A camera bag protects your camera gear when not in use, and is the ideal place for your extra photography stuff. If you keep it all in one organized place, you are more likely to have what you need when you need it.
Here are some tips for finding the perfect bag for your digital gear:
Get a bag that’s big enough for the gear you now own, and any additional equipment you anticipate buying in the near future.- If you’ve got a lot of gear, consider purchasing a hard shell case that’s big enough for all of your equipment, and a soft bag or backpack for day trips.
- Purchase a bag or backpack that’s comfortable. Make sure you try the bag or backpack on for size in the camera store.
- Also consider if it meets TSA and Airline requirements for carry on.
- Place your camera in the bag and put it over your shoulder. If it’s not comfortable, ask the sales person to show you a different bag. There’s nothing worse than a chaffed neck after a day-long photography adventure.
- Make sure the bag has enough pockets for your stuff. The bag should have a place where you can park extra memory cards, spare batteries, and other accessories and maybe a sandwich.
- Make sure the bag is made so that you can get to your gear quickly. There’s nothing worse than fumbling for a piece of equipment when your digital Kodachrome or Fujichrome Moment disappears.
- Consider purchasing a customizable camera bag. These bags come with removable partitions that are held in place with Velcro.
- If it rains a lot where you live or are going to do your photography thing, purchase a water resistant camera bag, or one with built-in rain cover.
I prefer a camera back pack mainly because more often than not, it’s a backpack I need because I will be hiking in to a remote location and it is easier to carry all my stuff on my back keeping my hands free during the hike. Besides there are usually plenty of places on the back pack to strap on extras like the tripod, water bottles, food bags and maybe some overnight gear, just in case.
While the backpack stands out and says to the world, “Hey look , I’m a photographer!” The comfort of having nearly everything I could want with me when I might need it, far outweighs the stigma. There are tips that tell you when you go on vacation not to carry or travel with an obvious and expensive camera bag, so not to attract the attention of thieves, but I know from experience. The thieves are not looking at the bag you carry to know if you’re a tourist and an easy mark. They’re looking at you. They know who belongs and who’s a tourist with goodies to take.
My advice is to be vigilant with your gear and make yourself look like a wary tourists who knows how to take care of themselves. Thieves look for the easy mark, not one that may put up a fight and bring unwanted attention to them.
In any case your bag should be the one you plan to carry on and fit within the TSA and Airline storage requirements. Also leave the tools and cleaning solutions behind if traveling by air. You can pick many of these items up when you arrive or just FEDEX them ahead to your hotel, and they will be waiting for you safe and sound. If you have a large enough check in bag you can fit your tripod into for the flight, use it.
Many airlines or some TSA agents will give you a hard time if you plan to carry on your tripod. It’s easier to avoid the tension and enjoy the trip if you preplan and prepare for the sometimes all to anal rules we now travel within. Besides, you don’t need your tripod on the plane and it’s a pain to place in the overhead compartment.
The best thing to do is to contact your airline, or local TSA office and get the requirements from them. Remember, keep the film, “uh er” Memory cards dry and safe!
landscapesphotography
James H Egbert
professional photographer
outdoor photographer
nature photographer
Turbo Tagger
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