6MDH Setup

[ooo]

So New Years Eve I got myself a 6MDH bag from B&H. I'm not generally a bag person. I wish the bottom wasn't as stiff so I could push the bag in and make it smaller but I love it regardless.

Like people said, its like waking the dead when you are opening it but I think it'll be fine. I took out all the section dividers and now I have no clue what to do =P. I was wondering how you set up your bag? Pictures please. Happy New Years / eve.

[meglet]

I made the same mistake of taking out all the dividers. :) I think I ended up putting most of them right back in the same spot.

An overview of the interior; I keep a 28-105mm lens on my camera, hood reversed, and it sits lens-down in the middle. The folded dividers are just the right height for the body of the camera to be supported so it isn't resting on the lens:

http://files.meglet.net/forums/main.jpg

Behind the left divider, I have space to tuck my cell phone, wallet, and keys, along with a small flashlight and misc notes:

http://files.meglet.net/forums/left.jpg

Under the folded center divider is my 50mm lens, along with some lightweight cotton gloves for cold days:

http://files.meglet.net/forums/center.jpg

Behind the right divider are my other two lenses, a 70-300mm zoom and the 18-55mm kit lens; I used one of the non-foldable dividers turned sideways between the lenses:

http://files.meglet.net/forums/right.jpg

I attached a Winkler L pouch on one end to carry a USB card reader and battery charger:

http://files.meglet.net/forums/winkler.jpg

Filters, manual, and spare batteries go in the front pocket. Lens caps, chapstick, and miscellaneous small loose items go in the mesh pocket on the underside of the flap. CF cards are in the SanDisk carriers attached to the outside of the bag with a carabiner clip.

[_aravena]

Not a bad bag at all my friend.

[ooo]

Ahh thanks for the pictures, I should put that little flap back in the center. I only have those 2 big dividers in my bag because those were the easiest to figure out where to go. I have like 4 dividers left with no where to go. Would you recommend the center or the sides for the camera? It seems that everyone puts their camera in the center but I found it more smug and taking up less room in the sides.

[jhawksley]

Here's mine: 1DmkII, 70-200 2.8L, WD 120GB Passport HD, Tamron 28-75 2.8, 430Ex + Sto-Fen, and a roll of gaff tape. 2x Sandisk Ultra II 2gb CF and a Giottos microfiber cloth in the top pouch. It's a little tight fit-wise, so I will probably be moving up to a 7MDH soon.

[meglet]

Ahh thanks for the pictures, I should put that little flap back in the center. I only have those 2 big dividers in my bag because those were the easiest to figure out where to go. I have like 4 dividers left with no where to go. Would you recommend the center or the sides for the camera? It seems that everyone puts their camera in the center but I found it more smug and taking up less room in the sides.

I put my camera in the center because it's easier to get in and out, and then when I have the camera out it leaves a nice spot in the center to drop things as I'm changing filters or lenses. When I get my next lens I will probably re-arrange again, and may end up with the camera on the side or without a lens attached in order to make everything fit.


And I just realized you can't tell from the pictures, but I have the other folding flap folded down and against the front of the center compartment, to provide support for the narrower side of the camera body. With the flap between the front of the case and the lower portion of the divider, and wedged against the front, it provides support but leaves just enough room that the lens doesn't catch when removing the camera.

[ooo]

After a while I was wondering, do you shoot with your bags on or do you use this just to carry your equipment? I was planning to use this as a everyday street shooting bag / school bag. I was messing around with it at home trying to shoot with the bag on and I found it a bit bulky. Back then I just used a drawstring nylon backpack with nothing else in it, so I could just fold it up and fit it into my pocket but I would miss some opportunity shots because it would take too long to take my camera out of my bag.

[_aravena]

I've shot with mine on and I have a 7MDH. depends on the situation, but the 5MDH was the perfect size IMO.

[jhawksley]

Since I do most of my shooting at my high school (for the newspaper/yearbook), mine stays in my locker or the newspaper lab most of the time. When I do shoot with the bag on, I prefer to have it resting on my lower back so I can move around and feel balanced. One of the main reasons I went with a messenger bag was being able to access my gear quickly, as you can just swing it from resting on your back to right in front of you. Try doing that with a backpack.

[meglet]

I shoot with it on. I put the shoulder strap across from my left shoulder so the bag rests on my right hip, and just lengthen the strap until the bag is low enough to be pushed a bit behind me out of the way. I keep my camera out of the bag around my neck most of the time I'm shooting, but it is still pretty easy to get out if I have put it away for some reason.

I do miss my 5MDH, as it was the perfect size for wearing around, it just wouldn't fit everything. I spent a day at the zoo just before Christmas, the first day working out of the 6MDH, and while it got heavy after a while, it was really easy to work out of for changing lenses, getting to the zoo map, storing my gloves when I didn't need them, etc.

[ooo]

Thanks for all the feedback. I just ordered myself a 50mm 1.8 and I plan on trading the 28-135 for a 17-40L. Hopefully I have time to take the bag for a test run on the weekend.