For anyone who is interested-- I walked by the American Eagle Outfitters store in my local mall today. In the window was a sage colored canvas shoulder bag. Picked one up-- seems reasonably durable, the insert from my tenba courier bag fits inside, and its fairly body-hugging. Certainly not attention grabbing. Only $32.00. American eagle has them on their website, www.ae.com. Goes to "mens", click on "belts and bags", its called their messenger bag. Best,

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), February 03, 2002

Answers

Marke,bags are so nice aren't they? I love my camera bag,it's a billingham 335(?).They don't start to look nice until they are at least 3 or 4 years old.I know I will be flamed for this,but I don't care......

On a sunday night I like to completley empty my camera bag,give it a hoover inside and re-pack it.Everytime I rearrange it in a slightly different way.My girlfriend thinks I am very sad.

I have a friend who does alot of climbing and mountaineering and he has the same affection toward his packpack......

-- Virgil (leicavirgin@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

Backpack.....or rucsac as we call them here in the UK

-- Virgil (leicavirgin@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

Virgil, now we really are going to be accused of being sad! I too have a 335 - bought secondhand 5 years ago at Ffordes - it is beautifully scruffy! How many secondhand camera bags have a resale value? For the Leica and travelling I now use a Billingham F4.5 - I truly believe Billingham are the best company at what they do in the world - forget Mercedes cars, Leica cameras or Rolex watches etc(!)

Even Billingham's brochure is a work of art.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 03, 2002.

Giles,never a truer word spoken!

-- Virgil (leicavirgin@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

You guys are scary!

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), February 03, 2002.

I know.

-- Virgil (leicavirgin@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002.

Giles, are you talking about Ffordes of Southend? Thats where I bought my LeicaFlex SL 8 years ago. The bloke who served me said 'I don't need to sell you this camera, do I?', nasty man was right it was love a first sight

-- Philip Woodcock (phil@pushbar.demon.co.uk), February 03, 2002.

Marke,

Remind me, what color is sage?

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 03, 2002.

My R gear goes in a Lowepro Street and Field 200. M gear goes in the new Classics M bag (a copy of the old Leitz bag). I've tried Billingham and just didn't like them as camera bags. But I've had their Metro Briefcase and Organizer for years and love them. Also carry around my recording gear in a couple of their Stowaways. Great looking bags. And I agree, their brochure is second only to Leica's.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

IMHO, the Billinghams are too fussy and slow to get into when in a hurry. Otherwise they're beautifully made, and offer top-notch protection. My favorite bag is an old Atan, the manufacturer of which I think went bankrupt after a year or so of production. At any rate, the internal walls are thin enough to not get in the way, and the top cover is unpadded (like a Domke) which means that it can be expanded over tall lenses if need be. Its smaller than the Billingham 225, and I can put in, all at once, two M-6's (one motorized), three M-lenses, a Nikon F-100 with 24-85 attached and 80-200 fixed 2.8 stored, a Metz 32MZ-3 flash, and 24 rolls of film (12 each in metal 100' bulk film cannisters) in the end pockets, maps, documents, and lens tissue in the inside docu - pouch, and have it all readily accessible! Another kit that fits in this bag is a Blad with PME-90 prism attached, 50, 80, and 120 lenses, an extra back, plus an M-6 with three M-lenses! This is a truly amazing bag, in its convenience and capacity to size ratio, nothing else has ever come close! Everyone I show this bag to is amazed and wants one. Why, oh why, did they ever stop making it?

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), February 03, 2002.

You can buy this bag for $15.00(or Cheaper) at any ARMY/NAVY store in the US. Plus it will be worn in to give it character. I think the ARMY called these ammo packs during the Korean war. AAAAAAHHHHHHH fashion. :0) scott

-- Scott Evans (scottevans@mediaone.net), February 05, 2002.