Hello friends!
I’m always on the hunt for the “perfect camera bag”! So today I wanted to chat about what is the best camera bag for you, taking you through shoulders bags, backpacks and hybrids.
As well, share with you what I have found has been the closest to the “perfect bag” for me.
Camera Bags I Own
Amazon BagSmart Camera Backpack : The first camera bag I ever bought was the Amazon BagSmart Camera Backpack for about $100 CAD.
Ona Bowery Bag : My shoulder bag, this was the second camera bag I’ve ever owned. It was more on the expensive side sitting at $300 CAD.
Peak Design Sling 6L : My hybrid bag, I bought this bag last summer for outdoor excursions that didn’t require a large backpack for about $150 CAD.
Pro’s and Con’s of Each
Camera Backpack
Camera Backpack - Con’s
Overpacking : The con with camera backpack’s is you tend to overpack, because you have extra room to work with. I do this all the time! I pack more accessories and lenses than I need because I have the room and don’t even end up using them.
Not very versatile : Camera backpack’s aren’t the most versatile. They’re great for outdoor excursions like landscape photography, wildlife photography, nature photography, etc., However, I hate bringing my camera backpack into restaurants or nice places. They’re big, bulky and often dirty.
More likely to leave the camera behind : If a camera backpack is the only means I have to carry my equipment then sometimes I am more likely to leave my camera behind because it’s big and bulky.
Camera Backpack - Pro’s
Weight distribution : With a camera backpack the weight of the bag is distributed between the two shoulder straps (some camera backpacks have a third waist strap to help distribute weight to your hips). This is great for long durations or if you’re carrying a heavier load.
You can carry a lot more : Having a camera backpack means you can pack not only your camera gear but other necessities you might need. In the Spring and Summer my husband and I love hiking. Having a backpack is great because I can carry my camera gear, our water bottles, towels, snacks, and anything else we might need.
Hands-free (with a few accessories) : The other pro with using a camera backpack is with a few accessories you can easily go hands-free. One option is to use a camera strap and sling it over your neck. I don’t love this option for long durations because it just puts weight on my neck. I prefer to use the Peak Design Capture Clip - with this accessory attached to your backpack strap you can hook your camera onto it and quickly release when you want to take a photo.
Overall, I find camera backpacks are best if you want to carry lots of gear (or all of your gear) or for outdoor excursions.
Shoulder Bags
Shoulder Bag - Con’s
A lot of weight on one shoulder : Unfortunately, with shoulder bags it can be a lot of weight on your one shoulder (no matter how you wear it).
Difficult to carry extra’s : Due to the nature of a shoulder bag it’s more difficult to carry extra’s like a water bottle or tripod.
Get in the way more : Lastly, I find shoulder bags get in the way more based off of how they hang off your body.
Shoulder Bag - Pro’s
Packing less : There are a variety of size shoulder bags that are on the market. The Ona Bowery I own can comfortably fit one camera body and a maximum of two lenses. The best part of shoulder bags is you pack less (because you have to). So this is a great option if you want to go minimal with your gear.
More Discreet : Shoulder bags are more discreet. You can keep it on your lap, tuck it under the table, hang it off a chair. In the Summer of 2020 I went on a wine tasting trip to Osoyoos, BC and this bag was perfect for what I needed.
Allowed More : If you’re spending time outdoors this isn’t a big problem but when you’re travelling certain restaurants, shops, arena’s, etc., might have a “no backpack” rule. Thus, having a shoulder bag is perfect for these situations.
Overall, I find shoulder bags are best for day trips, shorter excursions into the city or nice places.
Hybrid
Hybrid - Con’s
Limited on what you can carry : Hybrid’s aren’t full size backpack’s so you still have to be selective on what gear you are bringing.
Difficult to carry extra’s : With hybrid’s it’s still difficult to carry extra’s. It’s not as difficult because some hybrid’s have additional features like the Peak Design Sling with straps on the bottom so you can carry a water bottle, jacket, tripod on the bottom.
Weight on one shoulder : You are also still putting weight on one shoulder, unlike you wear it like a waist bag.
Hybrid - Pro’s
Multi-wear : With hybrid’s like the Peak Design 6L Sling you can wear it as a backpack, shoulder bag or waist bag.
Fit quite a bit : Depending on the brand and size you can fit quite a bit of stuff. In this video I show you exactly how much you can fit!
Fairly discreet/versatile : The low-profile nature of a hybrid is more discreet than a backpack (similar to a shoulder bag). I personally feel more comfortable walking into a restaurant or nice place using this.
Allowed More : Due to the multi-wear ability of a hybrid, if the location doesn’t allow backpacks you can simply wear it as a shoulder bag!
Perfect Camera Bag
Out of my camera backpack, shoulder bag, and hybrid I find the closest to the “perfect camera bag” is my 6L Peak Design Sling. It can fit what it needs to, it’s comfortable and it’s versatile. When we went to Vancouver Island last summer we were hiking, in and out of restaurants, on boats, and in museums and the bag was perfect for everything we were doing.
Things to Consider
So if you’re looking for a new camera bag, here are some things to consider:
Budget? Camera bags can be expensive! The most expensive one I own is $300 CAD but they can easily climb to $600 CAD.
What are you going to be doing? How do you see yourself using this bag? What are you likely photographing? These questions help me figure out what gear I actually need on the trip and thus, what the bag needs to be able to fit.
Let me know over on the channel if you have found your perfect camera bag!
I post weekly to my YouTube Channel so if you found this helpful please consider subscribing to the channel or buying me a coffee.
Beautifully Wander | Robynne MacLeod