I’ve often thought that finding a good camera bag is often more difficult than choosing a new lens or a new body. Forget trying to find the ‘perfect’ bag. To my knowledge such a thing does not exist. I am sure that I can speak for many photographers and say that we are also bag-aholics. If you’re reading this and feel comfortable sharing, leave a comment and tell us how many bags you have.
No, this is not the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar home, but it is the closest I've come to finding the perfect bag is this well worn Domke F-3X. It has it's flaws, but is still my most used bag.
The closest I’ve come to finding the perfect bag is the Domke F-3X. It lacks a lot of items that make a good bag good, but it’s been consistently at my side more often than any other bag. Now, it’s faded, frayed, stained, smashed and somewhat dirty, but it remains my go-to bag.
This photo shows a fully packed bag with two camera systems and additional lenses. Normally I wouldn't pack it this tight, but it's nice to know that it can handle all that gear.
In my search for a good day bag I was looking for a messenger style bag that could hold a body (or two) and a few lenses in relative comfort. After reading bag reviews and trying on bag after bag I settled on the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home (7MDH). It was a messenger style bag that met most of my requirements.
A peek inside the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home. In this photo it is packed for a flight. Normally I wouldn't be carrying around a large headphone case.
First, I like messenger style bags for the ease of access and changing lenses on the fly. I’ve never been a fan of backpack style bags, but I understand their benefits in certain circumstances. Second, the 7MDH wasn’t too big, I didn’t want the option of carrying every lens I own, because I would probably do just that, carry every lens I own. Third, it was sleek. It doesn’t have too many protruding pockets, zippers, hooks, flaps, etc… And finally, I like a black bag, because it’s slightly less conspicuous.
In the past I’ve been a fan of more traditional camera bags such as Tamrac, Lowepro, and Domke. Billingham is just too rich for my blood. I started to notice more and more people carrying Crumpler bags and thought I’d take a look. I liked what I saw. They appear to have excellent craftsmanship. The material is a high quality nylon mesh that looks like it can take quite a beating. Only time will tell since this bag is new to me. The lining feels like a high density foam that should cushion moderate falls or bumps. The inner compartment comes with the usual dividers that can be configured in nearly any imaginable configuration.
From the Crumpler website:
Water resistant 900D shell & 300D Ripstop lining, 1 x external pocket w/ internal mesh pocket, 2 x internal side pockets, 2 x external accessory attachment straps, 1 x mesh zip pocket under clip & Velcro release flap, padded & Brushed Nylon lined main compartment w/ 8 x configurable dividers, plastic stiffening layer in base, carry handle, adjustable shoulder strap & shoulder pad.
With some of the gear removed you can see the the contents a little better. It should be noted that this bag has excellent padding all around. It adds to the bulk of the bag, but offers the obvious protection if dropped.
The only drawback I have found so far is the way the front snaps closed. The fittings on the top flap are recessed into the lining of the front flap just a little and this makes it hard to connect to the other quick release snap. This isn’t a deal breaker though. Other than that, there is little not to like about this bag.
The Crumpler 7MDH unpacked.
An itemized list of contents:
- Canon 5D MkII
- 16-35 f/2.8L II (mounted)
- 70-200 f/4L IS
- 50mm f/1.4
- Panasonic Lumix GH1
- Lumix 14-140mm OIS (mounted)
- Lumix 7-14mm
- Lumix 20mm f/1.7
- Bose QC15 headphones
- iPhone
- Extra 5D battery
- Compact flash cards x2
- Small homemade follow focus for 50mm
- LCDVF
- Joby SLR Zoom Gorillapod
The front pocket wasn’t packed, but could easily hold airline tickets, passport and a small book.
This isn’t what I would normally pack for day’s outing. This particular pack was for a two week European trip, so I’m cramming as much as I can into the smallest space possible.
GNAR Rating: 4-Stars
At the time of writing the 7 Million Dollar Home sells for approximately $140.
