I can count on three fingers the most needed and purchased camera accessories for beginner photographers and filmmakers. The first one is kind of obvious: the camera itself – most likely with a kit lens. A tripod is the second. And a camera bag comes third; a backpack, or something to protect and carry your crispy, newly purchased camera. You have just spent a few hundreds on a camera, so a protective case that packs and transports your camera gear is not the first thing you might consider all the way through. This wisdom develops after spending a lot of time with your gear.

You might find yourself checking out bag reviews after getting that second lens, a tripod or a flash kit. Suddenly your first bag seems to be getting smaller, and you’re ready to gear up.

What should you be looking for in a camera bag?

Fully understanding what you should be looking for in a bag takes getting to know your gear and predicting your future gear. Even for seasoned photographers, it is a challenge to pick the right bag; Does it store my 500mm lens? Can I bring this as a carry-on? Is this bag deep enough for a battery grip? Less obvious questions pop up too; Should the camera compartment be accessible via the front, or the back? Do I want a bag to get stuff from A to B, or do I want to bring it on a weekend day trip?

Don’t panic, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we will look at nine contemporary backpacks, carry-alls and other units to protect and transport your gear. In this article, we’ll be considering them on the following aspects;

• Gear protection
• Build-quality
• Weight distribution
• Space
• Camera accessibility
• Looks
• Comfort.

While some bags may seem expensive, they often keep your gear safer than the cheaper ones. At the same time, a more expensive bag might save your back. So, it’s often worthwhile to spend a little extra here. The right bag might even prevent you from walking back and forth to your car three or four times, which is valuable time and energy that you’d rather spend on talking to your client, setting up, or getting a drink (no joke, stay hydrated).

My experience

If you spend hundreds (or even thousands) on a DSLR or mirrorless camera, why spend the minimum on protecting and moving your equipment? Getting a good bag is essential to your shoot, whatever that shoot might be. Sure, bags and cases might all look the same, but just like with cameras, the right advice makes it pretty hard to buy a crappy one nowadays (except maybe for this camera). Other than the main compartment, most bags have all the standard storage features like laptop sleeves, good camera padding etc.; the usual perks. So, what makes a good camera bag stand out?

My first ever real backpack was a Naneu Pro Military Ops Bravo – a heavily padded, military aesthetic, rear-access backpack. It seemed decent at the start. The bag was about the right price and featured brightly colored dividers, which made finding my gear a lot easier in the dark. It even included a rain sleeve – sounds good, right? Well, it was far from ideal. Its boxiness all but broke my back when lugging it around for five weeks, and its accessibility was just awkward.

Today, at least a dozen backpacks, cases and years of experience further, I can shine some light on what I would be looking for in a good camera bag.

Backpacks

A backpack might be the first thing you think of when looking for something to bring or store your camera in, and for good reason. Backpacks are affordable, easy to use, and an established piece of equipment for photographers and filmmakers. Cases, slings, and messenger bags all have a funny weight distribution, which would make my back – and therefore my chiropractor, sorry dude – cry.

So, what should you look for in a backpack, specifically? Next to having good weight distribution, a backpack should be comfortable and fit the right amount of gear for you in the right place. Let’s look at some options:

Rollers & Cases

Generally speaking, cases fit loads more than backpacks and tend to keep your gear super safe. Their durability is simply incredible! Tunisian Air dropped my case while loading it on the plane, and I watched from afar when it fell off the luggage belt. The corner of my case is still chipped as of today, but fortunately, there was no damage on the Zeiss CP3 lens set that was safely stored inside it, so it did its job.

The two most obvious differences between backpacks and (flight) cases are the outer material and the way you transport the gear. Rolling a case in an airport is amazing and saves the weight on your shoulders. But when you have to wander some less than well-paved streets, it may not be a perfect travel camera bag. Some brands feature backpack straps for their rollers, which in certain situations, can be fantastic. You don’t want to be carrying 50kg of gear over a 2km beachfront.

Bonus Section – The Camera Cart

A good camera cart is fully collapsible, fully adjustable, and tool-free. It folds down to a compact size that fits in the car, with wheels tucked inside. A camera cart serves not only as the monster truck that moves your gear, it’s simultaneously a holding for your crew and a visible spot on location or set.

A cart safely transports your material to your work location, on arrival, it provides a working-height, clean workspace which, after the shoot, folds up nicely into your car. It’s rumored that some seasoned users are able to set it up in under 60 seconds.

Even when packed with a 120cm slider, as a camera assistant, I’ve been able to wheel these Gargantuas into most tight spaces and elevators, transporting my gear to the upper floors.

Tips for buying a camera bag

No matter if it’s your first, second, or just the next bag you buy, it won’t be an easy pick. But here are some things you might want to ask yourself to help with this decision

What do I want to bring?

Think about what your bag needs to fit, and, if this changes from day to day, should your bag be able to change with it?

Situations

In which situations/conditions do I want to bring my bag – all-weather, plane, or mainly in the back of the car?

Budget

Ask yourself, “What am I willing to spend?” Many bags come with 10, 20, or even a lifetime warranty. Is this something that interests you, does this make it easier to go for a slightly more expensive option? This falls together with “How long do I want my bag to last?”

Ergonomics

This my be the most important aspect of them all. Please go to a store or maybe a friend who has the bag you’re looking for, and try it on. I’ve seen stores that have actual camera-plus-accessories size weights, so you can try on the bag with some weight in it. Another more straightforward option is to bring your gear to a store and check if it all fits. I didn’t add any sling bag or a messenger-style bag to my recommendations because I normally carry lots of gear. But you can get it for casual photo walks with a single camera and lens. Make sure that the shoulder strap fits nicely and doesn’t hurt your shoulder.

The future

What will my future bring? No, I don’t mean “will I be pretty, will I be rich?”, but if you’re on the verge of getting a decently sized, heavy tripod or looking to expand your lens set, it might be wise to think of the future when shopping for a bag.

How often you’ll use the camera bag

This seems silly, but a studio-based photographer might not need a 60L outdoor camera backpack, and they might be happy with a trolley and a daypack. Consider the type of shoots you’ll be doing in the foreseeable future and think, does this bag have the features I need for that? Will you bring the same bag for a weekend trip abroad? If so, you might consider something customizable.

Camera inserts

Does the bag come with a Camera Cube / ICU, or will I have to buy one separately? Having to purchase optional—but very much needed—parts for your bag can get expensive quite fast. Make sure to check out if the bag comes with a rain cover, and see what a camera cube might set you back. Being able to get yourself a secondary cube for, say, flash accessories, next to one with a drone kit might be amazing, though, and save you a lot of hassle on repacking your bag.

Accessibility

Accessibility is a thing to consider. If you’re just moving your stuff from A to B, you don’t need quick access to your camera. If you’re just going from your house to the car to the studio, you might not need a water bottle pocket, a handy H2O bladder, or IcePick mounts.

Conclusion

No two photographers nor gear needs are the same. I’m happy to see a lot of different options in backpacks across the field, both in terms of specs, colors, and even environmental choices. Though the market seems saturated in carry solutions, there are always companies that come up with amazing new features, designs and innovations.

Getting a bag that suits your creative needs will make you a happy creator. When I secured my first serious gig, I got myself a brand new hard case, which was a horrible thing to lug to the other side of an unknown city by foot. Knowing what gear to bring and what to leave at home is a whole other skill.

What are your favorite details or top needs in a gear-carrying solution, what is the one feature you are looking for when shopping for a new bag?

FAQ