Better than a Billingham Bag... for a song.

[Dave Sutton]

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Greeting Gents,

 

First, let me say that this is my first post, having been a lurker here for quite some time. I started Leica Photography about 35 years ago with a IIIf, and moved thru M3, M6, and now M8 as well as the IIIf that never left my hands. Good to meet the rest of the Gents here. With that said, I'd like to offer a small tidit for contemplation.

 

When I bought my M6 some years ago, I cast my eyes about for a camera bag that was better than the khaki Israeli Surplus dispach bag that I had carried my old Nikon-F's in for years. You've all seen the bag... khaki canvas, flap with an embroidered parachute wing set, flap with clip to secure, pounch under the flap, and a compartment divided by two cloth partitions for carrying maps, etc. Upside? They are cheap, and don't attract any attention when walking in the city or elsewhere. Downside? No padding (much to the dismay of much of my old Nikon gear). The bag I settled on and bought was a Billingham Hadley Pro, which was padded and is a beautiful thing. Downside is that it shouts out "fancy cameras" when it's carried. Bottom line... it got left at home for storage, and day to day the Leica went into the old khaki bag. Bear in mind that I'm the sort that uses black tape to mask the markings on my cameras, and I hate to attract attention to myself. That Hadley bag was just too nice to use.

 

Then... today... ye-gads, man !I was playing with my kit, as we all do now and then. One of my tasks was to dump all of the accumulated crap out of my bags for the first time in eons. After I had two emply bags (and a rather eclectic pile-o-crap on the floor), inspiration struck. I slipped out the padded liner of the Hadley, slipped it into the Israeli bag, and it fits PERFECTLY. Not "almost fits" or "you can make it work", but absolutely perfectly. The two bags are *exactly* the same size, and what's more, the outer pouch on the dispach bag carries about the same amount of junk as the two outer bags of the Hadley Pro. Now I have a "stealth" bag with excellent protection and partitions. Yippee!

 

So:I n view or replicating this feat of arms for my friends, I cast my eyes about a bit, which is to say that I Googled, and find that several vendors sell the excellent insert for about US$65, and with the dispach bags running a whopping $15 on Ebay, it seems that the solution for bags is well in hand.

 

I have one of the original "really surplus" Israeli bags that I've had for over 25 years. The "reproduction" bags available are the same size and design, but vary in material somewhat. If I were buying a new one, I'd be careful to get a canvas one, and not nylon.

 

 

That's it for the tip. Anyone have any ideas on who would modify a focusing screen for a Visoflex to place outlines on it to indicate the cropped area of an M8?

 

 

Best,

 

Dave Sutton

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[woody]

Cool.

 

I bought a $7 package of camera insert material and cut it to fit perfectly in my messenger-style bag. Works like a charm. Can't find it online, but they had some in the used department at the B&H store.

 

Also, my camera strap is a wrist strap made from an old shoelace. Weird to have an $8,000 camera hanging from a shoelace, but it feels perfect.

[etp095]

Dave

did you happen to buy your paratrooper bag from bannana republic?I remember they sold them way back when they use to sell cool safari clothes(80's).I first saw those bags in their catalogues back in the 80's.

Rudy

[LuxBob]

Lost my army surplus bag. Use two billinghams now. But somtimes use other bags which I pad out with inserts from old bags. Never a perfect fit but the Velcro keeps it all together.

[Dave Sutton]

Dave

did you happen to buy your paratrooper bag from bannana republic?I remember they sold them way back when they use to sell cool safari clothes(80's).I first saw those bags in their catalogues back in the 80's.

Rudy

 

Hi Rudy: I cannot remember where I bought it. But it was back during the time when bannana republic actually did sell surplus stuff so it's possible. I think most of the original bags are long sold everywhere, but some of the copies are pretty good. I think I'll score a couple of the copies now that I know the insert will fit. Never have too many bags ready to grab and go for various types of gear.

 

Dave

 

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[farnz]

... That's it for the tip. Anyone have any ideas on who would modify a focusing screen for a Visoflex to place outlines on it to indicate the cropped area of an M8?

Dave,

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

You can modify it yourself for free! I've included below a jpeg of the M8 Viso mask that includes a number of different styles. Download the jpeg and print it onto a transparent overhead projector sheet (or colour print it and photocopy it onto the transparent sheet if that's easier). If you'd like to have the jpeg file itself, PM me your email address and I'll send it to you - it's only about 60 kB.

 

You'll need to take the glass off the top of the Viso body but that's easily done by unscrewing the four screws with a small screwdriver and pulling the plate that holds the glass upwards off its securing pegs. But here's the important bit: do this in a shoebox because under the plate are 4 tiny ball-bearings that are each held in place with a tiny spring. The shoebox will stop these from disappearing.

 

Cut out the mask you prefer, place it onto the body of the Viso and reverse the process. Putting the springs and ball-bearings back is a little fiddly but it's much easier if you turn the body and plate upside down and lower the body onto the plate after you've gently placed the ball bearings and springs in position. It's actually easier than I've made it sound.

 

Pete.

 

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[Dave Sutton]

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Thanks for the Viso templates. I know what I'll be doing tomorrow.

 

Now... where's that 400 Telyt... I know it's here someplace!

 

Dave

 

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