Fogg Last Waltz: The Leica M of camera bags

[Jeff S]

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26 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said:

Again, note to self - try really hard to not be reincarnated as a Penguin.

You should watch this if you haven’t seen…

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0428803/

Jeff

[T25UFO]

Back on topic . . . lovely bag and great review by @Herr Barnack.  I have four Fogg bags and the oldest (a Bumble bee) must be close to 30 years old.  Made prior to the move to France, it has the address 47b Wanstead Place, London E11 2SW, tel 01 989 6933 stamped on the inside.  It is still my most used bag.  The other three are b laika, Soprano and Violin.  All different sizes and have different uses.

Lovely bags made by lovely people.

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[jdlaing]

3 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

Again, note to self - try really hard to not be reincarnated as a Penguin.

But if you are you’ll have a nice purse. 😃

[Jeff S]

Penguins prefer Beak Design.

Jeff

[yeatts]

I've owned a lot of camera bags over the years. The past 10 or so I've been mostly using Billingham's, which are lovely bags. Then I found this forum and read a few posts about Fogg bags. I never knew joining a forum could be so expensive. I now own several - a Satchmo, B-Major, Flute, and e-flat. The quality and thoughtfulness of their layout is impeccable. A lot of it has to do with the padding, which is adequate but not obtrusive. And of course they are all handsome. The Satchmo has become my standard carry around bag (perfect size for my M + 3 lenses and even the tabletop tripod), the B-Major a travel bag, the Flute my minimalist bag (which by the way can fit inside the B-Major for travel), and the E-flat my laptop + ipad pro 12.9 + camera bag + lunch to and from work bag. I have been eyeing the Last Waltz as a "larger satchmo" as the E-flat is a bit big for just walking around....as if I need another bag.

[roverover]

I have the smaller a B-Laika model bag in the same Green color and absolutely love everything about it.
Their bags are very well-made and the company is quite nice and very easy to deal with too. Their bags are not the
most heavy-duty bags on the market, but for everyday casual usage, they are more than adequate and provide
safe passage for my camera gear while looking amazing.

I highly recommend their bags if you want something that is fully handcrafted and not mass produced and made to last!
https://www.foggspecialistbags.com

 

[Herr Barnack]

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On 12/3/2021 at 5:49 PM, Ouroboros said:

There seems to be a slub in the strap (last image, bottom left) .  Send it back.

UPDATE

Got an email from Nigel today.  He is sending a replacement strap (with no slub) and the brass rivets needed to attach it. 

I can have the strap replaced by a local leather shop or cobbler.  It looks like a pretty simple installation, so I may get a a rivet setter and do it myself.

Thanks, Nigel!  😄

Edited December 12, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[jdlaing]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

UPDATE

Got an email from Nigel today.  He is sending a replacement strap (with no slub) and the brass rivets needed to attach it. 

I can have the strap replaced by a local leather shop or cobbler.  It looks like a pretty simple installation, so I may get a a rivet setter and do it myself.

Thanks, Nigel!  😄

Best of luck finding a cobbler.

[JohnFM]

On 12/6/2021 at 12:29 PM, T25UFO said:

Back on topic . . . lovely bag and great review by @Herr Barnack.  I have four Fogg bags and the oldest (a Bumble bee) must be close to 30 years old.  Made prior to the move to France, it has the address 47b Wanstead Place, London E11 2SW, tel 01 989 6933 stamped on the inside.  It is still my most used bag.  The other three are b laika, Soprano and Violin.  All different sizes and have different uses.

Lovely bags made by lovely people.

I've also had four Fogg bags, including two bumble bees.  The two others were a B-Laika (sold) and a large custom bag (long and narrow, not boxy) that was great when I carried a lot of gear. 

Like yeatts (above), I'm now considering something smaller than the B-Flat (which replaced the bumble bee) but larger than the B-Laika.  The contenders include the Last Waltz and B-Sharp.  Internal dimensions are similar for each, though the B-Sharp measures bigger outside.

Open to all advice, opinions, and recommendations ... other than 'buy a Domke or Billingham', since I have several already 😉  

[Herr Barnack]

The Last Waltz is a nice size if you are looking for a daily carry bag - it's not so large as to be cumbersome.  It can carry more than just one camera and a lens, though.  You could load it down with 2 M cameras and 4 M lenses, but the weight would take all the fun out of carrying the Last Waltz. 

Larger loads of gear still demand a backpack type camera bag for most of us.

[yeatts]

5 hours ago, JohnFM said:

Like yeatts (above), I'm now considering something smaller than the B-Flat (which replaced the bumble bee) but larger than the B-Laika.  The contenders include the Last Waltz and B-Sharp.  Internal dimensions are similar for each, though the B-Sharp measures bigger outside.

My phase of consideration passed fairly quickly. I ordered a Last Waltz in green from Tom at Bergen late last week.

Funny enough the Fogg I’ve been using the most recently is my Flute, which is my only Fogg in grey/black. I’ve been in a minimalist mood lately - one body with a lense attached and a spare battery and SD card and the Flute fits the bill. Can fit my M10R with a 28 Cron, 35mm Lux, or 50mm Lux easily.

[JohnFM]

I know the bag you bought yeatts -- was looking at it myself 😉 

Glad it's going to a good home -- congratulations!

[Alan Mead]

I bought a black b-major from Rene at Leica SOHO and although it is larger than I expected I love it as a travel bag as it holds everything I need for my M10M as well as my 11 inch iPad Pro, filters and chargers.

[stephan54]

I own a Flute and a Soprano. Use the Flute most as I like to go out with one camera and one lens. I bring the Soprano when the Telyt 135 is attached or when I bring a second small lens.

For transport of my notebook, camera and lenses I have a larger Thinktank Retrospective. Alas very sturdy so I have no excuse to order a larger Fogg.

[yeatts]

On 12/12/2021 at 9:45 PM, JohnFM said:

I know the bag you bought yeatts -- was looking at it myself 😉 

Glad it's going to a good home -- congratulations!

Well the Last Waltz arrived today and....well, it may be the best bag in the Fogg lineup. And I'm not saying this because it just arrived and is novel...

I thought it would be a smaller version of the e-flat, but really it is a slightly taller and narrower version of the B-Laika. The particular version I received from Tom is a slightly darker green than the other Fogg green bag I own and very handsome. Tall enough to accommodate my Leica tabletop tripod without being awkward. Perfect walkaround bag for 1-2 camera bodies + a few lenses and other items, wallet, book or map. Narrow and hugs the body.

Overall I'm totally smitten. Will probably become by go-to bag.

[Guest]

I love these spoof threads where people pretend they are interested in bags,,brilliant comedy and so deadpan.😀

[JohnFM]

4 hours ago, yeatts said:

Well the Last Waltz arrived today and....well, it may be the best bag in the Fogg lineup. And I'm not saying this because it just arrived and is novel...

I thought it would be a smaller version of the e-flat, but really it is a slightly taller and narrower version of the B-Laika. The particular version I received from Tom is a slightly darker green than the other Fogg green bag I own and very handsome. Tall enough to accommodate my Leica tabletop tripod without being awkward. Perfect walkaround bag for 1-2 camera bodies + a few lenses and other items, wallet, book or map. Narrow and hugs the body.

Overall I'm totally smitten. Will probably become by go-to bag.

Glad you like it yeatts.  I'm torn between the Last Waltz and B-Sharp -- similar interior dimensions, though the B-Sharp is bigger outside due to thicker foam padding.  The Last Waltz has a lot of internal space for its size overall -- and looks good too.

[Photon42]

It is a crazy nice bag for an M outfit. Mine arrived these days and it may be the best bag I bought since a long time. Fits an M with lens and a visoflex underneath, three normal M lenses and one additional larger. And if I use a back to back cap, I can add an additional M body. All in the main compartment.

The strap is long enough for cross body (I am 1.75m), there is a little more space for notebooks, ipad, batteries, charger. So I could fill it up to bring stuff to a location and then use the same bag as a walk about bag.

I like the relatively light padding and the absence of an insert makes the bag lighter and more space efficient. Obviously at the cost of losing advantages of an inset, which could for instance been used with a day bag pack.

[derleicaman]

I have the Last Waltz and the b-sharp. They are almost identical in size, and I find the b Sharp to work best for me most of the time. I also have the very much larger e-flat bag when I am taking a lot of gear. Last trip to Europe in November, I took the e-flat in the cabin, and had the b-sharp in my suitcase. I used the b-sharp for my daily carry from the bigger load than the e-flat can carry.

Edited December 22, 2021 by derleicaman

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[derleicaman]

In the b-sharp I can carry my 2 M10-P's with a lens on each, and at least 2-4 additional lenses. 2 extra batteries in one of the front pockets, along with my SD card wallet and lens cleaning clothes. I can easily carry my iPad in the back pocket. This is my usual daily carry.

If you have only a single M in the bag, there is plenty of room.