Camera Bags, How big is too big

The Hunchback photographer, the future of digital photographers

The digital photographer has been liberated from the physical burden of film and it is good. The problem is it has been replaced by a bewildering array of electronic accessories. All of which need somewhere to live when on the road or on safari in Africa.

The most common repository of these bits and bobs is the camera bag.

They come in an array of brands, shapes and sizes but which is really going to be usable in the field and which is going to make you like a turtle.

Since we are heading to Africa for the ultimate photo safari lets talk about travel and your camera bag.

DON'T:

• Skimp and wrap your gear in your clothes and load them all into your suitcase. Unless you have good insurance.
• Get the largest bag you can and put everything in it.
• Not get a camera bag and try to carry all your gear onto the plane.

Now we have covered what not to do, lets look at what you might need the bag for while travelling.

Point to Point Travel: You have to get your precious camera gear from home to destination. The camera backpacks made by several manufacturers are a good option for this. Again only take the gear you will need, otherwise this backpack will weigh a ton. This is bad if they decide to weigh your carry on luggage and its bad for your health. I have found backpacks to be the easiest style of camera bag for this purpose. For his role i use a LowePro NatureTrekker. This fits in the overhead of the 737s and above quite nicely. It can be a bit squishy on regional airlines though.

In the Field: Obviously once you arrive you need a way to carry the camera gear comfortably whilst keeping it protected and secure. Your requirements will vary dependent on your destination. On a lodge based safari you camera bits travel from chalet to jeep and thats about it. So here the much maligned camera vest is a good option. Once on the game drive your camera will be around your neck at all times. Africa can get dusty so it would be wise to take some sort of bag to keep it in during the quiet moments.
If you are doing the cultural tour thing then you need a proper camera bag to hold the camera and bare essentials. I use a LowePro TopLoader for these roles. I can stuff it with clothes in my booked luggage to get it to the destination then out it comes. I also have a couple of lens cases on the side of the toploader. It can get weighty with 100-400 and flash and 17-40 given it only has the one shoulder strap but the convenience of just reaching in and taking camera out ready to shoot is priceless.

I also use a LowePro Slingshot 200 but its a tad small for the big L glass so I am contemplating the Slingshot 300. Given the next trip is Kenya I will most likely make do for the mean time.

NOTE: I am not sponsored by LowePro or anything like that I just find they usually have a bag that meets my requirements. Also we don't get much variety here in Australia. That said I am looking intently at some of the Kata range. Andy Rouse has some of these so I will check his out while we are in the Masai Mara,

No matter what happens you will end up with a room full of camera bags and will buy a new one for every trip. Every trip has its own requirements and the existing bags never seem to quite fit.

Everyone has a differing opinion on camera bags so let me know what you use.