sean_reid Posted May 31, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 31, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just got a copy of this bag to review and I like it. Thanks to Guy Mancuso for pointing it out to me and writing about it here on the forum. I'll give some quick feedback here and would be happy to hear from anyone else who is using the bag and has comments. 1. Outside pocket actually holds 4 of my RF lenses without stacking. That was a welcome surprise. I'm temporarily using a Lowepro divider to make the last section. Overall, the bag holds seven lenses and could probably hold 8 (6 in the smaller compartment) if a few of the lenses were the little CV Skopars. 2. The main pocket, as I expected, holds the M8 with a medium size lens as well as two largish RF lenses. Both sections are lined in a nice soft material. 3. The zippers don't seem like they would provide the best rain protection. I do find that they make things quite accessible, though. 4. The simple appearance of the bag is certainly welcome. In addition to bodies and lenses, I carry many SD cards, extra batteries, filters, etc. Space for these items could be better thought out and better organized, esp. for the SD cards. Anyone else who wants to chime in before I write the review (need to use it for awhile as well) please feel free. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 31, 2007 Posted May 31, 2007 Hi sean_reid, Take a look here A+A Image Smith Bag. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
woodyspedden Posted June 1, 2007 Share #2 Posted June 1, 2007 Sean I have been using the AA Image Smith bag for about 4 months now and really love it. it takes the pounding I give it with aplomb and keeps my gorgeous chrome silver m lenses in tip top condition. I can put the body and seven lenses into the case with only two stacks in the main compartment. This covers most of my needs although if the case were a little taller I could fit more of the longer lenses (75 cron, 90 Cron Apo, and 135 Apo Telyt) without issue. As you are aware, the second compartment is quite short so none of these lenses will fit there. And if you put say the 75 and 135 in the main compartment along with the body the number of lenses you can carry goes down to five. perhaps you can squeak it to six by putting the CV 15 4.5 in a soft pouch on top of the 75 cron.) If I were designing this bag I would put two closable pouches on the ends to provide space for the SD cards etc without fear of losing them. The back pouch with the single snap closure allows the cards to fall out which is not a good thing. All in all i have not yet found the perfect bag but at 70 years old and being a photographer for at least 50 years i have yet to find the perfect bag for any of my systems. That is why i have closets full of bags that about once every two years i have to explain to my wife. luckily, if you choose to look at it this way, my wife has a closet full of handbags which cost way more than most of my camera bags so my best defense is a great offense when i point out to her how much investment is in those bags. Hopefully some of this diatribe is useful to you regarding your review. Best and keep up the great work Woody Spedden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted June 1, 2007 Hi Woody, You wrote: "If I were designing this bag I would put two closable pouches on the ends to provide space for the SD cards etc without fear of losing them. The back pouch with the single snap closure allows the cards to fall out which is not a good thing." That's what I was thinking too, the back pouch is indeed too insecure for SD cards, etc. Thanks for the feedback. You're right that there's room for those pouches on the ends. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted June 1, 2007 Share #4 Posted June 1, 2007 Sounds interesting but I'd love to see pictures or have a link to their web site. Tried googling but got lots of sites about AA batteries 8-( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted June 1, 2007 Share #5 Posted June 1, 2007 Duh. Found it. It didn't register that A+A was Artisan & Artist Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted June 1, 2007 Share #6 Posted June 1, 2007 Sean there is a inside pouch on the bottom section with netting i put cards and batteries in there. My config is 2 M8 on the top with medium size lens 50 the longest than i put 4 lenses in the bottom row. My mid-size bag for small I use the Osker and full i want it all a Think Tank Antidote back pack and it holds a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Campbell Posted June 1, 2007 Share #7 Posted June 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I use two kinds of bags - a mule bag to carry everything onto the plane, and a walk around bag. I find the Imagesmith to be uncomfortably in between. As a walk around bag I love the flexibility of the A&A Oskar - there are many threads on it. I've had many, many bags and the Oskar is hands down my favorite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted June 1, 2007 Sean there is a inside pouch on the bottom section with netting i put cards and batteries in there. My config is 2 M8 on the top with medium size lens 50 the longest than i put 4 lenses in the bottom row. My mid-size bag for small I use the Osker and full i want it all a Think Tank Antidote back pack and it holds a lot. Hi Guy, Yes, I've got filters in there right now but that inside pouch isn't in a great location for me to get to SD cards quickly - like during a wedding when things are moving very quickly. Thanks, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted June 1, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 1, 2007 May have to add something to the strap. A lot of times there is room between the padding and the canvas and i stick stuff in there alao like a lens cloth and my card holder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted June 1, 2007 Share #10 Posted June 1, 2007 My friend and i will start having AAA meetings. I bought the Oskar Daybag and just ordered the Imagesmith. I also bought the Navy blue camera strap with the white stitching because it would look great on a future silver M8. My friend owns a Salgado reporter satchel and an Evans Walker Bag. He also just ordered an Imagesmith and is hoping to find an Oskar Day bag soon. I myself would love to get one of the Evans Walkers he owns. We decided what we need is AAA meetings to curb our spending. Anybody else ready for Artisan and Artists Anonymous? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted June 1, 2007 Share #11 Posted June 1, 2007 As i wrote in Carsten's thread, i recently bought the update to the Salgado Satchel from PhotoVillage, and found it to be an almost indestructible, superbly built bag. The soft inserts excellently cradle the cameras and lenses, while still being strong enough to keep the M6 + heavy lens upright. As i wrote there, and as people are echoing here with other bags, the pouches under the satchel's flap are real easy to reach into from the side (great when i'm pulling out my cellphone, not so great when someone else is doing it), and also the large pocket against the user's body (ideal for passports, papers and other valuables - if it had a zipper) is actually only useful for slipping in a newspaper or magazine, instead, because it's so open with only a single central snap on a pen-holder (ironically the pen-holder always keeps the pocket slightly open). The downside to only having a zippered pocket actually on the outside of the front flap, is that every time you open the bag everything in that pocket gets turned upside down and jumbled together, in addition to the inherently less secure position compared with against the user's body. Still, the A&A bag is head and shoulders above all other photo-bags i've ever used, and definitely recommended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 1, 2007 Share #12 Posted June 1, 2007 As i wrote in Carsten's thread, i recently bought the update to the Salgado Satchel from PhotoVillage. Do you have a link for this? Can't find it on the PhotoVillage site... A+A yes, but this one, no. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted June 1, 2007 Share #13 Posted June 1, 2007 Do you have a link for this? Can't find it on the PhotoVillage site... A+A yes, but this one, no. I think they haven't had time(?) to update the PhotoVillage site, in fact - and i was never really sure about the status of this bag vis-á-vis the Salgado, but when i tried to order the out-of-stock Salgado Satchel they offered me this (at a slightly lower price): ACAM 7000 The AAA site is a little shaky on my Mac, so I hope the link works for you. The PhotoVillage guys were great by the way - polite, efficient and fast - very nice to deal with. Ideally though I would've liked to have seen the bag before buying - kinda sad that no-one seems to import and sell in Europe. I personally hate bags that proclaim "this is a camera bag!!" The A&A bags don't do that - which is great - but if I'd been able to handle the bags and compare them, i might have actually chosen a slightly smaller bag than the ACAM7000. PS: re-reading your post i just realized that maybe you didn't see that the US A&A site is run by PhotoVillage? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted June 1, 2007 Share #14 Posted June 1, 2007 Mani - thanks... I'll have a look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haribo Posted June 1, 2007 Share #15 Posted June 1, 2007 Sorry for thread jacking .... Just called PhotoVillage and inquired about the ACAM 7100 - Oskar's One Day Bag. Been told they are at least for another one or two month out of stock. Dang! If somebody has one and wants to sell it, please email me at: haraldbenz at rogers dot com Sorry, I'm getting desperate ;-) PS: For anybody interested, they told me they do have an ACAM 7200 in stock. Compared to the 'Oskar' smaller by about one third and it has a leather flap instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Metroman Posted June 1, 2007 Share #16 Posted June 1, 2007 I have the Walker-Evans version and really love it. It is small but can take my MP & CL or MP & D2. Front pocket has the D2 hood, SF24D flash, spare batteries, film and SD cards. Being small it doesn't scream 'camera'. I was lucky as I got mine from the London stockist just before they stopped stocking A&A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted June 1, 2007 Share #17 Posted June 1, 2007 Harald, check out my Artisan & Artist 7100 thread. There is information for how to order from Japan. It doesn't take long and isn't expensive. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/24846-artisan-artist-acam-7100-mini-review.html?highlight=artisan+Artist+7100 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haribo Posted June 1, 2007 Share #18 Posted June 1, 2007 Harald, check out my Artisan & Artist 7100 thread. There is information for how to order from Japan. It doesn't take long and isn't expensive. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/24846-artisan-artist-acam-7100-mini-review.html?highlight=artisan+Artist+7100 Thanks for reminding me Carsten. i sent them an email. Btw, PhotoVillage told me the ACAM 7100 is even in Japan sold out We'll see about that. Anyhow, I know that Canada Customs is kinda brutal when it comes to goods coming in from Japan. Hope, I won't regret ordering ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted June 2, 2007 Share #19 Posted June 2, 2007 After my thread, I received a second one by mistake, sold it on, and several other people from here ordered as well. I am not aware of them having run out... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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