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My New 'Blue Peter' Camera Bag

iMac

Active Member
Hi All,

Over the years I have spent a fortune purchasing unsuitable Camera Bags, I have tried every type and found problems with them all.

Now that I am the proud owner of two SD14 Cameras, I needed a Shoulder Bag capable of carrying these Cameras each fitted with a different Lens, along with a Tripod.
No such animal existed.

I decided to make my own bag, the height of the bag was determined by the Giottos MT9340B Professional Tripod. This lightweight travel tripod, fitted with a Novoflex Magic Ball Head is perfectly capable of supporting the SD14.
Designing a bag for my Monfrotto 055PROB was out of the question, as the bag would have to be over 29 inches in height!

The Tripod Centre column is packed separately in the bag in order to save height. With the Tripod separated, the height needed was 17½ inches, thus establishing the height of the new bag. The other dimensions worked out at 10½ x 5¼ inches.

Brought up on a diet of Young's Modulus, my engineering instincts concluded that I could make my 'Blue Peter' bag out of an empty 10 litre plastic Tub, a simple rectangle of Black Gabardine cloth, some Velcro, a length of Black webbing along with two 17½ inch lengths of plastic Curtain Track, all of which were to hand.

An old Tamrac bag provided the zipped lid which was machine sown to the Black Cloth Rectangle along with Velcro sown to the four edges.
Two 'half moons' were removed from the plastic paint tub, leaving a centre section and a 2 inch rim. The rim was cut in two places and bolted together to form the bottom of the bag. A 2 inch wide section of the plastic paint tub was used for the top rim of the bag.

The bag stands upright supported by the two 17½ inch lengths of plastic Curtain Track that is bolted to the plastic base and the top rim of the bag.
The bag holds it's shape by virtue of the Velcro sown to the four edges of the cloth rectangle, Velcro is also stuck with Impact adhesive to the sides of both the Base Rim and the Top Rim

An extremely satisfying project that produced a strong lightweight Camera Bag the equal of anything that Lowepro can produce!

Herewith an image of my completed Shoulder Bag, note that the weight of bag and contents is carried by the strong black webbing that runs around the bag between both carrying strap attachments.

Herewith images of my new Camera Bag.

View attachment 1752

View attachment 1753


iMac
Regards,
 

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That's a nice bit of sewing kit you have there, iMac, as well as the other "raw" materials used.

Myself, I use the largest LowePro bag as it holds all my kit plus what I need for a whole day in the bush, like food, water, even my laptop.

Sincere regards, JR

Gallery: www.pbase.com/jrdigitalart
 
That's a nice bit of sewing kit you have there, iMac, as well as the other "raw" materials used.

Myself, I use the largest LowePro bag as it holds all my kit plus what I need for a whole day in the bush, like food, water, even my laptop.

Sincere regards, JR

Gallery: www.pbase.com/jrdigitalart

Hi JR,

I also posted the same details in the Sigma Forum, one poster replied that he has a backpack that forms into a seat.

What a great idea, now I must re-design the basic internal bag frame (that was made out of rubbish odds and ends) this time using aluminium tubing to make a seat.

Incidentally, I used the bag to-day for the first time, it fulfilled all my design requirements.

I will start production of the new internal frame for the bag tomorrow!

Regards,

iMac
 
The Ultimate Camera Bag?

That's a nice bit of sewing kit you have there, iMac, as well as the other "raw" materials used.

Myself, I use the largest LowePro bag as it holds all my kit plus what I need for a whole day in the bush, like food, water, even my laptop.

Sincere regards, JR

Gallery: www.pbase.com/jrdigitalart

Hi JR,

I was in B&Q during the weekend when I noticed a Stanley FatMax Tool Bag. This Gladstone type Hard Waterproof Base Tool Bag, overall size 49 x 26 x 25 cm (45 cm inside) weight 3 lb 12 oz, is large enough to hold several dslr's with lenses attached. It cost me £27.98 and I'm delighted with it, takes my two SD14's with lenses attached, my Giottos Tripod, my laptop, all my photographic paraphernalia, a Folding Seat, Flask, Sandwiches and a change of clothes!

Forget the 'Blue Peter' bag, this is my Ultimate Bag!

Kind regards,

iMac
 
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