Comments on: The Camera Bag Problem http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/ Creativity x Technology Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt K. http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-9692 Matt K. Tue, 24 May 2011 04:59:12 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-9692 It's funny because after my first dslr purchase, I came across the same frustrations. I purchased and returned 3 different bags and stopped there because I thought the guy at the camera store was thinking I was one indecisive guy. I ended up getting a Tamrac Adventure 7. The one I had before that was the Tamrac Adventure 9. The frustrating thing is that the 9 was too big, and the 7 is too small. Why not an 8. Well, because they don't make an 8. Other companies had the right size, but they were either missing certain straps, didn't have enough compartments, were ugly, etc, etc. The guy at the store actually understood and told me he had the same problem and that there was no perfect camera bag out there. I actually use my gun bag more as a camera bag than a gun bag. Also, as Chris stated, the problem is not limited to camera bags. I had the same issue when looking for gun bags and golf bags. Golf bags are worse. They are all basically the same lame design. I actually use my gun bag more for my camera than I do for my gun. I never understood this before, I'm starting to understand why my wife would take so damn long picking out a handbag, and also why she has so many. This whole process, has lead me to want to start my own brand of camera bags. That is what lead me to your blog. There has to be a better design. It’s funny because after my first dslr purchase, I came across the same frustrations. I purchased and returned 3 different bags and stopped there because I thought the guy at the camera store was thinking I was one indecisive guy. I ended up getting a Tamrac Adventure 7. The one I had before that was the Tamrac Adventure 9. The frustrating thing is that the 9 was too big, and the 7 is too small. Why not an 8. Well, because they don’t make an 8. Other companies had the right size, but they were either missing certain straps, didn’t have enough compartments, were ugly, etc, etc. The guy at the store actually understood and told me he had the same problem and that there was no perfect camera bag out there. I actually use my gun bag more as a camera bag than a gun bag. Also, as Chris stated, the problem is not limited to camera bags. I had the same issue when looking for gun bags and golf bags. Golf bags are worse. They are all basically the same lame design. I actually use my gun bag more for my camera than I do for my gun. I never understood this before, I’m starting to understand why my wife would take so damn long picking out a handbag, and also why she has so many. This whole process, has lead me to want to start my own brand of camera bags. That is what lead me to your blog. There has to be a better design.

]]> By: drgerg http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4009 drgerg Thu, 17 May 2007 17:37:00 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4009 I have no comments on the camera bags, but the body bag ad that google is showing on this post is just fantastic. The soft-focus, fetishistic, photos of closures on the website are even better: http://www.foxhaven.org.uk/ I have no comments on the camera bags, but the body bag ad that google is showing on this post is just fantastic. The soft-focus, fetishistic, photos of closures on the website are even better:
http://www.foxhaven.org.uk/

]]> By: clc http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4008 clc Tue, 15 May 2007 13:29:39 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4008 I like my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-NG-5162-Explorer/dp/B000FJ2OSM" rel="nofollow">National Geographic Medium Backpack</a>. It's a half-and-half backpack, the bottom half for camera stuff (loaded from the front, so none of the problems you attribute to vertical camera placement), well but not excessively padded, and the top half a drawstring compartment for all the other stuff you need to carry around. Tons of pockets too. I took it hiking for three days last month and it served perfectly, and I'm taking it as a carry-on on a flight in a couple of months. If I have a criticism of it (aside from the price) it's that the fabric it's made from is not as waterproof as I would like. I like my National Geographic Medium Backpack.

It’s a half-and-half backpack, the bottom half for camera stuff (loaded from the front, so none of the problems you attribute to vertical camera placement), well but not excessively padded, and the top half a drawstring compartment for all the other stuff you need to carry around. Tons of pockets too. I took it hiking for three days last month and it served perfectly, and I’m taking it as a carry-on on a flight in a couple of months. If I have a criticism of it (aside from the price) it’s that the fabric it’s made from is not as waterproof as I would like.

]]> By: Chris http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4007 Chris Tue, 15 May 2007 01:11:45 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4007 It's not just camera bags that have this problem I suspect. The 'bag industry' is full of completely brain dead designs. Laptop bags are a great example (if you plan to take more than a laptop along with you), as are messenger bags (if you plan to ride a bike and carry more than a sheaf of papers), as are bags for winter-sports (skiing or hiking, and you want to take boots, food, drink). I think I've spent about a grand on 'bags' over the last 4 years, all in a struggle to find the proper bag for the proper occasion. laptop - the current model of the <a href="http://www.spireusa.com/products/VX6.htm" rel="nofollow">SpireUSA 'volt xl'</a> matches almost what I've come to like most messenger - the <a href="http://www.chromebags.com/products/bags/show/15/" rel="nofollow">chrome kremlin</a> bag seems to be comfortable, large enough for laptop + clothes + snack. winter-sports - <a href="http://www.bobwards.com/bobwards/servlet/item/features/104545-08" rel="nofollow">the northface off chute 35</a> it has enough space for boots (hiking), attachments for skis/poles, cargo space for other items and water-bottle carriers. and it's comfortable. anyway, the 'bag industry' needs to have a revolution or renaissance in form and function. It’s not just camera bags that have this problem I suspect. The ‘bag industry’ is full of completely brain dead designs. Laptop bags are a great example (if you plan to take more than a laptop along with you), as are messenger bags (if you plan to ride a bike and carry more than a sheaf of papers), as are bags for winter-sports (skiing or hiking, and you want to take boots, food, drink).

I think I’ve spent about a grand on ‘bags’ over the last 4 years, all in a struggle to find the proper bag for the proper occasion.

laptop – the current model of the SpireUSA ‘volt xl’ matches almost what I’ve come to like most
messenger – the chrome kremlin bag seems to be comfortable, large enough for laptop + clothes + snack.
winter-sports – the northface off chute 35 it has enough space for boots (hiking), attachments for skis/poles, cargo space for other items and water-bottle carriers. and it’s comfortable.

anyway, the ‘bag industry’ needs to have a revolution or renaissance in form and function.

]]> By: Mark Denovich http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4006 Mark Denovich Mon, 14 May 2007 20:21:41 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4006 Lowepro Slingshot AW100: Best casual carry bag evar. http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_100_AW.aspx It's comfortable, compact and unobtrusive when carried. A quick swing will slide the camera into a safe and handy position to remove/insert. It holds my D50 with a big tele-photo a second smaller lens, a gorilla pod & assorted goodies... built in waterproof cover too. It was one of my best accessory purchases. Lowepro Slingshot AW100: Best casual carry bag evar.
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_100_AW.aspx

It’s comfortable, compact and unobtrusive when carried. A quick swing will slide the camera into a safe and handy position to remove/insert. It holds my D50 with a big tele-photo a second smaller lens, a gorilla pod & assorted goodies… built in waterproof cover too.

It was one of my best accessory purchases.

]]> By: Nelson http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4005 Nelson Mon, 14 May 2007 15:19:27 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4005 The bag of choice for Flickrites seems to be the Crumpler camera bags. I have a medium size one (4 million dollar home? 5 million? who can remember?) and like it quite a lot. It's got most of the problems you cite; too much foam in particular, but it seems to work in practice. It's a "store camera ready to shoot" type and that part works great. I'd say check out their website, but last time I visited it the site was awful. So maybe visit a camera store instead. They're an Australian company but I've seen their camera bags in quite a few American shops. Their messenger bags are popular , too. The bag of choice for Flickrites seems to be the Crumpler camera bags. I have a medium size one (4 million dollar home? 5 million? who can remember?) and like it quite a lot. It’s got most of the problems you cite; too much foam in particular, but it seems to work in practice. It’s a “store camera ready to shoot” type and that part works great.

I’d say check out their website, but last time I visited it the site was awful. So maybe visit a camera store instead. They’re an Australian company but I’ve seen their camera bags in quite a few American shops. Their messenger bags are popular , too.

]]> By: David R http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4004 David R Mon, 14 May 2007 14:38:41 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4004 The top-access part of my Lowe"Pro" Reporter bag works well; I can actually put the camera with (an admittedly fairly stubby 18-70) lens and even sunshade in with the lens facing down. Sadly, the thing has a real dearth of zippered space for accessories. "Nothing will fall out" said the guy at the camera store. "Good bye" said my spare battery pack. I've taken to putting assorted geegaws into a ziplock and stuffing that into one of the lens compartments. Of course, what psu really wants is a bag of holding. It's not happening. The top-access part of my Lowe”Pro” Reporter bag works well; I can actually put the camera with (an admittedly fairly stubby 18-70) lens and even sunshade in with the lens facing down.

Sadly, the thing has a real dearth of zippered space for accessories. “Nothing will fall out” said the guy at the camera store. “Good bye” said my spare battery pack. I’ve taken to putting assorted geegaws into a ziplock and stuffing that into one of the lens compartments.

Of course, what psu really wants is a bag of holding. It’s not happening.

]]> By: psu http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4003 psu Mon, 14 May 2007 14:31:57 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4003 The truth is, I can probably get most of the pictures I get with a Canon ELF. But i can't convince the dork wanker part of my brain that this is so. So I carry the big stuff around a lot too. The truth is, I can probably get most of the pictures I get with a Canon ELF. But i can’t convince the dork wanker part of my brain that this is so. So I carry the big stuff around a lot too.

]]> By: tilt http://tleaves.com/2007/05/14/the-camera-bag-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-4002 tilt Mon, 14 May 2007 14:19:53 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=843#comment-4002 After very carefully solving this problem, I find that my carefully packed Domke bag stays in the car and I carry around a little Canon ELF instead. After very carefully solving this problem, I find that my carefully packed Domke bag stays in the car and I carry around a little Canon ELF instead.

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