The Business of Custom Bags

[pinholecam]

Pentax 110.
The world's only subminature SLR system (ie. with whole set of lenses and accessories)

Try this link for film :
http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/film/110-film


The spiritual successor to this for digital would be the Pentax Q.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1292695&highlight=pentax
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1130914&highlight=pentax

 

[Nikonzen]

Thanks JK have not ran across any of those links yet...appreciate you bro.

 

[kandinsky]

I got the whole system except for a couple of lenses and a few other pieces I think. All of it is in excellent shape. I've had a cursory look around the net on the unit and it is interesting. If any of you bros know anything about them I would like to hear what you have to say. There is a 24 exposure roll of film in it sitting at 17 on the counter I am going to finish it out and shoot the other roll if I can still get the stuff processed.

I paid the 20 bucks for the whole shooting match!

Quite a steal for $20

That's a very interesting looking hardcase/bag. Couple of questions out of curiosity.
- How heavy is that case? The structural walls look pretty thick - cardboard?
- Is that material genuine leather or some sorta 'pleather'? Looks to be in pretty good shape.
- How old do you reckon the whole kit is?

The folks in the pentax/ricoh forum section might like to see this too (I see one of them found this ;p): http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=76

 

[Nikonzen]

That's a very interesting looking hardcase/bag. Couple of questions out of curiosity.
- How heavy is that case? The structural walls look pretty thick - cardboard?
- Is that material genuine leather or some sorta 'pleather'? Looks to be in pretty good shape.
- How old do you reckon the whole kit is?

The folks in the pentax/ricoh forum section might like to see this too (I see one of them found this ;p): http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=76

Okay to answer your questions sir and yes it's a very interesting package and I didn't know a thing about them until yesterday...have been told today they were 350 new...they hold their value well in collector market nowadays...110 film at that!

First the case is small and light but you are correct pretty well built probably cardboard affair. You can tell it is mass produced but with good craftsmanship. One of the interior panels shows up with a missed stitched on a corner and a guy like me smiles when I see things like that. It is very well built and nice design. I will build case instead of bag for my second model because of this case and old Ikon case I used to have. Both very similar so much I bet Pentax 'borrowed' from them on this deal.

I imagine this case would be great for small M43 or mirrorless systems. One reason why the next model will be case like this one.

Not leather. Because of the unfinished interior parts this is easy to determine. Vinyl. the stitched part is just this vinyl over laid on thin probably volare foam and then stitches made. Then piece glued to box structure. Still it is very well made and pieces are cut precise and stitches are precise. Made in Japan. Japan makes some the best sewing machines in the world. Cameras too...hahaha I found one of the little passed stickers missing from body too.

Kit is early probably...have serial number but not looked for registry yet. So system comes out 1978. This one probably early based upon my little reading.

I will bother those guys in Pentax when I get FF Pentax and K mount adapters someday. haha

 

[Nikonzen]

Leather...

 

[devilry]

Nikonzen bro - my 1 cent worth suggestion on business of bag making:

Bro, I frequently carry over 10kg load of equipment when out on my events shoots:
- for example, 2 x 1DX, 2 x 600EXRT, 16 batteries, 16-35 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 85 f1.2, 8-15 f4, 24-70 f2.8.

Given this load, it would be madness to have to carry another 3kg, 4kg bag. If you could design a sub 1kg bag to carry these items, I am willing to pay the equivalent of 70-200 for it. I am sure other professionals wouldnt mind paying high too. Better still if it has wheels at sub 1kg.

=====================

Another area would be the area of bags for super tele lens - 400 f2.8, 500 f4, 600 f4, 800f5.6, 200-400

When shooting the S-League, i would carry 3 cameras with 3 lens. 3 1DX, 16-35 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 500 f4, monopod.

Similarly the current market bags to carry this load is 4kg, 5kg. They are bulky and insanely heavy.

Again, I wouldnt mind paying 70-200 equivalent for a sub 1kg bag.

=====================
Sub 1kg sounds impossible and ridiculous - but the best things in life always seemed impossible until someone made it isnt it?

And think again - the most important things are your gears as they are the ones that capture the images and bring in the money. The bag doesn't conribute anything to image quality, except just as a transport tool.

There's no point to spend energy carrying a heavy bag.

 

[Nikonzen]

Thanks bro devilry...I will assimilate this information. The whole idea behind my bag is a bag made for photographers by a photographer. I don't carry the kind of equipment you refer to so I would have to study it much. The ideas are sound for sure.

Well a sort of rough prototype is now half way built. Maybe tomorrow or very soon I can finish it off. My impression of holding what I have in my hands is weight and feel...it is solid...like a Nikon F sort of. I think I could put ballistic plate in the walls of this bag, make it fully submersible and waterproof, and call it the combat photographer's bag.

 

[cha0z]

Howdy Nikonzen, hope you don't mind me commenting here. Stumbled across this thread accidentally ... really interesting that you'd want to go thru all the "trouble/hassles" if you will of making one bag that will really suit you. Me, I bought and sold and bought and sold and discarded time and again and still can't find a suitable one. No perfect bags so they say.

So I kept several that I think suit my needs:
- Crumpler 1MDH & Côte&Ciel mini messenger (can't recall the name) for the small Pentax Q system / DSLR + 1 prime.
- For outdoor photo-shoot when I have to carry DSLR + 2 or more Teles, I carry around a converted baby backpack (Allerhand) with Crumpler Haven stuck inside it.
Am considering a waist fanny pack ... but can't really decide on one hahahah.

Anyways, good luck to you sir, can't wait to see the end result
Oh btw ... 3 of my favorite things are somehow related in this thread as well: Pentax, Dr.Pepper, Oklahoma :cheers:

 

[Nikonzen]

Thanks C...

I am beginning to think that dimensions and subtle shape are important. This first prototype will make the pattern tangible for me and it will be easy to modify the dimension. So the bag is yet to change and maybe even there is the possibility to order it according to customer dimensions (within certain parameter). It is all shaping up well and soon I will be able to go phase 2 actual production of product.

Nice I have heard of this Pentax Q from JK. I have recently obtained nice Pentax 110 kit.

My original camo bag was a fanny pack I modified to carry over the shoulder. This design I am using now is based upon that bag and the green bag pictured previously.

Yes Pentax, DP, and Indian Territory OK :cheers: