🤔 My pick: Two BEST camera bags & designs 

Tried the 7 last week and I found it gorgeous. But returned it immediately and found it just had to many inner pockets taking to much space for cameras.

My Billingham has carried my m6 since 1995, then my m8 and now my xpro 2 mostly fully packed and has very little signs of wear. I don't agree they are poorly made.

I personally use a vanguard heralder for my camera gear, but I did take your advice a few months back and went looking for some vintage gas mask bags and was lucky to score 2 of the them in a group lot at a local auction, the lot also had a vintage Italian made Firenze Ciolo messenger bag, 3 WW2 Swiss army saddle bags, and some old rancid Army rations.....cost me $57 plus commission

I do want a slim messenger style Camera bag with a lid that opens away from the body and makes a shelf to use for gear hen you fx change Lens, memory card or battery ! And Silent opening or as low noise as possible.

I have a similar Think Tank Bag. It makes for quick access, but it bothers my back after a couple of hours (I tend to bring the kitchen sink). It's a nice bag though and I recommend it. I typically use a backpack. More comfortable for me, but grabbing stuff out of it is a bit more cumbersome.

I don't like the humongous flap of messenger-type camera bags as they interfere with opening the bag and getting out my gear. The belted closures also present another barrier to quickly accessing my gear. I prefer top-opening "classic" gadget bags such as the LowePro line of Magnum bags, which I use both for protective home storage and travel. The extra padding and sturdier construction with zippers and clips closures do a fine job keeping my gear well protected, while facilitating quick and easy access to my camera, lenses and accessories. Plus the rubber molded base provides stable protection, water resistance and stackability. All Magum bags also include a protective cover that can be wrapped around the bag in the event of rain. The smaller sized LowePro Magnum 200 is compact enough for in-cabin airline travel while still large enough to carry 3-4 lenses, a speedlight, batteries and charger along with the camera mounted with lens. The only potential negative is they look like camera gadget bags, so when traveling I need to keep an eye on the bag at all times.

Love my think tank bags, they last forever and hold up in any condition

Stumbled upon it, thanks, appreciated.

The OLD Tenba bags were good, back when they were making them in those ungodly colors. The boxy looking ones. Later design changes made them inferior. Now I am a Billingham guy.

I need your help with a lens. I bought a Nikon 180mm 2.8 with great clear glass for very cheap. It has a stiff focus that loosens up when I use NAFTA later fluid. Can you make a video showing how to lube this lens? If you are interested I can send you my lens for the video. I got the thing for $20 so if something happens to it I am not a real loss. Let me know if there’s anything you can do to help out.

what was the bag made from camel leather you pushed a while ago?

Be careful not to scorch those nice bags near that fire. 🔥

Yep I love my Retrospective 30..BUT also love my Billinghams! The leather isn’t cheap.....I know many who still have them 40 years later! They’re like a fine wine....get better with age....and soften up! ;) peace out Sir Ken

I agree on the Billingham bags. It LOOKS nice, feels nice. It’s just flimsy and the pocket straps are all bent out of shape. Luckily I got small Hadley for real cheap.

The billingham clasps are so darn easy to open the bag with. It's such a simple design that works.. if only another manufacturers uses clasps like billinghams.

Good to see that quality camera bags are made in my home land, the Dominican Republic

I love my lowerpro messenger bag..oiled canvas...Was perfect for my travels to Italy because I traveled light...I need to look at that Thinktank bag now that I have more and bigger lenses. Thanks!

ThinkTank Retrospective 20 Pinestone is a great bag too, I am super happy with my think tank its been at my side for two years. Ken is there any chance to hear your feelings and advise on the Think Tank Air port series bags, are they worth it or not, what is your recommendation, as your advise is truthful and to the point. Kind regards Aussie stretch-1969

You once recommended the Flipside 300, I then bought it cos I trust your opinion Ken, and guess what? I love it! I use it on all my US road trips, fits all my M4/3 stuff, accessible without putting it on the ground, and best of all, on a crowded Tube train, you know that no-one is helping themselves to its contents.

I have that ThinkTank bag too. I have the black version. Awesome bag, but lately prolong carring of it hurts my back. You say it's ugly, but that fine because you don't want to have a bag look like a camera bag to the world. More inconspicuous a camera bag is. The safer your gear will be.

Hey Ken, I wonder what do you think of the newly released Laowa GF 17mm f4 for GFX?

I’ve got Lowepro, ThinkTank but my favorites are Tenba ones. My only concern is that I Iive in France and they are not well distributed (so as Thinktank) I discovered them thanks to their RU-vid channel. Lowpro is dominating the market here with some cheeper Case Logic and overpriced Manfrotto bags.

Thanks Ken. I've been looking for a shoulder bag and followed your advice on the Think Tank R-30 which happens to be reduced $50+ at the moment.

Just popped in to say thank you. Yesterday my third lense of what you have recommended in you videos arrived. So far I have bought the 35mm, the 12-24 and now 70-300. They have all been exactly what you said. I am very happy because for me, I found it hard to find out what lenses to buy. So once again thank you for great videos och great tips.

Ugly doesn't get stolen :)

I’m so happy to hear your opinion on the Billingham bags. I just made the terrible mistake of buying one, I immediately stuffed it back into the box and returned it with a scathing review warning people not to waste their time or money on that over glorified teachers briefcase. Thanks for your insight !

Peak Design bags are hands down the best. No question

I use the ThinkThank Retrospective 6 Pinestone for my street work and I actually like the look of it.

“...that’s your opinion...Yeah but some opinions are worth more than others.” LOOOVE that comment 🙂👍

You make me laugh at times, off the scale, Billingham Bags have been used for decades by legions of photographers, quality of construction and thick leather means they really do last.

i bought 2 of that thinktank.

Best ever bag : no bag : )

Great. What your daily driver camera bag now. Cheers

mention the name of the damned bag before giving us your life history

'"I'm not a bag collector" I don't know about that!

You've got a lot of purses 😂 I'm still looking for a good bag for me, need a padded waterproof one for hiking

LOVE my Think Tank backpack. Can't imagine doing a shoot without it!

why the fire?

Have to many bags...but always go back to Billingham. :) My Hadley One is the best one for sure.

your house is burning, you only got the opportunity to save a camera and 2 lenses before everything burns to the ground leaving you broke for the next 10 years (you'll also find out that your Florida's house has been wiped out by a hurricane). what 2 lenses and camera body would you save?

Well for once Ken I disagree with you ref Billingham bags. They're the best I've ever used. Got caught in steady driving rain a few years back and all my then Minolta kit in my Nytex S445 bag was...bone dry. Only drawbacks is they're now pricey and the Nytex is discontinued.

I got a Billingham 555 for $30 from a thift store... lmao

I've got 3 lenses and no bags.

I feel deprived. I only have about 10 bags. ;-)

Your right, ive got the 7 and 10- luv them- the Voigtlander of camera bags!

You want to play the weight card, Billingham bags use only a small proportional amount of leather in their products, the product tends to be used in wear/stress areas, in effect buckles and a couple of good firm thick tabs as strap support, apart from the name tag and some minor embellishments, that's about it. Your really talking about just four tabs. Thickness wise it's around 5mm+, which could hardly be considered thin by any standards, start getting thicker you'll begin to loose flexibility/dexterity especially from new. Canned ravioli = dog food, agreed, but then many really don't get a choice if their budget is stark, we need budget food. If you need a bag then go buy anything that will carry. But want a bag then Billingham will always be in your top three. Need & Want opposing sides of the same coin.

Eat one meal a day

When im out shooting street style with my xpro1 with 21mm skopar..I take along my retrospective 5 bag....people really ignore you with a ugly bag and that there is advantage. I got mine after Zack Arias wore his when in Marrakech.

you kicked me off.. because i was texting Mars.. sorry bro it won't happen again.. i like your live stream.. and i do think you are brilliant..

last night.. i was watching live.. started texting about god and stuff.. you kicked me off lol

Hello Mr Wheeler...check out Ona The ASTORIA. That bag is amazing.

ken man im sorry bro.. i didn't mean to upset you..

ken just to let you know.. im a mogwai.. lol Its a more acceptable Terminology. lol