How do you carry your film - let's see those bags! [Archive]

View Full Version : How do you carry your film - let's see those bags!

Kimberly Anderson

9-Sep-2011, 12:35

Since Leigh does NOT want a discussion thread in his quest for the Zone VI 8x10 film carrying bag, and it seems that there are several who actually WOULD like to have a discussion about it, let's break the chain and start one here.

The original discussion was about the Zone VI film holders and the desire Leigh had to find more like the one he already had. Other folks chimed in, offered some suggestions, and what I thought was an actually enlightening conversation ensued.

I have been very disappointed with the MC Gear bag that I purchased earlier this year. I found it very flimsy and that it didn't offer much actual protection to the film holders. At over $125 a pop for 4x10 holders I decided to go in search for a better solution. I couldn't find one that I actually liked, so I decided to have my own bags made locally here in Salt Lake City, Utah, from a reputable custom bag maker named WAVE.

They have made me several bags, one to carry two seperate Canham camera backs in one pouch, another for the wide-angle bellows, one that can carry seven 8x10 holders and one that can carry seven 5x7 holders.

Ironically I haven't had the 4x10 holder bag made yet b/c that is my preferred format and I do not want to be without the holders for the week that it would take to make the bags. WAVE really wants to have the actual item/s with them when they make the bag so that they are able to offer a superior fit. Giving them measurements wasn't good enough...they wanted to ensure that they were exactly right, so I would leave the various components with them as I could.

The basic design is derived from the MC Gear bags. I do like the way the off-set loop allows them to hang at an angle from the hook on the bottom of my tripod, so I opted to keep that aspect of their design. My green 8x10 holder bag has padded partitions, which does add slightly to the size and weight of the bag, but I feel it is worth it. The yellow 5x7 holder bag does not have this feature. The 4x10 bag that I will eventually have made will have padded dividers and I will have the design such that the opening will be that the holders will be oriented from left to right instead of from front to back.

http://www.tawayama.com/customcases/sladecustombags-5.jpg

I also decided that I was tired of hunting for pencils to take notes with, so I had pockets for pencils and paper incorporated into the outside.

http://www.tawayama.com/customcases/sladecustombags-4.jpg

The red bellows bag unzips completely so that I don't have to slide the bellows in and out. I decided to make the bellows bag red in a subtle homage to Ron Wisner, whose 4x5 pocket expedition camera I once owned many years ago.

http://www.tawayama.com/customcases/sladecustombags-2.jpg

The grey camera back bag only unzips partially so that they don't flop out accidentally.

http://www.tawayama.com/customcases/sladecustombags-3.jpg

I have put additional pack strap loops on the backside of the film holder bags if I want to be able to strap them to a pack in the future. As I look back on the design and have used them for about six months now I would also add D-rings on the sides of the film bags so that I could add a shoulder strap. I will probably have those added in the future.

Let's see everyone else's bags...good bad or ugly!

Two23

10-Sep-2011, 07:19

Those are nice. How much did they cost?

Kent in SD

Steve Goldstein

10-Sep-2011, 07:44

Very nice. The pencil-and-whatnot holders on the outside are a thoughtful touch.

How much does the 5x7 bag weigh?

Do you think they would consider a discount if several of us could agree (hah!) on a particular size for a group order?

SamReeves

10-Sep-2011, 08:13

I go with the cheaper ziplocs. :D

Michael W

10-Sep-2011, 08:14

I saw those bags in the other thread & thought they looked great. I too would like to know how much they cost.

Daniel Stone

10-Sep-2011, 09:24

I got 4 of these bags from a seller on eb@y after finding one in a local thrift store for $1(so a grand total of 5 bags, each now with 5 holders in it). I paid, IIRC, around $10 or so each, shipped, for the last 4. Not a bad deal, but not the steal of the century either ;). They serve this "re" purpose very well, and are sufficiently padded, but not overly so to make them bulky. They even incorporate an adjustable shoulder strap!

They were originally designed to hold an Epson projector, but I've found that they hold 5 8x10 holders quite nicely! 6 holders can be squeezed in, but it becomes a tighter fit than I'd like, so I stick with 5.

-Dan

gevalia

10-Sep-2011, 09:51

I go with the cheaper ziplocs. :D

+1. I can't tell you how much gear I have that I thought would fit the bill only to leave it home for something lightweight and down-right cheap (ie. ziplocks). That being said, I always hike with a backpack. I've never seem anyone hiking with individually packed items outside a backpack. Or is this for when you're somewhat close to the car/jeep/truck/?

matthew blais

10-Sep-2011, 12:04

Thom Bennett

10-Sep-2011, 12:34

Matthew, do those come with any shoulder straps or something to carry them with?

Kimberly Anderson

10-Sep-2011, 18:52

I don't backpack my gear much, and when I do it's only in and out and I only take one or two holders. I do most of my shooting from my truck and I can get that truck just about anywhere...which eliminates most of the need to do ay hiking. ;)

The bags cost me anywhere from $75-150. The price probably wouldn't go down that much on a group order, but if someone wants to put one together I can take my 'parts' back in and have them used for measurements. They have lots of colors too... :)

I decided to go for the seperate bag route mainly b/c I have gone the 'carry everything in a huge case all at once' route and it doesn't make sense anymore. I don't carry all formats when I head out, and usually have very specific and predetermined formats depending on subject matter and theme.

It may not work for everyone, but it is working well for me.

Thanks for the compliments.

akfreak

11-Sep-2011, 01:35

Well I dont have or care to spend that kind of money for film holder bags. I did look for quite some time to find one that is water proof, One that can hold lots of holders 4x5 and 8x10.

I got lucky last week, I found 2 bags for only a few bucks at good will. When not in use they flatten and stow away easily. I I think I am going to buy a nice foal cube that will allow me to crate some sort of divider system. They seem to be protected, I just do not want to have them be sliding around.

So here they are, they weigh nothing. I think they are a cooler system

Flat
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6135178509_ec61ede8ec_z.jpg
Full
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6135182331_bae55e1c66_z.jpg
Seven - 8x10 holders and the second bag holding Eleven 4x5 holders (still lots of room for more.) but plan to put in some lightweight foam to help woth the holders shifting, I also plan to put in some covered rigid supports on the in sides the the bag so it wont crush.

I like to keep most of my holders in Ziploc's for dust reasons. These new bags are waterproof and seems to be holding the dust at bey. (I ran out of the large ones, shhhh.)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6135727354_8525986275_z.jpg

Now would I like to have custom bags made for my gear, heck yeah. But this will have to do for now. But I will keep my eye out for some more compact ones. You just never know what you will find at goodwill!

I have a question? on an average outing for a weekend, how many holders will you take on average?

Kimberly Anderson

11-Sep-2011, 06:44

I will fill the case with newly loaded holders each time I go out. I will probably only shoot 3-4 images at most and I am making two exposures of each scene. I like those large zip-locs. I will have to find some to fit my holders.

And as far as having money for custom bags...well, as we know, we are a generally a pretty cheap bunch of folks and I have no problem with that. I am one too. I did run into a bit of money and decided to have bags made to protect the holders when in the past it had seemed to me that the film is actually what suffered the most. Really the holders and film are ought to be what suffers the least.

We all do all things differently but at least we are all out doing THINGS and not no-things.

vinny

11-Sep-2011, 07:14

I have several of these and a few years ago sold many as they seemed to be made for 8x10. Holds six nicely, 7 in a pinch. Not too bulky, insulated and a nice netted pouch in front, zipper top. Made by Cal Innovations for the promo industry as cooler bags.
Many here have some I believe... :)

Yeah, I got one of matt's bags. Shoulder strap is adjustable. Bag folds down and velcro's flat when empty. I use mine to carry beer on fishing trips. Too bad they aren't made anymore as they were cheap and are quite durable.

William Whitaker

11-Sep-2011, 09:49

http://wfwhitaker.com/tech/domke_filmholderSM_1.jpg http://wfwhitaker.com/tech/domke_filmholderSM_2.jpg

Domke F-802 Reporter's Satchel. Room for five 8x10 film holders interlaced without having to jam them in there. Plus room in the pouches and pockets for accessories such as a meter, filters, food... It can hang underneath the tripod so you can work out of it.

http://wfwhitaker.com/tech/wfw810.jpg

tgtaylor

11-Sep-2011, 10:16

+1. I can't tell you how much gear I have that I thought would fit the bill only to leave it home for something lightweight and down-right cheap (ie. ziplocks). That being said, I always hike with a backpack. I've never seem anyone hiking with individually packed items outside a backpack. Or is this for when you're somewhat close to the car/jeep/truck/?

Then you never saw me out hiking:) The rationale behind packing items such as film bags on the outside of the pack is to distribute the weight. For example if I'm out hiking with 10 or 12 4x5 holders in 2 f64 cases, I'll strap one case on the left side of the pack and the other on the right with both up high. I find it easier to carry that way then to have the weight of both cases dead center in the middle of my back.

Distributing the weight around your body is the key for maintaining your balance and carrying heavy gear around.

Thomas

gevalia

11-Sep-2011, 10:31

Then you never saw me out hiking:) The rationale behind packing items such as film bags on the outside of the pack is to distribute the weight. For example if I'm out hiking with 10 or 12 4x5 holders in 2 f64 cases, I'll strap one case on the left side of the pack and the other on the right with both up high. I find it easier to carry that way then to have the weight of both cases dead center in the middle of my back.

Distributing the weight around your body is the key for maintaining your balance and carrying heavy gear around.

Thomas

Gear inside my pack, water outside.

Frank Petronio

11-Sep-2011, 10:43

When I would tromp around with an 8x10, I'd put holders into a $39 EMS Book-Daypack, each holder in a Ziploc type bag. Meter, lenses, extras in the front portion of the pack. I don't understand what else you'd need?

For air travel, a Lightware case.

For real backpacking, I wouldn't bring an 8x10.

banjo

11-Sep-2011, 10:49

where I live its been over 100* for 40 days this summer!!!
I use Coleman ICE CHEST not some soft bag !!!!
an Coleman ICE CHEST not only keeps most of the heat out
it has all the protection of film holders that you need!
I use them for all my Cameras & film & can leave them in my
unlock car. WHERE as leave A Horseman camera case its stolen
lock or not!!!
next as I live in dust all of the time I use ZIP-lock bags to keep
the dust out the best I can

Ronan87

11-Sep-2011, 10:56

Ari

11-Sep-2011, 11:07

Where do you leave your unlocked car? :)

:p

Yes; address, please. :D

banjo

11-Sep-2011, 14:24

like I have the money to have a horseman WHY you thank
I started using Coleman ICE CHEST I could NOT buy a good case
but every body BUT me was gitting ROBED

John Bowen

11-Sep-2011, 19:13

12-Sep-2011, 06:48

I use a Home Depot Husky 14 in. Large Mouth Bag 71787-2N09 for my 4x5 holders. Looks kinda like an old fashioned doctors bag, except for the heavy duty fabric and the Husky logo.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/d2/d2f4326f-2c3c-4c29-b593-fa6c3ed667fc_300.jpg

I put about 15+ holders in ziplock bags (I don't count), a box of filters, light meter, and a lens w/board in it. A side pocket holds some biz cards, and another side pocket holds reading glasses for viewing the groundglass. If I leave out the lens from the bag, I can put in a DSLR with small lens.

The film holders stand vertical in it, and as I use them, I move them to the inside so the ones on the end are new and ready to use.

John Jarosz

12-Sep-2011, 07:10

Well, I use individual bags that are 95% lightproof because I'm paranoid about light leaks in my holders. I bought window block-out material at a fabric store, measured and cut the fabric to size, then took the fabric to my local dry cleaners and had the lady that does alterations sew them into bags. Extremely economical and it is exactly the right size.