Of Bags and Cases

[GarethC]

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Some thoughts and questions for the people who have had the M8 dangling around their neck for longer than me.

 

I know, it's the inevitable bag thread. Hopefully with a different twist.

 

Here's where I'm coming from. I've carried alot of camera gear, a DSLR, primes, filters, kitchen sink, neighbour's dog etc etc. My newly acquired M8 and 28/2.8 Elmarit will, I'm sure be the mainstay. I anticipate getting a CV 15 and a 75 or 90 of some kind to complete the set as it were.

 

I would really like to be carrying a camera and one lens besides at a time for the most part. Otherwise, I might as well carry the DSLR kit around.

 

Who uses an eveready case like the Luigi (and I can't find a better solution than that so if you know of one let me know) or a small bag and why?

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[hdrmd]

Take a look at the Domke F-5XB. It will hold the camera and 2 extra lenses, cards and a spare battery. It is small and the quality of Domke is well known. Amazon has a sale right now. Regards. DR

[wparsonsgisnet]

Nice bag. My problem is it says "Steal this Camera" all over it.

 

There is a large selection of bags at Eagle Creek that look like nothing. I'm carrying one that they don't make anymore, but they have lots of them that will hold the M8 with lens and 1 or 2 more and have lots of zippered and other pockets.

 

The price is right.

[DaveEP]

Personally I went with a Billingham for Leica bag. One body with a lens attached and another two lenses, one either side.

 

At a push I can also get the CV15 in too....

[Tony C.]

I have been quite happy with a Lowepro Stealth Reporter 100AW. It's the smallest in that particular line, but has plenty of room for my purposes. I carry the M8 body with a smaller lens attached, plus one or two extra lenses, plus the charger, SD cards, and an extra battery, etc.

 

Here are the specs:

 

Size (Interior): 9.8W x 6.1D x 5.9H in. / 25 x 15.5 x 15 cm

 

Outer fabric: water-resistant 600D TXP ripstop and 2000D ballistic nylon

 

Size (Exterior): 11.2W x 8.5D x 7.7H in. / 28.5 x 21.5 x 19.5 cm

 

And here's the link:

 

Lowepro - Stealth Reporter D100 AW

 

Regards,

 

Tony C.

[Leica DeOcean]

I also bought the Billingham "Hadley Pro" to carry my minimum M8 paraphernalia. There are smaller versions. You may just want a case (As Luigi supplies from "Leicatime") and one other generic single lens holder with belt attachment and an accessory pocket for batteries and SD cards.

[jonoslack]

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Billingham Small Hadley.

it's nicely made (canvas and leather) reasonably priced, and has room for a body and 3 or 4 lenses (or two bodies with lenses at a pinch). I find it insignificant to carry, and it's always with me. two pockets in the front allow a backup of all the software I've ever written, a phone, my ipod and wallet.

Basically it's me handbag

[carstenw]

My recommendation:

 

Artisan&Artist ACAM 7100 or ACAM 7200

 

I have the 7100, and it is a great little bag. The 7200 is even smaller. Both look like normal black canvas messenger style bags. I got two by mistake, sold one on to someone here in Germany, and when it arrived at work and he opened the box, one of his colleagues said "I thought you wanted a camera bag?". How is that for anonymous?

[Skippy Sanchez]

You want small, inexpensive and something that doesn't scream 'steal me' like most camera bags, check out:

 

Multi-Pocket Shoulder Bag: Major Surplus & Survival

 

or:

 

Shooters Bag: Major Surplus & Survival

 

they have other bags, too but these look very practical.

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[Hans Roggen]

After having tried several bags, i've decided that i like this one best. It's the Domke F-803. It does not look too much like a camera bag and has that special 'I hardly know it's there' Domke feeling to it. It carries my M8, six lenses and stuff like the magnifier and spare batteries. I can also put my wallet and my car stereo front in there.

 

Bags are very personal. You should really try different bags to find out what suits you best.

 

Here's a another bag thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/7657-lets-talk-bags-m8.html

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[the_shdw]

I use an eveready case with my M8. It's the Leica OEM one. I bought it sight unseen as I enjoyed using my M6 with an eveready case and assumed (wrongly) that it was going to be very similar. However, the M8 eveready case is not as practical as the old one (as it kind of gets in the way when you're trying to take a photo) though you don't need to take it off when you are changing memory cards or batteries. I've only seen photos of the Luigi one but it looks like it won't have that problem. So in short, avoid the Leica OEM eveready case.

 

But on the topic of using an eveready case in general, I do like the compactness of it. It means I can sling a body + lens across my shoulder and not worry about it. It's kind of retro looking too. It also means I can throw it into any bag I'm using, instead of having a specific camera bag (that may or may not say "steal me").

 

Some people say using eveready cases is slow and these detractors call them "neveready cases". I find that this is not the case, for I have the case open and the camera around my neck when I want to take photos (like someone who takes their camera out of their bag) so I'm ready to go at any time. The bonus is being able to slip the top back on quickly if you want to move on or it starts raining etc.

 

Of course it may not be for everyone; if you do a lot of shooting or fast shooting the case may get in the way and hinder changing cards/batteries. However, I think the top half comes off completely on the Luigi case so this might make it more practical too. I guess it depends how you shoot.

 

I'm actually used to my Leica OEM eveready case now so I've decided to keep it anyway.

 

You should also consider the neoprene case. It's sort of like an eveready case but it comes off completely and it is also a lot cheaper.

 

Otherwise if you were looking for a bag (small or otherwise), I'd recommend you look at Crumpler.

[terence fairweather]

I use a Billingham S3. More stylish than a Hadley and has more compartments. Check out the Billingham website.

[GarethC]

Surprises me that only one person mentions the eveready case. Skippy's suggestion looks good. Cheap looking as well. I've already done what Michael Reichmann suggested on LL and put electrical tape over "M8" and "Leica" on the front of the camera and that makes it just disappear.

[ptruman]

I use a Lowepro Rezo 120AW. It comfortably holds an M8 with lens attached plus one or two (small) additional lenses. Spare battery, several memory cards, lens cloth plus a few other small bits and pieces. Small, light, comfortable shoulder strap, reasonably unobtrusive, quickly access camera from top flap and inexpensive - about £25.

 

On a long hike across the hills I tend to transfer the essential bits (most of the above!) into my larger day-sack, but this is my day-to-day "normal" bag.

[cwf]

My $0.02 worth:

 

Small is good a lot of the time, at least for me.

 

I have a Bellingham L2, or Alice, It will hold an M8 with a 28/2.8 (III) and 50/2 asph comfortably. I added one of their side pockets for small stuff. One would fit on the other end, too.

 

It might, however, be too small for some all the time.

 

If the weather ever gets nice in Maine (we go from winter to mud season to summer, and mud season can linger), I'll try other combinations.

 

I also have a larger, old (early 80s) Bellingham that is something like the current 335, I think. It holds a lot. A nice pairing, I think.

[roofus]

Surprises me that only one person mentions the eveready case. Skippy's suggestion looks good. Cheap looking as well. I've already done what Michael Reichmann suggested on LL and put electrical tape over "M8" and "Leica" on the front of the camera and that makes it just disappear.

 

I bought the "Neveready Case."

 

It is Terrible. It's awkward, clumsy, and difficult to use. It's hard to open; hard to close, hard to install; hard to remove. The cutouts for the strap are not big enough.

 

It's well-made and nice-looking, but totally useless. Avoid at all costs!

 

The only thing it would be good for is posing. Put a cheap camera inside and walk around carrying it and your M8 around your neck pretend you own two Leicas.

[glenerrolrd]

Maybe a different POV..whats the advantage of a small bag? For me its about weight and how it hangs on my body..plus protection for my camera when traveling. Since I typically take my MacBook 15 ..I went with the Billingham Hadley Large . The back compartment can take the MacBook ..in the middle I can handle 2 m8s with short lenses and 2 additional lens (stacked). . When I arrive at my destination.....I put the MacBook in a safe ....put one M8 around my neck and carry the bag on my hip . Its light and narrow so it doesn t bother me at all. If I went with a smaller bag ..it wouldn t make any real difference . The weight comes from the contents not the bag. Now if I was walking and didnt want a bag ...I would use my Filson Traveler vest ...it has a large front pocket that will easily hold a M8 with lens. Use any neoprem pouch and you have protection...no weight ..fast handling.

[dfarkas]

I'm surprised that there aren't any recommendations for the Crumpler Million Dollar Home bags.

 

On the recent Leica/Porsche Germany trip I used two bags:

 

• A 7 Million Dollar Home for my R kit (R9/DMR, 19 f/2.8, 28 f/2.8, 35 f/2, 60 Macro, 90 f/2 APO, 180 f/2.8 APO, 2x APO, and 2 extra batteries).
   
  
• A 5 Million Dollar Home for my M kit (M8, 24 f/2.8, 35 f/2, 50 f/2, 90 f/2.8, WATE, and SF 24D).
  

 

These bags are surprisingly small and light, yet hold a lot of stuff. They were comfortable to carry all day, even with the amount of walking we did. Really great little shoulder bags which don't attract too much attention.

 

My 2 cents.

 

David

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[scottv]

I have recently bought the Lowepro Nova 1 AW,

holds M8 + 3 lens and odds and ends.

 

Looks "camera baggish" but small, good protection, use with shoulder strap or round waist with belt or back pack.

 

Crumpler million dollar looked good but water proof covering with Lowepro sealed the deal.

 

My first post, appreciate the expertise and opinions on the forum, many thanks.

[keithdunlop]

Back when I was using a pair of Leica M7's with 28mm, 35mm, and 90mm lenses (plus a small SF-20 flash, I found that a Domke F3X was perfect. It was just large enough to carry the gear, and it fit perfectly into the bottom of my Lowe Alpine 45 liter backpack that I traveled out of. I never had to check luggage and was always the first person to the customs line.

 

To make the bag look less attractive to thieves I cut off all the tags and severely "weathered" it by dragging it around on the ground and putting it through the washing machine 20-30 times. Worked like a charm!