I've just bought my 6th camera bag in as many years.

[CuriousMike]

First bag was some basic Lowepro Slingshot 202 that was OK.

Next bag was another Lowepro Urban Photo Sling 250 that fit my 70-200f/4 attached but not much else... but it was $20 new.

Next bag was a Crumpler - great day bag, but 5 million dollars isn't as big as 7 million dollars.

Next bag was a some other Lowepro Passport Sling that was on sale for $25.

Next bag was a Lowepro Flipside Sport 15L... semi-backback thing. I like it, but even with really nice mesh on back, I can't walk 1/4 mile without a drenched back.

Today, my ThinkTank Speed Freak v2.0

I'm a shouldery kinda guy, but wanted extra support. The fanny-pack-waist-strap will give that extra support. This is sorta like buying my first piece of FX glass - the quality is just noticeably nicer.


For my next post, I'll document all the different straps I've bought. Hint: It's more than one.

 

[balloonshark]

Do you have matching shoes? :awe:

You've owned some really nice looking bags. The thing I like about some of yours is the padding on the straps. The Domke bag I just bought for $20 is a really nice bag for the price but the strap is like the old army belt material. The strap is tough but has no padding.

 

[CuriousMike]

Interestingly enough, the Crumpler has no shoulder pad.

The ThinkTank has the most luxurious shoulder pad by far.

 

[EOM]

Only bag i own is very similar to your first one and it does okay, i can fit two bodies and 6 lenses in there with their chargers but it's a bit like tetris to get 'em in there. I typically only bring one body and two lenses and a speedlight for walking around, depends on what i'm trying to do... do you carry all your gear up ok your hikes, Mike?

 

[Syborg1211]

I've had a similar history with bags. It takes a while to find the perfect bag especially when your needs are still evolving with your photography. The Lowepro Passport Sling and Crumpler 5 million dollar home bags were some of my first bags. Both bags were a bit too small and looked very feminine to me.

I got a Lowepro Rezo 170 AW when I bought my D600, and it just screamed camera bag too loudly while not being big enough.

I've finally found the perfect shoulder bag, the Lowepro Pro Messenger Bag 180 AW:

Well made, lots of smartly laid out pockets, and it fits a camera with telephoto lens attached inside it.

Then I realized that I wanted a backpack for longer hikes or for traveling with my gear. The Incase DSLR Pro Pack fit the bill here. Awesome back compartment for lenses, and fits a full frame camera with a long telephoto lens attached:

I have a Tenba backpack for hiking in more inclement weather. Main complaint about that one is the bag is quite heavy even with nothing in it!

My wife is pretty sick of my bag collecting these days. I really want to get a Tenba Pro Digital Photo Insert so I can turn any regular bag into a photo bag. I don't like going around with a bag that screams camera bag to everyone.

 

[CuriousMike]

Syborg sorta nailed it - I've just been evolving a lot the past two years.

do you carry all your gear up ok your hikes, Mike?

No - at most, I'll bring my 24-120 and my 14mm.
Nowadays, I'm just as apt to leave DSLR at home and bring the RX100.

I Flipside Sport 15L is actually a nice bag and should be a perfect hiking bag.
It's a good size, the back has poofy-ridges that should keep air moving thru it, and on the one side is a compartment that fits a 1L Camelbak water bladder.

The downsides to it is it doesn't breathe like I want, the feature of being able to remove the inner-bag I never use and makes the bag have an puffy inside and I'd prefer a compartment that separates the camera stuff from other stuff. (They have another bag that does a better job separating camera gear from other gear, but the camera section doesn't hold body with 70-200 f/4 attached. )

The good news is while I've been thru a lot of bags, three of them have been picked up on sale for cheap.

I've really only put out good money for the Crumpler, the Sport 15L and the ThinkTank.

 

[NAC]

I just got a Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW. It was on sale for $30 at B&H. This is my 5th camera back in about 3 years. This new one fits all my lenses, no previous bag can. But I thought (hoped) it would also fit my flash and a camcorder. I expect use this bag when traveling to/from a vacation spot, but I'll almost always use a smaller bag when actually moving around and using the camera.

My other bags:
* A Lowepro backpack I got as a gift, but only the bottom holds the camera & basically 2 lenses.
* A cheapie messenger bag - like $7 on ebay. Small, nice for just caring the DSLR and a lens.
* A Dolica SB-015BK sling bag. It is on sale at Newegg often with a tripod. This is the best style for carrying and switching lenses. The camera pocket which is nice and deep, basically too deep for my current lenses. The extra lens pocket is basically too big for a single lens. The pocket can fit like 3 lenses because it is very wide. This summer I think I'll put two or three lenses in there wrapped in socks. Still protected, and easy to access.
* A small bag for a Nikon 1 camera. I sold the camera, can use the bag for a camcorder or two small DSLR lenses.
* A lowepro santiago 20 hard case for the belt for a Canon S100.
* An old Canon bag which I got maybe 20 years ago.

 

[CuriousMike]

I just got a Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW. It was on sale for $30 at B&H. This is my 5th camera back in about 3 years.

OK, I'm glad I'm not the only one with multiple bags.

And that was a killer price for that Pro Runner 200.

 

[IronWing]

I'm still using the Kiwi bag I bought when I got my K1000 in 1986. I fits the D90 with two lenses and batteries. The zippers are still in great shape. It cost more then than the new bags y'all talking about cost now.

It looks like this one.

https://www.storeya.com/Uploads/31565/k/kiwi-deluxe-dslr-camera-bag_265.jpg

 

[Gooberlx2]

I've had a few packs over the years:
- Lowepro Mini Trekker, I bought back around '96. Held a lot of shit. Terrible ergonomics.
- Lowepro Rover AWII. Reasonable for dayhikes at the time. Still uncomfortable.
- Kata 3n1-22. Nifty pack. Horribly uncomfortable (like a box on one's back). Screams "camera backpack!"
- Then I just started using my Dakine Blade ski backpack with an insert. Which worked reasonably well for a number of years, until I got the...
- Lowepro Photo Sport 200AW, which is lighter and more comfortable, if a bit small to be quite as versatile as I'd like (considering the space reserved for camera gear).

I'd like something like a Rover Pro 35L. Better designed and sized, imo, for proper hiking, overnight camping, and travel.

I've also used inserts with various messenger bags, which works quite well, IME. I doubt I'd buy a dedicated messenger bag, expect for maybe a Mountainsmith Day TLS, which can take a set of attachable backpack/shoulder straps and be reasonably useful/comfortable for dayhikes, but should avoid the back sweat.

 

[purbeast0]

looking to get a camera bag for a noob here with an SL1. i only have the default lens that came with it, but i'm about to purchase the new stm nifty fifty that just came out.

would something like this be good enough?

http://www.amazon.com/Loading-Digit...143&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+dslr+camera+bag+sl1

i also like that it comes with a small tripod, as i wanted to get one anyways. but i don't know if that tripod is a POS or not lol.

 

[Syborg1211]

looking to get a camera bag for a noob here with an SL1. i only have the default lens that came with it, but i'm about to purchase the new stm nifty fifty that just came out.

would something like this be good enough?

http://www.amazon.com/Loading-Digit...143&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+dslr+camera+bag+sl1

i also like that it comes with a small tripod, as i wanted to get one anyways. but i don't know if that tripod is a POS or not lol.

Bags are the most personal preference accessory for photography that I can think of. Storage space, external size, durability/weatherproofing, comfort, and style are all important, but the order of importance changes from person to person. I think the biggest thing to begin with is carrying style. Different uses end up requiring different styles. A backpack is useful for longer hikes or traveling since it will have the best long-term comfort with the weight evenly distributed over both shoulders. Sling/messenger type bags offer easy access but can wear on your shoulder if your kit is too heavy. Then there are waist attached ones kinda like the one CuriousMike last got that use your waist for support to relieve the shoulders/back.

I forgot to mention my favorite sling bag in my previous post. It's an Incase Ari Marcopoulos Bag:

The bag was developed for one popular photographer's needs, but they have a more mainstream, less expensive version called the DSLR Sling Pack. I'm a big fan of Incase's build quality and ingenuity for their bags. These sling packs are awesome because they provide backpack quality straps that make long carries much more comfortable.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Yeah, I've been through a lot of bags too. I still have a good number of them. Crumpler 7MDH is a good size for me, and at one point used to be my main bag until I got tired of so much weight on my shoulder. (I still have a couple of cheap 7MDH knockoffs I found online.... like $20 instead of $100... look and feel identical.)

I have a Kata backpack that also fits a laptop. That's my "serious travel photography" bag, I am very comfortable that my gear is all 100% protected inside it and it is my usual bag when travelling by air. It fits a good amount of gear (body+lens, 3 or 4 extra lenses, flash, compact tripod, 15" MBP) and will easily fit under the seat of an airplane or in the overhead compartment.

I have a Pelican soft-sided rolling suitcase bag with a ton of nice dividers that is my main bag for home storage or car travel. It fits ALL of my gear (all lenses, 2 bodies, 2 flashes, small accessories) and is super protective. Obviously it is quite big/heavy and needs to be rolled around like a rolling suitcase. It is sized to be a carry-on on most airlines, but I don't want to chance having to gate-check it and having stuff stolen.

For "serious active work + semi-light travel" I have a nice ThinkTank belt setup. This includes the padded belt, Digital Holster 20, and 4 padded lens bags. The great thing about this setup is its versatility. If I am going somewhere and just want a single body + lens, I can throw them in the Digital Holster and just carry it (with included shoulder strap) or wear it on a normal pants belt. (The shoulder strap + normal belt combo actually works pretty well too. Obviously most belts aren't designed to carry much weight, but adding the strap across the shoulder in a Sam Browne configuration can help to balance it out.) I can also toss it in a backpack or other non-photo bag and feel confident that it is protected. Then scale up from there; add an extra lens bag for any extra lens. If I'm carrying more than 2 items (Holster + lens bags) then I will use the Think Tank padded belt. The ability to quickly swap gear in and out and have it all in reach is fantastic. By "serious active work" above, I mean events like weddings or other large gatherings where I am running around and need a lot of gear available quickly. By "semi-light travel" I mean I want to bring a body+lens plus maybe an extra lens or two, but don't want to bring a dedicated camera bag. The compactness of the Think Tank stuff means it will all fit into pretty much any bag.