Bags are a thing with me. So much so, I have an entire page dedicated to them.
My journey started back in the days when there were only a few brands, not many more good ideas and plenty of people making do with alternatives.
Domke was my bag of choice, the “Jeep” of bags. I tried others like Billingham, probably the Bentley by that comparison, maybe the Land Rover, Lowe Pro (the Toyota), Tamrac and Tenba, (Honda and Subaru?) and later, some of the new brands like Filson (the luxury Jeep?) Mind Shift/Think Tank, Crumpler and others I forget.
Plenty of good bags are available, but only to a limited extent. Even brands like Domke, that avoid fluff for the sake of it, evolve slowly from a strong base and last a cats lifetime, but still need to offer choices in size, shape and fabric to be of use. they sometimes even try to update their look.
I tend to select my gear, then my bag, often being forced to compromise when I do.
The bags themselves range from Domke classics to some more on-trend styles and quite a few non-camera bags.
Why all these bags and still the need for some not even designed for the job?
The problem is no bag, no matter how good, is the “one bag”. Looking at my own circumstances, I have a huge variety of daily kit needs, ranging from fully rigged video cams to a tiny one camera and two prime lens setup.
This is often the problem. Camera bag makers rarely think of anything else and often make unrealistic promises. I have seen very cleverly designed camera backpacks that will hold all types of kit, but have little room for anything else hiking related and tire of promised loads being impractical. Yes it can take three cameras and six lenses with accessories, but only when everything is packed away, lenses off, hoods reversed, not “at the ready”.
The reality is, I will use what ever works and sometimes what works is not designed for cameras specifically but are still well made and designed. Probably the reason Domke have been my favourite stems from their almost anti-camera bag design.
Many makers sort of fell into the market through other pursuits. Domke bags were designed by a photographer on the fly and made by a generic canvas gear maker off a rough sketch.
Like Jim Domke and those he was helping in the 1970’s sometimes I also use what ever I can lay my hands on.
So, my favourite camera bags that are not camera bags?
The 5.11 “Range Ready” bag is the best video bag I have and a steal at the $150au*. Video gear tends to stretch the friendship with camera bags. “Boxy” and “fully rigged” tend to be the terms often incompatible with specifically shaped camera bags.Video bags are available, but the price is ridiculous for a bag that is often at the simple (boxy) end of the scale.
My Tokyo Porter satchel, which seems to be only available from the Kyoto Tokyu Hands is another example. This is my favourite travel bag because it (1) is comfortable for extended use, (2) does not scream “camera bag”, (3) fits a good kit and stuff you may need or buy and (4) gives me easy access. Apart from that I like its looks and it seems decently weather resistant.
Another winner is the Filson Field Bag (medium-Otter green). This is not the Camera Field Bag version which I do also own, just the regular one and as dear as any decent camera bag. It is not as well designed for cameras, but it has many of the features of the one above, is fully weather proof and has a very deep top flap, which is often not desired in camera bags, except when it is.
It has no velcro, no button press clips, no clever designs, just old fashioned buckles (that rattle) and that hold on ok even when just pushed through, so I can move fast, even run with it, with little fear of anything jumping out.
A little no-name bag from Kobe bought at a street stall last trip in Japan. It holds a surprising amount, looks like nothing much and wears well. Perfect for a one camera, several lens M43 kit, it was used daily after purchase. Like a lot of good travel bags, it has a lot of thief confusing pockets, is easily accessed even when full and stuff just seems to disappear inside it.
The kit below plus a scarf, my passport, wallet, travel bits and pass key, phone, even a book all fit in dedicated pockets. The scarf adds a soft base and gear separator. I can also add a 9mm, 12-60 kit or similar with little effort.
I actually forgot I bought a lens along one day (45mm f1.8) because I put it in a previously undiscovered pocket when packing. Cursing my all too common forgetfulness all day, I panicked when I got back and still could not find it until I again found the pocket under the flap, behind the other pocket.
I can run with this bag without cinching the straps and nothing flies out thanks to the magnetic clip and shape. No other bag I currently have allows this except the Filson above.
These all get an insert of some type, but taking a tip from Domke, I lean towards thin walled and soft.
*Like most things, as soon as it gets the “camera bag” label the price goes through the roof. Thankfully there is not yet a “wedding day camera bag class” with a double premium.