Camera bag to carry RZ kit ?

macvisual · Mar 29, 2015

Can any RB67/RZ67 owners recommend any sturdy camera bags that you could store a RZ67 body/3 lenses/3x 120 backs/prism finder/film in etc....? What about using an aluminium box....any good?
Any advice welcome.

Thanks;
pete
Scotland

rbultman · Mar 29, 2015

I carry mine in one of the Lowepro AW backpacks.

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LMNOP · Mar 29, 2015

macvisual said:
Can any RB67/RZ67 owners recommend any sturdy camera bags that you could store a RZ67 body/3 lenses/3x 120 backs/prism finder/film in etc....? What about using an aluminium box....any good?
Any advice welcome.

Thanks;
pete
Scotland

Oh man, I have studied this subject quite a bit!

For a while, I carried my RZ in a ThinkTank Retrospective 20 - GREAT bag, still love it, but it can only carry the RZ - 1 additional lens, and Polaroid back.

NOW I carry the RZ with two lenses, a 120, 220, and Polaroid back (few more accessories) AND an additional camera (Fuji GW690ii) in the top compartment of THIS bag. I love it, I cannot think of a better bag.

http://www.chromeindustries.com/us/en/niko-pack

LMNOP · Mar 29, 2015

Coicidentally, I snapped this shot earlier today. This is the Niko Pack, works for me, it's holding another camera in the top section, lots of space.

EdColorado · Mar 29, 2015

That Niko looks nice. Is there room for a couple more lenses in the top compartment? I like more lenses with me but don't need a second camera.

Lench · Mar 30, 2015

I'm using the crumpler Karachi outpost (large) and that fits body, 110, 180, 65, spare back, polaroid back and the prism (detached). Bit cramped but it works well for me

Joachim Zettl · Mar 30, 2015

Have a look at the F-Stop backpacks. I don't own one but I am planning to.

LMNOP · Mar 30, 2015

EdColorado said:
That Niko looks nice. Is there room for a couple more lenses in the top compartment? I like more lenses with me but don't need a second camera.

Yes. The top compartment could easily fit two lenses if you have a sleeve for one, or a homemade divider solution. The top compartment also has access to the main section of the bag, and a laptop sleeve. Pretty handy.

CropDusterMan · Mar 30, 2015

Hey Pete,

When it comes to a bag for the RZ...it depends what your plans are ultimately. Are you going to
be climbing up into the Highlands or roaming the peet fields of Skye, or simply carrying your gear over
one shoulder on short hauls?

The LowePro backpacks are great, with multiple customizable inserts...I always liked Tenba bags for the
over the shoulder approach...or Domke...not sure if they are avail in UK.

macvisual · Mar 30, 2015

"Hey Pete,

When it comes to a bag for the RZ...it depends what your plans are ultimately. Are you going to
be climbing up into the Highlands or roaming the peet fields of Skye, or simply carrying your gear over
one shoulder on short hauls"?

Probably carrying the bag for short hauls with one shoulder stuff.

Thanks;
Pete

CropDusterMan · Mar 30, 2015

Good morning Pete,

If it's short haul stuff...check out Domke. I'm here in the U.S, and have used them for years...they
last and last! Mine are the "Heritage" models...heavy canvas.

http://store.tiffen.com/item/700-70B/Domke-F-7-Double-AF-Bag/

M Carter · Mar 30, 2015

Biggest issue is system size, and how many lenses you want with you.

My RB bag for years and years was a Tenba Air Case, sort of small-suitcase size, hard plastic frame sides and bottom wrapped in padded ballistic nylon. I think that bag is 20 years old and still functionally new - just squeaks by as a carry-on. Body, mags, 2-3 lenses, prism. Lightweight, and bonus - you can sit on it!

I'd really REALLY really suggest padded dividers vs. foam - a good case will last much longer than your equipment setup at a given time. That Tenba, for instance, gets repurposed all the time, for video shoots, film shoots, digital gigs. I have a box full of the dividers from various cases, so I can "design" a case and pack about anything I need on a gig.

I once bought a "photo-store" level aluminum case - it fell apart after the first shoot. EBay is full of these, many are total crap.

I have a Think Tank backpack and it's a very well designed piece of gear - mine's too small for an MF setup though (it does carry a good sized Panasonic "pro" video camera and accessories, tight fit!). When I go on vacation, I re-purpose it as my carry-on for a 35 or two and travel stuff - it's just a wonderful bag for all kinds of uses - one of those pieces of gear you just sort of admire for its good design.

Over the years, I've come to rely more and more on Pelican cases (and SKB, Nanuck, and other knockoffs of the standard sizes). The 1550 could be a good MF size (I have two but they're my audio case and my HDMI case, never tried the Mamiya in 'em), they're usually all over eBay used, though you may have to buy the dividers ($100ish new). Not the best for hiking, great for taking a beating and stacking in a vehicle - for the rest of your career. You can't do much better for a reasonable weight hard case - worth every penny. They really make you feel good about packing and transporting.

High quality used cases are usually good buys on eBay - they may look a little scuffed, but most Tenba, Pelican, etc - they're really tough cases.

jose angel · Mar 30, 2015

Bear in mind that the RZ focusing sytem enjoy a wheeled protruding axis at both sides... use a soft backpack or canvas bag, bump it unadvertidly and you`ll have that bar slightly bent. I bet there are many RZ/RB units out there with this... "issue". Please excuse me LMNOP, I`m refering to your image. I`m not sure this is the safest way to carry a RZ without damaging the focus smoothness.
This is one of the reasons to use a rigid case with a foam divider system. After using many kinds of bags, from the most rigid aluminum Rimowas to the softest canvas Domkes, it is the only I`d recommend for bodies like the RZ.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Mar 30, 2015

For this much gear I'd probably go with a wheeled Pelican-style hard case with foam dividers, and then get a smaller shoulder bag for times when you want to take the body and one or two lenses.

jose angel said:
Bear in mind that the RZ focusing sytem enjoy a wheeled protruding axis at both sides... use a soft backpack or canvas bag, bump it unadvertidly and you`ll have that bar slightly bent. I bet there are many RZ/RB units out there with this... "issue"

Indeed, my RZ suffered from this very problem. That is another reason to go with a hard case.

LMNOP · Mar 30, 2015

jose angel said:
Bear in mind that the RZ focusing sytem enjoy a wheeled protruding axis at both sides... use a soft backpack or canvas bag, bump it unadvertidly and you`ll have that bar slightly bent. I bet there are many RZ/RB units out there with this... "issue". Please excuse me LMNOP, I`m refering to your image. I`m not sure this is the safest way to carry a RZ without damaging the focus smoothness.
This is one of the reasons to use a rigid case with a foam divider system. After using many kinds of bags, from the most rigid aluminum Rimowas to the softest canvas Domkes, it is the only I`d recommend for bodies like the RZ.

I have used a soft bag of some kind for a year now and never had such an issue. At one point I fell off a log and my focusing knob was the one thing I wasn't able to prevent from making contact with the ground, along with my head. Slight dent in the knob itself, no effect on the action or accuracy. With the type of exploration I do, I cannot imagine carrying something like a pelican case that cannot go over my back or one shoulder. And when I say exploration I mean very basic walking around and hiking. I am just careful not to bump my bag into anything!

polyglot · Mar 31, 2015

Store or carry? I store my stuff in cupboards.

Do not buy a courier-satchel side-carry bag because it will destroy your back and shoulders. Given the weight of a 6x7 system, you want a backpack with a hip belt to take the load off your shoulders.

I use a Kata 3N1-30 to carry my RZ system. Body+110 goes in the top section (fits perfectly; you can even squeeze it in with a 65 M-LA), other lenses, film and backs go in the bottom section between dividers. The thickness/depth of the bag is about exactly right to contain most of the larger RZ67 lenses (65 M-LA, 140 M-LA, 180/4.5, 250APO, etc) and likewise is just about right for the height of a back.

benjiboy · Mar 31, 2015

I don't have a Mamiya 6X7 system because my wife has heart problems, and I can't afford to hire an assistant to schlep it about

rbultman · Mar 31, 2015

What polyglot said. When I first got my RB, I used a Lowepro ProMag 2 AW shoulder bag. It was barely big enough for the RB with attached lens and one additional lens plus light meter and other items. I bought a used Lowepro Vertex 200 AW backpack. This has the waist belt and it is definitely a plus. I can carry my RB, four lenses, a couple of backs, spot meter, filters, and other stuff.

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EdSawyer · Mar 31, 2015

I'll post a pic of my bag at some point. It's a Lowepro AW shoulder bag. I fit in an RZ, 4 lenses (1 attached), the back, L-grip and AE finder. A spare back and the 1.4x go in side pockets (detachable). film goes inside with camera. A polaroid back, and some hoods and filters go in a front pocket. It's heavy but pretty complete, and I can squeeze in the 350APO if need be.

jimmyklane · Apr 1, 2015

I use an old (late 1950's) hard-leather, crushed "velvet" lined case. Originally, it housed an entire Ricoh TLS-401 system with 5 lenses, filters, meter, etc but I have re-purposed it to the RZ67 ProII. The RZ fits snug (serendipity), and the back divider houses the cable release(s) and light meter. The top divider holds a 2nd lens, and I've used a solid divider from my travel/pelican case on top of the camera to place the lens hoods and a few filters as well as keeping the entire unit completely immobilized when the top is closed.

Camera bag to carry RZ kit ?

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