I'm NOT done buying camera bags

On a lighter note to put yesterday's rant behind me, I'll tell you I have a problem that many of you likely have. I'm on the eternal quest for the perfect bag for my Fuji kit. Of course there is no perfect bag and most of us likely have at least a couple for different types of outings. 
i just sold a Vanguard Alta Sky 45D. Nice bag but after selling my drone, it was too big. My Tenba Fulton arrived yesterday. I'm moving things from my Lowepro Slingshot into it. Both of them are nice bags for different outings. 
What are you packing your kit in?

I have loads of camera bags for travelling by car, plane, moving and storing gear etc and the only conclusion I can make is that I'm yet to find the perfect bag. In fact, I'm convinced it doesn't exist!

Too many bags here too.

Or so says my wife.

Whenever she brings it up, I don't say anything. I just avoid eye contact and look at her shoes.

"Only" two bags at the moment.

The Wandrd Roam sling 6L for everyday carry which fits perfectly 2 bodies - 2 lenses if needed with some space for small things as well. It is the bag I used the most and while on the expensive side, it totally worths it if you plan on using it everyday.

As for the backpack it is the Gitzo Traveller backpack. Mixed feelings about it. Overall, it gets the job done so unless it "breaks" I don't think I will pick something else. If I hadn't bought that one I would probably pick a Wandrd Prvke or Shimoda explore V2. I find camera backpacks to be very expensive for no reason. I would rather pick a used premium lens or take a small trip instead .

Alas, if I only could convince myself that I only need one body with one lens, I would only need one bag.

Buuuuuutttt no, because sometimes I only need a bag for the body/lens, but other times I need room for a water bottle, a place to stash my sunglasses, a snack or two. Might as well just keep all the bodies, lenses and bags as well.

It never ends.

imnotmarvin wrote:

On a lighter note to put yesterday's rant behind me, I'll tell you I have a problem that many of you likely have. I'm on the eternal quest for the perfect bag for my Fuji kit. Of course there is no perfect bag and most of us likely have at least a couple for different types of outings.
i just sold a Vanguard Alta Sky 45D. Nice bag but after selling my drone, it was too big. My Tenba Fulton arrived yesterday. I'm moving things from my Lowepro Slingshot into it. Both of them are nice bags for different outings.
What are you packing your kit in?

The ThinkTank Streetwalker Pro backpack is my go to for most trips.  Enough room to carry my X-H2s with grip, a pretty long 150-600 lens and a couple of others as well, usually an 8-16 and 16-55.  That’s not exactly a lightweight kit, but I’ve become accustomed to hauling it around when traveling and don’t find it to be all that much of a burden.  Also, for longer vacation trips, I might forego the 150-600 and only bring the other two lenses, which cover the vast majority of the FLs that I would need for travel photography, and where wildlife photography isn’t on the agenda.

Like many others here, I have a wide range of bags as bag size/type is a function of what/where I'm shooting.

One difference though; I have no commercial "camera" bags. 45 years of shooting have taught me it's more practical/efficient to modify/customize gym bags/backpacks/sling bags/tote bags etc. to suit my needs.

Alan Hewitt Photo wrote:

I have loads of camera bags for travelling by car, plane, moving and storing gear etc and the only conclusion I can make is that I'm yet to find the perfect bag. In fact, I'm convinced it doesn't exist!

I hear you, I even have a bag in case I'm invited to go to the ISS in orbit. 

For a long time the camera bag I took on hikes was an Osprey Stratos 24 with just a Lowepro Dashpoint 30 which carried my X-E4 and either the 14/2.8 or 60/2.4 because when it comes to bags for actual hiking (and not just walking along paths at national parks) everything camera bag manufacturers make is terrible. That setup wasn't ideal but for me it worked for several years simply because there was no viable alternative.

Then I found the EVOC Stage Capture 16L which lets me bring my preferred lens combo of the 16/1.4 & 70-300 and is still large enough for a Mamiya 6 and 2 lenses while also still being comfortable at the end of a 10-15 mile hike that I usually go on. Still using the X-E4 but looking to upgrade to the X-Pro4 once it comes out to make everything weather sealed.

Once that happens I'll probably swap back to the PD capture clip with the X-Pro4 and 16/1.4 for backpacking but for now it's still the Dashpoint 30 with the X-E4 and 30/2.8 on my Gregory Optic 58.

For travel and around town I absolutely love the Wotancraft 7L. It's large enough for any travel kit I want to bring be it just digital, film, or a combination of the two. It's small enough to be my dedicated carry-on for international travel while also letting me bring all the electronics I want in addition to my camera gear. It doesn't scream "steal this bag full of expensive camera equipment" along with having just enough security features that I feel like anyone nefarious will think twice before attempting anything if they do recognize what it is. I also like that it's comfortable enough that I can carry it fully loaded for hours on end while walking around a city or touring a museum without being sore that evening or the next day.

Oh gosh, all kinds of stuff. I never pack my whole kit with me, so I have a bunch of different bags for different combinations. My carry needs are different from most people's, since I don't change lenses in the field.

Good bags for one camera/one lens kits of various sizes are fairly easy to find: Domke F5XB, Hex Mini Sling, Topo Quick Pack, various small tactical slings.  But good bags that provide both padding and easy access for my typical travel kits  (a larger camera with a larger lens on it combined with a small street camera with a pancake lens) are hard to find. I usually resort to cases and inserts inside various everyday backpacks, slings and messengers.

I did buy a Domke F10 JD late last year and will be giving it a heavy tryout this season. I like the biggish pocket on the outside of this bag that helps me keep my personal bits and pieces away from the cameras.

I alternate between two Domkes: an F-803 for one body and two or 3 primes and an F-6  that holds a body and up to 5 lenses. I find that the 803 sits a little better on my hip. I prefer going out with a body and one or two lenses, so the 803 is my daily carry.

The best asset any amateur photographer can have is a spouse or partner with an expensive personal interest of their own. You can then exist in a state best described as a peaceful version of mutually assured destruction.

yardcoyote wrote:

The best asset any amateur photographer can have is a spouse or partner with an expensive personal interest of their own. You can then exist in a state best described as a peaceful version of mutually assured hoarding.

^ Fixed it for you.

Interesting. What characteristics does one look for in a bag for orbit? Would it be different than a bag for a deep space mission?

yardcoyote wrote:

Interesting. What characteristics does one look for in a bag for orbit? Would it be different than a bag for a deep space mission?

For one, it needs to have velcro everywhere including on the outside of the bag so it doesn't float away in the space station.

I have more bags than brains. Depends on what I'm photographing and the amount of equipment I need with me.

If I'm flying on work and carrying a couple bodies and multiple lenses I use a pelican carry on size case. I can stow it in the overhead and in the event I am forced to gate check it I know it's about as well protected as possible.

Currently I'm using the Wotancraft 10L for everyday jobs. Usually I only need the XT3 and a couple lenses or a D500 and the 70-200. The bag will haul way more than I want to carry at this point in life.

For travel I'm using a Wotancraft 7L, looks just the same as the 10L (that way if the family CFO sees it she assumes it's the same bag ) I'm using it to carry a XT30 and a 18-55 or the 16-55. It would work for the XT3 just as well. But overall the smaller size is nice for travel.

I'd say I'm not buying anymore bags but that would probably be a lie.

LAH50 wrote:

I have more bags than brains. Depends on what I'm photographing and the amount of equipment I need with me.

If I'm flying on work and carrying a couple bodies and multiple lenses I use a pelican carry on size case. I can stow it in the overhead and in the event I am forced to gate check it I know it's about as well protected as possible.

Currently I'm using the Wotancraft 10L for everyday jobs. Usually I only need the XT3 and a couple lenses or a D500 and the 70-200. The bag will haul way more than I want to carry at this point in life.

For travel I'm using a Wotancraft 7L, looks just the same as the 10L (that way if the family CFO sees it she assumes it's the same bag ) I'm using it to carry a XT30 and a 18-55 or the 16-55. It would work for the XT3 just as well. But overall the smaller size is nice for travel.

I'd say I'm not buying anymore bags but that would probably be a lie.

Well I wasn't going to join the thread, because I'm a bit embarrassed about the number of bags I have in the closet. My only redeeming factor is I get rid of bags by gifting them....but there is the rub...I then have room in the closet for more.:-D