X1 inconspicuous carry bag

[Chris Huck]

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While I really like a few of the high end bags out there (Luigi!), they just scream STEAL ME. On the hunt for somthing low key, I visited my local Calumet and was thrilled to find a $20 Tamrac bag that appears to have plenty of room to accomodate my handgrip and Thumbs Plus when they arrive.

 

 

 

Tamrac - Model 5689 Pro Compact Digital

[Guest badbob]

Who would be the thieves in the former case? And would the bag have to be laid down somewhere for them to grab it and run? I'm not inclined to put my beautiful Leica X1 into a peasant bag, short of dire necessity. Heck, I was walking through a mall in Chattanooga TN once wearing a gold Rolex Presidente, and a dozen or so Crips walked by and said "nice watch". I nodded and kept moving. If you're afraid of theft, my advice is one: use a shoulder bag and never set it down, and two: dress like a cop.

[brill64]

..left out on a sofa like that, it's bound to get nicked:D

 

well, seriously though, your bag choice is not to be barked at. but inconspicuous bag, conspicuous camera? it's a fine line between because the camera is out in the open when you're using it, people are going to notice it if you like it or not. the whole point of having an x1 is to use it. same with an iphone, ipod or diamond studded gold rolex watch. it doesn't have to be a leica to get it pinched, of course. it could be any camera or phone or whatever. i see giant canon posters everywhere here in the city, it's a household name. my viewpoint is that leica m and x cameras are a lot less canikon generic looking to most people thereby making them less desirable and easy to pass on for a thief. to the uninitiated they even appear quite drab and old fashioned in an age when everything has to look new and upgraded every five minutes. i'm not saying it wouldn't get stolen if you had it left out but as with all things in life, vigilance and common sense will be as effective a deterrent as hiding your camera in an inconspicuous bag. or dressing like a policeman;)

[wda]

Chris, welcome to the forum!

 

You do have a point about travelling as unobtrusively as possible. The camera does not need to be dangled around you neck at all times. One thing you will learn on any forum is that you rarely find a uniform response. Bags are such individual possessions. My advice is to sound out opinions and research the threads before you buy any Leica item and then choose what suits you. Your Tamrac looks ideal for the purpose except for those owners who wish to display their Leica credentials.

[phancj]

Have been looking for an inconspicuous case too as I travel to places where security may be an issue, and that is precisely why I bought the X1: Nice images, small size and portable...tried the Leica leather case at the shop where I bought the camera, it was very well made and screams quality, but apart from being far from inconspicuous, the weight was in my opinion too much for my belt (not that comfortable if the case itself weighs so much).

 

Tried at first using my lens cases for my belt (lowepro) and that worked out ok, although the case juts out a little too much, then I found amongst my stuff this belt pouch I bought (lowepro also) a while back supposedly made of 95% recycled PET bottles and have been using it for a while. I also put a lenspen and spare battery if required plus extra SDs so it works out great, and virtually no weight too.

 

However, truth is I am still looking for the perfect case for my belt....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You do have a point about travelling as unobtrusively as possible. The camera does not need to be dangled around you neck at all times. One thing you will learn on any forum is that you rarely find a uniform response. Bags are such individual possessions. My advice is to sound out opinions and research the threads before you buy any Leica item and then choose what suits you. Your Tamrac looks ideal for the purpose except for those owners who wish to display their Leica credentials.

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[Guest badbob]

Finally got a pic of the X1 in the Leica bag - very inconspicuous since it's a shoulder carry, vertical format, and nearly invisible to people when carrying.

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[phancj]

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That's the bag that I tried at the store, beautiful bag, nice logo embossed onto the leather, exact fit, gorgeous looking but hardly inconspicuous..haha..I really loved it except for 2 gripes: 1) It felt too heavy for me, especially since I rather wear it on my belt than sling it, 2) The flash pops out annoyingly like 50% of the time when I tried it several times...other than that, to me it is indeed a masterpiece, and extremely great build quality!

[jorismichielsen]

But is there space for the hand grip, neck strap or viewfinder, in the Leica case or Tamrac case?

[dickgrafixstop]

Suggest two options - first is Naneu Pro Military Ops delta bag. Big enough for the X1 plus chargers etc, will fit on your belt and is rugged nylon. Second is the Billingham

Pola bag, (there are two other Billingham belt type bags that would also work). Difference is price - $30 for the Naneu, about $100 for the billingham. Pay your money, take your

choice.

[Chris Huck]

There is plenty of room for original neckstrap and handgrip with the Tamrac above. Nicely padded and lightweight too.

[jorismichielsen]

Thanks Chris, I am still waiting for my X1 to arrive, but was already figuring out which bag to use. I have an old undefined camera bag, which the local store owner offered me when I bought my Olympus Superzoom 140S some decades ago ;-). It just looks a bit like you Tamrac bag, so I guess I will use this one over de expensive and 'posh' half cases or original Leica bag.

[Guest badbob]

That's the bag that I tried at the store.... gorgeous looking but hardly inconspicuous....

 

I've gotten used to wearing dark clothing when photographing, so as not to scare off wild animals and birds - so the dark X1 bag is very inconspicuous when I'm wearing it. I should mention that I do not use the "cross body" carry, I use shoulder only, so I don't have the strap pulling on my neck, and the case is much less conspicuous that way.

[artyca]

That's the bag that I tried at the store, beautiful bag, nice logo embossed onto the leather, exact fit, gorgeous looking but hardly inconspicuous..haha..I really loved it except for 2 gripes: 1) It felt too heavy for me, especially since I rather wear it on my belt than sling it, 2) The flash pops out annoyingly like 50% of the time when I tried it several times...other than that, to me it is indeed a masterpiece, and extremely great build quality!

 

I also got the Leica carrying case and initially, the flash kept popping out when the camera was pulled out of the case, but after awhile (when the case gets worn in), it doesn't happen anymore. Another grudge that i'm facing however is that sometimes when opening the case, the plastic lens cap falls out!

 

Besides these issues, the case is beautifully made and really complements the X1...

[Guest badbob]

I also got the Leica carrying case and initially, the flash kept popping out when the camera was pulled out of the case, but after awhile (when the case gets worn in), it doesn't happen anymore. Another grudge that i'm facing however is that sometimes when opening the case, the plastic lens cap falls out!

Besides these issues, the case is beautifully made and really complements the X1../quote]

 

This is where I have bad news - after 54 days of use, the bag may be breaking in, but that doesn't solve the problem of the lens cap being popped off by the bag. I have a feeling that whether it does pop off at any given time is just dependent on how the camera might be wedged into the top part of the case where the lens fits (I don't see any way to control that), and maybe humidity levels or heat that can expand or contract the leather in the area where the lens goes.

[artyca]

badboy, that's bad news indeed... which raises the question to Leica again - why isn't there an attachment cord for the lens cap ala D-Lux4 ?!!

[brill64]

I also got the Leica carrying case and initially, the flash kept popping out when the camera was pulled out of the case, but after awhile (when the case gets worn in), it doesn't happen anymore. Another grudge that i'm facing however is that sometimes when opening the case, the plastic lens cap falls out!

 

Besides these issues, the case is beautifully made and really complements the X1...

 

try putting the camera into the case the opposite way around, then you won't accidentally release the flash when taking it out. re the lens cap falling off, put it on with the "leica" logo reading the correct way up in relation to the camera, ie., with the buttons to either side of the lens (as against above and below) when putting the camera away

[jsrockit]

Retrospective™ 10 (Pinestone) Shoulder Bag = Think Tank

[ChiILX1]

Guys- I'm about to give up one of my favorite designers... you can thank me later.

I have the weekender for weekend trips / books, the briefcase for my MacBooks Pro, and now the 04 bag for the X1. It's perfect, unique, padded, has a belt / strap loop on the back. The designer is a cool guy so I figure I might as well help him out:

 

CARGA

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[davidhunternyc]

That Carga Bag is truly beautiful! Thanks for posting it.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[h00ligan]

I'm carrying mine in a crumpler 3 million dollar home - because It allows me to carry a microfibre towel, and store whichever glasses aren't being worn (sun or indoor), as well as a few other things like extra card, plenty of space for another battery, etc.

 

 

For size comparison.. it can carry a small dslr with smaller lens attached, and it's not expensive. There are also velcro silencers so you can just use the clasp - for the life of me I can't figure that part out though - although I haven't really searched, it's not obvious to me how to disable the velcro. The inside is lined with a soft microfiberish material... and I don't consider it an ugly case. There is a dividing insert. I carried x1 and gf1 in the same bag the other day. snug but fit.