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Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Pindy
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

I'm looking for something as a traveling day bag for a Leica Q or M. Looking at the Billingham Digital, the Wotancraft Pilot 2L (which I quite like) and others in the same size. I used to have that little Domke F-5XA, you know the one, they're all around a similar size:

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https://www.wotancraft.tw/en/product/pilot-travel-camera-sling-bag-2L-blackC

Do you have any opinions on bags this size? I am aware of the "purse" vibe they can potentially give off if not done right. It seems like you have to reach a certain size of bag before male dignity is allowed to kick in. But I like how tidy some of these little bags are, and the idea of wandering around someplace with only this if very appealing. I'm not a DSLR traveller type.

The sling concept seems something of a remedy, assuming the right one can be found. I kind of like these ones, but they're not particularly "nice", and also a bit bigger than I was hoping

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/turnstyle-5-v2

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/photocross-10

Any further thoughts or suggestions welcome.

Feb 26, 2024 at 10:01 PM

jmmaher
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

I have owned the Billingham Pola Stowaway for many years and its a great bag and very versatile. I also have a Wotancraft that I like but it's the 7 Litre. Compagnon also makes nice smaller bags.

Feb 26, 2024 at 10:49 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Yes those look pretty nice. I guess something like the Pola I’d want to be able to wear sling-style.

Feb 27, 2024 at 10:38 AM

Pindy
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

jmmaher wrote:
I have owned the Billingham Pola Stowaway for many years and its a great bag and very versatile. I also have a Wotancraft that I like but it's the 7 Litre. Compagnon also makes nice smaller bags.

What can you fit in the Pola, if you don't mind me asking?

Feb 27, 2024 at 07:29 PM

jmmaher
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Pindy wrote:
What can you fit in the Pola, if you don't mind me asking?

I have carried many things in it. I just took it down and slid in my A7RV with a Sigma 65 f2 with the hood on and it fit easily. Still a little room for an extra battery - probably a wallet or phone in the pockets.

Feb 27, 2024 at 07:40 PM

chez
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

For me a bag needs to be able to carry everything I need for a day’s outing which includes things like camera gear as well as water, wallet, phone, and possibly my jacket as the day warms up. This definitely would not fit what I need.

Feb 27, 2024 at 08:51 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

chez wrote:
For me a bag needs to be able to carry everything I need for a day’s outing which includes things like camera gear as well as water, wallet, phone, and possibly my jacket as the day warms up. This definitely would not fit what I need.

Right, in your world, there's no such thing as a camera bag probably less than 10L sounds like. I get that, and I'm factoring in similar thoughts. This gets me back into backpack territory however. I have a Hadley Pro that I've used for years, and that got me there, except for the ability to put an umbrella in it. But that bag can also weigh me down. I suppose the only solution is really to have fifteen camera bags of all persuasions.

Feb 27, 2024 at 09:17 PM

chez
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Pindy wrote:
Right, in your world, there's no such thing as a camera bag probably less than 10L sounds like. I get that, and I'm factoring in similar thoughts. This gets me back into backpack territory however. I have a Hadley Pro that I've used for years, and that got me there, except for the ability to put an umbrella in it.

exactly…I gravitate to a backpack as that is the only solution that really carries everything I need…and as a bonus it frees up both hands while navigating busy crowded areas. I’ve tried shoulder bags and sling bags…nothing really worked except my simple backpack.

Feb 27, 2024 at 09:37 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

chez wrote:
exactly…I gravitate to a backpack as that is the only solution that really carries everything I need…and as a bonus it frees up both hands while navigating busy crowded areas. I’ve tried shoulder bags and sling bags…nothing really worked except my simple backpack.

I don't want to come to this conclusion but in my heart I know it to be true. Would be great to find a small one, like the Think Tank, with two straps and a side-access flap.

Feb 27, 2024 at 09:40 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

I should add that I bought a Peak Designs Everyday backpack 20L, and this is great for a work bag-plus-bring-my-camera-with-me bag. a 10L pack in this style might be the ticket for the day out.

Feb 27, 2024 at 09:42 PM

chez
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Pindy wrote:
I don't want to come to this conclusion but in my heart I know it to be true. Would be great to find a small one, like the Think Tank, with two straps and a side-access flap.

I use an 22L Osprey backpack which holds 2 cameras and 3 small primes for travel. Plenty room for other things I need while travelling. I’d rather have more room than needed than stuffing a small bag to the gills.

Feb 27, 2024 at 09:59 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

chez wrote:
I use an 22L Osprey backpack which holds 2 cameras and 3 small primes for travel. Plenty room for other things I need while travelling. I’d rather have more room than needed than stuffing a small bag to the gills.

Yeah, I don't need all that. One rangefinder-size camera, a small flash, maybe a sweater and a bottle of water. The small pack with thoughtful camera padding and access is rather limited.

But my Everyday Backpack 20 covers the bases you've laid out nicely, for when that is required.

Edited on Feb 27, 2024 at 10:21 PM · View previous versions

Feb 27, 2024 at 10:05 PM

jmmaher
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Wotancraft Pilot 7L should hold what you need and it's a light weight bag

Feb 27, 2024 at 10:21 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

jmmaher wrote:
Wotancraft Pilot 7L should hold what you need and it's a light weight bag

It looks like they're not doing them that size at the moment. Tops out at 3.5L

Feb 27, 2024 at 10:23 PM

jmmaher
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

It's still there but you need to scroll down :
https://www.wotancraft.tw/id/product/pilot-travel-camera-sling-bag-7L-khakibrownC

Feb 27, 2024 at 10:45 PM

jcw1982
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

I went with two bags; a Lowepro backpack for when I want to take everything. And, a Domke F-5XA that will hold a couple lenses and a spare battery or two for when I want to travel light. Pretty happy with the set up so far.

Feb 27, 2024 at 11:03 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

jcw1982 wrote:
I went with two bags; a Lowepro backpack for when I want to take everything. And, a Domke F-5XA that will hold a couple lenses and a spare battery or two for when I want to travel light. Pretty happy with the set up so far.

Yes I think this is where I stand. I have the backpack, I just need the right small bag like the Domke.

Feb 27, 2024 at 11:46 PM

Pindy
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

jmmaher wrote:
It's still there but you need to scroll down :
https://www.wotancraft.tw/id/product/pilot-travel-camera-sling-bag-7L-khakibrownC

Ahh yes, I didn’t see it. But the 7L looks very similar to the Hadley Pro size, and I’ve got that covered too. Gonna check out the smaller options.

Feb 28, 2024 at 12:03 AM

Pixelpuffin
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

Last year I bought a used ThinkTank Retrospective 5 - I always buy used as most have never seen use by their previous owners (Impulse buys??) and the resale value is pitiful compared to their RRP.

It was purchased just t to hold my canon M50 plus a 2nd lens and a few spare batteries

My partner joked it looked like a handbag!! which caused no end of sniggers from others, hence it’s not been used since.

Ii did actually check myself out in the mirror and to my horror she was right. Pity because the bag is beautifully made. The problem is the shoulder strap is too short so it hangs at waist level (like a handbag) not at the hips like a messenger bag would. The shoulder straps are stitched in, so cannot be removed without unpicking or cutting.
Also it’s pretty damn obvious that it’s holding something expensive.

Needless to say, I removed the internal padding from an old camera bag and stuffed it inside a cheap messenger bag I found. The build quality is inferior to the ThinkTank, but unlike the ThinkTank it’s not glaringly obvious that it’s concealing expensive items.

Feb 28, 2024 at 12:36 AM

Patrick Kolb
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Small Camera Bags—Love or Hate?

I have gone through a lot of bags, several already mentioned here. That all stopped my I purchased the
Bare Bones Bag by CourierWare. It has met all my needs for a travel bag, and after six years of constant use, it shows no signs of ware.

Feb 28, 2024 at 06:42 AM

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