My Quest for a Good, Small, Water Resistant, M4/3 Camera Shoulder Bag
May 23, 2016
In my recent quest for a good, small water resistant, M4/3 camera bag, I learned some information which may be useful to others. So I'm posting this thread to share what I've learned. Hopefully it'll be helpful to someone. The following are my opinions. Others may have differing opinions.
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I started out looking for a leather bag or ideally a faux leather aka vinyl bag that would be the right size for m4/3, ergonomically well laid out, and a water resistant design. I was not able to find all those qualities in one bag.
Many are all to large, or poorly laid out, or both. So I gave up looking for leather, or faux leather, and just looked for a bag of appropriate size with good design and water resistant.
Note: I live in a part of Western Washington State that is a rain forest area. So I place a high priority on waterproof material and a top lid that keep water out.
The bags I researched are traditional shoulder bags (because that's what I prefer). There are also several good "sling" should bags called "sling bags" for mirrorless cameras, but their compartment zipper is exposed to the elements and I'm doubtful how water resistant they are. Also, I'm personally not into the sling bag look.
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Tamrac Derechoe 3 is my personal favorite bag. It can hold an Olympus M10ii or M5ii and 3 lenses, small flash, extra battery and charger. It has easy access (for my arthritic fingers) because it has magnetic fasteners. It is a highly water resistant design (covered zipper) and the material is waterproof. No rain cover is needed. It's available in black or burgundy. I bought this bag in burgundy color. It looks good, IMO.
Tamrac Jazz 52 - This is my other personal favorite bag. It's the same as the Tamrac Derechoe bag, except for 3 things. The Jazz 52 is now discontinued, but still available at approx half cost of Derechoe 3. So Jazz 52 is a bargain. The Jazz 52 comes in orange and grey, or black. I own the orange and grey version. The other difference is it uses a "quick" release buckle (instead of magnetic fasteners). My arthritic fingers have great difficulty with the buckle, which I find anything but quick or easy to release. That's why I bought the Derchoe 3 with magnetic fasteners and gave Jazz 52 bag to my sister who loves it. The buckle might thwart a pick pocket because it take some effort for healthy fingers to unbuckle. My arthritic fingers can't unbuckle it. So the buckle might be an advantage as a theft deterrent, but it's to inconvenient for me. For most people the buckle is fine.
Note: When we go to photo club events everyone has a black bag, except mine is burgundy and my sister's is orange and grey. So we'll never get our bags mixed up with anyone else's bag. Also, IMO no one thinks "camera bag" when they see a colored bag.
Tamrac 3440 Rally Micro Camera Bag - for mirrorless camera with two lenses (one mounted on camera) and a small flash or charger. You can probably also find room for an extra battery. However, I'm not sure how waterproof it's material is. Probably not a concern, unless you live in a very wet climate (like I do). It appears to be a good bag for mirrorless, but it's discontinued. So I'm not sure how available it is.
Tamrac Jazz Messenger 2 - for mirrorless camera with three lenses (one mounted on camera) and a small flash or charger. You can probably also find room for an extra battery. It appears to have a very waterproof type fabric and design. I like it, except it has a type buckle that's difficult for my arthritic fingers to undo, but that wouldn't be a concern for most people. It appears to be a great bag for mirrorless, but it's discontinued. So I'm not sure how available it is.
Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 5 - for Oly M10 Mark II (or similar size) mirrorless camera with 1 lens (one mounted on camera) and a MAYBE a second small lens or small flash or charger. You can MIGHT also find room for an extra battery. View the pics at ThinkTankPhoto.com website and judge for yourself what it can hold. I bought one and it holds my M10ii and two small lenses.
Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 10 - same as 5, but with slightly more roominess for M10ii with and two lenses, maybe also a small flash. Would also be good for an M5ii with one lens and small flash. Can probably also fit a charger or extra battery.
Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20 - same as 10, but with plenty of room for M10ii with 3 lenses and a small flash. Also good for M5ii with 3 lenses and a small flash. Can probably also fit a charger or extra battery.
Mirrorless Movers are great bags for the most part, but I'm not sure how waterproof the exposed zipper (of main compartment) is. This might not be a concern, unless you live in a wet climate. I own this bag and like it, but for one concern. It rains heavily here and I am not confident in its ability to keep out water. Unless I put a rain cover on it, but that's a nuisance. IMO a bag should be already be water resistant enough to not need a rain cover.
Billingham Digital Hadley Bag looks to be a great small bag, but is overly expensive, IMO.
There are various brands offering "sling bags", which are kind of a modern interpretation of a shoulder bag. I personally don't like the looks of sling bags. More importantly, their main compartment's zipper is exposed to the elements with no flap covering it. I suspect rain might get through the zipper and inside the main compartment. So no sling bags for me.
