How to choose a camera bag by Peter Gold MPA

        Did you ever total up the cost of all your camera equipment including your camera bodies, lenses, meter, filters, etc. I’m sure it must be at least $1000 - $1500 and up. Even a decent point & shoot camera is close to $500. It always amazes me that some people would spend all this money on fine equipment and then jam it all into a bag with no partitions which is obviously too small to keep all pieces separated enough so they don’t bang together and self destruct prematurely. A good camera bag is the best way to preserve your equipment so it will function for a long time.

       Not only does a suitable bag offer good protection, it offers you a more efficient access to all the equipment when you’re pressed for time. There is such a wide variety of styles of bags to choose from, there is no reason anyone should not be able to find the right one for their style of shooting.
Basically, there are four distinct styles to choose from including shoulder bags, back packs, sling bags and luggage-style bags.

    Shoulder bags come in a variety of sizes to hold a single camera-lens combination all the way up to a bag that holds a couple of bodies and several lenses and accessories. It is usually better to choose a bag that is a bit bigger than what you think you need at the moment. It’s a fact that you will be adding another lens, a flash or other accessory in the future. If the bag you choose is just right for your present needs, then you’ll need to upgrade your bag again. Most of the bags made by Lowepro have rain protectors built right into the underside which will cover the entire case. Works great if you get caught suddenly in a weather change with all your equipment. Think Tank is another brand that makes shoulder bags called Urban Disguise. Great bags that hold camera equipment and laptops as well. Another benefit with these bags is that they don’t look like they hold camera gear. Especially when you travel, it’s better you don’t advertise what you’re carrying.

  Back packs are perfect when you have to carry lots of equipment, some include a tripod carrier and/or a laptop section. Some can carry all of that and also offer another pouch to hold a jacket, food or assorted stuff. Although fine if you’re trekking for miles and your pack mule died, they are not very efficient if you want to access your equipment in a hurry. You first have to slip the bag off your back, put it down on the ground, open it up and select your gear, close it up, pop it back onto your shoulders, and now you’re ready to take a shot.
 

 Slings are becoming very popular lately. The advantage with them is that while you walk around with the bag on your back, if you have to get at your gear, you simply pull the strap and the case moves from the back to the front . They come in several sizes and are made by Tamrac, Kata and Lowepro.
The Kata 3-in-1 bags are unique in that they have 2 straps that can be used either as a backpack or reconfigured so you only use one strap in a sling format.

 
   When I travel, I use a luggage-style camera case to transport all my gear safely to the destination. Then I select my equipment for the day and switch for a smaller sling bag for day trips. Luggage-style bags are available in several sizes, some with wheels for rolling through airports and Pelican cases made from indestructible resin material that are totally impervious to extreme weather conditions.
The choice is yours. But it is my opinion that when you treat your equipment with respect, it will perform much better for much longer without expensive repair bills.