Finding a great camera bag is not that easy. Most of the time, something unfortunately just doesn't feel right: it could be the size, the weight, the strap. It's like finding the right partner - a great mission, but difficult to complete. If you're lucky, you'll find your dream partner, and if it's not a perfect match, you can still adjust it – attention: the latter only applies to your camera bag! ;-)
In all my years as a photographer, I have tried many different ways of carrying my camera: various cross-body camera bags, camera backpacks with one or two straps, old vintage bags - some of them stayed, most of them found a new home. It's a personal choice and always depends on your needs, which may be different for everyone.
Here are 5 things I look for when choosing a camera bag
A unique style. I prefer a bag that doesn't look like a camera bag. I often travel alone and I don't want people to know that I'm travelling with a 5k to 6k Euros gem of camera equipment. A camera bag that does not look too mainstream will keep unwanted eyes and hands away. All for the rule: you don't want to share your precious one!
A sporty look. The weight of the bag should be within reasonable limits. My Canon camera is quite heavy, so I'm always relieved when I don't have to carry extra weight around all day. I would rather take an extra lens with me than carry the extra weight of a heavy bag.
Stability. It's always good to know that my camera is safely stored in the bag and that it has great support when life gets shaky.
Mental support. A camera backpack might look cool, but if it takes ages to get to my camera, it is not the right choice for me, as I will procrastinate far too much and not take the picture. Imagine a very cold winter's day, what a great help it is to be able to easily access your camera, take your pictures and quickly store your camera again.
Variety. Another very important feature is a variety of storage options. Several pockets and a zipped compartment give you the freedom to carry and easily find your extra camera accessories such as memory cards, batteries or lens cleaning products.
How to get the most out of your camera bag (especially when travelling)
When I just want to take a few pictures of flowers, I usually grab my camera, but especially when I travel, I need a camera bag that works as a daily companion with more functions than usually intended. Here are a few tweaks - some are helpful, some are more like a little nice extra.
Camera bags are often made from a thick, padded nylon fabric that holds your camera well. Unfortunately, this type of fabric isn't very kind to your wardrobe. On several occasions, this harsh material chafed on my cardigan as I walked, roughening the fabric. If you like to wear tights or fine fabrics, I would recommend sewing on a second layer of nice fabric such as satin or cotton on the back of your camera bag to avoid unfortunate damage to your wardrobe.
Some of the larger camera backpacks and most hiking backpacks have it: a key holder. It's another thing you can easily add to your bag without any DIY skills: All you need is a clip and a small strap, and once you have attached it, you will never have to worry about where your keys are again. If you are worried about your keys scratching your camera or lens, you could put them in a small fabric gift bag and clip it to your key ring.
When I'm travelling and I want to explore the city, I don't want to take two bags or a bag and a backpack to carry all the things I need to get around. All I really need is my camera, phone, keys and wallet, maybe my passport. I find it really useful to have a travel wallet for this case. It is thinner than a normal wallet and holds cash, coins and cards. I chose one in a colour other than black so it is easy to find, my travel wallet also has a hook and can be attached to my key ring.
One accessory I like to add to my camera bag is a small talisman. The brand Kalahari does a great job of adding the tiger's eye - a protective healing stone - to their camera bags. The stone was used by the ancient Greeks and Arabs to protect themselves from the 'evil eye'. As a healing stone, it is said to sharpen your vision - it is also popular with artists and writers to clear creative blockages. It's nice to have a special little extra in your bag that most people don't have, and if it helps with creativity, why not add one?
Actually you can use any bag and make it your personal camera bag. As long as it fits your camera and is quite stable, there is nothing wrong with using a normal bag - no one would suspect your camera inside. You could still buy some camera inlays and add them to your personal bag - then you have all the benefits of a regular bag and it is definitely a cheaper option than the quite expensive camera bags.
The blog post features the Long Week Santa Fe Shoulder camera bag (not sponsored). If you have great tips how to improve your camera bag, please let me/us know in the comment section!
