I made an earlier post about a great shoulder bag for carting lenses and stuff around during the day

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6427#p67471

Here is the case I am using to take my NEX kit when travelling from point to point. It weighs 4.25kg with everything in and its dimensions are well within those which qualify it as a second carry-on (handbag / laptop) bag for British Airways. It cost £22 at Maplin.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/aluminium-flight-case-3991

As you can see it enables me to fit in quite a lot, specifically a NEX-5, NEX-7, external mic for NEX-5, 2 batteries, E 16/2.8, E18-55, 2 LM-E adapters, Rokkor-M 40/2, Leica Elmarit-M 90/2.8, Voigtlander VM 28/2, Voigtlander VM 25/4 and Voigtlander VM 21/4 and Zeiss ZM Sonnar 50/1.5. That lot should cover most bases!

A very neat looking set up Artington. The case looks very good value at £22.

Two questions.

1. How do you find the external mic? I am considering doing a bit more video with my Nex 5 and wondered how improved you had found the sound with the mic? It is now around £75 on Amazon so not too painful a purchase.

2. Interested in the set of 20s you have in your kit. What's the rationale behind having three lenses quite close in focal length?

Hi Birma

I cant speak for the on-board mic on the Nex-5, not having used it, but the external one is pretty good. Ibought it after reading DK praise it. Having used it in windy conditions I'm pleased I did. Of course it cant be used on the Nex-7 unfortunately.

The Voigtlander (and Rokkor) lenses are legacies from my Leica MP and Bessa R4 days. My 21/4 is actually the old screw mount converted to M with a Voigtlander adapter. It was an excellent lens for the Leica but I probably wouldnt have bought it for the Nex. The other two (genuine) VM lenses were bought for for width (25/4) and speed (28/2) on the R4M. I guess you could argue the former is redundant in this Nex combo but I haven't got round to selling it and see no need to do so given the constant rise in prices of good used glass. The 28/2 is a cracking lens. Talking of which I greatly regret selling off my Contax-G lenses but never expected to be able to use them with a digital camera. Tbat was a mistake. I am quite sure that the whizz scientists will give us full frame MLCs in time and these may really come into their own then although colour shift, already a (correctable) factor with 28 and wider lenses, might become even more of an issue with full frame sensors. Nevertheless, I have enormous faith in the onward march of technology. Good glass, however, will become more and more expensive. I think Voigtlander lenses are bargains still but some have doubled in price since I started buying them. And, by comparison with Leica, Zeiss ZM lenses are great value. The 50/1.5 Sonnar is a gem and its well known focus-shift property is not an issue for the Nex with its EVF and MF Assist.

Thanks for the feedback Artington. I had forgotten DK's clips with the mic. Just went and checked them out again and have ordered the mic . (Went for one of the SD cards as well!)