Bag for rangefinder gear

Keltzar · 17th January 2003

hi,
am thinking of getting a tiny travel bag to fit a Bessa R, with 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm lenses. Since most bags are made for SLRs... what would you recommend for rangefinders since they're so much smaller?

ckiang · 17th January 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Keltzar
hi,
am thinking of getting a tiny travel bag to fit a Bessa R, with 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm lenses. Since most bags are made for SLRs... what would you recommend for rangefinders since they're so much smaller?

Get the smallest Billingham or Domke?

Regards
CK

Keltzar · 17th January 2003

The smallest domke is too big.
Billingham... maybe an idea.

Why this question came up is because Most smaller bags have pockets made for a lens of height about 10-12 or15cm (being typical sizes for an SLR lens). My rangefinder lenses are mostly between 5 and 8cm tall. This means a lot of wasted space... so no sense in carrying such a bulky bag!

rubric · 18th January 2003

The smallest domke is the 5xb. it might fit your gear. The next largest is the f3.
Check out the catalogue:
http://www.tiffen.com/domkecat01.htm

Keltzar · 19th January 2003

hi,
went down to cathay today and bought
the perfect solution - the lowepro S&F utility case.
It will fit my RF camera and 4 RF lenses, and has
external compartment for my viewfinder and
a flash. Option to either side-sling or belt on.
Excellent stuff... only $27!

And very compact.

bench · 22nd December 2003

Just gotten a contax g2 kit, now to find a bag.
i need one to fit the body, 28mm, 45mm & 90mm and maybe the TLA200 flash.
anyone else using G2 has a bag to recommend??

I can't seem to find the Lowepro S&F Utility bag Keltzar mentioned

Keltzar · 22nd December 2003

Originally Posted by bench

Just gotten a contax g2 kit, now to find a bag.
i need one to fit the body, 28mm, 45mm & 90mm and maybe the TLA200 flash.
anyone else using G2 has a bag to recommend??

I can't seem to find the Lowepro S&F Utility bag Keltzar mentioned

Check Cathay Photo. It's about $25-30.

bench · 22nd December 2003

Hi Keltzar, thks, I'll check again.
By the way, what gear are you using? Do u have a pic of the bag?

Keltzar · 22nd December 2003

Check lowepro's site under street and field series.

I am using a Bessa-R with 15/4.5, 35/2.5, 50/1.5, 90/4.
A mix of voigtlander, soviet and leica lenses.

Parchiao · 22nd December 2003

Lowepro Photo Runner would make an excellebt bag for the G2,lens and flash.

Keltzar · 22nd December 2003

it depends on what he is looking for.

I also have a photo runner - have had it for 5-8 years. It's about 40% bigger than the S&F pack. Small lenses like the G-lenses will be rolling around. I find the photorunner better for a small SLR setup e.g. FM2.

Parchiao · 22nd December 2003

I have the Photo Runner, and the S&F Utility Case. I say this because I am speaking from experience.

The Photo Runner has three inserts, as such the possibility of four compartments, and no rolling about of lenses. The size of the G2 is not smaller than a FM2/3n or an Aria. If it is good for a FM2, it is good for a G2. Moreover, the compartments actually suit the size of the G lens more than SLR lenses. BTW, I kept the G lenses in the protective cover, especially in a camera bag. In fact, you can even put in an extra PnS and some extra rolls of film.

Ultimately, the choice lies with each person's personal preference.

whoelse · 22nd December 2003

I use Lowepro Prisma 300AW for my Fed or small slr. Not too big and small, stylist and doesn't make you look like photographer, well padded and water resistant. I shoot in rain quite often too.

Keltzar · 23rd December 2003

Bench:
It is ultimately your preference. It seems both Parchiao and I have the Photorunner AND the S&F.

He prefers the former and I the latter.

In fact, I only bought the S&F early this year because of my RF cameras because I found the photorunner too bulky. When I travel, sometimes I carry my S&F pack with my RF gear inside another bigger lowerpro bag (forgot model)... which also carries an SLR + more lenses. So when I don't want the whole rig, I take out and carry only the S&F pack. On some trips, I carry the S&F pack (with gear) inside a haversack with other things... and that's my airplane hand-carry.

The photorunner is a little big to put into any other bag and is usually carried by itself.

Ultimately, it is your preference.

Keltzar · 23rd December 2003

I forgot to mention.
When I carry the S&F inside another camera bag, that's because sometimes I also carry my powershot G2. So the S&F case , for me, nicely serves to carry either the RF gear or the powershot G2 ... while I leave the big camera bag at the hotel.

it's your preference.

Red Dawn · 23rd December 2003

Hi

my Billingham Hadley Small works very well when i want to just take out my rangefinders.

its small and compact and yet for times when its required, can still fit 2 rangefinder bodies with lens attached, a small flash, lots of film (take them out of their boxes!), notebook, pens etc etc.....

and best of all it doesn't look like a photo bag for the uninitiated!

Ansel · 23rd December 2003

Not sure if anyone noticed. TCW has got some very Lowe-pro and Domke-looking bags selling less than half the price of the real magnums. Some of them are quite small too. No harm having a look.

(mumbling to myself: See if Don will give me a good discount since I am giving him a free commercial.)

bench · 25th December 2003

Thanks Keltzar, Parchiao, Red Dawn and Ansel for your advice. I've been checking out the stores. Finally settled with a Billingham yesterday, Venture Gear-I think, small and real handy.

Thanks again

!

Red Dawn · 2nd January 2004

Originally Posted by bench

Thanks Keltzar, Parchiao, Red Dawn and Ansel for your advice. I've been checking out the stores. Finally settled with a Billingham yesterday, Venture Gear-I think, small and real handy.

Thanks again !

hey just curious...where did u get ur billingham gear from?

dreamseeker · 3rd January 2004

Hi Red Dawn,

I think Yip Chieng Trading carries the Billingham brand. The same agent for Quantum stuffs. Off-hand I cannot remember the number to call but the owner is Mr. Chan. Very friendly fellow.

I am also thinking of getting a Billingham Hadley for my RF. Can't decide between it and a Domke.

17th January 2003	#1
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	Bag for rangefinder gear hi, am thinking of getting a tiny travel bag to fit a Bessa R, with 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm lenses. Since most bags are made for SLRs... what would you recommend for rangefinders since they're so much smaller?

22nd December 2003	#6
bench New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19	Bag for G2 gear Just gotten a contax g2 kit, now to find a bag. i need one to fit the body, 28mm, 45mm & 90mm and maybe the TLA200 flash. anyone else using G2 has a bag to recommend?? I can't seem to find the Lowepro S&F Utility bag Keltzar mentioned

22nd December 2003	#8
bench New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19	Bag for G2 gear Hi Keltzar, thks, I'll check again. By the way, what gear are you using? Do u have a pic of the bag?

25th December 2003	#18
bench New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19	Re: Bag for rangefinder gear Thanks Keltzar, Parchiao, Red Dawn and Ansel for your advice. I've been checking out the stores. Finally settled with a Billingham yesterday, Venture Gear-I think, small and real handy. Thanks again !

18th January 2003	#4
rubric Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Somewhere East Posts: 727	The smallest domke is the 5xb. it might fit your gear. The next largest is the f3. Check out the catalogue: http://www.tiffen.com/domkecat01.htm

19th January 2003	#5
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	hi, went down to cathay today and bought the perfect solution - the lowepro S&F utility case. It will fit my RF camera and 4 RF lenses, and has external compartment for my viewfinder and a flash. Option to either side-sling or belt on. Excellent stuff... only $27! And very compact.

22nd December 2003	#10
Parchiao Deregistered Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,937	Lowepro Photo Runner would make an excellebt bag for the G2,lens and flash.

22nd December 2003	#13
whoelse Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,227	I use Lowepro Prisma 300AW for my Fed or small slr. Not too big and small, stylist and doesn't make you look like photographer, well padded and water resistant. I shoot in rain quite often too.

23rd December 2003	#14
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	Bench: It is ultimately your preference. It seems both Parchiao and I have the Photorunner AND the S&F. He prefers the former and I the latter. In fact, I only bought the S&F early this year because of my RF cameras because I found the photorunner too bulky. When I travel, sometimes I carry my S&F pack with my RF gear inside another bigger lowerpro bag (forgot model)... which also carries an SLR + more lenses. So when I don't want the whole rig, I take out and carry only the S&F pack. On some trips, I carry the S&F pack (with gear) inside a haversack with other things... and that's my airplane hand-carry. The photorunner is a little big to put into any other bag and is usually carried by itself. Ultimately, it is your preference.

23rd December 2003	#16
Red Dawn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,212	Hi my Billingham Hadley Small works very well when i want to just take out my rangefinders. its small and compact and yet for times when its required, can still fit 2 rangefinder bodies with lens attached, a small flash, lots of film (take them out of their boxes!), notebook, pens etc etc..... and best of all it doesn't look like a photo bag for the uninitiated!

23rd December 2003	#17
Ansel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Land Downunder Posts: 2,069	Not sure if anyone noticed. TCW has got some very Lowe-pro and Domke-looking bags selling less than half the price of the real magnums. Some of them are quite small too. No harm having a look. (mumbling to myself: See if Don will give me a good discount since I am giving him a free commercial.)

3rd January 2004	#20
dreamseeker Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 354	Hi Red Dawn, I think Yip Chieng Trading carries the Billingham brand. The same agent for Quantum stuffs. Off-hand I cannot remember the number to call but the owner is Mr. Chan. Very friendly fellow. I am also thinking of getting a Billingham Hadley for my RF. Can't decide between it and a Domke.