Advice about the Fujifilm X20 wanted (1 Viewer)

I don't know how the heck it happened, but I managed to throw out my Leica D-Lux 4 by mistake. This was a huge blow to me, simply because it was my late father's camera and it had sentimental value.

For 'serious' photography I have a Canon EOS with a range of lenses and that is safe and fine, but it's too cumbersome to take on a lot of trips, so I like something more portable for these occasions (hence the D-Lux). Having said that, I wasn't wildly enamoured with the picture quality from the Leica, and I'm six ft 9 tall with large hands, and pocket cameras can be just a little bit fiddly to handle. So I've gone for something larger, and having read all the reviews, I've bought a Fujifilm X20 by mail order [I should add that I've handled an X10 so know it is a *lot* better to handle than a pocket camera for someone with my size of hands]. There's just one thing - how easy is it to carry one of these round in a belt bag? Has anyone any experience of this camera or one of a similar size carried in this way? I should add that I hate shoulder and neck strap carriers before anyone (entirely sensibly) suggests the obvious alternative.

Can't help you with the Fuji angle but before you toss out the idea of using a strap have you tried using an R-strap? It really is transformative, completely different than using a neck or standard shoulder strap.

I would think the ease of carrying the camera in a belt bag is dependent on the functionality of the belt bag, not the camera (as long as the camera actually fits in it). What kind of belt bag are you using?

When shooting casually, I use a standard camera bag, but when I'm in "work mode" (shooting all day, need to have gear out or readily accessible) I use a Think Tank belt system in combination with an R-strap (well, technically the cheaper Q Strap).

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've tried an R strap and don't like it. I can see why a lot of folks do, but I just don't like anything hanging from my neck or shoulders. I'll tolerate my Billingham bag to lug around my SLR and its various lenses, but it's under sufferance and usually I don't have to carry it all that far. I guess I'm just cussed awkward!


In answer to your question, Cameron, I've ordered a Manfrotto Stile. I'm told it's the right size, and it's cheap enough that if I don't like it, it's no great financial loss.

Since you're a big guy -- much bigger than me anyhow -- I would think the X20 in the right belt bag should work pretty well for you.

I used to have a Tamrac Velocity 3(?) semi-sling-type bag that can be converted into a large-ish belt/waist bag back when I was using a Canon G3 and then Nikon D70 (before the metal D rings for the strap completely wore out). There weren't as many options for waist/belt (or even sling) bags back then, and I got the Tamrac mainly as a sling-type bag that I occasionally tried using as waist/belt bag. For me (at just ~5'7" and on the slimmer side.. back then anyway ), it was just too big to use as belt bag most times -- it was ok enough when I'm standing/walking, but problematic as soon as I sit or crouch (or bend) down (unless I keep it behind me on my backside perhaps). But if you only need something to store an X20 (or similar) and not too much else, you wouldn't need a bag that big anyway -- I used to fit the G3 + 420EX speedlight (attached!) + both Canon's wide and tele converters for the G-series (w/ one attached) and whatever other little nicnacks before switching to D70 + attached lens + Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 (very snuggly alongside) + speedlight in front compartment + add-on pouch for a small prime like 35 f/2 or 85 f/1.8. Of course, I couldn't possibly use it as waist/belt bag w/ the much heftier DSLR kit, LOL -- and probably neither can you w/out the bag pull your pants down perhaps...

Anyway, yeah, I imagine a small belt bag just for the X20 and a few accessories (much like how you'd use a fanny pack) should work fine, especially for someone your size. Back then (before and around when the D-Rebel/300 and D70 first came out), Lowepro's D-Res series was another popular option for this sort of thing though I never tried their waist/belt bags in this manner -- I did have a D-Res pouch-type bag that can latch onto a belt, and used that for the small SLR prime to be attached to the Tamrac V3 (or separately on its own strap when I want to walk around w/ just the DSLR+attached lens and a prime), and even that pouch bag could've been used for just the Canon G3 alone, IIRC...

_Man_

Camera and bag both arrived in this morning's mail (way earlier than expected). The combo does work surprisingly well. I wouldn't want to wear it sitting in an airplane seat or for long distances in a car, but for walking around, etc, it seems fine and way less cumbersome than anything involving shoulder straps.

Regarding the X20 itself, it seems excellent for the price. It is in fact less cumbersome than I'd supposed (I think the models in photos I saw must have small hands!). For those who remember it, it's about the size of the film-era Olympus Trip. Solidly put together (metal case, good lens, optical viewfinder) and the few photos I could take before the supplied battery needed charging all seem to be of decent technical quality.