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recommend a bag that doesn't look like a camera bag.

Field Bag

Hi, Brad -

You may have already ordered a bag, but if not, you might want to look at Ellington's "Hollister" field bag or satchel. They seem to be available on "clearance" for about $100. I have more camera bags than I care to admit, including some of those already mentioned, but this is the bag I tend to grab most of the time now. It's tough and low-key, and will fit a Mamiya 6, Leica, film, light meter, etc. I had my mother-in-law (I knew she was good for something!) make me a padded insert out of a sleigh pad my kids have outgrown.

Graham
 

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Wow...that one is very nice too....lots of choices. They're all so expensive though. Normally, I wouldn't having a problem but...I'm carrying two bodies and three that I've spent maybe, a grand total of $120 on. Seems strange to spend $100 on a bag to carry $120 worth of equipment.
 
I'm just making one out of an old army surplus musette bag. Velcroing the orignal nikon slr holster to the side, and makeing lens tubes out of yoga mat and gorilla tape. film goes in outside pocket, notepad in the other. I have enough room left to put my 2 old school point and shoots, and will be versatile enough to do other things with. Cost me like 20 dollars at most.
 
Most of the bags that camera store salesmen suggest as things that "don't look like camera bags" actually *do* look like they contain something expensive. Any slick black bag pretty much screams "I'm a rich asshole, please take my bag and my wallet" if you end up in the wrong place / time. Same goes for the crumplers; they look like trendy laptop bags or something.

For awhile my favorite system was a toploader zoom AW bag by lowepro plus whatever lens cases I needed (also from lowepro). The lens cases have velcro which lets you affix them to loops on the sides of the toploader zoom (which itself will carry a camera + long lens in ready-to-shoot position). You can carry this around by the shoulder when it's safe to look like you have camera stuff, or you can disassemble it and stuff it into a cheap green surplus-store duffel bag when you want to look like you're carrying your dirty laundry to the laundromat.

I used this setup all around Belize, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, and the USA without any problems.

Of course one thing to consider is that if someone is going to rob you it'll just as likely be for your wallet, but still.. in general I see no need to carry something that screams "thousands of dollars worth of camera gear!"
 
Brad,

Although it is not a shoulder-strap version, my carpenter's toolbag is what I transport MF gear in. One of the principal virtues is that is has outside pockets, where I stuff a toothbrush and toothpast, a pair of socks, deodorant, etc. It looks like gym-workout gear, which (in this country) would probably not be considered worth stealing.

I think that if I were going to Peru, I'd try to find some pictures of locals from the appropriate age, gender, and social classes, and see what they tend to carry around with them. A well-used Jansport would do it here (look around on BART sometime) but I don't know what the Peruvian equivalent might be.
 
The local Brazilian version, it was sold in supermarkets for youngsters.
It is used to carry books normaly.
For added protection on the motorbike I put some reflective's on it.
Holds quite a bit of gear: 2 camera's with 3 lenses, lightmeter and so on.
 

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If you go to anywhere outside North America or Europe: take off the logo's and you will be fine.

Did that with my Lowe Pro Computrekker Plus AW (2 body's, 7 lenses, lichtmeter, colormeter, flash, tablepod and laptop).
It is my base-kit for when I am on assignment for my architects, people here think I am a medic.......
Otherwise the bag above or an old, dirty and worn camera bag that holds 2 body's and 2 lenses.

Peter
 
Go to a thrift store and find the ugliest, most beat up looking gym bag you can find. Pay the man the $3 and take it home, add some ensolite padding dividers and you should be good to go.
 
Go secound hand

Well I really like a Simulac bag I got at a yard sale it's big enough for my Koni Omega has a zipper on top for the main compartment and two side and two end compartments shoulder and hand carry straps. Well made and cheap and easy to find used around here: they must be given away with with Simulac forumula or something. and the one I have while it does not look like a camera bag and has a teddy bear name tag on it is black and not thatbad looking. Other wise over the years I have used everything from plasic grocery bags to old ugly bags bought at secound hand stores. I have a ugly brown bag that came with a Foldex 20 camera I just bought that would likely work for you it sure does not look like today's camera bags.
Jay
 
If photograpy stops time I'm going to take a self potrtrait today!
For the ultimate stealth nothing beats the plastic grocery bag, do double or triple them.
Jay
 
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