Which small bag fits a dv852?
 

I've looked through some posts here, and I see that how to carry gear isn't a trivial topic. I'd thought this would take 5 min to decide... not. Shopping online for a bag there were 100s of choices and a few things I couldn't tell over the web.

Thing wanted:
A _small_ bag to hold a Pan dv852 horizontally, 1 or 2 batts, 2 tapes, and an a/v cable. (Did I miss something essential?). All 6 sides must be padded, and there should be an easy way to make the cam snug in it's case. The case has to keep water & dust out. It's good if it doesn't feel vinyl/plastic ish, but that's extra.
I looked at the Lowe Nova line, a good value but it holds the cam *vertically, plus they're a bit large. B&H has Naneu brand in a size 7.75 x 4 x 3.5 (the cam's about 8" with 1 filter, so it should just fit). Anyone here have Naneu's stuff?

So I don't know
i. How small to go, (what's essential besides the cam & tape)
ii Which of 100's of bags fits the job?
iii Which is good for a bit of rain and crud?

thanks!

- Larry

Nova 3 or Nova 4. The inside of these bags have velcro spacers which can be taken out or moved. Get the new Nova with the built in rain jacket.

Of course there are other good bags on the market, and inexpensive. You just have to go take a look at them.

I started on the MX8 (852 equivalent) with a simple waist pouch from Hayrer ($15) and a piece of sponge-case from a $1.00 shop. That lasted 1 year until I sold the set, and the new owner is currently still using the same bag.

Currently, to juggle between my MX350, Fuji S602, Pentax Z-20 and Rolleicord Vb, I am using Lowepro's Sideline Shooter (I'll recommend this for you), Lowepro's Specialist 80 AW, a certain discontinued Tatonka and a Cullman Ultralight.

I am a big fan of waist pouches, as it leaves your shoulders and hands free. The waist pouch also serves as a working platform when worn in front. The Sideline Shooter will hold the 852 with a few more blocks of batteries, a mic, all the standard accessorires, a few filters, a mic, some ziploc bags, candies, lint-free cloth. blower, PDA, mobile phone, you get the idea! :) All nicely padded and comfortable on the waist.

thanks folks
this will take another trip or 2 to a photo store
Has anyone here used something smaller? I'll have something else for non-camera stuff - the idea is to both carry and organize. I'll have a minimum of accesories, as the videos will be for my own use and on a few occasions shared among people interested in the topic. I won't shoot for pro quality work, at least not until the skill/subject/inspiration are there to do it.

I've got a Panasonic PV-DV852 too, and looking for a way to carry it.

I was told by the Panasonic repair expert to please put the camera into a sealed container or sealed plastic bag. He's had to clean too many camcorders that were put directly into cloth pouches. He claims the bags get full of dust over time and every time you put the camcorder into it, dust gets blasted into the internal tape mechanism.

I'm going to see if one of those small sealed waterproff clamshell containers can be made into a waist carry device. That way I can carry it in the rain or I can fall into the water. Also the camera won't get crushed. Anyone made something like this? There are several different sizes I hear. Perhaps there are clamshell containers already available with waist belt slots?

Must be real dusty over in the West. I have kept my MX350 in Lowepro fabric bags for over a year without any problems. Maybe it is the monthly periodic cleaning (with blower and cleaner tape) that prevented the dust build-up. I am a structural engineer, and I shoot my construction sites, which can be really dusty :)

As for moisture, you may want to consider a cheap $50 humidity control cabinet (dry-cabinet), but if you use your camera regularly, there is no need. I keep my stuff in air-tight plastic boxes with silica gel when I am not using them.