DIY Neoprene Shoot Bag

[CajunGal]

It was pretty easy to do! Sewing the 2 laptop sleeves together along the top went well, but when it came to sewing the seams to make the dividing pockets my sewing machine started skipping stitches & giving me trouble. I was ready to give up & go find an upholstery shop to stitch it for me, but decided to try placing 1/4" bias tape over the seam & that worked!

If you interested & don't want to attempt sewing it yourself, you can probably have an upholstery shop do it for you at a reasonable price, there isn't much sewing involved.

Materials:
2- 17" neoprene laptop sleeves $27.12

(bought separately on ebay for $13.96 ea... you can save on shipping by purchasing them together) sleeves on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Neoprene-Laptop-BAG-SLEEVE-fits-Dell-Inspiron-M1710-17_W0QQitemZ300230061892QQihZ020QQcategoryZ11170QQ tcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262), they have the same sleeve on Wal-Mart.com (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8727733) for $18.

1/2 yd paisley fabric for cover$2.10
1/2 yd ultra suede fabric for cover $3.00
1/2 yd batting for strap $1.20
1 1/2 yd- 1" webbing for strap $1.50
D-Rings for strap $1.59
2 Swivel Clips (for bag) $5.58 (heavy duty clips from hardware store... $2.79 ea)
velcro & thread (had on hand)

Total cost: $42.09

The 1st thing I did was to remove the velcro from the sleeves & cut off the flaps. I then sewed the 2 bags together along the top with the d-rings in place. I also dressed up the top edge with some trim that I removed from the laptop flaps that were cut off.

Next, I sewed the seams for my pockets... the 2 outer pockets are 5" ea & the center pocket is 6". On the there side I just went with 2 larger pockets.

Then I added the velcro strip to the bag, made my bag cover & strap. The strap is padded, I wrapped batting over the 1" webbing & then covered it in the fabric.

My bag is about 3" longer than a Shootsac. I thought about cutting it down to shootsac size, but decided to leave it as is because it was quicker/easier & I figured that the longer size would be better to carry my 70-200mmm lens.

It works out great! Here are a few pics...
http://images34.fotki.com/v1196/photos/5/53191/299028/IMG_5582-vi.jpg
http://images35.fotki.com/v1210/photos/5/53191/299028/IMG_5583-vi.jpg
http://images35.fotki.com/v1207/photos/5/53191/299028/IMG_5584-vi.jpg
http://images36.fotki.com/v1203/photos/5/53191/299028/IMG_5585-vi.jpg
I have my 70-200mm, 85mm w/hood attached, 50mm & 580EX Speedlite in the bag.

[HuskyKMA]

Wow! That's really pretty nice for a $40 bag. Very nice job on it.

[CajunGal]

Thanks!

[Sageg]

love it!

wish I could see some photos of it during the sewing process though. :)

[CajunGal]

Thanks Sarah! I didn't take any pics along the way, but if you have an questions feel free to pm me.

[S-S]

now this looks awesome, i have wanted a shootsac for months but its so expensive...
im totally gonna have a go! thanks so much for posting this :-)

[Colorblinded]

Nice work! I know someone else who made one too I believe.

[photojournalista]

Wow! This is a great idea. Just in time as I'm looking for a bag. Thanks.

[DerAngriff]

DYI modding. Very cool. Kudos. I was thinking about fabricating my own compartment to hold a camera body & 70-200mm F2.8 using the same material you'd find in a camera bag (foam padding clad in waterproof material) but the end result wouldn't have been art meets utility like yours - more a tube or a sleeve to hold/protect the lens w/ wrap around the camera body. I'd be using to store camera in my yumcha backpack (basically a Jansport type). I like the size of the backpack and it's stealth looking. So no-one is likely to think too much of the bag. Perfect for photo missions.

I suspect in the end, I will succumb to just buying a bag designed to contain camera and lens. :D

[stathunter]

Nice work. You will put Jessica's shootsac out of business. Call it the CajunCarry

[CajunGal]

Thanks y'all!

Someone found another site that carries the same sleeves that I used... Geeks.com (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BLK-NBBBAG-17&cat=CAR) You also may be able to find a coupon for geeks.com by doing a search.

Nice work. You will put Jessica's shootsac out of business. Call it the CajunCarry LOL! Catchy name, but I don't think so... sewing is not my thing! ;)

The diy bag is nice, but the neoprene is not the 3 mil quality like the shootsac bags. I do think that if you want to make one yourself it's worth it, you still have a nice bag that works well at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one.

[S-S]

well - by now i had hoped to share my pics of my own diy 'shootsac' style bag, as i received the two sleeves about 3 weeks ago - but i have had the most incredible amount of trouble finding suitable strap hardware!

i actually have a good strap already, from an older bag which is no longer in use, which has a stitched-in padded grip and two tri-glides for adjusting the length each side, so that is great. BUT, i want to replace the cheap plastic snap-clips with metal - and do you think i can find such a thing anywhere here (new zealand)? i was hoping to buy nice powdercoated steel swivel gate-hooks like my lowepro bag had - not a chance. i am in the largest city in the country and have been to 3 different huge hardware chain stores, a massive craft/sewing shop, phoned 2 emporiums and several canvas/safety supplies, scoured ebay & trademe - and even called a ships' chandler! the closest i can get are dog leash clips - not very attractive and load-bearing capacity unknown. i have had several steel keychain clips snap on me over time so i dont really trust those cheaper items.

so i have decided to go with welded black steel O-rings and permanently attach the strap to the bag through them at each side of the bag. but as they will have to be sewn to the bag with webbing through the very first seam, i have not yet been able to start putting it together! i can't simply sew the strap onto the bag because then my length-adjusters will not work.

i finally found some suitable O-rings on ebay, now i have to wait for them to arrive...

it would have been a lot less hassle to just buy the shootsac LOL - but probably less satisfying at the end and certainly more expensive...

[DDCSD]

http://www.strapworks.com/

Good chance that shipping would be prohibitive, if they ship internationally at all, but it may be worth a look. Might be cheaper than driving all over the place. :)

[S-S]

lol thanks for the link... will bookmark it for future reference too!

[S-S]

ok - after a lot of detail revisions due to unavailability of certain items locally, i have FINISHED my "shootsac" clone. AND, i ended up having to construct the whole thing by hand, as the sewing machine i obtained is faulty and needs servicing!

i decided to attach the strap permanently, as i couldn't get hardware that i liked the look of; and the strap i had was ready-made with a padded area so i didn't need to cover it with anything.

here's pics:

[Permagrin]

great job! I bought the shootsac but felt that it was extremely over priced for what you get...I'm very impressed with your idea of the two neoprene laptop sleeves...Now if you could just figure out a style for guys that doesn't look so purse-like, you could be a very serious contender to the shootsac :)


somethingsimple, nice job too...I like the hardware a lot.

[S-S]

thanks! they are just 2 powder-coated 2-inch steel o-rings from ebay, i copied the idea from my regular handbag.

hopefully my design is more robust than the shootsac as i have read multiple reports of their strap parting company with the bag & smashing the lenses on the ground...

[Calicajun]

Great looking DIY camera bags, going to show this thread to the wife. She has been looking for a bag like those, of course I'll have to have her sewing machine fix first.

[S-S]

one more pic, bit easier to see

[CajunGal]

Nice job somethingsimple, your bag came out great!

[jrdbrn]

Cajuns do it best ;)

[S-S]

Nice job somethingsimple, your bag came out great!

:D thanks so much for your original post - i love my bag and its exactly what i needed

i wonder who else will join in? ;)

[danielvalentephotography]

Nice work!

I actually just made one for myself because $179 seemed a bit pricey for the real thing. I found a nice neoprene bag w/ strap @ marshalls for $15 bucks and made the dividers with velcro. I'm going to sew in the dividers this weekend, but it works well so far.


Pics on my blog:
http://www.danielvalentephotography.com/2010/06/08/15-dollar-diy-shootsac-inspired-lens-bag/