My current system includes the classic M6 with 35 summicron, 50 summicron and 90 summicron. I also carry the SF20 flash and the usual tag alongs that most camera bags hold (pens, pad, lens brush, etc.) My problem is I have about 5 camera bags in the closet and haven't been able to find the perfect Leica M system bag. I've bought the Tenba bag which they specifically said was made for the Leica system but was not happy. I have an old Domke, a Tamrac and a few others. Can anyone recommend a bag that they're happy with?

Thanks, JT

-- JT (FOTOOPP@AOL.COM), April 11, 2001

Answers

Try:

Billingham (www.billingham.com) Fogg case (http://www.tamarkin.com/catalog/products/fogg/cases.html)

Both make bags popular with Leica users.

-- Howard B (howardb@voicenet.com), April 11, 2001.

JT,I use the Domke F803 camera Satchel , room for 2-3 Leica M and lenses , sb-28 flash and a small size to boot .

-- Charles Stirk (cccstirkjr@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

I like the Domke F3X -- It holds two M bodies w/lenses plus two or three extra lenses, or one M with lens plus an extra lens or two and an SLR with small zoom attached; plus flash, film and extras, and yet carries well at your side -- and it doesn't look like a camera bag, or at least one with valuable equipment in it. The other bag I like is the "M Classics", an attractive reproduction of the earlier Leica M bag. It will hold one or two M's with three or four lenses plus flash, film and extras, and also hugs your side nicely -- but it looks like it has something valuable inside.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 12, 2001.

There's no such thing as "the right bag." It is an idea as elusive as the Loc Ness monster or a potion from a Unicorn's horn. If it holds everything, you can't carry it. If you can carry it, you've left something at home that you'll need.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 12, 2001.

I've been through a few bags. My favorite now is an Eddie Bauer waistpack that holds 3 lenses in the outer pocket., and that you can tuck a few rolls of film in. The camera always remains on my neck/shoulder.

Earlier, I had used a Leica hard case, which takes 1 M body, a few rolls of film, and two more lenses mounted back-to-back. Very usable, but I'm coming to favor waistpacks/loads because of the fatigue factor associated with over the shoulder loads. I've also used a friend's soft-case, little to choose between the two.

If your shoulders are strong, perhaps you should consider a photo waistpack, such as a Lowe or Domke, or the Billingham bags. An alternative would be a British canvas fishing bag or shooting bag such as those at

http://www.chapman-bags.co.uk

But I think a dedicated photo waistpack or daypack is the best compromise and easiest on you physically.

For a two-lens outfit, I simply use a $5 belt-pack (probably designed as a cell phone carrier). The 90 Elmarit lies sideways in it, and the outer pocket carries 5 rolls of film, batteries, and a cleaning cloth plus spare filter in a cloth flap.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 12, 2001.

Sorry, that should be "Eddie Bauer waistpack that holds 3 lenses in the outer pockets" (plural)...

Two lenses are mounted back to back with a ring adapter, and the large lens (90mm Elmarit) goes in another pocket. The fourth lens is on the camera.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 12, 2001.

Domke F6.

-- sam smith (ssmith@hotmail.com), April 12, 2001.

After buying and returning and selling MANY bags, looking for the one that suits my needs the best I've settled on a Domke F6.

-- David Cunningham (dcunningham@attglobal.net), April 12, 2001.

Your problem is having just five bags. If you look at the collection of answers you can see that there are many proper bags.

among my favorites are the Domke 803, Tumi large shoulder bag, Filson small and medium shoulder bags. The last three are not camera bags but quite sturdy and accomodating to a wide assortment of necessary tools needed for photo sessions.

When you find the ideal bag please let us all know, until then be prepared to continue purchasing, storing and using a vatiety of bags.

-- Steven Alexander (alexpix@worldnet.att.net), April 12, 2001.

The trick is to buy about 8 or 10 bags, then you'll always have one on hand that suits your mood of the moment.

My favorites are a Domke J2 for getting the whole kit from here to there, an F6 as a general-purpose bag, and a LowePro F&S Reporter 100 for going really light. A vest is also good for making that "I'm a hard-core photo geek" statement. Then again, there's no bag like no bag - a camera and lens on the shoulder, film in a pocket, and away you go.

"YMMV" has never been as appropriate as when talking about bags.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), April 12, 2001.

Isn't the F6 just the F2 without pockets? If so, I would think the pockets might be worth having, if you're going that big anyway(?)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 12, 2001.

YMMV???? (Yo Motha....???)

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 12, 2001.

Far and away, the Domke F5XB "belt and shoulder bag". Under $50 at B&H. Then get the Op-Tech SOS "Mini" strap to replace the canvas OEM strap (it makes the bag seem 50% lighter and doesn't cut into your shoulder. Leicas are small but heavy), and the Domke belt. Add a couple of dividers out of another bag to further compartmentalize it. Mine holds 2 M6's + 4 lenses (using back-to-back couplers)in a bag the size of a shaving kit, with a zippered closure plus large velcro-down flap and a waistbelt. The most compact, low-profile and secure bag you can get for the Leica, and at a fraction of the cost of Billinghams or Foggs.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

I did something similar with the Domke F6 - replaced the strap with an Op-Tech. But the reason I had to do it was because the black F6 got a little wet in the bottom of a boat. Protected my equipment just fine, but there was BLACK DYE everywhere, off the bag and off the Domke strap. The incident put me off Domkes a little, though I still like and use various models. I just don't quite trust the canvas dye anymore. The Op-Tech strap is an improvement.

Also, the F6 is definitely not an F2 without pockets. The F6 is shorter and more suitably sized to M equipment. But more often than not I wish the F6 had a couple of small side pockets, too.

I'm not sure anymore which I have more of - bags or lenses. I keep trying to thin out but I think the damn things are breeding.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

JT,

Another vote for the Domke F6. I can carry two M bodies, four lenses, a small flash, filters, film and a few other accessories with ease. It's very comfortable to carry and work out of. It's also very inexpensive and tough as nails.

The F2, which I also use for Nikon stuff, seems much larger to me; it's actually taller and the two end pockets add a lot of length. And once you start cramming stuff into all the pockets the weight starts to get uncomfortable, which sort of defeats the whole point of Leica equipment in the first place.

If you do get the F6, buy the small accessory padded insert (the F6 only comes with one four-compartment padded insert). Get either the one-compartment insert, which is good for carrying the M body with a longer lens attached, or the two compartment insert, which is good for carrying unmounted lenses/flashes/filters/etc.

The F5 "belt and shoulder" Domke bag is outstanding for carrying just one body and a couple of lenses, though not much else.

Good luck, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), April 12, 2001.

As I outlined above, the F5XB can be configured to hold a lot more than one body and a couple of lenses--twice that, easily. The main objection I have to the other Domke bags (and I've got F2, F3x, F4AF, F6, F803 and F1x--I'm a bag junkie if ever there was one!) is that the main compartments are secured only by velcro and one or two straps with metal clips. Walking through a crowded area it is entirely possible for a pickpocket to stick his/her hand into the bag and take whatever they want. It is also easy for sand and dust to get into the bags. They are also (exception of F5XB again) not well padded enough for airplane travel. After much experience with Domke bags I am convinced they (other than F5XB) are perfect for working press photographers (Jim Domke was one of those after all) whose priorities place quick access above security and protection of their equipment.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

JT; for the equipment you need to carry a Domke F5XB seems to me the perfect bag for you, the M6 with a lens, two lenses back to back (very important), your flash unit, and for sure space for film up to 8 rolls, shoulder and belt carring capabilities, special place for pen and notobook. I have made some transformation on this bag in case you care, to the tonge that covers the top I have sewn a all wide inside bag that closes with velcro and I can reach by open this tonge, great for film,up to 30 rolls of just magazine film, of course fewer film makes it more comfortable, for me using this "tonge" in the F5XB just to cover the top was a waste of posibilities. My next favourite bag is the Domke 803, this one for three bodies with itīs lenses, and the one most used is a small belt bag for a M4-P a 35 and few rolls of film, fasten to my belt from dawn to dusk.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 12, 2001.

I have a few favorite bags that I think are ideal for the Leica system most of which are mentioned already. I have 2 domke 803 satchel bags one made with the ballistic material which is a bit bigger and more padded than the standard 803 bag and a Domke F3X when I need extra space. My favorite and most used bag is the Lowepro sideline shooter waist bag. It holds 2 M6's with 24mm and 35mmn lenses attached and an additional lens, either a 50mm or a 90mm, with plenty of room for film. I carry it over a shoulder or as a fanny pack. Its well made and low profile. I am still waiting for someone to design the perfect bag.

T. Gallagher

-- T. Gallagher (tgallagher10@yahoo.com), April 12, 2001.

I actually owned The Perfect Bag, a "New Yorker JR," made by the Smith Company in Chicago and sold by Ken Hansen. Of course it was among my stuff taken years ago in a home burglary, and, also of course, is no longer made. Smith, a canvas company (tentmaker?), got into the business by making the first bags for Domke.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 12, 2001.

Firstly I think you're a normal photographer in having 5 bags and not being completely satisfied with any of them. At the moment I have the F2 Domke, the MClassics bag, and Lowe Pro Field and Street 100 and 200. Had Billingham but didn't like the buckle closure, too time consuming for street shooting, but beautiful bags, nonetheless. I find that they look the 'cheapest', but the Lowe Pros I purchased last year are the most convenient to use, plus the rain capes stop anything short of a monsoon. I use the F&S 100 for a small rangefinder kit, and the 200 for a small R kit.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), April 13, 2001.

I see we have quite a few Domke fans. The little F3, if I have the number right, does appeal for its slim hip hugging profile. But the thing about Domke bags is they have so little extra room for filters, lens hoods, tissue, and stuff. I suggest checking out the LowePro line of smaller bags. You might be surprised with how much Leica gear can go into a Nova 1, for instance. I can get in a 90 Elmarit, 50 Cron, 35 Lux, 28 Elmarit, 21/3.4 SA, finder, M6, 2 hoods, filters, brush, film, microfiber cloth, & lens caps. And this is a small, discreet bag!

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 13, 2001.

Not wanting to tempt thieves by advertising my bag's contents, I removed the padded liner from my Lowepro Street and Field bag and slipped it into (depending on a)my mood, b)the weather or c)the amount of stuff I'm lugging around) an old backpack, an old vinyl airline bag, a messenger bag... get the picture? ;o) The camera, lenses, filters, film and junk are well protected, yet who's to know that I have thousands of dollars worth of gear in there!?

-- Eugene Martinez (eumartinez@earthlink.net), April 23, 2001.

I got the domke j-803 and i am very happy.

-- pierre cantin (cantinp@videotron.ca), September 27, 2001.

I just got something I never thought I'd get - The Billingham Hadley - which is like a Domke 803 but maybe 15% more compact/lighter.

The reasons I'd never really liked the Billinghams were a) price and b) the fact that they have no slot pocket on the back, which I've always found important for notebooks, pens etc.

But I a) found one on sale for not much more than the Domke, and b) discovered that there is a thin pocket shaped void between the inner and outer layers that works very well for thin stuff like pens and notebooks. It is a great little compact bag that holds (in my case) an M with 21 and finder, 2 additional lenses, Vivitar 2800 flash, small meer, and 25-30 rolls of film, plus the slot-pocket stuff.

AND it's good old hippie-photographer-gas-mask-bag olive drab....

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), September 28, 2001.

I also like the hadley, which is good if you don't want to be super organised. Two bodies + lenses, loads of film underneath the cameras, and a flash in a central pocket I sewed inside the liner. A good bag, waterproof and comfortable to carry.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), September 28, 2001.

I use a bag made by Photologic which folds out into a camera/safari vest. Though I have never used it like that. Its a bit cheesy really for street shooting. Maybe one day when I go to the Serengeti I might be moved to use it. Thats my carry bag for my body and 2 lenses. Which I then chuck into my day pack, so its not obvious that its a camera kit bag. Then I use an old crappy Minolta bag which has a velcro top flap which I use as a substitute ever-ready case. It looks well worn to give the impression its a joe-basic camera. I have been tempted to get a 'proper' bag like the Billingham, but it looks so old fashioned, like one my Grand daddy would have used and makes you look like a real tourist. No offence to all Billingham lovers, but the ones I have seen here with the green trim and brown leather straps, oh dear...

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), September 28, 2001.

Green trim, brown straps? Sounds like that bloody fungus again...

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), September 28, 2001.

By the way, Billingham bags can be acquired at far lower cost from UK stores than from the few US retailers carrying them. Go to http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/bags.htm#LabelBillingham to see prices in British Pounds Sterling, then add 20 pounds for shipping, and use their currency converter to find the US$ price at the moment; you will find that any Billingham is far cheaper than from, say, B&H, and it should still arrive by air mail in about 7-10 days or so. Robert White seems to have the best prices currently, but I have also used www.jessops.com and found them very reliable, but their listed prices include the VAT (which is not applied to foreign orders), so multiply their prices by .85 to find out what will be charged, then add shipping and go to the currency coverter again. I got a 335 bag from Jessops for $183 including shipping, and the B&H price -- exclusive of shipping -- was $299.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), September 28, 2001.

I have a closet full of camera bags. My favorite for my M kit is the Domke F803, which is thin and packs a lot. It seems you can always get a bit more in it. If you haven't tried it check it out. But I agree with others that there is no perfect bags. I also have smaller and larger bags for my M kit. I find I have to live with a bag for a while til I know if I like it. The F803 really wears well, at least for me.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), September 29, 2001.

BTW, it isn't just the M camera users who have a closet full of skeletons (excuse me, camera bags). As a previous Nikon user and current Leica R user, I tried various brand X and Nikon bags. I even confess to having used a Halliburton hard case. Now use a Lowepro MiniTrekker and some LowePro Street/Field System units. Good shooting! LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), September 29, 2001.