Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/10/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>The other issue is size for travel, versus size to work from. One >benefit of the Domke (and probably the Billingham) is that I can pull >out the dividers and fold it into my suitcase. I don't think any of the >LowePros or Tamracs, etc, will easily fold up thusly. So it is nice to >have a big case to take SLRs, Ms, strobes, film etc. to get to >destination, then a handier, lighter bag(s) out of which to work, >according to the situation.. Donal, I have a couple of Billingham bags, and they are well made and are extremely weatherproof. I have a 225, which is the smallest of the large "Classic" series, and a Series 3, which is a small bag intended for an RF system. This bag is great for carrying an M and a couple of lenses and accessories. I've had mine rained on hard, but no moisture got inside any of the pockets. The leather parts will soak up some water, but they air dry fine and this doesn't seem to be a problem. They say not to do any additional weatherproofing to them. A couple of their smaller bags even have removeable, waterproof drawstring bags as liners for the main compartment. I would definity take one of these if I was going to the coffee processing plant that you talk about, but I might think twice about taking my stuff out of it under the conditions you describe! All the models that I'm familiar with have a double-zippered opening along the top of the main compartment, under the large flap. This gives you a long slot as the only opening to the area underneath. Sometimes it is a bit of a pinch to get items out of the extreme ends of the bag. The bigger the bag, the less of a problem this seems to be, because you get more slack in the edges of the slot as the slot gets longer. On the larger bags you can fold the edges of the slot back over themselves (turn them inside out) to expose the whole interior. This makes the bag much more comfortable to work out of. The larger bags, especially, have lots of extra little touches, like grab handles under the main flap (so you can pick it up with the flap open) and they have lots of pockets and compartments. Most bags have a large flat, zippered pocket on the outside back which is good for papers and maps and stuff. The larger ones also have little loops all over them, for attaching things or for attaching the bag itself to a harness. The leather reinforcing around the bottom corners may prevent you from mashing them completly flat; this may differ from model to model. They are pretty soft bags at the top but get more rigid towards the bottom. - - Paul