I carry my Leica M6 or M3 in a small nylon bag with a 135mm and a 50mm some film,notepaper,pen and 2 filters.Bag about 12"x8"x3". If I really travel lite,its the camera and 1 lens,the 50.What do you carry and how ?Do mainly candids and street photography but also some pro jobs.Sometimes need the aluminum case to placate the clients but not really needed....

-- jsaon gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), December 17, 2001

Answers

Jason, I have recently been using an Op/Tech neoprene rangefinder case for the m6/50 or m6/35 combination. It hides and protects the M and can be slipped off quickly when you want to take photos. It is small enought to tuck the empty case in a pocket, thus avoiding the "never ready" reasoning against a fitted case. Of course, it is best when used in combination with a neck strap. I tape a spare film can on the strap with some gaffer's tape and that gers me 72 exposures.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), December 17, 2001.

Jason, I carry what I think will fit my needs, but having said that, I basically go one of several ways. I have an original Domke bag that will hold my M6 and 6 lenses (winder too). Additionally, I have a smaller bag (Tough Traveler) that will hold the M6, winder, and up to 4 lenses if necessary - although I usually carry 2 - 3 lenses with this configuration. When going light, I will generally carry one of the following combinations: 21/35/75 or 21/50/90; 35/75 or 50/90. I also may just carry one lens, depending on perceived needs.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), December 17, 2001.

I am also interested in how you folks carry your M6 when you are only using one lens. Do you use any kind of case to protect the body, such as the bottom of an everready cas

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), December 17, 2001.

I carry an 0.72 and a 0.85 body (with 35 and 90 lenses) on a modified body harness that I fashioned out of my Tilley Endurables VOMP vest (its D rings), 5mm semi-elastic climber's cord, and mini-D rings. The two bodies stay (ready) by my sides at all times and can be concealed provided I wear an XL jacket (usually army olive) over the vest. I find this system works much better than using the provided neck straps because the load bearing area is much larger hence less fatigue walking around all day. Also, the Tilley VOMP can swallow a lot more gear as well. In addition to the 35 cron and 90 Tele that I have on the bodies I can also carry the 24 Elmarit in another expandable pocket, the 35 cron in yet another pocket, a small SF20 flash unit in my breast pocket, and about 20 rolls of film all very comfortably and inconspicuously. I can also fit a small tripod and ball head into the built-in backpack in the vest (a Gitzo Weekender and a Novaflex mini-magic ball) if I so desire. I'm finding that with this set-up... the Billingham Hadley is getting more and more "document" useage these days.

Cheers,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 17, 2001.

Over my shoulder like a bandolier, with the camera at my hip.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 17, 2001.

Tried one of the custom-fit ER cases by Kameraleder of LA? I have one for my XPan and it really is very handy. I know some folks just don't like the ER case approach, but for me it works and saved my camera from some pretty tough bangs while keeping it readily available for use. Kameraleder's site is www.kameraleder.com

-- Phil Allsopp (pallsopp42@attbi.com), December 18, 2001.

Jason:

This is a short summary of something I have already said (a couple of times). The best case I have ever found is the Lowepro beltpack "Orion Mini". One single TTL with lens on it pointing down plus a lens to the left and a lens to the right. Enough space for film and pen and notebook and battery etc. Big enough for everything including all hoods-on, but at the same time small enough for me to even want to keep it and use it often. Really good padding and nicely adjustable. Not all that expensive. All the other bags everybody else seems to love (like Domke and Tamrac etc) are always way too big (for me). Also bad padding but at the same time much more expensive. Finally, I also like my bag's zipper function and waterproofness.

Steve:

I always carry my TTL (with any lens) in the bottom part of the Leica case (14870). I threw the top part away (that's the never-ready part). It does all the protecting I want and is fast enough to remove and put back on while exchanging film. The best carrying strap I ever found is the Leica Neoprene (42162) and that is always on too. (All of this stuff is always on when in my Lowepro case discussed above.)

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), December 18, 2001.