Woman, your camera bag please

Greetings All,

Camera bags are genearlly man-centric in design and visual appeal. There are Vader bags galore for the gaget man feeling the force. Isn't this odd for such an artistic hobby--despite it's male majority.

Anyhow, I'm thinking of designing and building a bag for my fiancee. I've designed and made ski ware, so this isn't totally starting at zero. But now the specifics. Angela is 5' 11" and has an E-330 with kit lens. We will be adding another lens or two. Likely a 50mm macro and 40-150mm. Angela will not do fanny packs--she thinks they look dumb.

My question is (and I would like to hear from men as well as woman). What is the must have feature on your camera bag? What should I consider in my design? (Function and look both).

Many thanks, Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

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wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

Hi Seth,

You'll have a very appeciative fiancee/wife if you can design a good woman's camera bag.
I won't go into camera equipment needs, that's the same for both genders.

The first thing to determine is in what types of situations she will be using this bag. Is it for more walking-around-the-city use or more out-in-the-woods-hiking use. This is a very important distinction (at least for me). I like shoulder bags more for the city and a backpack for the outdoors. You'll have to ask her what she prefers.

In either case, strap placement is critical, especially if a woman is not completely flat chested. That's one of the reasons the Lowepro Slingbacks fails miserably for women.

After that, extra storage space. Most women are used to carrying a purse and want to be able to carry many of the items from their purse in their camera bag. I'm not just talking lipstick here, but wallet (generally bigger than mens' wallets), keys, sunglasses, cell phone etc. A place for a water bottle is also good.

Colour!! Black is okay, but a choice of colours is always welcomed. And we're talking real colour here, not taupes, browns, olive greens like I'm going on safari and trying to blend in with the landscape. How boring!! What's her favourite colour?

I have a Crumpler 5 million dollar bag (bright red!) that I'm mainly happy with for city stuff. It has enough space for me to get my wallet and cell phone in (two must fits in any bag I have). It doesn't have a place for a water bottle and I find that lacking.

I'm planning on looking at the LowePro FastPack 200 in person (also comes in red!). It looks like it might meet my needs for day hiking. It might also be better for when I'm doing the tourist thing this summer because it has a water bottle holder, and room to store a jacket, guide book etc.

Hope that helps and good luck.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/shellidawn/

One of those net pouches on the outside to take a can of 'Old Speckled Hen' - it's a 'must have'!

Jim Ford

Seth

Ieeesh I will pop my head up to get it bitten off.

Camera bags are funny beasts I have about 6 ( 8 if I include the handy cam bags). I never seem to find any one to fit a general need. I use a Tamrac as a storage bag a lowepro 100 for every day and a Lowepro 300 for dragging a lot of the long stuff around.

Remember that woman normally have a handbag anyway so the bag should be dual purpose as they don’t like carrying 2 bags.

Most of us men don’t carry bags ( I think) so to carry a one camera bag is not an issue. There are some many designs but I thinks a 2 compartment bag is a must. One for all the general stuff an one for camera stuff. And the 2 must be totally separate.

My experience with woman and handbags ( And here I open myself up for ridicule by the female members of this forum.) is they like them larger and deep. My wife has her life in her handbag (and part of mine to.)

A consideration is the number of accesses to a bag. I access my bag more often for keys, water and other bits and pieces than I do to take camera equipment out.

I have seen a couple of nice crumpler bags but they always seem to camera or to general purpose.

I you want to attract woman it got to have style.

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Collin

http://www.pbase.com/collinbaxter

A bag that functions as a bag, but doesnt scream I am carrying a camera bag, can hold other things beside the camera gear... soft, flexible, yet sturdy, and with the option to change design when wanted/needed... such as this one.... it has a removable flap so they are interchangeable and can match the mood/situation without the need for multiple bags... oh and they have matching camera straps





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Alison

I would like it to be more verticle then boxy. I would like it to have a good shoulder strap to go over one shoulder and the bag on the opposite hip. I would like the lenses slots to be put in up and down and slots for at least 3 or 4 extra lenses, and then another slot (simular to the lens slots) to put whatever else I want in there. then on the outside I like the net stuff to stick the lens caps in and one nice zippered weather proof pouch to easily access the microfibre cloth. I'd like that on the outside instead of inside maybe.

Here is a regular purse/bag that I would like to revamp into a camera bag. Actually I would call it a lens and accessories bag. I don't think I would neccessarily want the camera in it. Although you could make a center 'slot' that could hold the camera with lens attached perhaps? This bags size could easily be revamped to hold several lenses with the foam padding surrounding them. I'd buy a bag like this. You could make it out of canvas instead of leather of course. Just make sure it has a long enough strap to go over the shoulder and onto the opposite hip. I couldn't keep it on my shoulder if I didn't have the strap going across my body. It would be too heavy otherwise I think.
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail
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S.Haden
http://www.pbase.com/shaden008

CollBaxter said:

I use a Tamrac as a storage bag a lowepro 100 for every day and a
Lowepro 300 for dragging a lot of the long stuff around.

Click to expand...

Is the latter the new Vertex 300? I have one and find it rather comfortable to carry on my back albeit a but bulky. If yes, have you tried to take it on a plane as hand luggage?

CollBaxter said:

Remember that woman normally have a handbag anyway so the bag should
be dual purpose as they don’t like carrying 2 bags.

Click to expand...

A true word...

CollBaxter said:

My experience with woman and handbags ( And here I open myself up for
ridicule by the female members of this forum.) is they like them
larger and deep. My wife has her life in her handbag (and part of
mine to.)

Click to expand...

I know. My wife has a handbag like a black hole. Anything that disappears in it will never be seen again. ;-)

CollBaxter said:

I you want to attract woman it got to have style.

Click to expand...

Nicely put in a nutshell.

Cheers!
--
Hans H. Siegrist
http://www.pbase.com/hhsiegrist

I think you have the right idea about things. I never carry purses or bags I hate them! I have a wallet that works good for me and I would like a big shoulder bag that wasn't shaped like a box for the camera. I think it would really be nice to just stuff the lenses in up and down/side by side in a row. I think he's onto a good idea. He should patten them. )

Hummm I wonder if Marv would still carry it around for me then? LOL
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S.Haden
http://www.pbase.com/shaden008

That looks just about exactly as I discribed LOL That's pretty close to what I was trying to explain. LOL I like that one!
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S.Haden
http://www.pbase.com/shaden008

just copy that product number in the search sorry about that http://www.qvc.com product number A76529
--
S.Haden
http://www.pbase.com/shaden008

FWIW, there is already one maker that is trying to fill this gap:
http://www.jill-e.com/

range.

Although personally I think Billingham is much cooler.

If making your own, I have no idea
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam

A few months back someone mentioned the Jill-E bags to me and my local store stocks them so I was able to assess them for my needs.

Fashion-wise, they are a really nice bag, they look well made etc. However, they are "just" a camera bag. There's no separate spaces for camera gear and "other stuff". That's why I passed on them. It doesn't have the "purse" component. However, if they start making a Jill-E with that, I'd seriously consider one. But, I'd have to save up, they aint' cheap!

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/shellidawn/

Many thanks ShelliDawn, you have been very helpful. I hadn't considered strap placement (duh!) but I suppose that would make a big difference in comfort.

Are all sling type bags uncool for woman or just the LowePro bags? I am guessing you are talking about the "Slingshot" line? Don't these bags have a single strap crossing diagonally down the middle of the chest like a standard shoulder bag might be carried? Angela is not flat chested, but she is not large busted either.

As far as the type of situations this bag will find it's self in, we are probably taking a honeymoon to Costa Rica in July (the rainy season). We are both backpackers and will be carrying all our things in backpacks and using public transportation rather than renting a car. We can lock our backpacks in the hotel safe while out taking pictures at the attractions. On these outings we will be walking many miles (in city and forest). The bag must be safe from prying hands and should not scream "I'm a camera bag---steal me." I worry that a standard shoulder bag will not be comfortable enough for such treking about. But Angela doesn't particularly like my LowePro TrimTrekker backpack. So I was looking at making a sling type bag, but would have to carefully consider strap placement.

Black is out. I'm looking at decorative apolstery fabrics and possibly even Kimono type fabrics. This is the fun part. I will experiment with water repellant finishes on these fabrics. I may make a light rain cover to put over the bag as well. Colored nylon or similar non-abrasive fabrics for the inside. Maybe velvety type. I'm looking for foam, I may use a thick neopreen for padding.

Thanks again,
Seth

-
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

I have to strike a ballance between multi purpose and size because we are likely traveling on foot in Costa Rica for a week in July, so it musn't be too large because she will already have a backpack on. But you're right, she has a few large "teacher" bags with almost everything you can image in them. Cords, computers, mp3 players, keys, junkfood, cosmetics, books and papers galore...

The drink holder on the side may be the most practical idea so far for traveling about in Costa Rica. I'll have to figure out a slick way to integrate that.

As far as making it multipurpose and considering a comfortable size to carry miles, I may make the camera padding seperately and have it velcroed in the bag so she can pull it out completely for other uses. The other option is to make a stylish small bag for the Costa Rica trip and a larger split section bag for daily use back home.

Thank guys,
Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

Something like that could work. It's certainly more stylish than man bags. Do you think the large flap is better than a zipper closure? Zippers could be more secure I suppose (from prying hands and accidental spills).

I like the colors and the design looks decent. It looks like a soft bag and I wonder how well it takes the bumps of travel. I would use a lbrighter fabric on the insides so it's easier to see in there.

Thanks for showing that to me.

Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

Hi Alison,

Nice to see you back here - miss the pictures of the kids. Hope Jack and you are doing well.
-Gautham
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C&C always welcome.
Reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnarayan/

I have avery stylish 30 something daughter who wouldn'be caught dead with a standard lap top case. I bought her the Buxton Kelly laptop bag. I think the same style bag covrted for a camera,lenses flash and a few other things would be awesome. Here's a link to the bag.

http://www.shopzilla.com/8B--Computer_Cases_Bags_-_cat_id--46003__keyword--buxton__prerd--1
PS: I'm using an Amvona back pack now but would love a bag of the above style.
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Charlene Ahrens

More vertical and a thinner profile as opposed to it looking like a cooler for a 6-pack. I'm not going for a Scion xB look.

MercurySoft1 said:

I would like it to be more verticle then boxy. I would like it to
have a good shoulder strap to go over one shoulder and the bag on the
opposite hip.

Click to expand...

Do you have a bag that you wear like that? I'm just wondering how comfortable it is to wear the bag like that while walking a ways. What do you think makes a "good" shoulder strap? If she is carrying the bag with the strap running across the middle of her chest, I would think it would need to be thinner in front than in back. What do you think?

As far as lens slots go, I was thinking of three lens slots. The center would be where the camera would be pointing down--lens attached. the dividers on each side of the middle slot would have wings on it to cover the two other slots while the camera is sitting in the bag.

Now as far as extra small items, converters, small lenses, and charger goes, I don't think I've seen anything quite as cool as the Crumpler Long Schlong with it's hidden compartments. I'd stick my 50mm, 55mm macro, and charger in there. They no longer make this bag. I don't know why, I think it's brilliant. My backpack (Trim Trekker) has a lens drawer that pulls out from the side. I'll someday try to find a Long Schlong for my own gear. It's more vertical than horrizontal and really doesn't look much like the typical photo gaget bag.

http://www.taschenfreak.de/TASCHEN/CRUMPLER/LongSchlong/cru-longschlong-3-joerglanger.htm

I looked at that purse bag. I could convert something like that, but I don't think it would be comfortable to carry for long or very secure in Costa Rica where theft is quite high.

Thanks for the ideas.

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

The Buxton Kelly if converted would be slick for around home applications. I don't expect it would work for traveling unless it had a carry strap to attach.

I may look around for bags that could convert instead of making from scratch. There are a lot of nice backpacks and large purses that are more stylish than the standard photo bag.

Best, Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com