Suburban shoulder bag blues

[Rolle]

What in your opinion is a good bag for a 4x5 field camera if you want to take pictures in the city and go on foot and need a bag that is fast to open and close and light to carry?

In my case it needs to accomodate a Ebony 45s and 2-3 lenses, a 6x12 back and 5 film holders + some small stuff (loupe, Gossen digisix etc). I have a great backpack (Kata bumblebee) but it is a little too large and not so nice to operate in the city. And my old square hard aluminium case is a little too heavy and not so nice to carry.

[ajmiller]

I have a Wista 45DX with lens folded in the camera wrapped in the darkcloth, 6x7 roll film back, 5 film holders, Sekonic 758DR spot meter, loupe, level, tape measure and water bottle and I use a Lowepro Fastpack 200 backpack (http://www.amazon.com/Lowepro-Fastpack-200-Black/dp/B000YIYOJ6/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i). At a push it could fit another lens or two. I have a Manfrotto tripod with a Gitzo head on a shoulder strap and I ride my bike with this lot on around town no probs.

[David de Gruyl]

Messenger bag. I'm partial to: Courierware (http://courierwareusa.com). They make a camera insert for their smaller models (which are still pretty large), and would probably sew in straps for a tripod if you asked. I use a large super-deluxe (the inside pockets are perfect for 4x5 film either in boxes or in holders) and angle the tripod in. I can actually fit the entire tripod in for the train rides, but I have to remove the head if I want that.

[anglophone1]

I have a billiingham hadley carrying a pacemaker sg , 90mm Angulon, 127mm xenar ,aero Ektar, six DDS or a couple of grafmatics in outside pockets, small sekonic meter and loupe.

[Ron McElroy]

I use a white Zone VI camera case. It holds my ZVI camera, 3 lens 90SA, 120SA and 210 Sironar, the darkcloth, a few holders, lens shade and the spot meter.

[Peter Gomena]

I once used a small Igloo brand picnic cooler, one with a swiveling top, as a 4x5 case. Light, easy to handle, waterproof, carrying handle built in, room for lots of stuff. It was great for short walks on the beach.

Peter Gomena

[Doremus Scudder]

For field work, I use a fanny pack and carry extras in a fly-fishing vest. Works really well, but might look a bit weird in the city. :)

My city gear, which I both walk around with and carry fairly long distances on my bicycle, is simply one of those cheapie combination backpack/rolling carry-on bag. It's basically a carry-on size backpack with wheels and an extendable handle. I can carry it on my back or roll it around. On the bike, it goes on my back and the tripod is strapped to the rear rack. In the city, I carry it over rough terrain, but roll it around when the sidewalks, etc. are smooth enough and traffic allows. It's not much larger than a child's school backpack.

I carry a wooden folder, 5 lenses (90mm SA f/8, 135mm WF Ektar, 180mm Fuji A, 240mm Fuji A and a Fuji 210L tossed in just for kicks, since I seem to end up needing that focal length a lot for "across-the-street" shots), 6 film holders, Pentax digital spotmeter, 2 sets of 6 filters in 52mm and 67mm, exposure record, loupe, reading glasses, cleaning brush, city map, and a few other odds and ends. It's not even very heavy.

When I set up, I set the pack between the tripod legs for easy access. Works well for me.

Best,

Doremus

[Noah A]

I work almost exclusively in urban environments, and the Lowepro flipside backpacks are the best solution I've found.

I have two. The largest one is the Flipside 400 and it can hold a Technika with ten film holders and four or five extra lenses. I use that one most of the time.

The next size down, the 300, can hold my camera and a few lenses and holders. Both packs are compact and don't look all that much like camera bags. The opening is on the side that faces your back, which is great for security and because if you put it down to take your stuff out, the part that gets dirty isn't going to be against your back.

If you want a shoulder bag, the Domke f804 should hold your kit. I've used it for a technikardan, three or four lenses and ten holders. But it tends to get a bit bloated and has a rather large profile. It might be a bit faster to work from than a backpack. But this is 4x5 we're talking about. So the extra few seconds probably won't make a big difference.

[jp]

I use a widemouth tool bag (check your local big box home improvement) to carry a speed graphic, 4-6 film holders, two lenses, meter, filters. It doesn't look like a camera bag at all.

[Rolle]

Thank you all so far! A backpack is sort of out of the question, even the Flipside which looked interesting at first. If you are wearing an overcoat, I guess it really isn't so easy to flip that backpack from you back to your belly without messing up your heavy clothing. A shoulder bag it must be. The Domke F4 looked OK but it is on the small side. Billinghams look too flashy for my liking. It is bad enough to carry a tripod, an expensive looking bag is even worse. When I was young and strolled around with my Mamiya C220, I carried it in a bag meant really for fishing gear, canvas with rubber inside, sort of army look to it. Water tight and cheap looking. Well, that was during the Berlin wall days ;).

Anyway, the empty weight is one of the most important specifications of a camera bag and it annoys me very much that some manufacturers don't bother to mention it on their website. I once bought a Lowepro backpack, which to my disappointment had a weight over 4 kilograms empty ( some 10 lbs). 10lbs EMPTY weight is ridiculous imho.

Keep your suggestions coming

[kmack]

I use a large bike messenger bag. Look for a real bike messenger bag, one with a cross strap stabilizer and cam adjusted shoulder strap. They are made to be rugged and easy to get stuff into and out of. Plenty of room for my Crown Graphic and associated junk.

[Rolle]

A sideline here, a picture from the Berlin wall days when I carried a Mamiya C220f around in a fishing bag

[J. Fada]

I am one for efficiency myself and i like to carry as little as possible. If you leave the camera on the tripod you can get away with a smaller bag. I use an Orion AW beltpack by Lowe Pro (kind of like a fanny pack but larger) for my lenses (6) and a small Victorinox sling/messenger type bag for film holders (6 DDs, 4 Grafmatics). I never have to put anything on the ground. If you only have three lenses you may be able to get away with just carrying the Orion depending on how big your lenses are.

This is the Orion but I don't think is is avaiable any more. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/98660-REG/Lowepro_LP00603_PEF_Orion_AW_Belt_Pack.html

I use it without the top which isn't actually attached.

This looks like the sling I use for film holders- http://www.vebee.com/isling-ipod-sling-pack.html

Between these two bags I can carry everything and it is very comfortable.

[Matus Kalisky]

I have also shoulder bag from Courierware - not the "photo" bag, but the "Super Deluxe" one in the size "small" (mind you, I got it for my Mamiya 6, but it turned up later that my 4x5 fits in too). I would get a bigger one if 4x5 would be the target.

Anyhow - this is how it looks:

1) With Tachi 4x5:
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4074/4896600111_a1d9a6baa7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31007239@N06/4896600111/)

2) With Mamiya 6:
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4137/4897196072_93d3e50d12.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31007239@N06/4897196072/)

I would only add that the bags are very well made and rain proof - also the gear does not get wet if you put it in the wet ground as it has double wall structure (bag inside bag, so to say).

It is also possible to get some custom changes made (I requested the zippers on the front pockets and the sizes of the internal pockets).

[Ari]

Lowepro Magnum; there are different sizes, I believe, and pretty cheap on the used market.

[Rolle]

Thanks for suggestions everybody! Messenger type bags have obvious advantages in the urban enviroment. I don't want the bag look like expensive camera bag, and I want it to be light. Thus I bought a Thinktank Retrospective 30, got it yesterday. Ebony 45s + 65, 90, 135, 180 and 300 mm lenses, extension tube set, 5 holders, 6x12 back, black T-shirt, loupe and exposure meter fit in OK. And this bag only weighs 1.5kg:s empty :) .

[Noah A]

That looks like a nice bag. Are those front pockets big enough to hold film holders?

[Matus Kalisky]

I am also attracted by the ThinkTank Retrospective models, but contrary to you I found them too heavy (but I was looking for a really lightweight bag back then). But I do like the design. Important is, that it works for you.

Light messenger bags have one downside - that is the accessibility - as the bags are not stiffened in any way - they tend to "fold" together so looking for something in the bag or taking it out (or putting in) is not as fast as with bags that hold their own shape a bit. On the other hand softer bags hang closer to the body and can be more comfortable with heavier gear.

Actually - posting a photo with your gear inside the bag would be much appreciated :)

[Rolle]

That looks like a nice bag. Are those front pockets big enough to hold film holders?

Yes, the front pockets are big enough for 3 holders each or a 6x12 back.

I have the Ebony in the middle of the main compartment and the lenses 2+2 on top of each other on each side of it, with one lens attached to Ebony. Tight fit, but who needs empty room and empty weight?

[Rolle]

69339

Here is a picture of the bag.

[cjbecker]

I will see if i can get my acra-swiss model a in my think tank shoulder bag.

[Noah A]

Thanks for the info and pic. Looks like a nice bag.

[johnmsanderson]

Interesting discussion... personally I just put the camera (ebony field) on the tripod and carry it o'er my shoulder. In a small backpack I put whatever film holders I need, and a couple lenses (in lens wraps) Could be way lighter if I got a CF tripod and a lighter head.

Loupe is permanently around my neck if I'm out shooting and an old t shirt does double duty as a viewing cloth and a scarf.

Takes awhile to get used to the weight, but the ease of setup/speed is great. The less complicated the better.

I work in NYC.

[DrTang]

check out a Lands End (or similar) canvas tote with either long handles or a shoulder strap

if you have wraps for the lenses and camera..you can just toss everything in and off you go

[cjbecker]

I can fit a arca swiss model a, lens board, hood, light meter, and a few film holders in a Think tank retrospective 30.