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Angie, Greg, Janet, Others -- Camera Bags and Bags?

Elly

Veteran

I'm looking for recommendations for stylish and/or practical camera bags or bag systems (pouches or sleeves to put inside a regular bag) for those that carry a full-size DSLR.

I'd love a bag that I can use to transport my DSLR in my daily life. I would leave it locked up in the vehicle (low rate of vehicle break ins or thefts), but I can't do that in the winter because of our daytime low temps.

I'm not worried about being able to get the camera out while walking (I wear it when I'm actively shooting), but don't want to have to fuss with it when I want it out (i.e. unstrap a whole bunch of things and unwrap/untangle it).

I need something I can take into work that isn't too bulky that I can fit a wristlet and makeup bag (so it doesn't freeze on days my foundation needs to make the trip) and a planner in. Originally I was looking for something to fit my laptop in too, but short of a big backpack I think that I will have to put the laptop in a separate tote on the 2 days a week it comes to work. I'm thinking about getting a tablet for that purpose, but I don't know if I can give up my keyboard!

My big problem is that I like a smaller bag (recently bought a crossbody that is 9" by 10" and it feels too big worn cross-body, my current purse fits what I need but is a "hand"bag and drives me nuts when it has heavy stuff like the camera in it). I already am juggling a lunchbag and coffee mug and keys trying to get past our locks and alarms at work most days. However, the DSLR is tall? (from the base to the eyepiece) so I need something thick? to transport it in.

In addition to taking the camera to work more it would also be my travel bag for day trips to the mountain towns around us--- mostly because it is going to have to be a special bag to meet my and I doubt I will find two I like equally. I can't decide if I want something stylish or something unisex so the SO could carry it if he wanted or needed to when we are on a trip.

Of course, despite not being a bag person, this doesn't have to be my only bag. I purchased a wristlet that I think is very sweet for casual use, although I'm thinking I might return it for a wallet, but the wristlet would be better to go from day to evening for gallery openings and the like. If the right event came up, I would probably purchase a fancier clutch and in the summer I plan to switch to a smallish cross body for work use with my planner, wallet, meds, etc.

Any tips? Brands to look at? What are your systems?

Thanks!

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, great questions. Bag choices are so dependent on how each person works, you know?

Personally, I have the most experience with Lowepro and Think Tank bags. My most-often used bags are the Lowepro Slingshot, which is my workhorse, and the Think Tank Airport International, which carries larger amounts of gear for trips. I also use a Think Tank laptop bag, which fits in the AI bag for travel.

I like the Slingshot because I can easily flip the bag forward to change lenses or grab a spare battery, etc., without taking a bag on and off. I've had mine for probably 7-8 years now, at least, and it has gone everywhere from the desert to the Antarctic with me and is still in excellent shape.

I will sometimes, for a day or a very short (non-photo-intensive) trip carry my DSLR with a 28-300 lens in a big tote with my other stuff, and when I do, I wrap it in one of these padded wraps that I got from B&H. I can't remember the name of them at the moment, but I'll look it up and post a link later if you're interested. They're great for wrapping lenses, etc. for a little protection to carry in a non-photo-specific bag.

Elly

Veteran

Thanks, Janet. I do realize it is very individual and based on so many factors. I will look at the Lowepro. Last fall I carried my gear in a small daypack that had a separate waterproof pouch for my hydration bladder and supplies in the field and put it in one of those neoprene wraps--- it was perfect for that, but now I find it a bit of a pain to take on and off if I'm getting in and out of a vehicle frequently, etc. My SO calls in the camera sock because he says it looks like male lingerie.

minimalist

Veteran

Janet do you have a B&H affiliate code? What are the chances I order just a few wraps and nothing else?

Anyway Elly here's a link
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/.....4075788780

Elizabeth P

Veteran

If you want to spend some money, the Jill-e bags are gorgeous. I have one that I use when I travel (by car), or go to peoples houses and want to take a lot of gear, in a way that is easily accessible. My bag isn't the best for walking with. I'm sure they would have a style that would take a laptop as well, in a very stylish way. If I'm going on a hike, or carrying it for any distance, I'm with Janet in that I love my Lowe slingback. So easy to grab the camera, adn do a lens swap, without taking it off. My pet peeve about the slingback bag is that you can't take a water bottle, and there is limited room for extra things, so you need to make sure you have company that is nice :). For long days (ie disney) I put yet another bag, top opening, into the main compartment of a backpack, so I have the extra pockets.

Elly

Veteran

Elizabeth-- thanks for that suggestion. Those bags are beautiful. I think I'm looking for something in between something that screams camera bag and functions fabulously as a camera bag and nothing else, and something very "handbag" like that would be fine for the commute but not good for day trips. Although, I am lucky and have my very own pack Sasquatch (the SO) that is willing to carry extra liters of water for me on hikes

Greg

FWIW...

My favorite camera bags are by Incase. They are relatively inexpensive and extremely practical. I'm not in love with their choice of fabric and their zipper quality, but those things are good enough (haven't failed me yet). For me, it is all about the functionality and for what I need nothing comes close to these two Incase bags:

The DSLR sling pack is the one I'm wearing here, but it looks larger in those photos than I think of it being. It really is pretty compact for a bag that can carry a body and 2 or 3 lenses. It also has an iPad sleeve, that I think would also be suitable for an 11" MacBook Air.
The DSLR pro pack is the bag I use when traveling. It is a beast. On one side you can store a lot of camera gear, and on the other side laptops and other stuff. I travel with the body, 4 large lenses, flash and other accessories in the camera side, and 2 laptops and an iPad in the other side. Yet the bag has never failed to easily fit under the seat in front of me in coach.

Both bags are extremely well thought out. The sling swivels nicely from your back to your front so you can easily switch a lens or grab the camera. The pro pack has easy access to the camera body from the top of the bag. And check out the attached picture for the access to all the camera equipment (this is from the side of the backpack that is against your back, if that makes sense).

These are not pretty bags. Though they are in my happy colors.

And checking the sizes, it seems even the sling is quite a bit larger than what you're looking for. I think the challenge is that a DSLR is an inconvenient shape (unless you're using a pancake lens). Anything that accommodates a flat laptop and a bulky DSLR is likely to be quite big.

Hmmm. I don't think I've helped much.

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Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like the slingback/backpack style, and the backpack I use for traveling is this one:
AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR/DSLR Cameras and Accessories - Black
It's inexpensive, but very sturdy and nicely made, with compartments for everything. It's a backpack, though, and functional, not pretty.

A cuter one, but smaller (only holds my Cannon Rebel T3i and standard 58mm lens), is this one:

Evecase DSLR Camera Nylon Holster Case/Bag - Light Green for Canon EOS SL1 T5i T5 T4i T3i T3 T2i 70D 60D and more Digital Cameras

But my favorite camera accessory is my wrist strap. It's much more comfortable than a neck strap, and my camera is always ready for picture taking:

Movo Photo HSG-2 DualStrap Padded Wrist & Grip Strap for DSLR Cameras - Prevents droppage and stabilizes video

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I have no idea if this link is of any use to you but my photographer friend is lusting after bags on this site:http://www.epiphaniebags.com/m.....px?id=1836

melb

Member

Hello,

New Poster Chiming in- I teach photography and take street photos all the time and this is my constant struggle. I found some great things on ETSY -
I'm not sure if you like the breifcase/vintage bookbag look, but I get tons of comments on this and it wears great with my work clothes - the leather is very very light.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1.....038;ga_sea

Meow

Veteran

I know zippity do da about camera bags but I've been following the fashion blog Unfancy. She is or was a wedding photographer and had a cute bag she carried in her summer capsule wardrobe that I was surprised when I clicked the link that it is a camera bag.

http://www.onabags.com/store/s.....nac#cognac

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Enjoying this thread. I've looked at some of those pretty bags (JillE, epiphanie, etc.) but I forgot to mention one of the things that keeps me using a sling style bag (Greg's is a great example too) is my shoulder/back issues. If I wear a heavy bag on my shoulder for any length of time, it really messes me up. Even the sling bag is not great for me, but it's the best alternative that still allows me to carry a small amount of gear (oh, and I frequently fit a water bottle in the zipper compartment on then end!). Keep in mind I also tend to do a lot of sitting/squatting/leaning/laying down while I shoot, so the sling bag doesn't slide off my shoulder the way a regular shoulder bag would. For many other people who are less crazy/active/obsessive than I am while shooting, a shoulder bag would be just fine! If I really need to take the bag off to get a shot, it slips on and off easily enough. I even alter the strap length depending on the season and whether I'm wearing a bulky coat or not.

If you're at all interested in sling style bags, Lowepro makes them in varying sizes. I have the 200 series (the mid-sized one). The 100 is a nice size for keeping weight and bulk down.

Astrid

Veteran

I bought the Lowepro sling style bag in a size 100 for Scotland and I absolutely loved it. I've already used it here in Berlin too. It's plenty enough for me, but I don't have a lot of stuff. It was the only "handbag" I took on the trip. The only thing I missed was space to put a water bottle. It was awesome to carry being active and very comfortable too. I normally have problems with shoulder pain, here - nothing.

Elly

Veteran

Greg-- actually, that was a lot of help. I hadn't heard of the Incase brand.

Karie, melb, Hil, and Sarah-- great recs there for purse/camera bags. I'm a fan of the Ape case pouches that turn any tote or satchel into a padded camera environment -- those are all beautiful.

Janet-- I'm a very similar style shooter but don't know how I feel about carrying all my gear on my person. I tend to only carry the camera w/ a lens and maybe one extra lens when I go out shooting --- 2 lenses if it is a longer trip or I know I will want them both for specific things and will often toss my fast 50 in a jacket pocket. The sling bags look great though, and I'm thinking it might be worth a try--- I want something that I can wear tromping around town, but don't know that I care about multiple lens capacity and being able to change mid stream.

Astrid

Veteran

Elly, I'm not carrying much either. I have my camera with a 17-50 plus one extra lens in the 100er slingshot. At the moment a fast 50, but it would take a long lens as well. You'd need to check the dimensions. It's just the right size for that. In Scotland I kept phone and wallet in the empty space in the camera compartment which made me feel totally safe even in crowds. I also like that I can just slide the bag to the front when I use public transport, no chance for pickpockets. I don't do a lot of changes on the road either, but I found this very comfortable because I could take out and put away my camera in seconds. Not sure if these are important points for you...

Elly

Veteran

Astrid--- thanks for chiming in again. Good to hear it--- getting in and out fairly fast would be a plus. I'm not terribly concerned about security on my body as I rarely travel to areas where that would be a issue. From security standpoint a bag is much more likely to be broken into here in my office or when left in a vehicle than by pickpockets -- I originally purchased a packsafe backpack for the reason that could lock the pockets and lock it to my desk or to a seat in my car easily. I think the size is perfect and rather like it, but I don't think it has enough structure to carry the camera comfortably for longer walks, and I don't know if an apecase or similar insert would be enough.

This Lowepro looks nice :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/.....0_bag.html

Astrid

Veteran

The one you linked to does looks more stylish than the Slingshot, but to me it would defeat the purpose of the sling because it opens in the front. It's like a backpack but just with one strap. The magic with the Slingshot happens when you slide it to the front and the camera compartment then opens on top (so the opening is on the side when you carry it on your back).

ETA

You can see how it works in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY3bNQJ3lf8

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Elly, I don't carry much either. Typically, my Slingshot carries the D800 body with a lens (usually the 28-300 "walking around lens") or the 105mm macro, since those are my two most-used lenses. The other one is in the bag, along with a water bottle, my wallet, phone and other stuff like spare batteries and memory card wallet. I've even managed to cram a light jacket with gloves or a hat in there as well.

Elly

Veteran

Astrid- the pocket on the side of the bag I posted opens the same way that the slingshot does!

Elly

Veteran

Good to know Janet!

Astrid

Veteran

Oh, alright. I didn't see that in the pictures.