I know the M-Classics bag has come up before, but I just looked at the site mclassics.com and it appears the bag has been redesigned. Anyone seen/used the new version? Any opinions? How does it compare to Billingham and Domke? Thanks in advance.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), March 18, 2002

Answers

I took an original M-Bag on several long trips through Europe in the mid '70s. At that time lightweight canvas instead of hard leather was a Godsend. It was the start of a wonderful trend in bag design, but has long since been superceeded. I prefer the Domke designs, because the zippered tops on Billinghams are excessively restrictive on getting the contents out in a hurry.

-- Wilhelmn (wmitch3400@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

I have a much older version of this bag, from the seventies. I have not found it too useful. Two of the front pockets are too small to accept anything but a long and skinny lens. I could put a 135mm M lens in one of them. Anything shorter is too hard to fish back out. The suspended pocket is good, but the rest of the interior (of mine) is so large that any gear placed in there would clank together. There is a divider flap, but it's pretty useless. If they had sewn another suspended pocket at the other end, it would have been handier. It doesn't have a flat bottom, and there's no padding. If you set it down hard, there would be quite a risk of damage. I would have to say a Domke is a better bag to shoot out of and store equipment. I use my classic bag to hold rain gear and first aid and flashlights in the jeep. Oh, and the front pockets are great for 16 oz. water bottles.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 18, 2002.

"Anyone seen/used the new version?"

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), March 18, 2002.

Yes, it is a nice bag...comes in black, I do not like black bags. If the new version came in light tan like the first edition I would buy one and use it. Good shooters bag.

Steven

-- Steven Alexander (alexpix@worldnet.att.net), March 18, 2002.

I have one of the original Leica bags it's copied from, and I used it quite a bit until I got a CourierWare bag with the camera liner, which I like even better. When I checked out the M-Classics bag site, though, I notice that they're improved the one thing I found nearly intolerable on the original. Notice in the last photo of the photo set how the bag hangs very open so that everything is easy to get at. That's great when you're in the bag, but the old snap and buckle system didn't encourage closing things back up, and I always felt vulnerable. I notice three big velcro pads on the new bag to close the lid--a great idea. The upside of non-padded bags is weight--the padded interior for my CourierWare bag gives really good protection, but it weighs a ton--probably doubles the weight of the bag. I just noticed a new courier-type bag from Australia that promises to be even better--the photo insert is a complete bag in itself, with a lid and a handle, and the bags seem lined with a soft terrycloth type fabric. More weight, though.

I've been using this type of bag since about 1968, and the best I've ever had (aside from the first, which my wife made from scratch) was one that LL Bean no longer makes, with a leather bottom and canvas (later, nylon) top. The thing it had that none of the others does is big pockets with zippers, for those days you really don't want to lose your passport, film, etc., all over the floor of a plane.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

By the way, it's a side issue, but I have four M-classics straps. They're exactly like Leica was making c1970, and I find them much more comfortable and reliable than anything else I've ever used.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

Douglas:

Yes. It is a great bag, holds tons of stuff, and if you get the all black one (as opposed to the black and tan) it doesn't look like there would be much of value in it. However, the black and tan one sure looks sexy! I love this bag -- perfect for a couple M's and three or four lenses!

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 18, 2002.

I also have one of the original M bags from the 70's. I consider it of practically no use as a camera bag. It is very easy for the contents to bag around, very slow to close up with buckles (velcro is NOT secure) and impossible to set the bag down without risking the contents. It is a full notch below Domke bags, which I consider just marginally effective because they lack zippers to keep dust and pickpockets out.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 18, 2002.

...And I had an older bag just like Jay is referring to, and it did the same thing. BUT the new bag is a delight!

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 18, 2002.

I've had an old style M Classics bag for a year, and like my Lietz M6, carry it 24/7. Since I only shot the M6 with the Elmar-M 50mm, it's an ideal bag for me. The camera/lens with wrist strap and Napa case easily fit in the camera body holder. The outside pockets hold a Trinovid 8x20 BC in one side, and a small Metz 32CS-2 flash in the other. The middle pocket holds a German pen, Victorinox Picknicker (no one should ever be without a corkscrew), and a small paper drawing pad. The interior holds film, out of box, and out of plastic container, in Zip Lock Freezer bag, and a Bogen Table Top Tripod (the big one). Sometimes, also a small watercolor set and drawing/sketching pad (I'm an Architect.) The rear is good for reference books, maps, magazines, etc. Obviouly, I really like this bag alot. I also have a Domke six which I use for a Nikon 90x, and a Donke satchel, which doesn't see much service now. If I ever get an M7, I will certainly get the "new" M Classics bag in all black.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

I wore out my first "Leica bag" back in the 70's

I DID get two Nikon bags... made in the size and shape of the Leica bag, but with two pockets inside instead of the flap. Still using both of 'em. They're made of blue and white canvas tho.

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), March 18, 2002.

I purchased a M-Classics Bag 2 years ago and it has a very worn-in look now. It's dirty, has tea stains, and other marks, but still holds up very well. I always wanted a Leica-M bag, but this bag does just fine.

Now last December, I picked up a MINT in the bag old Leica-M bag. The Leica bag is a bit bigger than the M-Classics bag so I use the Classics bag to hold the extra equipment. My normal gear in the Leica- M bag is: 1 M6 w/ 35/f2 lens, 1 M3 w/ 50/2 lens, 21mm Skopar, 90/2.8 Elmarit, Sekonic L-508 meter, Metz flash, 10-15 rolls of film, pocket knife, small screwdriver, pens, batteries, and anything else I can find room for.

The M-Classics bag cost me $95, the Leica-M bag cost me $0.00

I would buy another M-Classics bag, no question, but for now, the Leica bag is the user.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), March 18, 2002.

Just as an aside - does anyone have the burgundy-leather version of the original Leica bag that the M-Classics recreates? And do you still have the "Leica-label" pot of mink oil that came with it?

Tha was probably the REAL beginning of Leica-as-chi-chi-fashion- accessory. Maybe now that Hermes has bought into the operation they can bring back the Leica-leather look.

....except that Peter Hughes has ALREADY brought back the Leica-leather look (goth girls). 8^)

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), March 19, 2002.

I could have bought the burgundy color M-bag on ebay last year. Selling price was $30.00. Nobody bid on it.

No for a ugly bag, I have a Leica/Alpine Universal cold weather bag and access. lens bag. Color is off-white outside and crap brown on the inside. Leica logo in leather and also leather straps. Bag was made in 1980 and I think discontinued in 1980.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), March 20, 2002.