How can I design and make a custom camera bag?

January 11, 2009 10:52 AM

How can I design and make a custom camera bag?

I have an SLR camera and would like to carry it around (on vacation, etc.) without marking myself as a tourist. I find that the bags on the market are functional but unattractive. Is there a way -- say, an online service -- that would allow me to design and manufacture my own bag? I would like it to look like a stylish purse or tote while still cushioning the camera properly. I am not a designer, but it would be great if I could choose the materials and overall shape. Alternatively, if I were to approach a contract manufacturing company, what kind of minimum order requirement should I expect? And how feasible would this route be if I don't have a design background?

posted by curiouskitty to shopping (11 comments total)

You may not find it very attractive, but this is a cool DIY camera bag I found a while back. It's also really inexpensive.
posted by Bahro at 10:56 AM on January 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

Daughter the Second uses an actual purse for her video camera bag. Easy enough to add a foam lining for extra cushion.
posted by trinity8-director at 11:21 AM on January 11

Rather than a manufacturer, someone from Etsy could build you exactly the bag you want. Many of those folks do custom work. It's just a matter of finding one whose current bag styles match your own, then they would customize.
posted by pokeedog at 11:22 AM on January 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

Yes, find a regular bag you like then use camera bag inserts to custom fit the camera.
posted by seymour.skinner at 11:22 AM on January 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

I use the x-small Timbuk2 bag and a thick wool cap for padding. Just like the DIY bag that Bahro posted, but more ghetto. Plus, in an emergency I have a warm cap.

I also don't use a lens cap -- I put on a lens hood instead, which does a fine job of keeping most things from touching the lens. (I really like just being able to reach in the bag and lift out the camera with one hand and it's ready to go. I have a Pentax *ist-DS, which -- with either the 50mm prime or the 16-45 f/4 -- is easy to lift and use with one hand.) I prefer the messenger-style bag to backpacks because I can just slide it around to remove the camera, I don't have to take off a backpack and find maybe find somewhere to put it.

The x-small size is just big enough for my Pentax and the two lenses. If you have something like the EOS D5 you'd need something bigger.
posted by phliar at 11:41 AM on January 11

I do exactly this - basically, I bought a waterproof messenger bag (in my case from Timbuk2; not all camera bags are waterproof but I consider it mandatory), covered some foam with fabric and put that at the bottom, then lined the interior with velcro tape to attach some Domke camera-bag inserts I had laying around. Everything important is well-padded, but I don't stand out as having anything special.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:47 AM on January 11

a second suggestion for etsy - had great luck there with custom things in the past (great work + good price)
posted by knockoutking at 12:24 PM on January 11

Definitely Etsy. Or you might like the Jill-e photo totes. Click around for different options.
posted by barnone at 1:23 PM on January 11

I went through this dilemma a while ago and found some diaper bags that seemed suitable for my needs. (However, I had to add my own padding)
posted by cazoo at 4:03 PM on January 11

Army surplus bags
posted by captainsohler at 5:28 PM on January 11

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'll check out Etsy and also look into a DIY option with the camera-bag inserts. I actually went into a local camera store not long along and asked for advice -- but no one mentioned that I could get padding like that. That's a far easier solution than what I was considering. Thanks again.
posted by curiouskitty at 1:13 PM on January 12