If your out and about and travelling light. How do you carry your M? Do you take a small bag and have the M in there with some film, etc? Or do you have the M around your neck on a strap and film in your pockets? Any other ideas?

Thanks,

-- (bubblegrass@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

That's a good question. I almost picked up a Lowepro Stealth Reporter AW 600 (jeez, what a name) yesterday to be able to carry my laptop and camera when on business travel. Kind of decided it is perhaps better to have a dedicated camera bag instead. I like the Lowepro line, specially the AW = All weather stuff, a lot of ppl like Domke products.

It would be cool to have some type of 'holster' so one can concel the camera under the jacket - does that excists for the M6?

/pat

-- pat (svenburg@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

i'm lazy. so if it's in a bag i won't use it much. if it's swung over my back i will use it a little more. when i have it on my shoulder at my side that's the best. i shorten the neck strap so i can hold onto it with my hand while my forearm lays above it (protecting from rain). when i am in an prime photo area then i put it around my neck. i carry film in my coat pocket or in a bag over my back. when it is raining to hard i just put it around my neck and under my coat. point being, i need it to be very accessible

john

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

I've got a mclassics.com leather strap on it, and I carry it on my right shoulder, under my coat or jacket, at about elbow height. No one knows it's there. If I take extra lenses, I might put one in a pocket, or two in a belt pack, and I usually carry only one extra roll of film.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

I find that the Domke F-6 bag(the "little smaller" bag) fits a M6TTL, two or three lenses (or a Digilux Zoom and some lenses) and the SF-20 flash perfectly. It is a very compact bag and does not get in the way at all. I too do not care for large camera bags (I've served my time with those when I was toting big Nikons around) and that is why I chose the smaller Domke bag when I began using the M6. Granted, in a photo-opportunity rich environment I'll keep the camera out. However, the bag does a great job of keeping out the elements and offers you room for a PDA, some extra film, and a few extra supplies in the front pocket. Obviously, how to best hoslter your M6 is a very subjective judgment. I, for one, think the little Domke bag is a perfect fit.

-- Frank Farmer (fff@mindspring.com), February 07, 2002.

being a new M6 owner, with the 35 and 75, my solution is going to be the Billingham 225 for carrying all my stuff in it, and not much more. Maybe an ever-ready type case is next for when I want to take just the body and lens attached. I asked a question a little while back about a good form fitting case for the M and attached lens, you'll be able to find it somewhere below or in the Leica M archives. 2 bags, each a solution depending on what I'm doing at the moment.

-- james (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Travelling light = 1 camera + 1 lens; this in turn hangs off my shoulder (on a Domke strap) with a few rolls of film in my pockets.

;-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 07, 2002.

A cheap nylon shoulder bag or coat pocket. It allows for quick storage and removal ( and does not scream " I have a camera !" ).

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), February 07, 2002.

a few weeks ago i was raving about the best camera bag ever: the courier ware incognito camera bag. i changed my mind. it is pretty good for the big equipment, but it is so heavy by itself that i do not take it. if i take one body and two lenses. for that reason i think (at the moment at least, might change in a couple of weeks) the domke satchel is great (i can never remember how it is called, the flat, small one). it is lightweight, doesn't have velcro on the main flap (i hate that sound) and gives reasonable protection.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

Domke F5XB with Op-Tech SOS Mini strap and Domke waist belt, packed tight with 3 bodies/4 lenses. At location 1 body stays in hotel; 2 bodies carried cross-wise (bandolero-style)over both shoulders with standard M straps. Lenses and flash in the F5Xb, film in pockets. Sometimes I use an Orvis Travel Vest (have one in cotton and one in suede)which holds 2 bodies and several lenses plus film.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

Your all gonna laugh. I just picked up a hip pack made for Gameboy. It is nylon on the outside, nicely padded all around and has two removable/moveable dividers in the center section. I fit a Canon-P (exact same size as an M)with a 35/2 and a IIIc with a finder and Skopar 25/4 lens in the center section. And in the front covered pouch a Elmar 90/4 with finder and a Collapesable Elmar 50/3.5, plus an additional 35 finder. On the outside there are two small pouches each one holds a roll of film. Price $19.95.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), February 07, 2002.

When I'm sctually shooting I keep the camera in my right hand (I'm right handed). I've attached a wrist strap to it, and one of those plastic toggles with a spring loaded catch to the wrist strap. When I "put the M6 on" I tighten the toggle up to my wrist and hold on to the hand grip. This is partly due to seeing cameras snatched out of peoples hands by kids on mopeds, and partly to my inate clumsiness, but it provides a good strong anchor.

When I'm not atually shooting it's a Billingham camera bag. I'm just about to buy a new one, the S3, which is small but protective.

Incidentally, does anyone know of a shop in Spain, preferably Valencia, where I can get a Billingham bag? The website is

-- Paul Hardy Carter (carterph@wanadoo.es), February 07, 2002.

m6 strap wrapped tightly on my right wrist (when in use)

bag (either domke f803/ insert favorite backpack here) w/ film, flash, tabletop tripod, motor, etc.

-- Ken Kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

I use a Domke J3 bag, its great and black. I use an M Never ready customized by me by cutting off the top and only using the bottom which is in great shape alone with strap. Either around my neck or over my shoulder. I sew a oversized button on edge of my right shoulder just so my camera dosent slide off. This is a great idea for you guys to do. works great and people stare at it when no camera is in tow, i keep them wondering.

-- mike (thearea19@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

When shooting, I wrap the neck strap around my right wrist. I don't use the original Leica strap that came with the camera and I also don't use a grip. Occasionally I hang the camera around my neck. If I'm just out shooting, I don't carry a bag. On the other hand I carry the camera everyday and so I seem to be on an unending quest for the perfect bag. Indeed, I don't like the one I have now. It's a small field bag that is designed for a small camera or binocs and a small notebook. It is made by Eagle Creek and I use a short Domke insert. It works, but I don't really like the denier nylon stuff. I've tried Lowepro, the Domke 803 satchel and the Billingham Alice. Sold the Alice, the others sit in the closet. I have an original 20 year old Domke, but I don't need all the space. I only carry one body and lens.

Ideally I'd like a small beat up looking leather bag. Of course everything in leather that I find looks like a purse and I stopped crossdressing years ago. :\

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

Travelling light for me means the M6 TTL with 35mm, and maybe the 50mm or the 90mm in a coat pocket. Film goes in another coat pocket, and the camera strap is over the head and one shoulder - essentially across the chest. That way, I can slide the strap around so the camera is under the coat at my right hip, but can be quickly brought up to take a photo. No coat? Same strap arrangement.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), February 07, 2002.

I carry my M6 Classic in my hand when I'm out and about, fastened securely to my wrist. How? I tie a clove hitch in the shoulder strap, slip it onto my wrist and hold it in my hand ready to shoot. This way the rubber "Leica" part of the strap actually winds up on my wrist which prevents the strap from cutting off my circulation. (And, no kids on mopeds are going to yank it out of my hand either.) If need be, I can quickly release the clove hitch by slipping my hand out; then I'm free to sling the strap over my shoulder. This works well when the shoulder strap is first adjusted so that its length, when used on the shoulder, is about one inch lower than my crooked elbow. That length makes the wrist strap arrangement unobtrusive because when you tie the clove hitch it takes up most of the slack when it's on your wrist.

For storing the camera while out, I use a small (23cm H x 25cm L x 10cm W), black cloth shoulder bag, inside of which I have a blue ripstop nylon bag with a drawstring that has bubble wrap inside and in which I actually place the camera when not in use. Inside the cloth bag there's a small pocket where I keep 3 filters (OG, R25, Y2), some Cripps DX-Recoders, and an extra battery. In the cloth bag I carry a few extra rolls of Tri-X, a plastic ziplock bag large enough in which to seal the camera in case of inclement weather, and maybe my Contax T3 or Olympus Epic.

-- Cosmo Genovese (cosmo@rome.com), February 07, 2002.

I really like the little Domke 5-xb bag. The nice flap offers protection from the elements. My bag is about 6 years old and getting a little ratty. I recently purchased another one at Neptune Photo in Garden City, Long Island. Regards, Don

-- Donald Wansor (wansor@optonline.net), February 07, 2002.

For an M6 with one mounted lens I carry it with strap over my shoulder and camera in right hand. For M6 plus 3-4 lenses (and room for flash or meter) I use a LowePro Photo Runner bag which is a really great design. It is quite compact and has "batwing" compression straps that keeps the bag tightly above my butt on my back or (if I loosen it) swings around in front. It is not a "classic" looking bag but if you were going to design a bag right now from scratch to carry a small camera system this would be it. It was originally designed so that people could carry their camera while running.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

Mike wrote: "I sew a oversize button on edge of my right shoulder...people stare at it...."

Ouch! I'll bet they do at that, Mike ;>)

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

If I just carry one body and one lens, I don't use any bag. I carry it over the right shoulder when about town. When taking more pictures, it is in my right hand with the strap wrapped around wrist. When travelling, I just wrap it in a T-shirt in my overnight bag.

A few rolls of film fits easily into trouser or jacket pockets. I used to carry a spare lens in a trouser pocket but noticed that it tends to get dusty. I was afraid that eventually some of that dust would end at the inside lens elements. So I bought a Domke 5XB to carry more gear when I need it. Excellent little bag. Incidentally, the long belt loop in the back of the bag is ideal for carrying a monopod or a small tripod. I have a Gitzo 026 and it fits there just nicely.

Ilkka

-- Ilkka Kuusisto (ikuu65@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

You could be REALLY COOL like David Hermmings in Blow Up and just carry the thing around in a paper bag. Noone would think you were a photog anyway, just a wino.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 07, 2002.

In Winter, I carry my M in the pocket of my Eskimo (i go on the job by bycicle); in Spring/Autumn, in the pocket of my trench; in Summer, into my bag's job. When I'm on holiday, i carry my M on shoulder.

Generally, I use only a lens (50 mm). Bye

-- Domenico (Giandom@comune.re.it), February 08, 2002.

Small black shoulder bag/purse-like thing. Big enough for M6/35'cron/90'rit, but not much bigger.

-- ts (tsesung@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

I wear two cameras with rapidwinders and rapidgrips on standard straps round my neck, film, flash and notebook in the bag (hadley). The straps are on the LH strap lug which makes it easier to use the two cameras without the straps getting wound round each other. It's true that by the end of a long day my neck starts to ache a bit.

I also use the aux viewfinder on the 35 so as to make the transition between the 24 and 35 smoother.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 08, 2002.

To carry the gear I use a Billingham F4.5 (discontinued now) in Olive green(!) which doesn't look like a camera bag just a regular travel bag.

If just shooting light, M4-P + 35mm with strap wrapped around wrist, 15mm in one pocket, Sekonic in the other pocket.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), February 08, 2002.

Travelling light: M6TTL in bottom half of Leica ever ready case 14870 and attached to Leica neoprene carrying strap 42162, both inside of Lowepro Orion Mini bag including 2.8/21A, 2/35A and 2/50LP.

Travelling lighter: just the M6 w/lens in half-case on strap.

Travelling lightest: M6 w/lens naked in my hand.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), February 08, 2002.

Everything goes into the M Classics bag - IIIg, two lenses, meter and a palmtop for notetaking. That is this week ;-) Like many I seem to change my favorite bag more often than socks.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

I wish I'd change my socks as often as you change your bags. It's about the fungus.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), February 08, 2002.

I don't use a neckstrap at all (in fact mine is still factory sealed in the box). Instead I have a wrist strap attached to the left strap lug, and when I don't have the camera to my eye, I carry it in my left palm with the lens facing my thigh. This way I never have to bother with a lens cap and I've never had to worry about burnt shutter curtains. When not shooting I carry my M in a Domke F- 5XB "purse" along with 9 rolls of film, batteries, Sunpak 383, gel set, and point-and-shoot.

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Travelling lightest: M6 w/lens naked in my hand.

Michael, you might at least consider dressing a string... err, Sling... ;o)

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), February 08, 2002.

I finally gave in and picked up a Domke F5 myself. Nice, compact bag. But for $65, would it kill them to throw in a couple zipper pockets for lens tissues and a few accessories? All the other makers manage. The best features on my full-size Domke bag are the two slim front pockets that hold exposure meter and film.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), February 08, 2002.

My M6, 4 lens and flash travel in a Domke F5. When shooting street, I frequently use m6, 35 cron, and wrist strap with no camera bag. I palm the prefocused camera for quick candid shots;people frequently don't see the camera at all. I change the exposure settings every time I move into a different lighting situation.

-- John Elder (celder2162@aol.com), February 09, 2002.

I've talked about this before, but it is worth repeating here.

I use a very light Calvin Klien bag that goes across the shoulder (not over) like a letter carryer's bag. It is stuffed with a big Tenba waistbag (or fannypack, an expression you don't want to use in Australia). The CK has to big outer pockets and a small inner pocket. I stuff two cameras, four lens, my mobile phone, a pen case with a couple of fountain pens, my plastic key bag, my plastic money and credit card bag into it and I almost never get pains as with my old camera bags.

It is the best camera bag I have ever had. In fact I have two. The first one's inner zipper gave out. The second has been going well for nearly 2 years (I bought it Paris in March, 2000 and it has been with me nearly every day.)

Someday someone with more ambitions than I will design a similar but better bag.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 09, 2002.

For those who don't carry a bag, what do you do if it rains on a hot summer day and you don't have a pocket large enough to store the camera and lens?

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), February 09, 2002.

I just got a sling I like it very much. I've always been a neck strap hater, especially since the one on my M6TTL became entangled with my wife's purse, causing my then week-old Leica to plummet to the concrete floor (don't worry, we're still married). I had fashioned a wrist strap that I attached to the tripod mount, but didn't like it. I love the way the sling makes the camera feel like part of your hand and how easy it makes it easy to get camera in and out of the bag (since I'm a one lens type, any small fanny pack works). I'm a little concerned about the added stress on the one lug, but I probably shouldn't be. Any info on that Lutz?

BTW, I also ordered the kgeter@yahoo.com), February 10, 2002.

For my LEICA M with 3 or 4 lenses I carry a BILLINGHAM bag (type canvas 225). It is not too big, carries even more than the above and has a broad strap with an even better shoulderpad and it doesn´t hurt even after a long walk.

For one camera with one lens (my favourite for this is the pre/ preasph. 35 mm SUMMICRON-M) it is the black LEICA leather-beltpoach, No. 14522, discontinued now, I think. This one was designed to go with a (very naked) LEICA and the collapsible 50 mm ELMAR-lens. But any of the small 35 mm CRONs will fit as well.

Best regards

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), February 11, 2002.

Bags never seem to work; they're always too big or too small and always too conspicuous (for my work, at least, in places where people are camera shy or hostile). Well worn leather half-cases (from the bottom halves of old ever-ready cases) are the best for protection against bumps and for disgusing the Ms as some obsolete 1970s Yashica rangefinders, which people tend to ignore. The camera in a half-case is slung over my shoulder and kept out of view by my side until it's needed. I got more pictures this way than by using my Nikon SLRs carried in a proper camera bag.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 14, 2002.