Great bags for multiple big cameras

LMNOP · Feb 27, 2015

I recently read someone say they carry TWO GW690s with them, to which I have to ask, What bag are you using?

In general, carrying two cameras is ideal, especially when you own too many to choose from. I'll be traveling next month and plan on carrying a Mamiya 645AF and a Fuji GW690ii - but I'd prefer to keep it all in one bag. I'm not crazy about camera backpacks, that just doesn't suit me, and wouldn't work very well carrying in addition to a regular backpack.

Currently, I use a Think Tank Retrospective 20 for my RZ kit, but I don't think it'll handled these two cameras at once. That type of material and style is ideal though, anyone have the Retro 30? Anyone carrying two cameras like this at once, or other multi camera bags you care to discuss?

There is no separate forum for this type of thing, that I could tell, but I love hearing what MF shooters are using for baggage. Anyone have a GW690 (alone) bag suggestion?

benjiboy · Feb 27, 2015

I suggest you take your gear to a camera store and try it out in some bags until you find the right one.

John Koehrer · Feb 28, 2015

Is there still a brick & mortar store in Vermont?

Regular Rod · Feb 28, 2015

LMNOP said:
I recently read someone say they carry TWO GW690s with them, to which I have to ask, What bag are you using?

In general, carrying two cameras is ideal, especially when you own too many to choose from. I'll be traveling next month and plan on carrying a Mamiya 645AF and a Fuji GW690ii - but I'd prefer to keep it all in one bag. I'm not crazy about camera backpacks, that just doesn't suit me, and wouldn't work very well carrying in addition to a regular backpack.

Currently, I use a Think Tank Retrospective 20 for my RZ kit, but I don't think it'll handled these two cameras at once. That type of material and style is ideal though, anyone have the Retro 30? Anyone carrying two cameras like this at once, or other multi camera bags you care to discuss?

There is no separate forum for this type of thing, that I could tell, but I love hearing what MF shooters are using for baggage. Anyone have a GW690 (alone) bag suggestion?

Think Tank dropped the best bag ever for that purpose. Fortunately I bought one before it vanished. It's called a Sling O Matic 20. It carries either two big MF cameras about the size of the GW690 and a Pentax Spotmeter V, or four folders, one HolgAgon and the Spotmeter (plus all the gubbins like notepad, pencil, filters, hoods, lenspen, tripod plates, cable release, reciprocity chart, spare rolls of film etc.).

RR

ValveTubeHead · Feb 28, 2015

I like to tote a couple smaller bags for MF or LF, and a 'drop bag,' or two (1/small, 1/med. or lrg.) on my belt. I have a Bronica ETRSi with speed grip tucked in an old tamrac 602, along with film and light meter. Depending on the situation, this bag stays behind in the car, camera out for shooting,at destination, or it comes along as a group. The other bag, a small Domke f5xb (for MF) carries a pair of backs, 2nd lens, WLF, lens hood, more film and a few other bits & bobs. The drop bag(s) allow quick staging area for lens mounting, caps/covers, meter, eyeglasses, etc...I like to think of the drop bags as a second pair of hands. I sling both camera bags over my right shoulder with straps adjusted short on the camera bag, and long for accessories bag... Basically I stack the bags on each other and adjust strap lengths for max travel comfort. Tripod can be slung over my back or carried ...I usually tote carbon fiber one with bronica. For 4x5 format, I'm still experimenting, but similar compliment. The Tamrac 602 totes (6) sheet film holders, a 120 6x9 roll film back, lens, film and few other things. A Tamrac 605 carries my Shen Hao TZ45-IIB or a Tamrac messenger 2 carries a graflex super graphic. More lens boards with lenses will tote in belt drop bags. Fleabay is a great place to find the old bags, I just bottom feed for deals with dimensions I think I need.

E. von Hoegh · Feb 28, 2015

John Koehrer said:
Is there still a brick & mortar store in Vermont?

http://www.gmcamera.com/

http://www.lezotcameras.com/#!about-lezot-camera/c786

LMNOP · Feb 28, 2015

E. von Hoegh said:
http://www.gmcamera.com/

http://www.lezotcameras.com/#!about-lezot-camera/c786

Yes, both of these stores are open, and within 5 miles of my home. Sadly, their bag selection is limited to mainstream manufacturers, which can be okay. I was hoping this forum would uncover some smaller brands that I had not seen yet. Langly has some great backpacks I've seen online. Green Mountain Camera was a great place to buy my Retrospective bag.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 1, 2015

I carry a 2x3" Linhof Tech V and a Noblex 150 sometimes in an f/64 bag with a Domke 2x2 cell insert, so there's one camera on each side with the Linhof lenses and some accessories in the center. An more compact setup I use is a small canvas fishing bag with the Noblex 150 in the main compartment with dividers I've made myself to fit, and a Voigtlander Perkeo II 6x6 folder in one of the two outside pockets.

Really, though, the best thing is to visit a well-stocked place with your gear and see what fits and whether you might be able to mix and match inserts from one manufacturer with a bag from another manufacturer, if necessary.

250swb · Mar 1, 2015

If you can find one another vote for the Think Tank Sling-O-Matic. Big enough for two Fuji's, is a backpack when walking (important with all that weight) and swings around to be a normal camera bag when you are ready to shoot.

Steve

M Carter · Mar 1, 2015

If you can afford it… Pelican (or SKB or Nanuk) wheeled cases have really become my main squeeze lusties. (I'm kinda gay for cases, as my wife points out…)

I much prefer the (more expensive) divider systems over foam though - you can reconfig cases for specific trips quickly.

Once a month or so I do a used case hunt on eBay… lots of military surplus pelican and so on out there.

heespharm · Mar 1, 2015

M Carter said:
If you can afford it… Pelican (or SKB or Nanuk) wheeled cases have really become my main squeeze lusties. (I'm kinda gay for cases, as my wife points out…)

I much prefer the (more expensive) divider systems over foam though - you can reconfig cases for specific trips quickly.

Once a month or so I do a used case hunt on eBay… lots of military surplus pelican and so on out there.

Oh I'm a huge bag slut... But agreed my Pelikans are bombproof... But I'm finding my think tank harddrive almost the perfect traveling companion for my large film systems

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

benjiboy · Mar 1, 2015

I sold my big bags because the bigger the bag the more you are tempted to carry in it and over the last 50 years or so I have spent countless hours lugging equipment around many miles that I never actually used on the trip that day, my biggest bag I now own is a Domke F2 and if I can't fit it in there comfortably within a reasonable weight I don't take it.
I have actually found that carrying less stuff has actually made me more productive in terms of work partly because the less lenses you carry the less decisions you have to make and as I learned in the military that there is a maximum that a soldier can carry for a days march and still be in fit physical state for combat.

RattyMouse · Mar 1, 2015

I can carry three cameras in my Billingham Hadley Pro shoulder bag. The largest load I've carried was my Fuji rangefinders (GF670W, GF670 folder, and Nikon FM2n w/ one lens). That's a fairly heavy load, but with the accessory shoulder pad, I can carry it around all day without complaint. The shoulder pad should be considered mandatory. That makes a huge difference.

Sirius Glass · Mar 1, 2015

If you can find them any longer, I have a Tamrac 750 Photo Day Pack or 752 Photo Day Pack which can carry a Hasselblad, four lenses, backs and more OR a Speed Graphic and lenses OR a Graflex Model D and lenses. I have several in difference colors and in both sizes. They are top loading and are set up to put the weight on the hips.

benjiboy · Mar 1, 2015

RattyMouse said:
I can carry three cameras in my Billingham Hadley Pro shoulder bag. The largest load I've carried was my Fuji rangefinders (GF670W, GF670 folder, and Nikon FM2n w/ one lens). That's a fairly heavy load, but with the accessory shoulder pad, I can carry it around all day without complaint. The shoulder pad should be considered mandatory. That makes a huge difference.

I had a Billingham 550 which is the biggest one they make Dead Link Removed for more than 20 years but I sold it last year because when I put all my gear in it I couldn't lift it and I replaced it with a Domke F2 which is much lighter, and I resolved to carry much less equipment in future.

Frankly Unsharp · Mar 4, 2015

My RZ resides in a Hinomoto case (black outside, red inside, from the 70's (?) The problem is that it's so small that it wont take an extra lens. Mamiya made their own (aluminum) cases, but You have to take the camera apart to make everything fit. So when a turtle walks by, and You'd like to take a picture of it, that fine animal will be a mere dot in the horizon when Your camera is ready to shoot.

Great bags for multiple big cameras

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