DMGeurts
Never open texts with the "Hand Sewn Button" attac
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 9,666
First, I have to start off by saying... This was all Marianne's idea. She approached me this summer, shortly after my return from Charlotte. She wanted me to design a DSLR insert to fit into my existing UPB, however, because my UPB is designed and constructed to lay flat against your body - there was just no way for me to design an insert, and have it fit inside the UPB.
Which led me to... Designing a whole new bag to fit a DSLR insert.
I got a lot of invaluable feedback from both Marianne and Mo - I really couldn't have designed this bag with out either of their input. Mo spent hours photographing her favorite camera bags for me. Both Marianne and Mo sent me their camera and accessory measurements... Because I won't officially have a camera to test it out with until after Christmas.
This was just a HUGE group effort project, that I couldn't have done with out either of them.
Now, on to the bag.
I also did a lot of my own reasearch... Lots of Google/Pinterest/Etsy searches to see what was out there for Camera bags... The one thing I found was that they were all boxy. I don't like boxy. Yes, I see the reasoning behind this, however, boxy is NOT feminine - and I wanted a feminine bag.
So, this bag is based off of a few of my favorite bags... Most predominately the VB Saddle-Up... It's a nice side carrying bag that has the girth to allow for large items to be stowed away. There were a few things that I didn't like about this bag, however, so I modified them.
First off, this bag is bigger - not by a lot - but by a bit... Mostly, it's wider in it's girth, to accomodate a DSLR.
Secondly, I added exterior side pockets... That way, you have a place to store your (very important) lens cleaning cloth, and also your lens cap. There is a side pocket on each side.
Thirdly, I also added a zippered pocket to the back of this bag... I am a firm believer, especially in the parks, there should always be a seperate pocket for a wallet... I love my Alli to death - but she is sometimes hasty and clumsy - I could see her walking through the parks, pulling out her camera, having her wallet tangled in her camera strap, and her wallet going flying on the ground - and she wouldn't notice. Therefore, seperate zippered pocket for the wallet.
Fourth (ly? Eh, don't think that's a word?) I added a zipper to the main compartment. Now, adding the zipper does make this bag a bit different to carry, and normally I wouldn't do this. However, camera gear is expensive - very expensive, and again - I could see Alli being in a rush, and something mistakenly falling out of her bag. I don't expect her to use this zipper all the time, however - say, riding the bus, to and from the resort, usually no need for easy camera access... It's times like this that a zipper would add some much needed peace of mind.
Lastly, I made the strap wider... Not by much, but DSLRs and gear can get heavy - the adjustable quilted strap that's a bit wider will certainly help distribute the load.
Lots of thought went into this bag... As a side note... I did not line this bag with foam - which is the norm. I have a few reasons for this, and maybe they aren't good ones, but... My first reason, um, I can't quilt through foam.
My second reason, the only way to get a foam lined bag to look feminine, is to get rid of the foam. And my final (possibly most important) reason, I wanted this bag to be light, and easy to carry, too many people go into the parks as a pack mule - this is designed to be an "easy going" bag... You know, designed to be big enough to carry the necessities, but not so big that your are carrying a huge tri-pod on your back all day long... If that is what you are wanting to do, this bag is not for you. 
Oh, and for the record... There is no spot in this bag (especially the inner most compartment) that has less then 4 layers of quilting between the interior and exterior of the bag. For that matter, the very outside sides and bottom are quilted with double batting.
One last thing... This bag is not based on a character theme of any sort... I want my 14 y/o to carry it, and hopefully use it as her main camera bag - even when we aren't in WDW... Therefore, I made it really boring on the outside (yet girly), and I made it fun on the inside. There is nothing on the outside that tells you what fun is on the inside though.
So, there you have it... Are you ready to see the pictures yet?
Starting with the most interior insert... This is rectangluar. It is designed to hold the camera body with the kit lens attached (or same size/smaller).
The side of this insert has one pocket... This is a small pocket, designed to hold a memory card or two in a safe location.
Now, this is the main insert... The above insert is designed to sit inside of this. This insert is made with an intigrated handle... Now, I definately would not use this as a stand alone bag - it looks like it would be cute as that, but structurally - it is not designed for that. The handles are made to pluck it out of one bag and into another - that's all.
I positioned the soft part of the Velcro right in the center of this insert, that way, if you choose not to use the other insert - you don't have to, but if you do, you can position it within here for good location to fit your gear.
Right now, I have the little insert centered inside the big insert:
And the bag...
Here is the main exterior front - it is a bit hard to see from this picture, but the bottom is slightly rounded:
And the back (with the above mentioned pocket)
Isn't the lining cute???
Lifting the main flap to show the rest of the bag...
The two huge quilted pockets under the flap:
Looking down into one of them:
The main compartment zippered closed with the insert inside:
Open with the insert inside:
My only annoyance with this particular bag, the lining seems to be huge... I am not sure how that happened - but it will be modified with the next bag.
Interior of the bag with one quilted slip in pocket:
The interior pockets are strategically placed to provide the most maximum protection all around the bag.
This bag can be carried with out the insert inside as well. I love the shape of it.
The only thing I did not add to this bag, but could add if someone wanted it, is PUL fabric inside the main flap for some water protection. This would not protect your gear in a down pour, however, it would give you enough protection to run a very short distance to cover - or put a poncho on over you and your gear.
So, that's it...
I am very happy to be done with this prototype in time for Christmas.
D~ <--- Please ignore the lint encrusted bag... I did lint roll it, but the black fabric I used is notorious for attracting lint.
Which led me to... Designing a whole new bag to fit a DSLR insert.
I got a lot of invaluable feedback from both Marianne and Mo - I really couldn't have designed this bag with out either of their input. Mo spent hours photographing her favorite camera bags for me. Both Marianne and Mo sent me their camera and accessory measurements... Because I won't officially have a camera to test it out with until after Christmas.
This was just a HUGE group effort project, that I couldn't have done with out either of them.Now, on to the bag.
I also did a lot of my own reasearch... Lots of Google/Pinterest/Etsy searches to see what was out there for Camera bags... The one thing I found was that they were all boxy. I don't like boxy. Yes, I see the reasoning behind this, however, boxy is NOT feminine - and I wanted a feminine bag.
So, this bag is based off of a few of my favorite bags... Most predominately the VB Saddle-Up... It's a nice side carrying bag that has the girth to allow for large items to be stowed away. There were a few things that I didn't like about this bag, however, so I modified them.
First off, this bag is bigger - not by a lot - but by a bit... Mostly, it's wider in it's girth, to accomodate a DSLR.
Secondly, I added exterior side pockets... That way, you have a place to store your (very important) lens cleaning cloth, and also your lens cap. There is a side pocket on each side.
Thirdly, I also added a zippered pocket to the back of this bag... I am a firm believer, especially in the parks, there should always be a seperate pocket for a wallet... I love my Alli to death - but she is sometimes hasty and clumsy - I could see her walking through the parks, pulling out her camera, having her wallet tangled in her camera strap, and her wallet going flying on the ground - and she wouldn't notice. Therefore, seperate zippered pocket for the wallet.
Fourth (ly? Eh, don't think that's a word?) I added a zipper to the main compartment. Now, adding the zipper does make this bag a bit different to carry, and normally I wouldn't do this. However, camera gear is expensive - very expensive, and again - I could see Alli being in a rush, and something mistakenly falling out of her bag. I don't expect her to use this zipper all the time, however - say, riding the bus, to and from the resort, usually no need for easy camera access... It's times like this that a zipper would add some much needed peace of mind.
Lastly, I made the strap wider... Not by much, but DSLRs and gear can get heavy - the adjustable quilted strap that's a bit wider will certainly help distribute the load.
Lots of thought went into this bag... As a side note... I did not line this bag with foam - which is the norm. I have a few reasons for this, and maybe they aren't good ones, but... My first reason, um, I can't quilt through foam.
My second reason, the only way to get a foam lined bag to look feminine, is to get rid of the foam. And my final (possibly most important) reason, I wanted this bag to be light, and easy to carry, too many people go into the parks as a pack mule - this is designed to be an "easy going" bag... You know, designed to be big enough to carry the necessities, but not so big that your are carrying a huge tri-pod on your back all day long... If that is what you are wanting to do, this bag is not for you. Oh, and for the record... There is no spot in this bag (especially the inner most compartment) that has less then 4 layers of quilting between the interior and exterior of the bag. For that matter, the very outside sides and bottom are quilted with double batting.
One last thing... This bag is not based on a character theme of any sort... I want my 14 y/o to carry it, and hopefully use it as her main camera bag - even when we aren't in WDW... Therefore, I made it really boring on the outside (yet girly), and I made it fun on the inside. There is nothing on the outside that tells you what fun is on the inside though.
So, there you have it... Are you ready to see the pictures yet?
Starting with the most interior insert... This is rectangluar. It is designed to hold the camera body with the kit lens attached (or same size/smaller).
The side of this insert has one pocket... This is a small pocket, designed to hold a memory card or two in a safe location.
Now, this is the main insert... The above insert is designed to sit inside of this. This insert is made with an intigrated handle... Now, I definately would not use this as a stand alone bag - it looks like it would be cute as that, but structurally - it is not designed for that. The handles are made to pluck it out of one bag and into another - that's all.
I positioned the soft part of the Velcro right in the center of this insert, that way, if you choose not to use the other insert - you don't have to, but if you do, you can position it within here for good location to fit your gear.
Right now, I have the little insert centered inside the big insert:
And the bag...
Here is the main exterior front - it is a bit hard to see from this picture, but the bottom is slightly rounded:
And the back (with the above mentioned pocket)
Isn't the lining cute???
Lifting the main flap to show the rest of the bag...
The two huge quilted pockets under the flap:
Looking down into one of them:
The main compartment zippered closed with the insert inside:
Open with the insert inside:
My only annoyance with this particular bag, the lining seems to be huge... I am not sure how that happened - but it will be modified with the next bag.
Interior of the bag with one quilted slip in pocket:
The interior pockets are strategically placed to provide the most maximum protection all around the bag.
This bag can be carried with out the insert inside as well. I love the shape of it.
The only thing I did not add to this bag, but could add if someone wanted it, is PUL fabric inside the main flap for some water protection. This would not protect your gear in a down pour, however, it would give you enough protection to run a very short distance to cover - or put a poncho on over you and your gear.
So, that's it...
I am very happy to be done with this prototype in time for Christmas. D~ <--- Please ignore the lint encrusted bag... I did lint roll it, but the black fabric I used is notorious for attracting lint.
The bag looks great. I love that the lining fabrics add a bit of color but think that this will a wonderful bag for Alli to use with or with out her camera on a regular basis. I imagine that the bag looks even better in real life. I love the idea of the zipper on the main part of the bag because it gives you the option so you can secure your stuff when you are going to take the bag off. Great for rides too! Not having the foam is nice too because I think you will have better results if you need to wash it. The water-proof lining is a good idea but I always just keep a big zip lock in my camera bag for pop up storms and rides on Splash Mountain. I it nice that you got some great input on this bag because you did an amazing job creating something that is attractive, protective and useful. 
Not looking forward to that!
I am sure you could make a bag if you try.
