Descrete Camera bag

Hi all, hope you all having a great day today

I'm looking for a bit of advice on a new camera bag.
I'm heading to Cambodia for a few years, after that ill be traveling through the rest of Asia.

I'm looking for a messenger style bag that doesn't really look like its going to contain anything valuable, so probably something canvas that I can make look really worn, dirty and dingy.

I need to fit in this a K20D, 200mm prime, 8mm Fish eye, 50mm prime, 16-50mm SDM, elinchrom skyport universal trigger set, 13" macbook, and a few cleaning bits.

I've been looking a the Domke bags and also the National Geographic ones, but as I can see these at a shop I don't really ave an idea of the size.

If any one has any experiences with these, or any recommendations of something else that may suit then I would be gratefully appreciated.

Kind regards


Dan

Why dont you get some grubby old bag and fit it out with Billingham case liners?

link

That's what I did, bought a bag from Debenhams for £15 and some inserts from Billingham:













I now have a proper Billingham bag, a 307, courtesy of my better half!

I used the National Geographic bags for a year or so after migrating from the Debenhams bag. More info here - link

The NG bags are very nice (as are the Domke bags), I think that the NG Medium would be a good choice and will hold the Macbook easily as well as all your kit.

What you need is an old Brady hunting/game bag. Made in brown canvas - similar to Billingham. They do turn up is used condition - a bit tatty but well worn in.

Use the lens cases for those and find a way to protect the body. The larger bags have a divider and you could but the laptop in a protective foam case one side and the camera on the other.

Thanks for this link Ken.

I've migrated from my National Geographic bag (Midi size) and started using a small Ben Sherman shoulder bag, which is far more discreet (in terms of not obviously being a camera bag).

A couple of these inserts are just what I'm after to make the interior more camera friendly. I didn't even know they existed.

Interesting information on the conversion, might try that out sometime!


Does it need to be a Messenger bag? There are a number of rucksack bags designed to hold laptops and cameras (e.g. Lowepro), all of which look exactly the same as a normal daybag carried by students etc.

I have two (one laptop, one camera/laptop) and noone has ever twigged they hold several grands worth of stuff - which is vital when you have to use public transport or leave bags behind desks etc! Of course a dedicated and knowledgable tealeaf would be able to spot them, but could you stop someone like that anyway...

check out 'artisan & artist' bags. Only available from USA or Australia, they are expensive, but made in Japan and superb. I imported mine from pop photo in the USA via their ebay sales.

http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/index.htm

http://www.popphoto.com/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARTISAN-ARTIST-ACAM-7100-BLACK-CAMERA-BAG-/170382089573?cm...

[quote:3496ace15f="bretbysteve"]check out 'artisan & artist' bags. Only available from USA or Australia, they are expensive, but made in Japan and superb. I imported mine from pop photo in the USA via their ebay sales.

http://www.artisanandartist.com/bags/index.htm

http://www.popphoto.com/

]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARTISAN-ARTIST-ACAM-7100-BLACK-CAMERA-BAG-/170382089573?cm...

They may be nice bags but they look expensive and look as though they contain expensive equipment which is exactly teh opposite of what is needed.

You couldn't go far wrong with a Crumpler Messenger bag. They look fairly innocuous, and could be made to look quite battered and worn. If you get one with a removable insert, then you've got a versatile carry all solution when you don't need all your kit.
A few friends use Crumpler messenger bags for carrying their laptops around London - they don't stick out anywhere near as much as the people with Dell / IBM, etc..., rucksacks.

Hmm, some great choices there... I had initially purchased an old canvas rucksack, but its just too difficult to get to quickly. Im thinking I definitely need a messenger style, as its just easier to grab the camera then throw it back in after shooting.

I never knew you could get the Billingham inserts either, I

was just making them out of foam.

The Billingham bags along with the NG look pretty good, especially if they are worn in. If i can get an old Brady hunting then that would be the way to go. After that I'm kinda drawn to the NG. I've had the crumpler and loved then, but still feel as though they're not that discrete.

Thanks again, ill update on what I get

Have a great day all..


Dan

Whatever you buy, make sure you treat it with Thompson's water seal as it probably won't have a rain cover.

Just another point, discretion lasts right up to the point where you take a camera out of the bag.

Any one who is interested in you as a foreigner already knows that you will be carrying kit that is not the norm for the locals in the same area.

Just be careful and cautious.

Regards

You don't need to teat a Billingham bag with anything, because of the way it's made.

Agreed John, I was referring to something more discrete rather than a proprietary bag with a name brand on display.

Best regards

Thanks again guys much appreciated. I found an old army canvas rucksack that i maybe able to convert, so will give it a go first.