Premium camera bags - which one??

[kanzlr]

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I used FOGG and Billinghams. While nice, they are unnecessarily heavy and bulky. I sold them and got a small Domke F-5XB cheaply, maybe I get a used Ona Bowery, because it looks so nice, but really, the high end bags, while super nice to look at, are oftentimes more of a hinderance than anything else. For heavier equipment than an M+film+two lenses I got a MindShift Rotation backback, which is so much nicer to carry and use during hikes and city trips than any of these shoulder bags, but it still just as accessible.

[platypus]

I hope the new bag doesn't have these issues.

 

Jeff

 

Jeff,

Yikes...that is terrifying to behold!! I hadn't seen that thread....thanks for drawing my attention to it! Utterly rotten quality control by ONA.

That sort of problem can occur with leather though; I have had a very nasty buster from a horse because the stitching on a fairly new stirrup leather parted company with itself....it can happen.

Of course I immediately rushed to check the straps and the stitching on my bag, which seems to be okay, as far as I can tell. I will certainly be keeping a very close eye on it for the remainder of it's life and I certainly won't be taking any motorcycle rides with it!

[bocaburger]

There are a lot of premium camera bags to be had these days - from the ones I have seen on the web, the six that are linked below seem to be the best offerings.

 

 

Dothebag Mono_04 - Leather camera bag

 

ONA Berlin II Camera Messenger Bag (Vintage Bourbon) ONA028TN-2

 

Medium 14" Newport voyager Camera Bag Made in the U.S.A. - 14-150-35-02 - Copper River Bag Co.

 

Shop Gadget Bag | Saddleback Leather Co.

 

Oberwerth "Freiburg"

 

b-laika

 

LOLOLOL I'm really glad you don't count Billingham's as premium bags. Makes me feel much less like a poseur being the owner of 5 of them plus the Rucksack

[Niko]

No one mentioned Wotancraft yet! wotancraft

[nicolaz]

I found this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/207260913/camera-bag-messenger-bag-waxed-cotton

It's not premium but it looks good and they have a smaller one which I ordered..

[Torgian]

Unfortunatley most leather bag manufacturers do not use the best leather for the price they charge. Saddleback is the only one that uses full grain and charges a good price for their stuff. Cheaper than a billingham? No. Will it last forever? Uh, yeah.

 

I have to say though, I think my favorite bag is the Billingham. It's so easy to get in and out of, and has saved my own camera a few times.

[Herr Barnack]

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LOLOLOL I'm really glad you don't count Billingham's as premium bags. Makes me feel much less like a poseur being the owner of 5 of them plus the Rucksack

Maybe that's due to the fact that I have seen videos of Bruce Gilden doing street photography with a beat to shit Billingham bag in tow.

 

I think of Billingham bags as middle ground between working photographer's bags such as Domke, Lowepro, Think Tank, etc. and the luxury brands like Fogg, Hermes, etc.

 

Billinghams are a bit on the pricy side, but still within reason; the fact that they are well made, solid, dependable durable and beautiful makes them worth the price.

 

At $659 USD, the cost of Billingham's flagship bag (the 550) pales in comparison to Fogg's flagship (the Concerto 15th) which goes for $2595 USD.

 

JMHO/YMMV.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Carlos Danger

[Jeff S]

I think of Billingham bags as a stepping stone between working photographer's bags such as Domke, Lowepro, Think Tank, etc. and the luxury brands like Fogg, Hermes, etc.

 

Yet you included ONA in your 'premium' bag list along with Fogg, etc.? See link in post #19.

 

I have a near 20 year old b-laika, rather plain all-black, that you'd hardly describe as luxury in appearance…still does the job, though. But I wouldn't buy a new one at today's prices….and I think Fogg lost its supplier of deep black fabric. When I recently needed a bigger bag to travel with laptop, I ended up with the Billingham Hadley Pro, all black, instead of ONA (which I compared) and instead of now crazy Fogg prices.

 

Jeff

[Herr Barnack]

Yet you included ONA in your 'premium' bag list along with Fogg, etc.? See link in post #19.

 

I have a near 20 year old b-laika, rather plain all-black, that you'd hardly describe as luxury in appearance…still does the job, though. But I wouldn't buy a new one at today's prices….and I think Fogg lost its supplier of deep black fabric. When I recently needed a bigger bag to travel with laptop, I ended up with the Billingham Hadley Pro, all black, instead of ONA (which I compared) and instead of now crazy Fogg prices.

 

Jeff

I tend to think of ONA leather camera satchels as premium bags due to their leather construction, although they are admittedly less costly than Fogg bags. I suppose it's not a scientific approach but in some way leather = premium camera bag to some of us, even if that line of thinking is not exactly flawless.

 

Based on the post you linked to in #19 above, it seems that ONA's workmanship and reliability are decidedly not on par with their prices; for that reason, I will stick with my Billingham and Domke bags. They do not hazard my M cameras and lenses the way ONA's sub par straps would.

[Nathan King]

Of the bags listed I only have experience with Fogg. I own the "Bumble Bee" model, which is no longer made but very close to the current "B-Major." The bag goes everywhere I do, has been carried on to an airplane countless times, and is still in perfect shape (except for the fact that the leather strap pad and rear of the bag have taken on the contours of my shoulder and hip). It kept my Leica dry during a sudden torrential downpour in New York City. The "b-laika" will exceed your expectations.

[Herr Barnack]

Here's another one that some may find desirable: Box Camera Bag - Compact Leather Camera Bag | Hard Graft

[DigitalHeMan]

Mmm not for me. Looks like a cross between a doctors bag and a pair of running shoes.

[Gibbo]

Those laces would wind me up very quickly.

[erlin1]

I easily have 10 or 15 bags of all sizes. Most are not specifically made for cameras, although I do have a Billingham bag. I find that there is no perfect bag, unless you always carry the same equipment. I have a couple of small bags for when I carry just one Leica, an extra lens, and film. But that doesn't work when I take 2 35mm cameras, or when I take the Hasselblad with me.

[efreed2754]

Boy a lot of varying opinions. Have used Fogg exclusively for past 15 years for both M and Flex.

 

For M used a B Minor all this time. It holds an M and five lenses if put two back to back with room for other items galore. Size seems perfect pour moi.

 

Doesn't look fancy as just leather trim and weighs nothing or as close to nothing as possible. Material water proof as suggested. With close to dozen trips to Europe, Russia and Asia, so far no problems as bags don't look fancy. Now the camera's looks have drawn attention but not the bag.

 

Do use a B Major when long trips and want a flex lens for M. Higher and longer than B Minor so prefer B Minor when can.

 

Does seem to have gotten more expensive yet never cheap. Hey $500-$600 doesn't seem that dear when equipment worth $20,000++.

[efreed2754]

Boy a lot of varying opinions. Have used Fogg exclusively for past 15 years for both M and Flex.

 

For M used a B Minor all this time. It holds an M and five lenses if put two back to back with room for other items galore. Size seems perfect pour moi.

 

Doesn't look fancy as just leather trim and weighs nothing or as close to nothing as possible. Material water proof as suggested. With close to dozen trips to Europe, Russia and Asia, so far no problems as bags don't look fancy. Now the camera's looks have drawn attention but not the bag.

 

Do use a B Major when long trips and want a flex lens for M. Higher and longer so prefer B Minor when can.

 

Does seem to have gotten more expensive yet never cheap. Hey $500-$600 doesn't seem that dear when equipment worth $20,000++ and lasts 15 years.

[Rick]

I thought, that maybe... I probably should just skip this, but somehow I just can't... ok here it is. This is a site you camera bag guys might enjoy: http://www.thebagforum.com

[robert_parker]

There are a lot of premium camera bags to be had these days - from the ones I have seen on the web, the six that are linked below seem to be the best offerings. I am wondering if there are forum members out there who can give a bit of information and/or thoughts on any of these bags.

 

Any insights that can be offered will be greatly appreciated.

 

The bags you suggest and the others discussed all have strong reputations but you need to be prepared for the fact that many may be quite heavy to carry for a days shooting, as well as quite uncomfortable to be hitting you in the back or side as you carry them around - some might also be inconvenient to remove and replace camera gear quickly and easily on the move.

 

I have used a Case Logic bag for a number of years now which seemed quite expensive at over £120 but fits nicely against the back and is made of a cool and comfortable fabric, as well as having capacity for may cameras and lenses, without seeming over large (it's known to a number of the London forum members as 'The Tardis Bag' because of what I can carry in it, which in weight terms can be as much as 7-11kg.

 

I'm not sure whether this would count as a premium bag or not but it certainly works beautifully, with the compartments all in the right places and the magnetic catches are a joy to use when you need to move quickly.

[K-Photo]

I use a Fogg b-laika ( "my bag" ) and a Oberwerth Freiburg, which both are well made, but different and I can recommend both, simply depends on personal preferences.

 

...Keep it simple, you don't need to be trying to make a statement with your bag.

 

Do I want to make a statement with my bag? Not really.

 

But I really appreciate a good craftsmanship and I am willing to pay for it.

And when I can support a really small company like Fogg or a bag handmade in Germany I rather do this than buying a "stylish" bag from a company getting their products manufactured in the Dominican Republic , etc..

 

Jochen

Edited November 29, 2014 by K-Photo

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Naper]

Love my Fogg bag. Looks great, well made.

Hand made in France. Nice people to do business with.

I would buy another one in a heart beat !!

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