Vintage camera bag

[Giampi58]

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Hi everyone. I have a M7 and M11 with 18-28-50-90 and 135 Elmar. Which bag do you recommend?

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[jaapv]

Any bag that fits - take it to a shop and try it out.

[Derbyshire Man]

Jane Bown typically used a wickerwork basket https://www.camerapress.com/photographers/archive/jane-bown but then she was taking on location portraits. 
 

I like a Billingham if taking a lot of gear for similar purpose.  
 

For run and gun/travel I like a small Domke and then the Bellroy 2.5 hip pack with a small Billingham insert for 2 spare lenses and the visoflex, helps keep the weight off the shoulders and is actually much easier for changing lenses. 
 

For single camera single lens just the small domke as it is the worlds most innocuous bag in waxed cotton. 
 

As per Jane Bown’s preference, it very much depends on your use case. Personally I hate jewellery bags made of fussy but super expensive materials, too much  bling!

[pedaes]

22 hours ago, Giampi58 said:

Hi everyone.

Welcome to Forum. Is this a genuine question?

Are you intending to carry it all at the same time? If so, @jaapv is correct, and with that amount of weight I would need a backpack!

[jgeenen]

Domke F-2. put the divider in the middle, it helds four lenses (or more) easily. One camera to the left and one to the right. Outside padding is virtually non-existent, but I never found it to be an issue in reality (in the shown configuration all side pocket may be stuffed with film or foam which will add a good amount of protection. Even the lid can be padded with foam elements. The image shows a load of M11 with 2/50, MP with 1.4/35 asph and six other lenses (I use back caps glued together to stuff two lenses into one compartment.

 

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[jgeenen]

Agreed. The Domke F-6 is smaller but takes only one body with lens (the other body could occupy a lens compartment probably. This flexible and basic Domke bags are good for travel. During flight, you fold the bag into the suitcase and carry your gear in a backpack. On destination you pack your daily gear into the Domke bag. 

Today, I don‘t use the F-2 that often. But if I have to be prepared, the F-2 comes in handy to „host“ crazy amount of flashes, lenses, and film. On the other hand it is not very capable of holding big AF zoom lenses and fast telephoto primes. 

[jaapv]

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As a flight bag for a medium amount of gear a Vanguard roller/ backpack is ideal. 
 

https://www.vanguardworld.com/collections/camera-roller-bags

[JoshuaR]

I've been thinking of picking up one of these. Seems like it might be the right size?

https://cleversupply.co/products/camera-sling-tan

[Giampi58]

Wotancraft? They are beautiful bags but expensive and hard to find second hand, right? Tenba? Think Thank?

[chris7273]

14 hours ago, Giampi58 said:

Wotancraft? They are beautiful bags but expensive and hard to find second hand, right? Tenba? Think Thank?

Compared to the equipment inside the bag, that’s not so expensive  🙂

 

[andybarton]

On 11/9/2024 at 4:03 PM, jgeenen said:

Domke F-2. put the divider in the middle, it helds four lenses (or more) easily. One camera to the left and one to the right. Outside padding is virtually non-existent, but I never found it to be an issue in reality (in the shown configuration all side pocket may be stuffed with film or foam which will add a good amount of protection. Even the lid can be padded with foam elements. The image shows a load of M11 with 2/50, MP with 1.4/35 asph and six other lenses (I use back caps glued together to stuff two lenses into one compartment.

I wouldn’t want to carry that to the car, let alone all morning. The weight must be huge. 

[Chris_Jenks]

Surely it’s got to be Billingham (mine’s a 25 year old Hadley)? Anything else and you may as well use a Canon or something equally bulky and heavy. 

[Mute-on]

17 hours ago, Giampi58 said:

Wotancraft? They are beautiful bags but expensive and hard to find second hand, right? Tenba? Think Thank?

You have two Leicas, including the most expensive Digital M to date, and five M mount lenses and you consider Wotancraft expensive? Are you serious?

Buy a new Wotancraft if you like them. Personally I prefer Billingham, but I still have two Wotancraft bags. Both are excellent. 

[Giampi58]

I think you're right, too much material...Then I would bring a camera with 2 or 3 lenses.....better, or not?

 

 

 

[rich_]

If I have a bag then I usually carry my camera with one lens attached and maybe another. For that purpose I have a Wotencraft Pilot 2L bag and a Billingham 3L bag
I prefer the Wotencraft bag fit wise. The Billingham bag is a bit too structured for me. I've owned it many years and used it a handful of times.

Really i barely use the bags unless i'm packing the camera for a trip inside a bigger bag. 
The Wotencraft is around half the price of the Billingham. $99 vs $200+

[kiwidad]

for that amount of gear I would suggest the Billingham 225. not a lot different froth dome pictured but padded all around and will keep gear dryer much better than a domke

For less I would say the Billingham M. the Hadley pro is just too deep for me although I do own the 2020 version as well