Toolbox: D-SLR Camera Bags

We’re always searching for the perfect camera bag, but much like the Holy Grail, this can prove to be an elusive, if not impossible quest. The result is often multiple bags in a storage closet. Owning several bags can be a very good thing, however—unless you’re asking an annoyed spouse.

I have a large collection of styles: shoulder bags, waist packs, backpacks and sling bags. They all fit a niche for me because, depending on what I’m shooting, I may need only a specific selection of my camera equipment. The days when I’d carry everything I own in an off-the-shoulder bag are long over. Physical therapy doesn’t come cheap these days.

Traveling light can be advantageous, which is why I like having a bag that can accommodate a single camera, a couple of lenses and a few accessories. Keeping it simple helps keep me shooting rather than focusing on the physical discomfort of carrying too much for too long.

Here’s an assortment of bags that offer unique ways to help you travel and work light.

Pelican 140 Soft Bag
The Pelican 140 Soft Bag offers two convenient ways to access your equipment. The bag opens from the top or the side and features front and side pockets for other accessories. Capable of holding a camera and a couple of lenses, the bag fits into the Pelican 1400 hard case for maximum protection against water and impact. List Price: $75.

Tenba Shootout Mini Backpack
The Tenba Shootout Mini Backpack shows that a backpack doesn’t have to be big and bulky. With enough capacity for a D-SLR, lenses and a flash, the bag provides ample protection for gear, but also makes it easy for you to carry a small assortment of equipment. Adjustable web straps at the backpack’s base make it easy to carry a monopod, umbrella or ground cloth. Estimated Street Price: $100.