Which camera bag?

[JR1]

Don't let it put you off asking questions, Glenn. Just be prepared for lots of different types of responses that will include, from time-to-time: - absolutely objective opinion; subjective thoughts; total and utter commitment to one product line and guaranteed hellfire and damnation for anyone who would even consider deviating from that line of thinking. People can get very passionate!!

If I and my reply caused any concern, an unreserved apology is offered, it was NOT intended

[Donald]

If I and my reply caused any concern, an unreserved apology is offered, it was NOT intended

No, no, no! I was not intending any criticism of anyone. Merely an attempt at light-heartedly informing Glenn that what seems like an innocent question can send discussion off on a number of different pathways.

[rpcrowe]

Note, some folks don't carry bags at all. They will use a photo belt with lens cases attached.

I have hated carrying heavy loads on my belt since I was trudging in Vietnam with a pistol and several magazines along with at least two canteens of water on my belt. I still remember the raw spots around my hips (I wasn't fat in those days) from the heavily ladened belt in the tropical heat.

[William W]

. . . just because I stay in Edinburgh there maybe all sorts of reasons for not being able to visit a camera store personally.

Curious.

Is there any reason or was this comment merely hypothetical?

WW

[Kronos]

Curious.

Is there any reason or was this comment merely hypothetical?

WW

Not really I could be bedridden at the moment, I could be agoraphobic, I could be in prison, I could really hate shopping or shops. In fact the last one is true. But as I said I was hoping to benefit from you guys experience. I am a newbie to DSLR cameras so needing advice on everything.

[Mike Buckley]

Note, some folks don't carry bags at all. They will use a photo belt

Or they might use only a photo vest.

[mknittle]

Camera bags and straps. I think there is never the perfect one for all situations. I have a fairly large one that acts as a "home base." Most of my gear fits in it but it is getting too heavy to lug around. So I have a smaller one to carry the items I "think" I will need. I also have a real small one that just fits the bare essentials (camera and lens)not much more.
Straps I am still working on. I love my Cotton Carrier but it isn't perfect for all situations.

[JR1]

Not really I could be bedridden at the moment, I could be agoraphobic, I could be in prison, I could really hate shopping or shops. In fact the last one is true. But as I said I was hoping to benefit from you guys experience. I am a newbie to DSLR cameras so needing advice on everything.

Why would you want a camera bag if you were in prison

[JR1]

No, no, no! I was not intending any criticism of anyone. Merely an attempt at light-heartedly informing Glenn that what seems like an innocent question can send discussion off on a number of different pathways.

I accept that but if you read my original post I could have elaborated, it was a bit "short" and could have been taken as blunt

[JR1]

Or they might use only a photo vest.

Or wheel a large bag

[William W]

Not really.

Thanks. That answers my question.

By the way, I also had a long list of possible reasons as to why you might not want to or could not go to the shops; a longer list than yours, actually.

***

Apropos the bag, specifically how, where and why will you be using it?

WW

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Glenn,

Over the years I have tried three shoulder bags, then a backpack, but what I have settled on for general use now is what I'd describe as a 'waist pack'.

I found the shoulder bags slipped off at inconvenient moments and also didn't always hold enough - or the bigger ones that did were more prone to sliding around when leaning forward to take a photo and unbalancing me just as the shutter clicked.

The backpack was great if I hiked to a location, then stopped and shoot (get camera out, etc.), but when I needed to move about to follow wildlife, or say at a preserved railway, I had to keep putting it on and taking it off every time I wanted change a lens, battery or memory card - or picking it up to carry it, with the risk someone might walk off with it while I am busy taking pictures and it was on the ground (avoiding puddles).

The 'waist pack' clips around my waist it stays on me permanently, it also, for security, it has a shoulder strap.
In use, it 'lives' behind me (like a giant 'bum-bag'), not increasing my width in confined passages or crowded places - i.e. not sticking out as far as a backpack does - ever cursed people in an exhibition with a backpack that 'sideswipe' you?

It is quite comfortable in use, holds a camera body and one lens, plus spaces for two more, or one lens and say, a flash. An outside compartment holds other personal stuff, a pocket on one end accepts a small water bottle, the other end is where I keep the spare battery for ease of access.
When shooting it stays put, when changing lens, I can quick release it, swivel it around to be in front of me and secure it again, then open the top and change a lens without needing an extra flat surface to stand a lens on during the swap. All self contained.

It works for me most of the time and when I need less kit, like others, I use one of the other, smaller bags - or the backpack if that's more appropriate.

I do keep the maintenance essentials like rocket blower, wipes, lens pen, spare memory cards in a little additional bag (actually a small prime lens 'drawstring' bag) which means I can thread this onto a strap of whichever bag I am using for camera on any day and saves repacking the fiddly bits.

I agree with others that have suggested you really should take your kit - and allow for that 'next' lens or flash you'd like to buy - and try it (in a shop) if at all possible.

I don't like shopping much either, but there are times when you just have to steel yourself and go for it - pick a quiet time, I find just after they have opened for the day is best.

Good luck, Dave

[Signguy Gary]

I recommend looking at the Low pro slingshot, they have a few different sizes I used to have a 300 when I had my 50d but when I got the 1D3/4 I wanted a larger bag so I could store my 1D3/4 with my 70-200 & 2x extender so I purchased a tamrac expedition 6x. I need to remove the Tamrac now but the bag is a bit larger.

[Kronos]

Thanks. That answers my question.

By the way, I also had a long list of possible reasons as to why you might not want to or could not go to the shops; a longer list than yours, actually.

***

Apropos the bag, specifically how, where and why will you be using it?

WW

To be honest it will be more for storage at the moment as circumstances prevent me from getting out much at the moment, hence the bit about cheapness. But it will be used to carry the aforementioned item in time. I do not want a rucksack at all. A shoulder bag will be fine.

[William W]

I do not store cameras, lenses flashes in a bag. I use a drawer or a cupboard. Metal is better than wood. A situation with lots of air movement and located on an internal wall of the dwelling away from the bathrooms kitchens and laundries.

I think you are wasting money to buy a camera bag for storage purposes – and potentially compromising your gear, too.

If you want a bag for that gear only “to carry the gear” and your main criteria are:
> Shoulder bag
> Cheap

then any cheap knock off of the main stream brands will do that. I suggest the main thing to look for is the sturdiness of the shoulder strap connections and to do that you do need to shop in store.


WW

[Manfred M]

I'm 100% with Bill on that one.

All my camera gear is stored in metal wire basket drawers (from Ikea) in a closet that has decent air movement.

A closed container like a bag is a good way to potentially cause damage to the gear; mould growth and other humidity related issues.

[William W]

. . . metal wire basket drawers (from Ikea)

Good idea. Thanks.

WW

[DonKofAK]

One of the problems with shoulder bags is that they tend to slip off one's shoulder, especially when you are climbing steps or hurrying along.

I solve this in several ways... the simplest solution.[is the] Domke FA-031 U.S. Post Office Shoulder Pad. Mail carriers carry heavy burdens and this pad is designed to keep the strap of a carry bag from slipping off ones shoulder. It is unique in that the front of the pad is thicker than the rear. This wedge shaped piece of rubber material, not only eases the weight of the bag but the wedge design does a good job keeping the strap from slipping off my shoulder. It is not very expensive and I can recommend it from personal use...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ulder_Pad.html It will fit on most any camera bag strap...

The same strap is available on Amazon and other sites for about $14. It appears to be a great solution for a slipping shoulder bag strap.

I am on my second Domke [bag]. I purchased my first Domke (I think for about $25 dollars or so) in the late 1970's. It was still a working bag until my recent trip to Europe when my wife informed me that the bag was just too worn and she didn't want to travel with me carrying such a ratty looking bag. Oh well, over thirty years of hard use isn't bad. I gave the bag to a wildlife photographer friend and expect he will get another ten years or so use out of it.

Another author wrote of his valuable camera gear (and memory cards filled on his far-ranging trip) stolen in an airport on the way home after a long trip. My solution; cover the word "Canon" on your bag, or better yet, get a ratty-looking bag that appears to hold nothing worth stealing. Educate the wife, keep the old bag, and fret less. (Perhaps I should clarify; Educate the wife and, assuming she understands, keep the old travel bag. If not, keep the old travel bag and find a new wife.) ;-)

I recently purchased an Amazon camera pack from Amazon.com for $29. I am quite impressed with its numerous pockets and places for my stuff. The core of the bag has several adjustable dividers held in place by hook-and-loop strips so one can configure the camera & lens pockets to suit one's needs. It looks like a humble pack like so many others that a thief is more likely to look for a high-end National Geographic or Filson bag. Let the woman walk three paces ahead and she won't be troubled by your faded denim pants and ragged jacket and $9,000 in camera gear.

[csa mt]

"Camera bags and straps. I think there is never the perfect one for all situations. I have a fairly large one that acts as a "home base." Most of my gear fits in it but it is getting too heavy to lug around. So I have a smaller one to carry the items I "think" I will need."

This is my situation! I have two LowePro bags. The "home base" one is much too heavy for me "out in the field". My smaller, older LowePro holds only a body with one of my large lens, so I really need another bag that will hold an extra lens.

[ajohnw]

Bags have driven me up the wall. Waterproof none camera bags are fairly easy to find. I have no interest in adding clip on covers etc. I found a troop heritage shoulder bag ok but access with lens on camera can be a bit fiddly. I still use it at times but also have 2 bags by Billingham. One on the small side and a larger one. They are a bit of a rip off really but functional. When choosing take care about sizes and look to see if the "lid" actually goes over the lower part all round. It wont be waterproof really if it doesn't. The outer layers will soak up water eventually making them heavy so mine will be getting a coat of scotch guard at some point.

The other problem with them is that they scale the width of the straps according to size of the bag. It's pretty easy to get an uncomfortable weight in the smaller one i have. I've bought a wider strip of heavy leather to increase the width to get round that. The one they do for the bag doesn't really help at all.

I'm not keen on lens bags or padded compartments so I keep my stuff in thick woollen hats of various sizes when I am out and about with the gear in the bag. It's way way easier to gets stuff in and out. I even have one which takes camera plus longest lens for when I am travelling.

Bags slipping off? Wouldn't touch one with a barge pole unless the strap can go across my chest and fit round the shoulder opposite the side the bag is on - my neck then stops it from slipping off - might be a clearer way of putting it. I can also then push it behind me if it gets in the way.

John
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