the eternal question (as a lot of others): which bag

[gregvds]

I know the perfect bag does not exist, but you never know all the possibilities, so

I'm looking for a bag to hold 4x5 field folding camera, 2 (3 maybe) lenses, 3 fidelity, darkcloth, lightmeter, stuffs.

I usually have also all the time moleskines with me, books sometimes, a lot of other stuffs, and I don't want to carry two bags. (Currently, Billingham Hadley normal just fit the bill for Leica M6 or Rollei TLR when needed, but Wista SP is too tightly packed in this one).

now, my big problem is that I'm a kind of fashion victim. I'm far more into Crumpler Ugly divorce than into F.64 backpack.

Don't give me Kinetix or Lowepro suggestions, these are far too ugly. Moreover, I don't want a backpack, rather a shoulder bag. If Haglofs would make a photo backpack, we could discuss that maybe...

that's it, I'm sure I'm searching philosophal stone...

[Brian Ellis]

It seems very unlikely that any photo bag will meet your aesthetic standards. I'd suggest approaching a company such as Porsche Design to see if they'd create a custom shoulder bag design for you.

[gregvds]

Lol,

thanks Brian, that's a good one.

But I'm sure it exists :-), or I'll do it myself.

[William McEwen]

I doubt one as you describe exists. If you were looking for a stunning bag for your little Casio point and shoot, you would have a tremendous selection.

Once you start talking about a bag big enough to contain a view camera and all the fixins, utility trumps chic. Plus, we LFers aren't the most fashionable bunch, so there is no demand out there.

Perhaps you've hit on a good marketing niche. Personally, I've no interest in a snakeskin LF bag with hearts or a zebrastripe tripod case, but if you want one, then certainly others do, and perhaps the sky is the limit.

When I saw how women get excited over point and shoot cameras in bright colors, I thought Nikon and Canon should make DSLRs in red or blue. Pentax has one now, and it's ugly as hell, but it will probably help boost their market share.

[Jim Michael]

A Porta-Brace production bag (http://www.portabrace.com/category_56_33)might fill the bill.

[Frank Petronio]

You really wouldn't want to actually carry such a bag around while shooting... What you really want (I think) is something for travel, in which case a classic aluminum Halliburton or a nearly indestructible Pelican would fit the bill. Or any nice quality suitcase -- wrap your cameras into kits using smaller neoprene cases or wraps -- or even small camera bags -- and store everything together.

I'm of the school of using non-camera bags with my cameras safely wrapped and organized within.

[Robert Fisher]

WalMart has the latest designer bags at great prices.

My Ebony looks great in WalMart bags, etc.

[William McEwen]

If I may, Jim and Frank, I think you're on the wrong track.

I think he wants something that doesn't look like a camera bag. Like a messenger bag

http://www.besportier.com/archives/burton-mp13-messenger-bag.jpg

or something equally stylish.

[John T]

It seems very unlikely that any photo bag will meet your aesthetic standards. I'd suggest approaching a company such as Porsche Design to see if they'd create a custom shoulder bag design for you.

You could always enter the Kata Dream Bag Challenge

http://www.dreambagchallenge.com/

[Jim Michael]

For leather take a look here (http://www.saddlebackleather.com/).

[percepts]

I'm confused. If you are fashion conscious, why did you buy a Wista?

[gregvds]

Good one too Percepts. Wista is nice in its way, and also it doesn't cost a Linhof Technika 3000...

Now, what's fashion for one is maybe not for another.

Anyway, some ideas are here, I didn't knew Kata, and that seems interesting.

Maybe I expressed my idea somewhat overexposed, it's less fashion than trying to find something that's not obviously 'photo gear inside' as a Lowepro.

Crumpler does a very good job at that.

I'm serious about photography, but doesn't want to look like :-).

doesn't matter, thanks for the positive comments and ideas everybody.

I think I'll wait the Fujinon and Chamonix to arrive, and then have all the gear on the table, and see the real bulk it does, and then, go for a Billingham Packington, or Crumpler Ugly divorce. Both built like a tank, quite small for travelling, roomy enough for my gear, and quite not the usual photo bag.

All the best,

[Gordon Moat]

Perhaps a rolling cooler. You could also carry a six pack in it.
:D

[Brian Ellis]

Lol,

thanks Brian, that's a good one.

But I'm sure it exists :-), or I'll do it myself.

Thanks but my basic point was intended seriously, i.e. if the bags you mention are too ugly then I doubt that any commercially produced dedicated photo bag or any similar type shoulder bag suitable for carrying a 4x5 camera and your other gear would suit you.

Porsche Design was perhaps a little extreme but it was the only contract design company I could think of that might do something like a shoulder bag. I'm sure there are others that would be more realistic, I just don't know who they are. But I really did mean that a custom bag might be necessary to get something that combines both the aesthetics you're looking for and suitability for carrying around the gear you have.

[Gordon Moat]

http://www.acmemade.com/

http://www.cinebags.com/cameradaddy.html

[jeroldharter]

You might check out a Duluth Pack or Filson waxed cotton canvas shoulder bag.

http://duluthpack.com/outdoor-gear/hunt-fish/tackle-boxes-rod-cases/soft-sided-tackle-box.html

http://duluthpack.com/outdoor-gear/hunt-fish/shoulder-ammo-bags/range-bag.html

http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2092410&cp=2065674.2065687.2065708&parentPage=family

http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3592502&cp=2065674.2065687.3725360&parentPage=family

[Dave Jeffery]

The Japanese have intersting ads. Not sure about the product though.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80799875/

[venchka]

I own one of these Filson briefcases.......

http://fil.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pFILSON1-5257210dt.jpg

It will hold my 4x5 Zone VI camera with quite a bit of room left over. I'm sure that I could get my fly reel case with 125-180-250 lenses in there. How much else? I would have to play with the bag & gear. It is Max. sturdy!

http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2092404&cp=2065674.2065687.2065706&parentPage=family

[John Kasaian]

Think outside the bag! An Igloo Playmate can be had in fashionable hues of red and white or blue and white, offering hard sided thermonuclear protection to boot.
If that's not stylish enough, you can customize with NASCAR decals, sparkle paints, or whatever else floats your boat. :)

[Mark Fisher]

If you don't want a backpack, I think that one of the big Domke shoulder bags would work. The other thing to consider is two bags. One carries only your camera and the other carries everything else. Mount your camera to the tripod and leave the extra bag in the car or stuff it into the bag with your lenses and film. Personally, I have a front loading backpack similar to the Kelty Redwing with a fly fishing reel case to hold my lenses, my camera wrapped in the darkcloth and filmholders stacked everywhere else. One other option if you do go with a backpack is www.photobackpacker.com He has a great system that is easy to work out of and it doesn't look like a camera bag.

[Uri A]

Problem solved: http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/index.htm

[venchka]

Which one?????????????????????????????????????

[Robert A. Zeichner]

Here you go:
http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/range.htm

[Clement Apffel]

Inspired by this thread about shoulder bags, (this forum is so great) I realised that this kind of bag could be the solution I was looking for!

I looked for one in several stores. And it looks like I found my magic bullet!
I post to share my solution for city riding LF:

The solution is a sportive shoulder bag with a waist belt along with a toiletry bag for the lenses.
I found both of them in a sport superstore after a lot of roaming in luggage stores or general superstores.
Total cost: 30€!

I tested it yesterday on the field: it exactly match my needs.
The total weight (with gear) is 6.5kg (around 14 pounds) and bonus : the material is waterproof.

Here are some pics:


http://www.cnl-photography.com/MB1.JPG

http://www.cnl-photography.com/MB2.JPG

http://www.cnl-photography.com/MB3.JPG

http://www.cnl-photography.com/MB5en.JPG

loupe, hand spirit level, countdown timer, pen & notebook, cable release and other little stuff all fits in the front & inner pockets

Bag bellows and my wood frame for framing fit together in a large pocket on the rear side of the bag.

After reading several times in several bag-related threads that the solution can be in non photo bags I finaly looked for one !
And thanks for that good idea of a shoulder bag.

regards,
CA

[gregvds]

You're most welcome Clement.

This is more or less the solution I look for, and the one I implemented with an old Crumpler that I found at home. now I choose the smaller of the two I have, and guess what, It's too cramped and should have go for the other one.

But also my Wista is bulkier than the Chamonix, and the rapid hexagonal plate that goes on my Manfrotto 3D 029 punches through everything with a very unmannered way. Hopefully, the Slidefix of the Arca-Swiss will be more discrete.

[pocketfulladoubles]

Not a photo-specific bag of course, but my favorite line of super-durable over the shoulder bags are from Maxpedition.

[Aahx]

I did not see them mentioned.. but ThinkTank makes some bags for digital solutions that possibly could be modified to fit.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/urban-disguise-70-pro-shoulder-bag.aspx

[Jeremy Moore]

I did not see them mentioned.. but ThinkTank makes some bags for digital solutions that possibly could be modified to fit.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/urban-disguise-70-pro-shoulder-bag.aspx

I use a ThinkTank bag for my 4x5 setup. My setup is very small, though, so I use the Urban Disguise 40 (Chamonix 4x5, rolled up blackjacket dark cloth, loupe, spotmeter, notebook, 135mm f/5.6, 90mm f/8, 6-8 4x5 holders)

[oris642]

For leather take a look here (http://www.saddlebackleather.com/).

Wow! Nice stuff, and his FAQ section is absolutely hilarious.

"Are the animals tortured before they are slaughtered?

Absolutely not! With some pigs we do use waterboarding and sensory deprivation techniques previous to slaughtering them, but the cows do not require any special handling."

LOL

[mortensen]

I'm serious about photography, but doesn't want to look like :-)

Spot on, haha :) I certainly belong to that category too.

I found my solution with an older version of a Crumpler Italian Connection (can't remember the model's name...), but well, that's a backpack.

Continuing Clement's post, have you considered either Chrome (http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags.html) or Timbuk2's (http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/messenger/messenger-classic/) larger messenger bags as a basis? As far as I know, they are among the most comfortable shoulder bags out there (you actually can stand wearing them for some hours with a good load in them) and the fabric is basically indestructible and more weather proof than most. plus, you can get those bags in REALLY large sizes, that are still wearable...

[gregvds]

Thanks mr Mortensen,
I knew already Timbuk2, but not Chrome. All these looks really well done, and one could think of putting inside some padded dividers from Pelicase, Billingham or Lowepro.

I'll check these, though I'm really into the Billingham Packington at the moment.

Thanks again,

Greg