Medium Format camera bag

[TSSPro]

Medium format gear, when you start accumulating and wanting to take it all with you, will get really heavy really quick. I've shot Sqs for a long time and I've gone back to using a backpack for transport if I have to take everything out of its hard case. I work on location a lot and work out of a vehicle that can carry all my lights, cameras, and supplies so the Bronicas stay in a hard case or backpack most of the time. I second the F2 recommendation - They are great bags that have a lot of room for larger and heavier systems such as the SQ.

All the best-

 

[MattKing]

Sometimes I use a high end diaper bag with some extra padding for my RB67...

In my experience, you never find the perfect bag, and you always have too many bags.

 

[macfred]

... In my experience, you never find the perfect bag, and you always have too many bags.

One can never have enough ...

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

BAS (Bag Acquisition Syndrome)?

 

[macfred]

BAS (Bag Acquisition Syndrome)?

...

 

[M. Axel Wikstrom]

Although I like the Domke bags, when more than a few steps away from the car I usually limit it to one body/lens and carry it in one of those padded Lowepro DSLR/telephoto cases. The front pocket has enough room for a couple filters, cable release, light meter, and more film; and the case is long enough for a MF SLR with lens and hood attached. Camera is a 500C/M usually with a Planar or Distagon. Nice thing about this bag is an attached rain cover - pulls out from the bottom and stretches over the bag.

 

[chromacomaphoto]

Agree with MattKing. It's true, involuntary camera bag collecting can get out of hand very quickly.

 

[Nuff]

Not a shoulder bag, but if you can find one used on the big auction site, I've been very happy with my F-Stop Kenti backpack. It has dual side access. There's plenty of room for my S2a, 3 lenses, film, meter, filters, etc with a ton of dividers to keep it all organized and that's not even utilizing the main top pocket or the front pocket. The side straps also work great for a small tripod. I tried the shoulder bag route with my Billingham, but found it to be too much weight for one shoulder.

I have the same bag, and it's really great. I can carry fair amount of kit without any issues and messenger bags aggravate my back injury unless it's very light kit. I used to carry hasselblad, couple of lenses, leica and tons of film. And the dual quick access means I carried my MF kit on one side and 35mm on the other. Not to mention few extra things in the top part.

My only issue is that because of the shape of my traps (gym), the straps keep sliding off, but I don't think 99% people will have this problem. So I have replaced it with Lowepro Protactic equivalent and the straps stay mostly in place. The downside of Protactic is that the quick access pockets are a lot smaller. The upside is that I don't have straps sliding off my shoulders. That reminded me, I have to sell my unused bags...

 

[RichardJack]

Hi Guys,
I didn't expect so many replies, thanks. I'm definitely not looking for a backpack. I will research your suggestions. I have a few large MF Tamaracks that I used for weddings in the 1990's but I want to be less conspicuous. I own a few bags that work but are over 30 years old and worn out and no longer made. They might of been Costal? It's a soft padded bag shoulder bag that opens on the top with two parallel zippers and holds my Bronica and two additional lenses, with compartments on each end that fit backs. About the size of a shoe box. Another bag I love is about 12x12" and zippers open like a backpack but it is a shoulder bag. It holds my F3 w/ 24,35,50,105, & 200mm lenses plus filters. Its smaller than my laptop, just thicker. But it's not thick(deep) enough for medium format. It does not look like a camera bag, which is what I want. I'm being real fussy here until I find exactly what I want.
I will look over all your suggestions as well as keeping my eyes open for something discontinued.
thanks again!
Rick

 

[RichardJack]

Hi,
Close but no cigar. Internally I like the Domke F2 and Billingham, but I don't want a bag with a flip over flap top. They are difficult to get lenses out quickly while on the shoulder. I'm looking for one closer to this: http://www.jill-e.com/media/catalog...f139433887a97daa66f/2/4/243102_2_interior.jpg But the exterior looks like a woman's handbag or doctors bag.
This would work as well if it had a shoulder strap:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677682,&Q=&A=details
I'm presently using a converted NRA gun bag, maybe it's a good thing that they think I might be packing.
thanks again,
Rick

 

[MattKing]

For those familiar with the Harry Potter series...

What we all need is Hermione's bag: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hermione_Granger's_beaded_handbag

 

[k.hendrik]

this is what I use;
https://dutch.alibaba.com/product-detail-img/lidl-pp-boodschappentas-580755470.html

holds easily a RZ67+50/110/140/180/210/AE prism finder/ winder II/ polaroid/3 backs & lots of film and nobody suspect you're shooting film.

 

[c41]

Drifting into Nana Trolley territory?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OM3-PrIBAN4/Ub8D0ebC0FI/AAAAAAAAClk/zxQzcIKWpNc/s1600/P1020854.JPG

 

[k.hendrik]

Photography is a complex and fluid medium.

 

[baachitraka]

Nice bags are everywhere...

 

[benjiboy]

The trouble with medium format is that it tends to grow and grow and grow... and rapidly outlive any bag you can throw at it. I've worked my way through four, and now into large backpack territory and soon, a walking staff for good measure! So, you have a Bronny and "a few lenses". You'll travel the same path. In time...

Another problem with camera bags that will accommodate medium format gear is when you get what you want to take with you in them they are too heavy for you to pick up , I write from bitter experience.

 

[spijker]

Big bags are not all that hard to find. More difficult is to find a smaller bag that can hold a medium format SLR and one or two extra lenses. I use an old LowePro Photo Runner for that. I can squeeze in my Mamiya 645 AFD3 and 1 extra prime lens, usually the 45mm besides the 80mm on the camera. The nice part about this bag is that it has a double zipper on top flap which makes for easier access than the traditional flip-over top. In the front compartment I can put some filters and extra films. This works well for a day trip. I've been looking for a similar bag but then a bit bigger so I can bring 2 extra lenses or the 75-150mm zoom. So far no luck. Now if I want to bring more gear, I use a LowPro Fastpack 350 backpack. The Mamiya goes in the top compartment and the extra lenses and a DSLR in the lower "fast access" compartment.

 

[RichardJack]

Hi,
Wound up using an old Canon bag, managed to get the MF body with 75, 40,50,150, & 300mm MF lenses, plus an extra back and a 70-210 AF Nikkor crammed in. And it's not a large bag, just very heavy now. My DSLR will have to travel around my neck. I own several huge Tamarac bags from my wedding days, too large. I used to have an assistant lugging those around.
I got a laugh out of the Harry Potter bag and the paper bag. They would work but I'd attract the fairies. Thanks for the replies
Rick

 

[RichardJack]

Spijker,
Your LowPro looks like what I'm looking for. I will start searching.
thanks,
Rick

 

[spijker]

Rick, search for video or camcorder bags instead of photo camera bags. The Manfrotto 191N might be interesting to you. Good luck.

Menno

 

[obviouslygene]

I too am looking for a bag, but in the backpack format.
I fit my 503CW+A12+extra A12+80CF+150CF+ hoods for both+film in my billingham hadley pro nicely (a little snug).
Recently finding the weight to be a bit much for one shoulder as well, having a little backache while walking.

 

[NJH]

Lowepro protactic 450aw. Just came back from a weeks holiday in Tenerife with my Bronica SQ system in this bag as carry on luggage, had to keep it light as 7kg max carry on and wanted to put other important things in there. With just photographic walkabout kit I was running about 6kg all up. The camera and 3 lenses (50s, 80ps, 150ps) all fits in the bottom half which can be accessed from the sides. I ended up putting alternate back and filters/film in the top for easy access. Bag fits snuggly under coach/bus seats and airplane seats, also very comfortable walking around, did 3x 4hr walkabouts this week with the kit and frankly now I am used to its got me looking at my 35mm Leica as occasional use street/decisive moment stuff only. Backpacks all the way, bags over about 2kg gave me shoulder ache quickly but 6+ Kg backpack has proved to be no problem at all for me. Loads of space left over inside and of course its designed for tripods and water bottles to be strapped on the outside as well. Checkout the protactic 450aw, its not cheap but I don't think I have been as impressed by a piece of kit like this so much before. Everything said in the following review has proven to be true for me although I never really felt fully comfortable changing lenses with the rucksack swung around and hanging off one shoulder but it can be done:
https://fstoppers.com/originals/low...ial-become-best-photo-backpack-ill-ever-37352