A Guide To Choosing
The Perfect Digital Camera Bags!

After your Camera itself, a camera bag is possibly the most important piece of equipment you'll purchase. You'll definitely want to protect the camera you just splashed your cash on! It also needs to be safe & sturdy for carrying. It’s also crucial that your chosen bag allows easy accessibility to your photo equipment & helps you to organize your photographic gear into compartments if possible.


You'll find many different types of camera bags available, from Crumpler and Sony to Lowerpro and Domke, all of which come in a wide variety of types, sizes, shapes, and materials. You need to consider the main types of photography you'll undertake, when deciding on the most suitable camera bag for you. The type of bag will largely depend on its use, for example, a 'sport or landscape' photographer may often find himself working in a wet or dirty environment, so a strong durable and waterproof carrying bag would be the best choice. That said, a leisure photographer shooting the family would only need an easy to carry, lightweight bag.

A good bag should make carrying your camera simpler, not more difficult, so be sure to select a bag that fits your camera model well. It should also have comfortable, wide shoulder straps for better comfort. If you're new to digital photography, you may only need a basic camera bag to offer a simple degree of protection, or to merely store your camera in. A decent bag is definitely a worthwhile investment, no matter how experienced you may be.

However, if you’re more experienced, or carry more kit than usual, such as lenses, filters etc, you will obviously need a larger bag capable of taking more weight. Ideally, you’re going to want a bag which will safely hold all of your most frequently used accessories. This normally includes your camera body, a spare or alternative lens, a cleaning cloth & possibly a memory card holder. However, do remember that if your camera bag is to be used to carry more than just a camera, you'll want dividers in it which make it easier and safer to keep your accessories together. An internal zip pocket is an added benefit too!

Another extremely important factor that's often overlooked is the ‘Zip’ type fastener. Try to find Bags with 'big tooth zips'. This type is less likely to stick or jam in the damp or dirt. Others are available with rain-closures which protect the zipper from water. There are also double closure Zips which open & close from either end, a great bonus when shooting on the move! Although color isn’t a crucial factor, it's worth considering a subtle colored bag, which will obviously attract less attention to your potentially expensive photo gear.

As for which brand to choose, well there are many out brands available, but to be sure of quality and practicality we'd suggest sticking to a few excellent runners! Crumpler promise a lifetime guarantee! Fantastic quality with great stitching and nice wide straps, the Crumpler Bags always do a great job of protecting your camera and your accessories.


Samsonite has a large range of top quality bags made from Polytex, most of which come complete with a 10 year guarantee. They produce bags suitable for every type of camera, from the smallest compacts to the larger digital SLR's. Finally we have Lowerpro. They have a fantastic reputation as the best of the bag suppliers. Excellent range of rucksacks, mid-size and pocket camera pouches for all cameras & equipment. Lowerpro is a favorite with many professionals so you can't go wrong.

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