Thanks to the US military
The US military may last have checked the ‘win’ column some 60-plus years ago, but not all is bad. This taxpayer got a bit of his own back by picking up a handy ex-military bag from the local Army & Navy surplus store. Have you ever wondered what happens to Air Force surplus, by the way?
The problem with most camera gear bags is that they scream ‘camera’, invariably being emblazoned ‘Tenba’, ‘Domke’, ‘Lowepro’ and the like – all brand labels beloved of the light fingered set. They are also invariably obscenely expensive – $75-150 for, let’s face it, some canvas and stitching, made in China. Neither issue arises here for this is an ex-Army canvas map bag, has no markings and costs …. wait for it, all of $12.
The three compartments hold the Panasonic G1 with either the kit lens or the 45-200mm, the other lens goes in the center divider and my mobile back-up drive goes in the front. If needed, the rear compartment will accommodate my netbook computer. In that case the camera with one lens goes in the middle and the other lens moves to a jacket pocket – the G1’s lenses are so small this is simply not an issue. The ‘ears’ keep the rain out and there’s even room for a sandwich and a bottle of water.
Check your local surplus store for any number of similar choices. I like that it looks so shabby and amateur (unlike our military), the last thing a thief would be interested in. It is also superbly effective (also unlike our military). Probably not made in China, which may well turn your crank, to boot. And you can always console yourself with the near certainty that the thing cost the US Army hundreds of dollars when originally procured from our patriotic military contractors.
Update April 3, 2010 – iPad day: My iPad fits perfectly in this bag. Forget the $120 asked for a piece of nylon with a logo – get one of these.
Thanks for this. I’d been looking for something similar to hold my G1 and miscellaneous other stuff (two large compartments were essential), but hesitated to shell out over $50 for a small messenger bag or the like. My local military surplus shop didn’t have any used ones, but I bought a new one just like this for $15 (although black was all they had). It’s exactly what I wanted. Oh, and mine says it was made in India 🙂
I’ve appreciated all you’ve posted about the G1 – it helped me make the final decision to buy one (and has put the 45-200 on my must-buy list) – but I also enjoy reading the rest of your diverse posts here. Thanks for all of it.
I have a similar and slightly smaller Swiss army bag I picked up at an Army surplus store for my first SLR, way back in 1980. I still use it today for the G1 and lenses. With the body and kit lens, along with the 45-200 lens, and the ebay special Super Tak 50mm screwed onto and adaptor…. I still can barely feel the thing hanging off my shoulder.