Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/04/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 04:25 PM 4/13/03 -0700, Kit McChesney wrote: >I'd like to have a bag that will >take my M and a couple of lenses, some film, my cell phone, and a few other >small goodies (lemon drops!) because I know if I carry anything larger than >that, I won't. I have a small Lowepro fanny pack, but I've stopped using it except for hiking. To get at anything, you have to swing it to the front, where it tends to accent one of the less desirable aspects of middle age. While trekking about Italy a couple of years back, I saw myself in a large mirror. It was decidedly "molto belly" rather than "molto belle." I've heard all the "yuppie scum" connotations of the Billingham bags. But one day, I was browsing at Glazer's here in Seattle, and came upon a small Hadley. Nylon duck with leather straps. Kahki-colored with two front pockets. I tried it on. It felt great. I put a couple of heavy objects in it, it still felt great. It was a "demo" with a couple of small spots of dirt visible. It was 45% off. I said "mine" and headed for the cashier. They even threw in an extra generic padded divider so I had three compartments instead of two. No regrets. I'm a 35-50-90 kinda guy. This bag holds one body and those three lenses (plus a fourth if I use a back-to-back end cap). Plus a light meter and a few filters, camera clamp and sundries. It's nicely padded, and it really contours nicely to my body. Some day I'll get it dirty enough. I think people should try bags on, and buy them based on what they will carry and how they feel when hung upon the wearer. Bags are like clothes. There's the functional aspect, the comfort aspect, and the "impress others" aspect. I picked the Hadley for its comfort and function. As for the fashion stuff: Like, y'know, whatever. Although I must confess, a black Domke can look quite fetching when the accompanying clothing is chosen properly. Here's one modeled by our own Nathan Wajsman during the delightful Zurich walking tour he took Katya and me on last spring. Photo slightly underexposed, but you get the point. . . http://www2.2alpha.com/~pklein/switzerland/nathanstore.htm - --Peter Klein Seattle, WA - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html