Camera Bags Are A Trap: Pt II
The No Camera Bag Trap
Welcome to the 4th newsletter of June. Yes, June came and is about to go that quick. This week is usually a newsletter reserved for those of you that support us with a paid subscription, Thank You. Due to many constraints, travel, injury, etc., we put out the DIY newsletter in week three instead of the usual week two. So… I didn’t want to put out two paid-only newsletters in a row. Consider this one as brought-to-you by those that kindly help us keep the lights on.
There’s a little nugget that I slipped in the Camera Bags Are A Trap post a couple of weeks ago. Remember I described my own way out of the trap by venturing out camera and lens only with a few items in a pocket? Did you notice I immediately reverted to “carrying a small Domke FX5” bag too? What a back-slip so quick, huh? It happens every time…
I kinda made a self-mocking joke of myself before that with the proposed fixed-lens camera, and then all of a sudden you need a bag to fit the other-other focal length version of that fixed-lens camera. I was joking but not entirely. Looking at myself, I did that, sort of. I did the Fuji X100 fixed 35mm thing... I did a few camera-only, no-bag trips. Every single time I was happy. Then came the nagging little voice. But if I only had a little wider and a little longer, then, then, then, there would be peace on earth. Well, at least peace in my cluttered mind.
Welcome to the genesis of the Domke FX5 that survives to this day. My security blanket that allows me to bring that extra-extra battery and of course that extra lens of any kind and focal length that assuages my anxieties. The first time it was stuffed with X100 lens adapters that after two uses proved to be a far worse, far more fiddly, solution than my Fuji X-Pro 2 with the OG 18mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.4.
Of course, that evolved into a digital Leica M and thirty-two ways to carry a 28mm and 50mm. Problem solved. Right? Heck, that little Domke bag is constantly re-imagined with a bunch of small digital and film solutions that fit the mood all the time for more than a decade now. Of course, on any given day, it’s usually a 28/50 combo, my desert island team.
If we fast forward a bit, we have a bit of a different situation that presents itself. There are two cameras, actually four, that are back to that fixed-lens no-bag dream. Of course, I’m talking about the Leica Q3 and the Ricoh GR III/IV cameras. The reason the situation is new is fueled by two interrelated technologies. The first is better, higher resolution sensors along with really good super resolution upscaling built into Lightroom. Obviously, the Q3 wins by a mile here, except for price and compactness.
Pretend you are me and 28/50 is your go-to combo for the entire world. I could ditch the bag completely, yes even the little Domke. Buy the normy 28mm Leica Q for a similar price to getting an equal quality 28mm for my M and use the in-camera crop to happily view a digital simulation of 50mm crop lines. Even without the super-resolution upscale I’d be fine shooting at the cropped 50mm. Right? I could do the same thing with the normy Ricoh and maybe be fine having that super-resolution in my back pocket. Heck I could do both GR’s, the 28mm and 43mm versions and still go no-bag for less money… but I wouldn’t. I really couldn’t live constantly with no viewfinder and fiddly little controls and I already know I really like the “full-frame” look a lot at f/2 rather than f/2.8 and half-frame.
So, in all seriousness; I want to hear from all of you that have thought this through lately. What conclusions have you come to? Have any of you pulled the trigger on the Leica Q3 with similar thoughts? How about the Q3 43? I especially want to hear from all of you landscape photographers. Is the Q3 capable? Is the Q3 43 wide enough??? It certainly has the sensor chops. The controls seem great. I know both of those fixed lenses leave very little on the table.
I guess if I end up choosing the wrong one, there’s always the trusty Domke FX5 that will come to my rescue to hold the other version. Here we go again. I hope not.
Attend A Free Webinar About Black & White Photography
Les is giving a live presentation about Black & White photography in the context of printing tomorrow night at 6:30PM EST. This is being hosted by The Maryland Photography Alliance. You can register and view for free.
Advanced Awagami Printing & Display
Awagami inkjet papers are a specialized medium for producing fine art digital prints. The range runs from subtle matte papers to highly textured dramatic papers. The papers also run the gamut from ultra-thin to extremely thick. The key to utilizing these unique and beautiful materials is matching the paper to a photograph and artistic vision that work in harmony.
This day-and-a-half hands-on workshop will result in two completed mounted Awagami fine art prints on two of Awagami’s most distinctive papers that best represent your artistic intention. More importantly, the experience with the selection, discernment, and realization of other participants’ art will be invaluable as you move forward using Awagami materials for future projects. We start preparations for this workshop before you come with a one-on-one review of images you have in mind for final mounted prints.
Details and registration are on the LPFA website. Take a look. If you have questions shoot us an email or leave a comment. You can also take a look at our first Advanced Awagami workshop.
There is a Leica store in downtown DC that I visited six weeks ago when I was down for a song recital. It's very nice and has every current model. The major stumbling block is that they cost about $4K more than I can afford. Domke bag is nice, but you can get a Peak Design one for half the cost. Sometimes we photographers have to be frugal.
Just back from a long safari to Kenya and Tanzania with a 36l ThinkTank camera pack, two Nikon Z7II bodies, and assortment of lenses up to 600 mm prime. BUT I knew there’d be several days just in Nairobi and other urban settings both indoors and out. So I acquired the new Nikon Z “pancake” lens 26mm that doesn’t extend beyond the hand grip of the Z7 body and just carried that around for indoor and outdoor shooting. Was GREAT. To err on the side of caution I had a soft OpTech pouch that nicely and snugly enveloped the body and lens with shoulder strap still useable. With this setup compared with your suggestions is that I didn’t need yet another camera body and didn’t have to take my old trusty small sensor camera with me. AND cost of the lens is only about $400 and B&H included a quality UV filter!