and various other forms of the phrase didn't seem to turn up the answer that I'm looking for so I thought I'd ask it myself.<br>

I'm moving on from my crumpler bags. Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly, and they've served me well. But they look like camera bags. I actually bought them after a lot of research on bags that don't look like camera bags, and they almost make it in that category, I can't put my finger on what it is but people do seem to realise straight away that they're carrying gear. <br>

So I'm after some recommendations. I've been looking at the National Geographic shoulder bag - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-NG-2477-Shoulder/dp/B0017RVDI8/ref=pd_sim_p_4">http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-NG-2477-Shoulder/dp/B0017RVDI8/ref=pd_sim_p_4</a> and I think this has a shot of looking like a basic messenger bag, if I rough it up enough, but I'm worried about it's interior padding, has anyone used these before?<br>

I'm also looking at the <a href="http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=700-52D">http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=700-52D</a>, but a bigger version that would hold more equipment. <br>

What do you all think? Has anyone had a similar quest, or better yet, have any of you tried the above bags or ones you think fit the bill? I'd love to hear what you have to say.<br>

My reason for the camera-bag-in-disguise (if anyone is curious), is just that I do like to shoot in some shady locations from time to time, but once I get a camera bag I like to stick with it, so it needs to be able to be seen at weddings as well. <br>

Many thanks!</p>

<p>I think this is an interesting subject because some people looking for bags that don't look like camera bags end up getting stuff like the think tank urban disguise but that one looks like a computer bag! Does that make it less likely to get stolen? I think not.</p>

<p>I think you should get something that is NOT a camera bag and have the gear in that. You can get inserts for another camera bag, like billingham, and put that inside a regular bag or maybe a backpack.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I like to shoot a lot of street photography too, sometimes in shady locations, and I also like to use the same type of gear for weddings. I've looked at a lot of bags (bought far too many, too) but eventually settled on Billingham as the best style for my needs, based on a two body kit with prime lenses.</p>

<p>For street shooting I use a khaki billingham that's been used and abused over the years. It's marked, lightly torn, kind of grubby - and no one has ever looked at it twice. Definitely unprepossessing, and never mistaken for a laptop bag. I've been to a lot of high theft areas and never attracted the slightest attention.</p>

<p>For weddings I use the exact same model of bag but in black - it's crisp, presentable, light and highly portable - perfect for my needs. Looks great with a suit, and most importantly, doesn't scream photographer, ninja or swat team.</p>

<p>They both use the same inserts, making it easy to move the kit from one bag to the other without repacking. I just undo a single press-stud, lift out the entire interior, and drop it in the other bag.</p>

<p>They also make bigger bags that can accommodate larger kits - they'll fit two bodies, 24-70s, a couple of primes and a couple of speed lights quite easily.</p>

<p>I hear of people using kiddie diaper bags. who's gonna steal that! ;)</p>

<p>When I travel I put my camera bag inside of a grungy ice chest I got from the Goodwill. It not only protects my camera from heat but doesn't look like something worth stealing.</p>

<p>Have you looked at Crumpler's back packs? When I'm trying to go incognito (and don' t mind having to set it down to fish something out), my Crumpler Karachi Outpost - which carries body, several lenses, a laptop, etc - looks <em>nothing</em> like a camera bag. I just look like a guy with a soft-ish pack.</p>

<p>All the bags mentioned (save the diaper bags which require a decoy baby, and ice chest) so far scream "steal me" to any savvy thief/holdup man. And they seem too small for a wedding bag, too. You should insure your cameras, but if you use a Billingham, buy life insurance, too. :-)</p>

<p>When street photographing in hi-risk locations, specially when taking public transit there, I dress the part, and carry a battered (dragged behind my bike on a rainy day over a bouncy trail) two-compartment soft-sided lunch bag for my gear. It never gets a 2nd look.</p>

<p> To the OP: Any messenger bag can be fitted with the Domke inserts (be sure to stabilize them by fitting velcro patches inside your bag). Go to a 2nd hand shop and get one that's seen better days, but has its seams intact.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Welly,</p>

<p>once you take out your camera in that seedy place, the jig is up: everyone in the neighborhood will know you have a $5,000 Leica/Nikon/Contax/Canon/ ... rig in there.</p>

<p>So: what do you do then? I wonder if you will actually just parade your bag with goodies through seedy town, as a sort of dare or if you are going to take that camera out at least once? Do you want to take pictures? If yes, any bag will do. If not, what a waste of effort ...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Why do you care if the bag looks like a camera bag?</p>

<p>If you are actually using your camera, it's going to be rather obvious that the bag on your shoulder is holding other camera gear.</p>

<p>If you're just transporting your camera, I'd suggest that how you carry yourself is going to be a bigger factor in being mugged you than what brand your bag is. If you are worried about shooting in a shady part of town, I would suggest a threatening-looking partner would ward off more would-be thieves than a tattered bag. Once you remove your camera from the bag, your "cover" will be blown.</p>

<p>Eric</p>

<p>I really like thinktank bags they don't really look like camera bags but the do look high quality. </p>

<p>As someone already noted, the ThinkTank bags look like laptop bags. It's like disguising your Mercedes Benz as a BMW. And as someone else noted, as soon as you use your camera, the disguise is blown anyway.</p>

<p>All discussions about the usefulness or not of "doesn't look like a camera bag" bags aside, I wrote this article a while back that covers a lot of the common smaller bags that get mentioned in discussions such as these:</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/equipment/bags/small-bags</p>

<p>Old flight bags of the sort the airlines used to give away are an inexpensive possibility, but require some padding.</p>

<p>Old military gear bags can also be handy, but there are some obvious pitfalls such as using old Israeli paratrooper shoulder bags in Gaza. It's hard to find a military organization that isn't disliked by someone, someplace.</p>

<p>Crumpler is victim of their own own success. The "does not look like Camera bag" concept is so popular and all the Crumpler stores make Crumpler a target for thief.</p>

<p>I use four Domke bags, two satchels and two regular bags. Actually two of them are Chinese knock-offs, better made by far than the current Domkes (the ones that Domke are complaining about on their web site). The F-2 is my favorite but Domke now charges $200 for it! The old Domkes at least were very well made and great to work out of. You can spray the canvas bags with a Nikwax product that will make them waterproof yet leaves the canvas soft. As an all-round bag I recommend the F-2 (or the Safrotto equivalent) a bit bigger than what you have in mind but canvas collapses nicely...</p>

<p>I use a Billingham and a ThinkTank, along with a Sig and a Ruger.</p>

<p>I bought a Lowepro Flipside 400 in all black for that very reason. Looks like any other modern sportsy type backpack. Bonus-- the main compartment zipper isn't on the outside like a normal pack, it's on the inside, up against your back.<br /> <img src="http://www.lowepro.com/assets/images/featuredproducts/Flipside-400AW.jpg" alt="" width="251" height="165" /></p>

<p>Normally, I carry this monster & it just screams "mug me", wherever you are.<br>

<img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/53351.jpg" alt="" width="345" height="345" /></p>

<p>I use Timbuk2 messenger bags with Domke inserts.</p>

<p>I do recall a thread just like this one about a year ago. It was right after I picked up two Fossil messenger bags - soft, durable canvas with leather trim, plenty of pockets and adequate padding, easy (and quiet) open clasp closures and a great, comfortable, solid strap. I don't see the exact ones on the Fossil site right now, but I got both of mine on clearance for about $20 apiece.</p>

<p>They're the best non-camera camera bags I've ever used. I never use my Domke F-5 or whatever it is any more. These bags are vintage and worn looking, have plenty of room for a Leica M body and a few primes and about 10-15 rolls of film without missing a beat. Also room for all other normal gadgets, phone, notepad, etc...that photogs usually carry around. The canvas conforms to my body when I carry it, making it comfortable and secure feeling. All hardware is triple stitched and leather reinforced, better than most camera bags. It's weather resistant enough and has enough padded compartments that I don't worry about it - I'm not dropping this from a height on concrete, or checking it in at the airline counter, but you wouldn't do that with any camera bag anyway would you?</p>

<p>It really surprises me that no one seems to have discovered these as ideal for those who want a good, functional and reliable "non-camera camera bag". Give 'em a look.</p>

<p>Here's a good example of what I'm talking about. FYI.....</p>

<p>http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product____22035722_211557?departmentCategoryId=30001&N=0&Ns=p_subcategory_sequence%257c0%257c%257cp_weight%257c0&rec=11&pn=c&imagePath=MBG1123345</p>

<p>Most of Josh's recs look, er, like camera bags--the only exceptions being hi-mileage Domkes. The Billinghams are just too posh and would encourage colonial memories grudge muggings in some parts of the world. Ratty old Domke F2 bags afford a lot of invisibility.</p>

<p>An ice chest (or soft cooler bag) may look like something worth stealing if the potential thief thinks it might contain some cold beer... I think that the diaper bag is your best bet, until you take the camera out...</p>

<p>Domke canvas bags.....cut and/or destitch the logo's off....take outside to a particulairly dirty piece of ground and stomp on the sucker for awhile. instant "hi mileage" Domke</p>

<p>Love my Lowepro Flipside, except for the little orange camera-on-a-tripod emblem at the bottom. Doh!</p>

<p>Giottos Lefoto has some messenger-style and other designs that don't look like camera bags.<br>

www.giottos.com/Lefoto.htm</p>