My Canon DSLR Journey Part 3 – Camera Bag
Overview
One of the first items I purchased after getting a DSLR was getting a bag. Bags are essential to protect the equipment when moving around. Unless everything can come to you it is more than likely the camera will travel with you to places to get the shots.
Equipment
Bags are very personal and depends on what it will be used for. For example how many lens will it need to carry and how big are the lenses? The types of bags are as follows:
- Toploading – Smallest bag which fits a camera with lens attached. May have space for 1 lens but generally used to protect the camera and lens only. These types of bags can come with a strap for shoulder carrying or on a hip belt.
- Sling – Single strap which goes across the body. The size of the bag can vary from small to almost backpack size. Slings usually allow the bag to swing to the front, access the bag and swing back to normal carrying position.
- Shoulder bag – single strap like a messenger / handbag. Usually small and allow to travel light. Biggest advantage is quick access either on the ground or whilst it’s on the shoulder.
- Backpacks – Varies in size and have multitude of combination. Comes with 2 straps but some do convert into single or cross body strap to become a sling style bag.
- Suit Cases – Heavy duty and generally very large compared to the above. Not advised to be used on location rather it should be used to transport equipment to the venue and a either no or smaller bag should be used.
Some of the well known brands I came across are Kata, Think Tank and LowePro
I bought a LowePro Fastpak 150 AW which is a backpack style bag. It was under £100 and it has 2 zones. The lower zone has space for a camera with attached lens and a side door to pull out the camera like a sling bag. IT can carry approximately 2-4 lenses with this configuration. The top half can be used to carry chargers, batteries, etc. The side has a tripod holder and the back can slot up to 11″ laptop but my 13″ Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook also fits. The AW stands for all weather so it has a water proof jacket at the bottom which can be deployed and wrap around the bag. THe down side is it’s attached to the bag so to dry the cover it needs to be left dangling at the bottom of the bag.
The bag is small in comparison to a “normal” size backpack for example what people use for schools (at least when I was at school) but it makes a good light travel bag. In the future when I have more lens and equipment I know I will have to get a bigger bag if I didn’t want to compromise of what I can take but there will always be an occasion where a small bag for the casual shoots or general traveling.
Summary
Now armed with a bag hopefully this will mobiles the photography to go out an explore and practice and somewhere to pack and put your gear away.
