Five Benefits from a Camera Bag

People often get camera bags without considering what the bags can do for them. Yes, you can heft bodies and lenses, but there are other advantages:

1. It adds an extra layer of protection for your camera.


2. Some bags come with built-in rain shields that you can pull over when the weather gets nasty. That's not only good for rain, but dust and sand.


3. You can more easily carry non-camera items, like a cell phone or notebook, without bulging pockets or purses.


4. It can be a way to carry your laptop. When you're traveling, go for a model that has space for a computer. That cuts the carry-on luggage for an airplane from two to one, making it more certain that you can keep the expensive equipment on your person.


5. A camera case can be a great improvised camera support. Put it down on a rock, table, or the ground, set the camera on the bag, and you have a way of adding tripod-like stability to a shot.

When choosing a camera bag, do not, I repeat, do not pick one sight unseen from a catalog. I've found that the styles some manufacturers use suit me better than others. See what works closest to how you use your camera.

Also, consider how you want to carry the bag. Shoulder bags have been a traditional choice, and are good if you need quick access to your equipment at all times. But they can pull down on your body and throw off your posture. Backpack style bags distribute the weight more comfortably, but you have to take them off to get into them, meaning that the fleeting image may be gone by the time you're ready. If you have a lot of traveling and a lot of equipment, consider whether a wheeled bag with an extensible handle might not make sense. I actually have more than one type so I can use the sort that best fits my needs at any time.