@genjy - love that. Great tip on picking it up in Japan.
Just returned from Korea and even though the dollar is really strong vs. the won the Rimowa prices were basically the same as in the US.
The Pilot case is so kakkoi! Since retiring the Business Trolley is no longer used for business and the clamshell opening is not as functional as the flip top.
rico wrote:
Us old-timers call that "shooting out of the bag" and, yes, Domke is the premier example. I find it particularly useful when changing film where the camera bottom plate is removed (not hinged). Also good for swapping accessories like flash heads, filters, etc. Maybe you need another bite from that ham sandwich. My F-6 is 25-years old which is young by Domke standards. Am just today looking at the F-10 or F-8 to configure a one-lens Sony Alpha. The era of giant DSLR is ending for me, and I always have actual backpacks to lug the telephotos, tripods, and laptops....Show more →
Yeah those little domkes are perfect for mirrorless. People love the F5XB too bc it's zipper only and doesn't have a metal clip. What I do with a clip is that I use a soft cable tie to strap it down so it's not all dangly and use just the built in velcro for the flap.
genjy wrote:
What I do with a clip is that I use a soft cable tie to strap it down so it's not all dangly and use just the built in velcro for the flap.
I dunno, velcro on a Domke sounds morally compromised. The F-6 even today has no velco. With a new bag in the family, I'll have to confront this design alteration. Worst case is unstitching the velco as I do for the oversized product label (sorry Jim).
In my experience, no camera bag matches the comfort of a proper outdoor backpack. The Osprey UNLTD 32 stands out, exceptionally comfortable, with minimal shoulder strain even under load, and with a great silhouette. I’m currently testing the Columbia Blackcomb Ridge 30, a lightweight hybrid with vest-style harnessing and a Tensioned Mesh Panel (TMP) back. Despite lacking a true hip belt, the vest design distributes weight effectively across the chest; I’ve done multiple 12-hour days in urban setting carrying ~10 kg/22 lbs without issue. This Columbia pack is inexpensive as well, better than the much recommended Decathlon TMP one. The Vaude Brenta is a close second to both, in my view.
rico wrote:
I dunno, velcro on a Domke sounds morally compromised. The F-6 even today has no velco. With a new bag in the family, I'll have to confront this design alteration. Worst case is unstitching the velco as I do for the oversized product label (sorry Jim).
I don’t cut off the Velcro but cover all or part of one surface with mating strips of Velcro that have a smooth backside. No noise and I can remove the strips when I need or want a more secure closure.
hiepphotog wrote:
In my experience, no camera bag matches the comfort of a proper outdoor backpack.
Probably true, at least tin my experience. However, no outdoor backpack is designed in ways that are camera specific, which pad the gear, and provide the same accessibility.
I have both, since I’ve been a backpacker for decades. These days frameless backpacks are well-designed and can comfortably (enough) carry pretty large loads of backpacking gear. They are also a lot lighter than they used to be. That’s a boon for backpacking… but not so great for camera gear, I’m afraid.
I’ve also had a wide range of camera backpacks over the past couple of decades. I have an older LowePro camera pack that is a pretty comfortable carry, but has more limited capacity for its bulk and weight. (And that weight is heavy.) I have more recent LowePro camera packs with thinner, denser foam that are still more protective than regular backpacks and which have gotten lighter than the older models. I have some bigger and heavier duty packs form ThinkTank and their subsidiaries that are excellent for camera gear… but less comfortable for carrying.
Over the years, my preferences have become more use-specific. If I’m backpacking and bringing camera gear, I use a regular backpack, of course, I also carry a chest-harness camera bag for my camera and one lens or possibly two, and I put one larger lens in a padded case inside the upper section of the backpack. The tripod lashes to the outside of the pack, sometimes with a protective cover on the head.
If I’m out for a day of hiking and will return to my car, I _almost_ always use a dedicated camera pack, despite it being a somewhat less comfortable carry (or, in the case of the old LowePro pack, a bit heavy given its capacity.). I might be carrying a body and four (or possible more) lenses, plus a larger tripod… and the backpacking pack just doesn’t cut it for that.
Unfortunately, all of this confirms that fact of photography life: there is no single, do-it-all solution that works in every case!
liggy wrote:
@genjy@@@@ - love that. Great tip on picking it up in Japan.
Just returned from Korea and even though the dollar is really strong vs. the won the Rimowa prices were basically the same as in the US.
The Pilot case is so kakkoi! Since retiring the Business Trolley is no longer used for business and the clamshell opening is not as functional as the flip top.
jiannazzone wrote:
I don’t cut off the Velcro but cover all or part of one surface with mating strips of Velcro that have a smooth backside. No noise and I can remove the strips when I need or want a more secure closure.
I'm waiting for Rimowa to make a saxophone case. They make one for trumpets.
The Pilot seems to be perfectly sized for LPs. Mentioned swapping out Business Trolley for the Pilot to the missus and she responded with an eyeroll.
Really looking forward to putting something I have always wanted into use. Picked one up right here on FM recently.
Great size and will make for a nice travel companion. Black would be perfect for Japan/Korea considering what the locals tend to wear.
The strap is better than the Wotancraft which tends to slip out of adjustment but I find the front pockets of the Scout super useful and the Ming doesn't have them except on the inside.
liggy wrote:
I'm waiting for Rimowa to make a saxophone case. They make one for trumpets.
The Pilot seems to be perfectly sized for LPs. Mentioned swapping out Business Trolley for the Pilot to the missus and she responded with an eyeroll.
Really looking forward to putting something I have always wanted into use. Picked one up right here jon FM recently.
Great size and will make for a nice travel companion. Black would be perfect for Japan/Korea considering what the locals tend to wear.
The strap is better than the Wotancraft which tends to slip out of adjustment but I find the front pockets of the Scout super useful and the Ming doesn't have them except on the inside.
Gorgeous. I see that bag listed on b&s every now and then. Kind of like a more casual billingham. The material looks similar to b's synthetic fibrenyte too. Do you know if it's natural canvas or synthetic?
Like I've read comments about how the button studs and straps are upside down. But it does make sense bc you don't want two annoying straps getting in the way when opening the flap while wearing the bag. And it's easier to pull up the straps than to pull down when buckling too. My imo lol
I bought a Bellroy 10l sling from Aliexpress, it's brilliant but I realised I was mostly carrying the camera outside the bag, around my neck. So most the of the bag was empty most of the time. So I got a little Uniqlo sling bag, which is fine for 2 or 3 small lenses, or even one reasonably large one like the Tamron 28-200. Plus phone, keys etc. I use lens pouches to stop them rubbing together.
genjy wrote:
Gorgeous. I see that bag listed on b&s every now and then. Kind of like a more casual billingham. The material looks similar to b's synthetic fibrenyte too. Do you know if it's natural canvas or synthetic?
Like I've read comments about how the button studs and straps are upside down. But it does make sense bc you don't want two annoying straps getting in the way when opening the flap while wearing the bag. And it's easier to pull up the straps than to pull down when buckling too. My imo lol
It’ll be interesting to see how it works out as a daily. I’ll definitely miss the Wotancraft style external bellows pockets under the flap. Most of the time I don’t bother affixing the straps on the Scout tbh so the configuration with them hanging is ideal.
Since the Ming is upside down it seems like fastening the would be a good idea. We’ll see.
As to the material - it’s thicker than the Wotancraft waxed material and richer feeling than the Billingham Fibernyte imo.
Per Ming:
“ The bag is mostly double-layer canvas, of the same treated sort that’s used in convertible roofs – as you can see, it’s hydrophobic and water beads and runs off”
liggy wrote:
It’ll be interesting to see how it works out as a daily. I’ll definitely miss the Wotancraft style external bellows pockets under the flap. Most of the time I don’t bother affixing the straps on the Scout tbh so the configuration with them hanging is ideal.
Since the Ming is upside down it seems like fastening the would be a good idea. We’ll see.
As to the material - it’s thicker than the Wotancraft waxed material and richer feeling than the Billingham Fibernyte imo.
Per Ming:
“ The bag is mostly double-layer canvas, of the same treated sort that’s used in convertible roofs – as you can see, it’s hydrophobic and water beads and runs off”...Show more →
Sounds nice! Likely natural cotton canvas then. Canvas makes the bag more valuable imo like a "heritage bag"
ihasa wrote:
https://i.postimg.cc/SQ2kjm77/20260423-160439.jpg
I bought a Bellroy 10l sling from Aliexpress, it's brilliant but I realised I was mostly carrying the camera outside the bag, around my neck. So most the of the bag was empty most of the time. So I got a little Uniqlo sling bag, which is fine for 2 or 3 small lenses, or even one reasonably large one like the Tamron 28-200. Plus phone, keys etc. I use lens pouches to stop them rubbing together.
That Round Mini is probably uniqlo's most popular bag. Released about 4 years ago and must have had like 30+ variants with diff colors and materials. I have three on rotation basically and they are good for small cameras and point&shoots when going out. Great for carrying lenses too like how you do it since it's long and has a plastic zipper.
Uniqlo has made a Round Ultra Mini also. Small enough to let me in concerts and stadiums. The black one is an ultra mini 😀
One of my working bags is an old Uniqlo U Mini Messenger with a fidlock style magnetic buckle, no zipper. Usually just to hold my phone, a small camera, and some candy but sometimes a WA lens too if i know i will need it🙂↕️ Has a strap buckle too so can also be a hip pack.
My F-6 is 25-years old which is young by Domke standards. Am just today looking at the F-10 or F-8 to configure a one-lens Sony Alpha. The era of giant DSLR is ending for me, and I always have actual backpacks to lug the telephotos, tripods, and
