Pro Photographers ( especially film Photographers) need larger and better Camera Bags They must also be durable and lightweight and able to hold lots of stuff. How do you choose a Pro Camera Bag?
It is not as easy as it sounds. If you are a film Photographer (and many of us still are ) you need a roomy, light and tough camera bag. Although many manufacturers offer professional camera bags, they pretty much professional camera bags all advertise COME AND ROB ME!
If you do not go into rough areas or foreign countries where locals view you while obviously considering if they can slit your throat in a ditch outside town then that is fine.Regrettably that is where some of the best pictures are to be found.
Makers camera bags are custom made to fit their equipment snugly and they stay nestled safely.
If you are using only digital equipment then you may need a smaller camera bag and this should not really need room for film and a number of accessories. This is a big advantage and you can the go for a Photo bag which is both tough and stylish. The reason I emphasise tough is that most cameras are really quite fragile and you need to protect them from damage (I once witnessed a coach driver grabbing my bag and helpfully hurling it full of Pentax 6x7 cameras and lenses onto a concrete floor 20 feet away) That was not an outstanding moment in my career.. Protecting your camera is the prime concern to take top quality pictures. Room for your camera, memory cards and a flashgun is the minimum size you need. Filters,your camera manual and batteries and a battery charger should also go into your choice. It is all too easy to choose a photographic bag on color and style (keep that for consideration later). The bag should be a little larger than you need and a leather case with heavy duty padding is the ultimate in protection. Some people would argue that an aluminum case is better but from my experience an aluminum case attracts thieves like honey attracts wasps at a picnic.
The alternative to think about is a KEVLAR or similar tough material camera bag with foam padding inside. Tamrac make good models like this and I use one. My other favourite is the British Billingham bag which is lightweight and available in various sizes. This is a tough beige material and protects your camera well. Make sure the camera bag has a foam lining on the base inside as this will protect it if you drop it (or if some dumb character decides to walk or stand on it.)
NOTE - if you are photographing Disney or another fireworks display some idiot will ALWAYS stand their drooling kid on top of your camera bag!
Good bags are usually waterproof but a great idea is to pack a few large self sealing poly bags which will give a lot more protection against an unexpected shower.
I have to admit that I am a camera bag junkie - I have dozens (mainly from car boot sales) Some of the smaller one have been very useful on minor jobs.
Tamrac has a great range of camera bags and I use their backpack frequently as I do a fair bit of Rambling and wandering around mountains.
The advantage of the backpack for me is that the bag evens up the weight of the contents across your shoulders and spreads the weight around your body. This is very important in the Tropics
.It has lens pockets and plenty of room for a camera in the main compartment and a large compartment underneath for filters etc.
There is a slight disadvantage with a backpack and that is that a thief can with care steal by unzipping a compartment behind you. This is particularly important on buses and trains. Fix it with a small padlock.
If you usually shoot photos in an urban area then the Aluminum case is the best bet. The other main thing to remember is that the bag should have plenty of foam lined compartments and these will protect your valuable camera.
Professional image is important for professional photographers and a smart camera bag definitely adds to that impression. Actually a good suit or smart casual clothes helps too. It really is worthwhile investing in a professional camera bag.
