Camera Bags review

I recently acquired 2 new photo bags to go with the one that I bought when I got my camera. Finding the right camera bag is not an easy task for most photographers.  It's probably especially hard when (1) you're an experienced photographer with a lot of gear to carry around and (2) you're new and don't know what you need.

There are some very informative tutorials and articles on selecting the right bag.  Here are just five of the many hundred articles, tutorials, and forum discussions available on the subject.

1. Photo Tuts+: How to Choose the Perfect Photo Bag for Travel/ by Peter Carey
2. tutorial 9: Choosing a Camera Bag by Federick Silverglimth
3. Digital Photography School: Choosing a Day Bag for Your Camera by Peter Carey
4. Berger Bros: video - Selecting The Best Camera Bag For Your Needs by Yvonne Berger
5. byThom: Carrying 101 by Thom Hogan

No matter what you read, or how much advice you get, you have to find your own bag.  I have a difficult time just trying to buy a handbag.  Currently, I have two that I use, one for summer and one for winter.  They are just alike except for the color and they each cost about $15.  I wish they were about 1 inch bigger.  I have another bag that cost about $75.  I carried it for a month before I went back to one of the cheap ones.  What I'm saying is that I care more about function than fashion. 

Now I (finally) come to the review part of this post.  I haven't used any of the bags very much so I can't speak to their durability, ease of use, or comfort factor in actual use.  They all come in black when I would have preferred some accent color.

I purchased the Lowepro Adventura 170 Camera Bag for $22.32, but it's now priced at $28.36.  I measured the external measurements as 9.5 W x 8.75 H  x 5.5 D.  There's about 3/4 inch of padding all around so it's nicely padded.  There are 2 removable/adjustable padded dividers so you can have up to 3 sections. I have a Canon Rebel with the kit lens in the bag and only have room for one other section which would hold one lens or one flash.  The bag has a zippered 9.25 x 6.25 pocket on the front with 2 insert pockets (for things like memory cards) - there's little depth to the main pocket and none at all to the insert pockets.  I don't think it would hold the camera manual.  There are 2 "pouches" on the sides with elastic tops that will fit slim water bottles.  It got good reviews, but don't believe those who told you how roomy it is.  I'd probably give it 4 to 4 1/2 stars because it's smaller than advertised, but it may be just the size you need.

Pros: It appears well made and well padded.  It has adjustable section dividers.  It closes with a zipper and a fold over flap that buckles so the camera is secure.  It has both a padded carrying handle on top and an adjustable, sturdy shoulder strap.

Cons: It's too small to hold much except the camera body and one or two lens.  It closes with a zipper and a fold over flap that buckles so it's difficult to get to the camera quickly.  It looks like a camera bag.



Last week I got the AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR Cameras and Accessories.  At under $35, it was reasonably priced.  I measured it as 10.5 W x 16 H x 6.25 D.  The straps and back are well-padded; straps are adjustable.  It has a chest strap which lies too close to my neck for comfort even though it's adjustable and the waist strap is for skinny people.  (I didn't expect it to fit me, but I'm repeating what other reviewers said on that one.) 

It has 2 pockets on the front.  One is a flat, zip-at-the-top-only pocket in the front that would hold maps or a manual and I can easily slide my hand to the bottom to retrieve small articles. The other pocket unzips1/2 way down each side as well as the top and contains a large mesh pocket, approximately 9 x 9, and 4 insert pockets (2 pen size, one 8 x 6 and one 5 x 5.  There's a pocket on both sides that close with Velcro and are about 4 x 5 with expandable sides. It has 2 straps on one side to hold a small - moderate size tripod.

It has 1/2 inch padding front, top, bottom, and sides.  There are 6 small (3 inch wide) adjustable/removable section dividers and 2 large ones that fit lengthwise in the bag so you can get 9 different sections and there are 2 straps to fit over the sections to hold stuff in.  There are 2 zippered vinyl pockets about 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 in the main compartment. It holds more camera stuff than I own right now.  There are video reviews on Amazon.com and YouTube if you want to see what other photographers put in there. 

All the straps seemed to be secured well.  The zipper pulls are padded.  I'd probably give it 4 to 4 1/2 stars.  I'm not built for a backpack so I'm not the best judge on this one.  I'm not sure how easy it will be to get off my shoulders when it's loaded.

Pros: Good price/good value; holds a lot, but not too big; well padded; doesn't look like a camera bag.  Not too hard to get camera out, but not all that fast either.

Cons: Doesn't come with rain cover.



The last bag I'm reviewing today was an impulse buy.  I got the Neewer Large Camera Case/Bag because of the reviews and the price.  At only $3.56, including shipping, I just had to see it.  The reviewers were right. 

This little bag measures 7.75 W x 8.5 H x 4.75 with about 1/8 inch of padding all around.  (It's only 2 inches deep when empty which makes it easy to store.)  Inside there's a flat pocket about 5.5 x 6.5.  I can easily slip my hand to the bottom of that pocket. On the outside there's a zippered pocket about 7.5 x 6.  The zipper goes 3/4 of the way down both sides so it's easily accessible, but there are no little pockets inside that.  It's big enough to comforatbly hold my Canon Rebel with the kit lens attached. It closes with a flap and Velcro and there's an adjustable shoulder strap that's long enough to make this a cross body bag for safety.  The strap attached to webbing that goes around 3 sides of the bag that should increase the stability and durability of the bag as well as the strap.

I can use this bag for odds and ends when I carry the LowePro bag, or vice versa.

Pros: The price!  This is a great bag for the price.  Can remove camera fairly quickly.  Doesn't look like a camera bag.  It's not all black. Empty, it stores more easily than other bags.

Cons: the Velcro closure, not much padding (but for $3.50, you can't really expect 1/2 inch padding now, can you?)