Camera Bags

This may seem daft, but what kind of camera bag do you prefer?

 

My honest answer is none; they all horrify me because they destroy gear. The only purpose-made items I consistently use are trekking pouches that keep things together (batteries, storage cards, etc.) and provide protection within larger bags (e.g. general purpose backpacks, suitcases, etc.)

 

The challenge I deal with is that my camera gear is exposed to atmospheric moisture and changes in temperature. Cold air leads to condensations, and though may not feel like it, warm air has the capacity to contain much more moisture than cold air! Camera components expand and contract with temperature changes, zooms contain moisture that they push/pull from previous uses, and all that stuff is fuel for life such a moulds and bacteria.

 

I do like weatherproof zips, and lint-free linings in case a lens cap accidentally pops off, but the only features I really need from a camera bag is some way to keep moisture-absorbing desiccant close to my gear. In complete departure of what I seek the high-end widely reviewed purpose-made camera bags provide snug fits with nowhere to tactically store desiccant; a shoebox is more useful!

 

What do you use?

Edited February 6, 2021 by G&R

Are you talking about camera storage? I use a dry cabinet I bought when I lived in a humid part of Japan.

I transfer the camera/lenses to my bag when I go out.

No stress.

Are you talking about camera storage? I use a dry cabinet I bought when I lived in a humid part of Japan.

I transfer the camera/lenses to my bag when I go out.

No stress.

That may be a differentiator. I do not view dry cabinet and bag as vastly different because I have been out for 4 months at a time. In my case home storage means exposed on a shelf next to books.

 

Out of my first collection the only gear that survived a rainforest was the GX10 and its original lens, and the experience makes me picky about how gear is packed. My camera and lenses were lugged together in a waterproof backpack with desiccant, but some items faired better than others. I like the dry cabinet idea; ideally like that but mobile.

Edited February 6, 2021 by G&R

I have never had a case harm camera gear, Full stop. I have used fitted Leica, fitted Nikon, Prinz, Tamrack, and currently several Think Tank, the latter with adjustable interiors and built in rain covers. I have undoubtedly forgot some of the lesser cases used in 60 odd years of photography. The cold weather drill is routine, but since I dislike it, I generally avoid lengthy exposure to severe cold, or extreme heat for that matter. I subscribe to the old rule of not leaving cameras anywhere you would not care to be - works for me as well.

 

Edit: Since I don't think of them as Bags, I left out Pelican and Tundra Hard cases, designed for adverse conditions - dustproof, waterproof, virtually unbreakable and pressure equalized. Excellent but not practical as working bags.

Edited February 6, 2021 by Sandy Vongries

I almost always use a photographer's backpack that I've had for years. The three things I really like about it are:

1. I always know where everything goes and where everything is (camera, 2 main lenses, spare battery, spare card, dust/lens cleaner, etc.)

2. There's always room enough to carry one or more 'extras': a 3rd lens, a 2nd body, a fleece, a waterproof/umbrella, coffee & sandwiches, etc.

3. It feels comfortable (even with weight of a DSLR body and 2 lenses) and leaves my hands completely free

 

I also use the backpack for storage of everything I might need in 95% of situations. A have a couple of extra lenses for macro, wildlife, etc. but these are on a cupboard shelf somewhere along with the worthless old cameras that I still could use but haven't for many years.

 

I very occasionally took a smaller 'DSLR+Lens' shoulder bag on day trips when I knew we'll be walking around a city, museum or exhibition most of the day. But although smaller and lighter, I always felt that a shoulder bag was 'in the way' somehow and that I constantly needed to adjust the position of the strap on my shoulder. Nowadays, 'travelling light' means using my cellphone.

The only times I have suffered damage from a camera bag is when I forgot to zip one of the zippers before lifting it. Just another example of Ansel Adams' comment that the most important photographic equipment is the 12 inches (sorry, 30 cm) behind the viewfinder.

 

I haven't found condensation to be a problem except when my gear is out of the bag. The bag seems to allow for a slow change from cold to warm. However, in extreme enough cases, it might not be enough.

 

Severe humidity is another problem altogether. For years, I spent part of the summer in an extremely humid setting. I stored my gear in a Pelican case along with two cannisters of rechargable silica gel (that is, silica gel that could had a hydration indicator and can be dehydrated again by heating). that was a bit of a nuisance but worked fine.

This may seem daft, but what kind of camera bag do you prefer?

 

My honest answer is none; they all horrify me because they destroy gear. The only purpose-made items I consistently use are trekking pouches that keep things together (batteries, storage cards, etc.) and provide protection within larger bags (e.g. general purpose backpacks, suitcases, etc.)

 

The challenge I deal with is that my camera gear is exposed to atmospheric moisture and changes in temperature. Cold air leads to condensations, and though may not feel like it, warm air has the capacity to contain much more moisture than cold air! Camera components expand and contract with temperature changes, zooms contain moisture that they push/pull from previous uses, and all that stuff is fuel for life such a moulds and bacteria.

 

I do like weatherproof zips, and lint-free linings in case a lens cap accidentally pops off, but the only features I really need from a camera bag is some way to keep moisture-absorbing desiccant close to my gear. In complete departure of what I seek the high-end widely reviewed purpose-made camera bags provide snug fits with nowhere to tactically store desiccant; a shoebox is more useful!

 

What do you use?

 

I don't carry a lot of kit and I don't like camera bags, either. I may have two cameras and an extra lens, plus the usual stuff -- cleaning supplies, whatever "tools" (such as a coin for some battery caps) are needed, a small lighted magnifier, a meter. They are carried in a soft sided insulated "lunch box" with an old t-shirt separating the cameras and lenses, with the tools etc in it in a zippered soft "pencil box". I have a very old belt pouch from my old packpacking kit that I used to hang from the suspension straps. containing little things that I'd rather not have to take the pack off to get to. I clip it to my belt. It easily holds a camera (like a Konica Hexar af), and a few items.

 

The "lunch box" usually stays in the car. I've used them in the high desert in mid-summer without problem. No 'opportunist' is interested in a kids lunch box, unlike a carmera bag. I've never had it stolen.

If i understand the OP, the complaint is that using equipment ( and transporting it to where it will be used is part of use) leads to wear. It does, yes.

The thing we can try to do is provide optimum protection, balanced against ease of use, and measured against what rate of wear is acceptable.

I find hard cases only good to protect myself. A Sinar, light stands or such in a soft case is a pain, literally, to carry. And hard cases are far too heavy. And when cases are going to be stowed, a hard case is necessary to prevent crushing the content. Going to easier stuff to carry, i prefer soft.

But yes, everytime something is handled it will wear.

You need everything from Black Rapid straps to 'never-ready cases' to reporter bags...

Like everything else, the one-fits-all solution is rarely best for any one use.

Edited February 6, 2021 by JDMvW

For years, I spent part of the summer in an extremely humid setting. I stored my gear in a Pelican case along with two cannisters of rechargable silica gel..

Do you no longer use this approach? In a large bag like a pelican I might be tempted to try desiccant in an old sock, and microwaving to recharge, but how did you recharge them in the field? In my example I had smaller pouches of desiccant stuffed in where they could fit, and they were made of perforated paper-like bags (did not recharge).

 

My gut tells me that what is observed in the hot & humid settings is merely an accelerated glimpse into what will happen at temperate zones given more time. Do you find that is not the case?

Edited February 6, 2021 by G&R

.. one-fits-all solution is rarely best for any one..

 

Maybe, but I have a feeling that such a philosophy could be moulded to arrive at something better than is currently available.

Maybe, but I have a feeling that such a philosophy could be moulded to arrive at something better than is currently available.

Good luck with that, ex. on a personal basis. There have been and still are myriad camera bag variations, most with some few who dearly love them ,others that find them less than ideal, and a majority who never heard of them. Key issues, usefulness for the particular task at hand, the work habits of the user and task location environment. I have and have had many bags and cases, not one was perfect for every task. Closest was probably my Nikon FB 8 - two camera bodies up to five lenses, filters, film in a neat professional package that I could work with on the fly off my shoulder. Even that was not perfect, and unfortunately will only work with Nikon film era cameras through F2. The admittedly rare occasions when I go strictly with film, it is still my "bag" of choice.

 

BTW Specialized rechargeable desiccant packs on many types are available inexpensively on line, no sock needed.

"I bought sewing machinery"... & suppose a walking foot patcher could deal with

nowhere to tactically store desiccant

Our needs surely vary. I absolutely love my bags to look ++ratty / shabby instead of shouting "steal me!".

I guess our kits might vary too?

Probably even our styles of traveling...

My bag in use is "AKO" brand patent leather with zips. it holds 4 lenses, body, half a dozen filters, 2 finders. Its not perfect but easy to sink into my favorite backpack and the right size for me (or that kit). My dream in that caliber is to modify a German paramedic's bag with a few dividers.

Another project would be modifying a backpack, so I can pull a Fuji with zoom and hood in shooting position out of each side without taking the pack off.

 

I have no clue how you could deal with your climate / mold issues. Silica gel online calculators exist and seem worth searching.

how did you recharge them in the field?

2h at 120°C seem recommended. I'd utilize either campfires or 'd tie something to my exhaust tube on a dry day

As a Silica gel alternative you could carry the rice for your next meals in your camera bag.

I use a Billingham Leica M Combination Bag - Black Canvas/Black Leather. It's marketed for Leica (and I do use it for my M6), however there's absolutely no reason why you wouldn't use the same bag for another similarly-sized 35mm.

 

Pro points:

-Great size

-Throw over the shoulder, across the body

-Excellent padding inside

-Moveable padded velcro separators

-Great build quality

 

Neg points:

-Price

The only camera "bag" I use is a backpack, which, these days is a Mindshift Rotation180 Pro. If I'm carrying 2 bodies one is usually on a strap held by a Peak Design Capture; the other in the main compartment. The only time I've had problems with camera damage over the years, even when I've just wrapped the camera in a neoprene wrap and thrown it in a pack is "user error".

Yesterday I was outside in 10deg F for 5 hours. When I got back to the car I just put the whole bag in a large trash bag to warm up.

Smaller the better. Avoid the "Darth Vader-on-vacation" tactical look or overkill size. I like smaller ThinkTank shoulder bags. Bigger--except for pure storage--usually result in back/shoulder discomfort ill-suited to a day out shooting. That's a metric to keep in mind. Avoid anything festooned with logos or other obvious steal/mug me colors/tags. Pack less than you think you'll and buy a bag to fit--no bigger. Think you might be bugging out to excess about moisture unless you're living/shooting constantly where ambient heat and humidity are issues.

I always use a camera bag of one sort or another , the smaller the better.

I have never had any problems at all.

Cheers.

I have been using a 1980's style shoulder bag for 40 years and just this year I started using a front opening back pack because the old bag was just too small. It completely broke the day after I got the backpack! It is a lot to carry but was definitely the right decision. I used to design and manufacture bags so years ago I made individual lens bags that I still often use and I made some small and medium sized purposeful bags that I use when I only want to take out the camera and one or two lenses. Then I have a big old backpack, that I still want to replace, that I use for my 800/5.6 lens. There are a few options available for this one.

 

 

When I switch from landscape/architecture to motor racing I am going to have to reconfigure my carrying plans to include the 300/2.8. I will never have too many lenses, just got to figure out how I want to carry them!

 

 

I don't have to deal with jungle humidity but I have been going out this week in -30 Celcius so when I get in the house I leave the bag closed and sitting in a cool place then after an hour or so, move it to a warm area and then after a few more hours open the zippers on the bag until after half a day everything reaches room temperature!

 

 

I have a huge front opening shoulder bag that I can make foam inserts for, that I made 20 years ago. I should dig it out and give it a try!

In saturated environments silica gel is only useful in air-tight containers such as pelican storage. If often opening and closing the containers in high humidity environments silica gel will suck humidity out of the ambient air in no time and render themselves useless.

I recall seeing integrated electrical silica gel rechargers in Japan that would go into airtight storage boxes during the rainy season.

If electricity is unavailable, fresh packs in sealed bags would be necessary to carry around.

With all that said, sometimes inconvenience can't be avoided. My Leica' would go in for service after use during typhoons and visits to Okinawa.

Edited February 14, 2021 by NHSN

I must admit I have one dilemma - the backpack I usually take when birding has a full-width separate compartment at the base, which will take either :

 

Coffee flask, sandwiches and chocolate bars

 

OR

 

Sigma 150-500 lens.

 

Deciding on my priorities for the day can cause concern - normally the lens wins, as I can usually find a cafe somewhere, and chocolate can go in pockets and melt happily, away from equipment.

 

Other than that, I have a larger backpack, usually used for railway trips, as I know I'll be sitting down a lot of the time; a blue-trimmed black shoulder bag, which'll take the gear I usually take on a day trip (changed around depending on destination or company); a red-trimmed black shoulder bag, with my Nikkormat and a selection of Tamron adaptall lenses, plus spare film; and a 'photographer's gilet', with many large pockets, for a really light day out - lenses etc go in the pockets.

 

But there is no ideal solution - except maybe a donkey to carry it all, but they're not allowed on buses, even in Norfolk.

At home, I keep cameras in a dry cabinet. Going out, I step up from a vest pocket to a shoulder bag to a backpack to a rolling padded case as the equipment carried increases.

 

Sometimes I need to leave cameras and lenses in my car. I put a shoulder bag inside an excellent, large picnic cooler. I tested before trying this. Even without ice, the cooler keeps equipment below 85F (30C) all day in a Southern California summer sun.

large picnic cooler

I like that idea a lot, and I guess you can sit on it too!

 

Some very pricey photography cases have customisable foam inserts, and I found the same concept is used to transport tabletop figurines at what appears to be a lower price (though sizes may vary).

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-Storage-Pluck-Raster-Foam/dp/B07BGFXQTM/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=Tabletop+Tyrant&qid=1613440985&s=kids&search-type=ss&sr=1-9

I bought one of these about 5 years ago. Wow..... they have gotten "expensive" but they ARE worth it.

I am pretty much just a street photographer, so i walk quite a ways and need to carry water, car keys, wallet, film and a few lens, etc etc.

My bag is still in great shape for how much use it gets, in and out of cars buses, all over the ground, benches, used as a head rest, etc etc.

The zippers still work like new. :-)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-SLRC-206-15-4-Inch-Backpack/dp/B002DW99H8?ref_=ast_sto_dp

My camera stuff will outlive me.

I f you can get hold of solid foam (layers?) cut to fit your case, DIY excavating space for your gear is easy.