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Bags, again

rob_w

By rob_w
in Customer Forum

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rob_w

rob_w

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I am looking for a combination business / camera backpack.

 

My business backpack is on its last legs and I am looking for another. These days I carry hardly any paper - at most a few sheets of A4 which could slip in with the laptop - but I do carry 3 or 4 chargers, half a dozen cables, laptop, iPad, book to read and, of course, my beloved M9, squeezed in with a bit of makeshift padding.

 

Browsing the backpacks available, there are now a few camera backpacks with space for all the above, which would have the advantage of proper padding for the M9. I don't want or need a full-on camera backpack for SLR + zoom lenses, but I am thinking I should conduct my search in the camera section rather than the business section.

 

I wondered if anyone else had the same thought and any recommendations or experience. It's pretty difficult to assess the real size, quality and usability of these bags just using a browser.

 

It has been a while since there was a 'bag' thread so don't stone me to death. :)

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cocker

cocker

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The fifth noble truth. There is no perfect bag.

The sixth noble truth. You need ten.

The seventh noble truth. You will still not be satisfied

 

Rewind to the first noble truth.

 

Good luck

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Printmaker

Printmaker

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I use this when traveling. My M9 goes in one pocket. Lenses in the other. Or I'll take the insert out of my Billingham bag and put it in the backpack. If I know I'm going to be on the water, I'll put everything in my Pelican 1200 and put that in the backpack.

 

Waxed Cotton Continental Rucksack: Backpacks | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

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StephenPatterson

StephenPatterson

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I've been using luggage and briefcases from Filson for years. The quality is first class, with heavy canvas and bridle leather construction. They also come with a lifetime guarantee, which I have put to the test on one occasion. A small duffle bag which has been on more trips than I care to remember had the stitching tear on one of the handles. The bag was replaced with a new one, along with a "thank you for being a loyal customer" note.

 

The simple addition of a Domke insert or two will turn any of these into a first class camera/work/bag/pack.

 

Stephen

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FlashGordonPhotography

FlashGordonPhotography

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I am looking for a combination business / camera backpack.

 

My business backpack is on its last legs and I am looking for another. These days I carry hardly any paper - at most a few sheets of A4 which could slip in with the laptop - but I do carry 3 or 4 chargers, half a dozen cables, laptop, iPad, book to read and, of course, my beloved M9, squeezed in with a bit of makeshift padding.

 

Browsing the backpacks available, there are now a few camera backpacks with space for all the above, which would have the advantage of proper padding for the M9. I don't want or need a full-on camera backpack for SLR + zoom lenses, but I am thinking I should conduct my search in the camera section rather than the business section.

 

I wondered if anyone else had the same thought and any recommendations or experience. It's pretty difficult to assess the real size, quality and usability of these bags just using a browser.

 

It has been a while since there was a 'bag' thread so don't stone me to death. :)

 

Your choices are going to be limited to the size of your laptop. How big is it? And could you leave at home and only take the iPad with a keyboard? Then you also loose a charger and cables. The book could go to the iPad as well if you're desperate to keep the size down. Up to 15" there are lots of choices from the major players. For a 17" the only one I've ever seen that I liked was the Thinktank Shape Shifter.

 

Gordon

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thighslapper

thighslapper

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I tend to use a Tesco plastic bag if I'm taking only a few lenses ....or a Morrisons one if I'm travelling well tooled up....:D

 

Well.... you did ask.....

 

This is one question where you will get so many different opinions that it is almost pointless asking......

 

The general rule of thumb is to keep buying new ones and when one is till being used after a month and not been consigned to the loft you will know you have the right one.....;)

 

If you would like to try some of the large stockpile I have lurking under the tiles you are welcome.....

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rob_w

rob_w

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Thanks for the feedback so far. I have narrowed my search down to the Nat Geographic National Geographic Walkabout Collection Medium: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

and this one from Lowepro: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Fastpack-250-Backpack-Notebook/dp/B000YIYQ30/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1323952775&sr=1-2

 

Both of this bags allocate about 1/4 of their capacity to safe camera & lens storage, with remaining sections for normal business backpack purposes: laptop, A4 papers, pockets, other stuff.

 

Ideally I would still like to see one or both of these in real life, or hear from someone who uses one, before pulling the trigger.

 

Per the accumulated 'bag wisdom' above, I already have a range of bags for various purposes, so the last thing I need is to buy yet another bag and not use it.

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bill

bill

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Bear in mind that most photo backpacks are designed to accommodate a big fat DSLR; your M9 will rattle about. I have a small Samsonite backpack for business use when in the fetid metropolis of London. It will take a laptop and a Hadley Small insert for photo use.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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pgk

pgk

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I tend to use a Tesco plastic bag if I'm taking only a few lenses ....or a Morrisons one if I'm travelling well tooled up....:D

You have to be careful though, Co-op bags degrade fairly quickly and using an older one can be dodgy. Here in Wales they have started charging for them too.......

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StephenPatterson

StephenPatterson

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I am looking for a new camera pack too. I am torn between this one ONA | DSLR Camera and Laptop Backpack | Waxed Canvas and Leather Backpack

 

- and this one Rucksack | Filson

although it does not have a padded camera insert. :(

 

My wife was very nice and had Santa give me an early Christmas present of an Ona Camps Bay backpack. Here are some of my first impressions.

 

The Ona is extremely well made, easily on par with the Filson. The canvas is heavy and rugged and all the hardware, buckles and zippers are first class. This is reassuring as this backpack is stupid expensive. The Ona Camps Bay is MUCH larger than an average shoulder bag, and could easily hold more Leica gear than anyone would want to carry. The good news is that you have extra room to stow items like a jacket, sweater, extra socks as well as camera gear. I would say that you could easily fit 2 M bodies, 4 lenses, an X1 or X100, batteries and chargers, all the filters, cleaning stuff, and still have room for more without using the top shelf space, which is accessed through the top of the pack. The shelf is adjustable, so you can position it for more or less space at the top of the pack, or remove it altogether. On the sides of the pack are two deep pockets, and my Gitzo GT1542T will fit there (actually 2 legs and the center column fit inside the pocket and one leg is left out, but the pocket is deep enough that it's a solid fit and should not come loose or move around. Ona supplies 2 velcro straps with the internal dividers, and in the photo below I have used one to wrap around the top leg of the tripod, securing the strap to the inside of the pack. Isn't velcro wonderful stuff? Now, these straps were not meant for this purpose, so I plan to find some longer, less wide straps to wrap around the tripod and to get a more secure attachment on the inside of the top compartment. I could also remove the top shelf and carry the Gitzo inside the center section of the backpack, still leaving a ton of room for cameras, lenses, etc.

 

One negative about the Ona is the number of dividers that are supplied with the backpack. In the photo below I've added 2 rounded dividers from my Think Tank Airport travel case. FYI, the Ona is only just smaller than the Think Tank Airport International, and that holds WAY more gear than I would want to carry.

 

Below are a couple of photos showing the Ona backpack. I've only had this bag for a few days, so this is definitely not how I will be loading it, but I wanted to give you an idea of what it would hold for a Leica user. As you can see I have my M9-P with 21/3.4 attached, an X1, an M2 with 35/3.5, The 0-Series replica, 2 more lenses, charger and cord, and I still have 2 regular and 2 large compartments that are unused, and this is just the bottom half of this bag. There is still the upper shelf to store more items. If I removed the shelf then my Gitzo tripod can easily fit in the center compartment, leaving 8 storage compartments for cameras, lenses and accessories.

 

I'm really looking forward to putting this backpack through it's paces in China next year. Of course I will not be walking around with 4 bodies, 5 lenses etc. as shown below but with an M9, 2 or 3 lenses, maybe an X1 and a tripod for those long night exposures this should do nicely, while still leaving lots of room for things like, oh, water!!! And antacids for Sichuan hot pot meals...

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post I've used Filson luggage and briefcases for years, and they're first class. They have a lifetime "no questions asked" warranty, which is now almost unheard of. The Ona by comparison has a one year warranty. The Filson straps on the rucksack are bridle leather, unlike the padded straps of the Ona, and will not be as comfortable with heavy loads or long durations. Also, even though the dimensions for both the Filson and Ona are very close, the Filson has a rounded top section which limits it's internal capacity.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Stephen

 

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rob_w

rob_w

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I decided to order the Nat Geo sight unseen (this one: National Geographic Walkabout Collection Medium: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics).

 

I am not looking for a full-fledged camera bag -- I have a Hadley and other bags for that purpose. I want a business backpack which will safely carry the M9 and maybe one extra lens when I am on business trips. Will report back here once it arrives and has had a test drive.

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