Any suggestions for a camera bag for the F3?

I'd like something that can go on an airplane, carry the camera with a lens, rails, ff and a mattebox when moving around on a job, and has surplus space for a few batts, cards , ac adapter / small charger , and maybe a couple of filters?
My Mattebox ( so far looks like it will be a Petrol) is 9 1/2" wide.

Man I feel like I live on this board these days. Anyone have a cot I can take a nap on?

Lenny Levy

I am pretty sure the Kata CC197 is a good fit, but too big for carry on. The cc195 fits but there is not much room for accessories, this one is fractionally over carry on size.

Kata also have a new roll on carry on size bag and the F3 fits this, but I don't have a model number and it's very expensive.

With the max width for carry on at 10", getting a bag that will allow you to fit a 9 1/2" wide matte box on the camera will be next to impossible, unless you go for a vertical design such as a roll on bag.

Thanks Alister,
Maybe I need to rethink the carry-on and carry with mattebox on at the same time. That's a drag though since the latter is convenient while working and the former a neccessity. Hate to bother with 2 bags tho since you end up working after you've arrived. What do you do about that?

BTW Will you be at NAB with the hurricane I hope? I've been talking that up to a client of mine.

lenny

I'll be on the Sony booth shooting video blogs with the rig.

The Kata CC-197 was the "go to" bag for people with an EX3. I've been using it for a couple of years. While it houses a lot of stuff, you will have to get additional dividers (Kata sells them in packs) to properly secure all your lenses and rails/mattebox gear. Kata also makes a couple of backpacks, one of which is larger (don't have the model # handy) that easily swallowed an EX3 so it should easily work with an F3 and lenses. It also has been reported to barely get on as carry on gear and works well with the Trolly cart that Kata makes.

I plan to investigate the backpack as an addiitional option and I will be doing up a pelican or hardcase with properly done up insert (laser cut) for camera with rails, cine lenses and other cam package related gear.

I have switched to Pelicans for most of my accessory kit and Steadicam. I have been converted to hard cases for a lot of shoot applications. If you do go with Pelicans or Storm type cases make sure you get a good supply of the reuseable desiccant packs. Hard cases trap in moisture. Condensation can and will kill gear.

The Kata CC-197 looks great but doesn't look like it will fit carry on. It is 27.2 x 13.6 x 12.6
I just read this rule of thumb for carry on
22 inches, no wider than 14 inches, and no deeper than 9 inches.

My Portabrace for the Ex-1 is 20x 12 x 10 - Just a hair wider would be fine.

Leonard, would you be able to post up a link or a give a model number for your Portabrace bag.

And for a totally out of the box approach.... I abandoned the all-in-one backpack that also must fit the carry-on rules yet still leave room for a toothbrush. I wanted a bag at my destination that would be my "day bag" and carry just the items I needed that day.

So I went with the approach of a bag for my camera that fit the "personal item" rules as my day backpack plus a Kelty day bag for the toothbrush and other essential equipment I didn't want go in checked baggage (which I reserved for luxury items such as clothing). As it happened, this was spectacular planning on my recent trip as I ended up waiting 5 days for the checked bag. YMMV.

The Thinktank Streetwalker Pro fit the bill for the EX1r and doubled as a papoose that stabilized the EX1r handlheld at times when on the move.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/home-away-home/493316-9-days-field-kudos-sony-dolgin-thinktank-swit-spudz-sennheiser.html

Maybe I'll have to rethink my goal and I could always have a similar dual use approach. One bag designed mainly for airports, and a larger bag that hides in luggage and is big enough to hold the fully built rig when working. Airport bag can switch to an access bag then. Wouldn't really be that hard. I guess a toothbrush and underwear in the airport bag isn't a bad idea.

The Petrrol Black Deca bag is also a good option. Very sturdy, regulation size, lots of thick compartments. Room for the F3 body, 3 batteries & charger, EVF and a 7" monitor. The built in LED light strip is great for night wraps.

You could consider the Kata inflatable bags!!!!

You put the camera in it and inflate it to protect the camera. The "air bags" are designed for air travel and when not in use fold up to the size of a small cereal box. I'm not convinced by the concept myself, but it's certainly an option. The new Kata roll-on bags are to be released at NAB, its the new Lino Roller line and they have one that is a good fit for the F3, the MB LR050-7BB. As the camera sits vertically in the bag, you may be able to get it in with the matte box on, but you would need to check this. The price though is a rather steep $550.

Brian,
What's the number of that Petrol bag

I find all these bag websites a PITA. Couldn't they have a category or search button that indicates carry-on compliance.

Note Alister's heads up on the KATA roll on bags to be shown at NAB. Like any purchase this close to NAB, it is best to wait in my view.

Yes, I would love to wait till NAB - But I have a camera now and need a bag to work it!

We spend the time finding that perfect bag to carry on our camera(s) and the next thing you know that passenger X is jamming his roller board in the overhead bin into your new camera. Unless first class is an option to board first and find a empty bin, then I am having an anxiety attack trying to board before my section and find space for the camera. I gave that up a while ago and the camera is in a hard case in baggage. The other issue is a late arrival flight, trying to catch your connecting flight as you dash through the terminal, and just making the flight before the door closes and your informed, "no room sir for your bag, we will have to check it."

I must admit flying with a new camera for the first time is a bit unsettling until I see all my bags come out of baggage. I need GPS tracking on the camera so I know it is close at hand, not unlike the iPhone.

Putting a camera in baggage terrifies me. Too many late baggage experiences these days. I think my clients would freak out

We are all treated like baggage by the airlines :)

I like the Lowepro X200 rolling case. The F3 fits perfectly accross (with the eye piece removed....) and I can add another 6/7 slr lenses, MTF adaptor, power supply and a few gimics. Also, fits in most airplane overhead storage and looks inconspicious to customs officers :)

Everything else of less value gets checked in a Stormcase.

lowepro pro roller x200 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=lowepro+pro+roller+x200&N=0&InitialSearch=yes)

Thierry.

Leonard, my bag strangely enough does not have a model number on it but it looks exactly like this. <http://www.petrolbags.com/Camera-Shoulder-Bags?q=node/1126> Recommended to me by Band Pro and is very happy with it - just went through China and Australia customs without a hitch vs. a large Pelican case would probably get pulled over for inspection. Fits comfortably on overhead compartments of international flights (small domestic planes may have smaller bins but you can put it sideways) and nothing like the peace of mind of having the camera with you and not checked. You can also buy Petrol's very compact trolley system for those long walks to the gate <http://www.petrolbags.com/node/1122> Just put a small piece of foam underneath the cam body to cushion the potential bumps.

The F3 fits perfectly accross (with the eye piece removed....)
Thierry.

Hi Thierry,
Removing the eyepiece does seem to make the form factor a lot easier for packing.
What are you doing for a 'removed eyepiece' cover? - on both the camera side and the eyepiece side?
Best,
Dave S

I just wrap around the EVF a piece of plastic sheet with a rubber band, very basic.

T.

I have a Kata 197 bag for sale - only used once. No need for it now. Great bag though.

When I travelled with it, this did fit the overheads in a transatlantic flight - will not fit into the smaller domestic type planes.

I'm delaying decision till NAB, but am leaning possibly towards a dual solution.
1 bag for carry on that won't be large enough to pack a fully built camera to use when moving around between locations
Another larger bag that could go inside my luggage and double carrying clothes when flying, but on the set or at home & in the car could protect a fully built package so I'm ready to go.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I hope a lot of these are at NAB.

Has anyone tried or considered the Petrol PC003 Dr. bag for the F3?
I use the larger model for my PMW-350 and find that it has a lot of storage, is well constructed and easy to remove and insert the camera fully assembled. The only caveat I've encountered so far is its weight. But it does accept Petrol's roller carriage.

Has anyone tried or considered the Petrol PC003 Dr. bag for the F3?
I use the larger model for my PMW-350 and find that it has a lot of storage

Ron, I checked out the bags at the Petrol booth at NAB. For my taste the PC003 was too small as single go to bag for a shoot. I would want the size of the PC004 which I believe is the one you use for your PMW-350. The 003 would be good if you wanted a travel bag that might get on as a carry on (it's kinda tall though).

If you use rails, mattebox, brick batteries, lenses, monitor, mics, external recorder and so on, you could probably architect your way into the 003 but you would be doing a lot of assembly once you arrive on set.

Leonard, my bag strangely enough does not have a model number on it but it looks exactly like this. <http://www.petrolbags.com/Camera-Shoulder-Bags?q=node/1126> Recommended to me by Band Pro and is very happy with it - just went through China and Australia customs without a hitch vs. a large Pelican case would probably get pulled over for inspection. Fits comfortably on overhead compartments of international flights (small domestic planes may have smaller bins but you can put it sideways) and nothing like the peace of mind of having the camera with you and not checked. You can also buy Petrol's very compact trolley system for those long walks to the gate <http://www.petrolbags.com/node/1122> Just put a small piece of foam underneath the cam body to cushion the potential bumps.

It's the Petrol PC003 but they seem to be in short supply in the U.S.
However, the PC202, which is available, works just as well, and there is no need to remove the VF eyepiece.

Ron, I checked out the bags at the Petrol booth at NAB. For my taste the PC003 was too small as single go to bag for a shoot. I would want the size of the PC004 which I believe is the one you use for your PMW-350. The 003 would be good if you wanted a travel bag that might get on as a carry on (it's kinda tall though).

If you use rails, mattebox, brick batteries, lenses, monitor, mics, external recorder and so on, you could probably architect your way into the 003 but you would be doing a lot of assembly once you arrive on set.

Actually, I use the PC005 for the 350, and it fits in the bag with the stock lens and Zacuto rail system mounted. However,I just received an F3L, and was searching for a bag that would travel well with just the base camera, MTF adapter mounted and a few old Nikon Ai lenses. The PC005 is a large bag and not the most convenient to travel with, the PC003 (currently unavailable even from the distributor) or the PC202, which is available, are much smaller and make travel a lot friendlier. That said, it suits my proposed, relatively naked camera setup. On the other hand, if you plan on traveling with a matt box and associated accessories, or a long lens, they won't work, but the PC005 will, with a lot of room to spare.

I bought the cinebags "CB-30 Camera Daddy" at NAB. I'l post how I like when it comes my way.

Just got the Camera Daddy bag and its perfect.. I can fit the F3 on rails with mattebox and still have tons of room for accessories including 5.6 TVLogic. Apparently it is OK for carry on if you unload some of the extra pockets, but you have those pockets when working.