Great Non-Camera Bag Camera Bag

Like a lot of us here, there's a constant search for a camera and lens bag.

I'm not a big fan of official "camera bags", preferring use separate lens cases or padded inserts so I can use ANY bag… lumbar, sling or backpack… as my photo bag.

The last few years I've been using a Patagonia Atom Stealth Sling fly fishing sling pack. It's served me well, but there were a few things that weren't quite right. The teardrop shape was okay, but the big blobby pouch on the back bothered me. I really wanted something more svelte and discreet.



So, going to Patagonia again, I saw a new version of the Stealth Sling. More flat and rectangular than the older version. Plus, more interior slots to keep stuff organized.

As I use it, it fits 4 lenses comfortably. If I pull one to, the camera fits inside, too!

Used it during a trip to Italy last month. I was even able to carry it in MANY museums in Roma, Bologna and Firenze with no questions asked. Just swung it around in front and used it as a portable stabilizer. Bonus!

It rides really well, with no strain. With what I carry, it's weighs about 9 lbs. That's with all the lenses, batteries, filters, USB charger, cables and whatnot. AND it's definitely subtle out on the street.

It's definitely worth considering.







LowePro lens case, padded insert and 4 lenses. 7-14mm. 17.5mm, 42.5mm and adapted 75mm f1.5.




Put one lens on the camera and it even fits inside.


In the field. Walking through Rome, Italy last month.


Zoomed in. I added some nylon straps to hold a jacket or whatever.

Love the idea.

As a matter of fact, unless we shall prepare to bump or throw camera bags hard on floor, the thick cushion of usual camera bags are basically of little use to me. And for our small M43 gear, it is hard to find a good fit camera bag. Usually I must put in extra padded for the best uage of usual camera bags designed for regular DSLRs.

Just had bought 2 new bags (my strange hobby?) each of US$12. A shoulder messenger bag good for G85 & GX850, 12~35 f/2.8 & 12~32 on the bodies, 7~14 f/4, 45~150 & 15. A small cleaning kit set, 5 spare batteries, a small GorillaPod with swiss arca ball head, usual accessories, water bottle, my hat and spaces for my jacket. Good for general shooting. It could be my travelling bag if travelling will be allowed again.

The other is a waist bag of 14L capacity, can use aY should strap as backack. It can hold G85 & 12~32 & an extra lens in the size of 12~35 f/2.8... Should be big enough to hold my general hiking gear as well.

Great solution! Might I add that fishing gear manufacturers are this >< close to accidentally making the perfect photographer’s vest for carrying two camera bodies with big glass mounted!

Nice find Jeff, and great to see that Patagonia, a company I have tremendous respect for, is still working on this product line.

I am a member of a large photo community that has long realized that "non-photo" packs are indeed very often far better than over-hyped, grossly overpriced "specialized" packs in just about every category (test results in several links below my siggy for those who have a bit of time.)

FWIW, we have been testing the best waist packs on the market (I hope to have a write-up on the results in the R1 link below by the end of next month) and the (almost certainly) winner is significantly cheaper and more versatile than this Patagonia (not knocking it, just giving a bit of perspective here.)

Anyhow, it was also great to hear you talk about such a pack becoming a "portable stabilizer" when swung to the front. I touched upon this in the R4 link below and it's one of the great advantages of such a setup: not just comfy, but it often allows one to gain a few extra stops!

alcelc said:

Love the idea.

As a matter of fact, unless we shall prepare to bump or throw camera bags hard on floor, the thick cushion of usual camera bags are basically of little use to me. And for our small M43 gear, it is hard to find a good fit camera bag.

Click to expand...

Nonsense. You must not have looked very hard

alcelc said:

Usually I must put in extra padded for the best uage of usual camera bags designed for regular DSLRs.

Click to expand...

Again , nowadays there are dozens of camera bags designed for mirrorless cameras in virtually any styles of carrying
Harold

Chris 222 said:

I am a member of a large photo community that has long realized that "non-photo" packs are indeed very often far better than over-hyped, grossly overpriced "specialized" packs in just about every category (test results in several links below my siggy for those who have a bit of time.)

Click to expand...

That is a vast exaggeration . The funny thing is that reading some of your articles, you make some very solid points but you often used a lot of hype , the same hype you criticized the manufacturers to use
In my opinion , unless you are really into SERIOUS hiking ( think with a tent or camping stuff or survival style) a photobag almost always will give you a better experience

For urban hikes , the superiority of photo bags is even more obvious.

Do not get me wrong. I do agree that lots of photo bags are overhyped or too specialized. This is because the photo bag market is over saturated with products and one should really put some thought about what he or she needs but there are great photo bags available for almost any equipment and carrying style

Harold

Basically anything you like:…because as soon as you take your camera out to use someone will sa hey that’s a camera bag.

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...


(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Peter

Isola Verde said:

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08G8H51P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Peter

Click to expand...

The bag looks interesting, I have small and large backpacks for travel but both have to be taken off to access a change of lens. Is it possible to rotate the bag to access kit, without taking the bag off? I see there are different Tenba BYOB inserts, what size do you use? I’d probably stick with separate items in neoprene pouches, including camera in Optech case.

--
Stuart
Latest uploads http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/
G9 images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157713564616257
G80 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157669344521949
FZ330 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157659823425652
TZ60 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157642261079494
Panasonic 100-400mm https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157677833632831
Panoramas https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157651603418606
UltraWide https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157646076479907

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

No i never could. I prefer to buy something which is going to both protect my equipment AND allows good access to it

windmillgolfer said:

Isola Verde said:

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08G8H51P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Peter

Click to expand...

The bag looks interesting, I have small and large backpacks for travel but both have to be taken off to access a change of lens. Is it possible to rotate the bag to access kit, without taking the bag off? I see there are different Tenba BYOB inserts, what size do you use? I’d probably stick with separate items in neoprene pouches, including camera in Optech case.

Click to expand...

That one does most definitely swing round and unzip, allowing for fairly easy camera extraction, lens changing etc.

[The lower end of the strap can be attached to either side of the bag's base, however only one of the two arrangements - with strap over the right shoulder - then brings the zips and apertures to the top when swivelled!]

I generally use mine with a Tenba BYOB insert 9 - which is a very good fit in that bag and retains its position perfectly well - whereas the 7 is a bit "looser" than ideal, and can swivel etc between accesses. Haven't got one, but I suspect the 10 might be too tall for comfort.

But, to gain slightly more capacity in the insert (so that, for instance, the GX (7, 80 or 9) and/or an E-M10 can sit - monitor down - from front to back of the insert, rather than "along it"), another brand to look at on Amazon is S-Zone. The one I like is called the "ArmyGreen-1" - which has the advantage of external pockets - rather than the black or silver included in the listing....

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/S-ZONE-S...09NSNKRLQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Those cameras are about as big as would fit that way, although [one] larger one can easily be put in along the longer axis.



[Better I find, to zip that lid closed when also squeezing in one's groceries! And two bodies of this size + lenses do make for a pretty heavy load - but useful if wanting to know just where they are.... while flying etc]

The 9 insert, and the S-Zone one, each fill the whole area of the base of the bag, but with then more than half the height (the narrower, top, end) empty.

++++

If so tempted, note that that this S-Zone insert is better suited to the outer bag for the Tenba BYOB 10 insert, and is very, very tight in the one for to the smaller "9" insert!

++++

As far as the sling bag itself goes, I've been very pleased with mine, and now rarely leave the house without it - the other pockets being crammed with the various bits and pieces that life calls for these days!

Peter

--
Pictures...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132932913@N02/albums

Isola Verde said:

windmillgolfer said:

Isola Verde said:

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08G8H51P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Peter

Click to expand...

The bag looks interesting, I have small and large backpacks for travel but both have to be taken off to access a change of lens. Is it possible to rotate the bag to access kit, without taking the bag off? I see there are different Tenba BYOB inserts, what size do you use? I’d probably stick with separate items in neoprene pouches, including camera in Optech case.

Click to expand...

That one does most definitely swing round and unzip, allowing for fairly easy camera extraction, lens changing etc.

[The lower end of the strap can be attached to either side of the bag's base, however only one of the two arrangements - with strap over the right shoulder - then brings the zips and apertures to the top when swivelled!]

I generally use mine with a Tenba BYOB insert 9 - which is a very good fit in that bag and retains its position perfectly well - whereas the 7 is a bit "looser" than ideal, and can swivel etc between accesses. Haven't got one, but I suspect the 10 might be too tall for comfort.

But, to gain slightly more capacity in the insert (so that, for instance, the GX (7, 80 or 9) and/or an E-M10 can sit - monitor down - from front to back of the insert, rather than "along it"), another brand to look at on Amazon is S-Zone. The one I like is called the "ArmyGreen-1" - which has the advantage of external pockets - rather than the black or silver included in the listing....

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/S-ZONE-S...09NSNKRLQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Those cameras are about as big as would fit that way, although [one] larger one can easily be put in along the longer axis.



[Better I find, to zip that lid closed when also squeezing in one's groceries! And two bodies of this size + lenses do make for a pretty heavy load - but useful if wanting to know just where they are.... while flying etc]

The 9 insert, and the S-Zone one, each fill the whole area of the base of the bag, but with then more than half the height (the narrower, top, end) empty.

++++

If so tempted, note that that this S-Zone insert is better suited to the outer bag for the Tenba BYOB 10 insert, and is very, very tight in the one for to the smaller "9" insert!

++++

As far as the sling bag itself goes, I've been very pleased with mine, and now rarely leave the house without it - the other pockets being crammed with the various bits and pieces that life calls for these days!

Peter

Click to expand...

Peter.



Thank you for your comprehensive reply. I shall order the bag and see how it works with my existing Optech pouches, then the green S-Zone.

Wishing you and yours a good Christmas and a New Year filled with photo opportunities.

--
Stuart
Latest uploads http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/
G9 images
G80 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157669344521949
FZ330 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157659823425652
TZ60 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157642261079494
Panasonic 100-400mm https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157677833632831
Panoramas https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157651603418606
UltraWide https://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/albums/72157646076479907

I would disagree that photo packs are useful for hiking.

Firstly you are usually carrying a reasonable amount of stuff even in a day pack, such as at least 1 warm layer, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, hat, gloves, water, food, sunglasses, compass, map(s), phone, sunscreen even in summer and in winter you should be carrying significantly more and if going above the snowline stuff like ice axe and crampons. Any photo packs I've seen have pretty limited additional capacity.

Secondly, having to take off your rucksack to access your equipment is not very useful.

The only practical solution I have found is to use camera/lens pouches of the type that were pioneered (in the UK at least) by Camera Care Systems in the 1980s and have since been copied by other companies.

These can be worn on a belt (rucksack or other), slung around the body or slung off your rucksack shoulder straps and allow relatively easy access without taking the rucksack off which is often convenient if scrambling or on steep ground.

They also protect your camera from banging against rocks or similar which can happen if it is on a neck strap only.

And if the weather really turns bad then they can be put away inside a rucksack if there is enough room.

windmillgolfer said:

Isola Verde said:

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08G8H51P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Click to expand...

The bag looks interesting, I have small and large backpacks for travel but both have to be taken off to access a change of lens. Is it possible to rotate the bag to access kit, without taking the bag off? I see there are different Tenba BYOB inserts, what size do you use? I’d probably stick with separate items in neoprene pouches, including camera in Optech case.

Click to expand...

That's the great thing about sling bags, you can quickly and easily swing it around in front to access lenses or to keep it secure. There's no need to stop and take it off, like with a backpack.

In museums or stores, that's the best way to carry one and not worry about banging into things or have guards eyeballing you.

I have a few inserts of different size, big and small. some for backpack, some for shoulder bag that are top open, some open on one side...

There are a lot of these no brand name products in the market at small cost. My wife even kindly tailor make a few pad partition for my special uses...

Nowadays when I buy a bag, I would first consider could it be converted into a camera bag...

Buy two 250ml~350ml water bottle pouches, best in neoprene material which is WR and can be sort of cushion for the lens, hang it onto the shoulder strap on our chest when starting a shooting session. One pouch has the spare lens and the other be available to store the unmounted lens. Doing this a backpack will no longer slowing down lens swapping.

In case if I shall swap among 3 lenses frequently, I shall use my jacket pocket as a temporary home for the unmounted lens.

My 2 cents.

--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download my image and edit it as you like **

jeffharris said:

The last few years I've been using a Patagonia Atom Stealth Sling fly fishing sling pack. It's served me well, but there were a few things that weren't quite right. The teardrop shape was okay, but the big blobby pouch on the back bothered me. I really wanted something more svelte and discreet.

Click to expand...

That does look pretty darn bulbous! But I'm not sure I get the obsession with being discreet if you are walking around in a blaze orange vest. ;-)

jeffharris said:

So, going to Patagonia again, I saw a new version of the Stealth Sling. More flat and rectangular than the older version. Plus, more interior slots to keep stuff organized.

Click to expand...

I'm a fan of Think Tank's sling bags. Their "20" has dimensions close to your new $160 Patagonia, and it costs only $100: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._photo_466_turnstyle_20_v2_0_convertible.html

It also weighs 100 grams less, and that's before adding your padded inserts, which seem somewhat ill-fitting to me and less versatile than the padded dividers in the Think Tank.

Perhaps some of the extra 100 grams in the Patagonia is due to the magnets that are sewn into it. Why magnets? 'Cause it's designed for fly-fishermen , not photographers, and magnets are a feature for the intended audience: "Embedded magnets on the pack front and shoulder straps temporarily hold flies, nippers or hemos for quicker fly changes." Now if only someone would sell magnetized lens caps!

jeffharris said:

https://www.patagonia.com/product/s..._48328_color=INBK&cgid=luggage-messenger-bags

Click to expand...

I also have a tough time seeing that the Patagonia is more discreet than the Think Tank:



The Think Tank's shoulder strap looks more comfortable to me, looks designed to ride a bit higher and snugger, and comes with a built-in rain cover if needed.



You and others profess a preference for non-camera-bag bags for cameras, and I'm just not sure why. Is it that you think thieves have memorized all the brands of camera bags and go after them, but they'll look at you and think, "Ah, just some fishing line and hooks in there, nothing worth stealing," even though you also have a visible camera on a sling strap?

Hey, buy whatever bag you like, it's no problem for me. I'm just commenting that I don't see that you have made a strong case for the Patagonia in any criteria: cost, weight, stealth, comfort, or photography features and functionality.

I agree with another poster's comment that for backpackers hiking with a lot of non-photography gear, buying a true hiking backpack may make more sense than buying a photography backpack. But for just walking around during the day taking photos, I've found that bags designed for camera gear work great. My two cents.

--
Brent

Harold66 said:

Chris 222 said:

I am a member of a large photo community that has long realized that "non-photo" packs are indeed very often far better than over-hyped, grossly overpriced "specialized" packs in just about every category (test results in several links below my siggy for those who have a bit of time.)

Click to expand...

That is a vast exaggeration . The funny thing is that reading some of your articles, you make some very solid points but you often used a lot of hype , the same hype you criticized the manufacturers to use

Click to expand...

You confuse hype with experience.

I highly doubt you have carefully read very much of what I wrote on this site. In fact you would not make the absurd statement above if you had, simply because the reasons why all of us (well over one thousand people worldwide now) are no longer using "photo" packs are detailed in R1 link, Article 1. So yeah, you didn't go very far... LOL.

Harold66 said:

In my opinion , unless you are really into SERIOUS hiking ( think with a tent or camping stuff or survival style) a photobag almost always will give you a better experience

Click to expand...

False. Carrying and unloading principles are the same regardless of the distance covered.

Harold66 said:

For urban hikes , the superiority of photo bags is even more obvious.

Click to expand...

Another falsehood and cliché. To take just one example, the winner of our extensive daypacks tests is far more comfortable and inconspicuous than any "photo" pack in the same volume range, and at 1/3 to 1/2 the price. In fact many of us use it on city strolls (there's no such thing as an "urban" hike) and as a carry-on.

It's a similar approach as the one Jeff described in his OP.

But one does need to have an open mind.

Harold66 said:

Do not get me wrong. I do agree that lots of photo bags are overhyped or too specialized.

Click to expand...

I entirely agree with you here.

Harold66 said:

This is because the photo bag market is over saturated with products and one should really put some thought about what he or she needs but there are great photo bags available for almost any equipment and carrying style

Harold

Click to expand...

jeffharris said:

windmillgolfer said:

Isola Verde said:

alcelc said:

Can you pay US$12 for a new camera bag designed for M43?

Click to expand...

If you already own a suitable insert (Tenba BYOB or similar). then this makes for a good combination at no great expense...

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08G8H51P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(The material used for the currently-unavailable grey version is better, but the black's OK as well!)

Worked so nicely for our trip to Rome this last October - convenient way to carry mixes such as E-M10iv, Lumix 12-60 and 9-18 + 15mm - that I bought a second!

Click to expand...

The bag looks interesting, I have small and large backpacks for travel but both have to be taken off to access a change of lens. Is it possible to rotate the bag to access kit, without taking the bag off? I see there are different Tenba BYOB inserts, what size do you use? I’d probably stick with separate items in neoprene pouches, including camera in Optech case.

Click to expand...

That's the great thing about sling bags, you can quickly and easily swing it around in front to access lenses or to keep it secure.

Click to expand...

Same as waist/fanny/butt packs,and very true. One big difference though is where the packs' weight puts the most pressure on your body: hips with a fanny pack (perfectly centered whether you swing it to the front or to the beack) and on one shoulder (off-axis) with a sling. The latter tends to cause pain after more than a short stroll, just as shoulder bags do. Note that a good waist pack can easily be used as a sling.

jeffharris said:

There's no need to stop and take it off, like with a backpack.

Click to expand...

FWIW this is all a matter of technique. When I shoot ILC (often MFT these days) I often swap lenses and cams without dropping my pack.