Travelers & Photographers - Bags for big cameras?

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BusinessFish

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Jan 11, 2019
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#1
Hi all! I'm new to the forum :) I hope this post is in the right thread hehe!

Any travelers and photographers out there, have purchased or know of ergonomic designer bags or backpacks that would be best for big camera setups?

By all means I'm not a professional who needs a massive backpack and a ton of space, I'm just a happy hobbyist - but enough space for what you'd imagine to be a bulky camera (more specifically, room for the full frame Sony A7III camera + Sony 24-105 mm f/4, if anyone out there knows cameras c: ) and be able to throw in a wallet and phone in it too. I'd want to use it for city day trips, flying and travelling in the US & internationally.

For a long while I've been trying to find good looking bags, both designer and non-designer, that are suitable for holding camera gear, but I've quickly realized that even companies that design bags specifically for photographers, don't design bags that are ergonomic enough for easily and quickly taking out a camera. Other photographers would agree. But I figured who knows, maybe someone here has ideas, plus I'd prefer a stylish designer bag over the not so flattering bags currently in the camera bag market right now hehe c;

Thanks in advance!
 
#2
Hi, I would be looking for bag with low empty weight - the camera gear is heavy as it is.
Perhaps a nylon bag from MZ Wallace or Longchamp? I think there are bag inserts for cameras that could work in a bag with a large main compartment.
 
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#3
BusinessFish said:
Hi all! I'm new to the forum :smile: I hope this post is in the right thread hehe!

Any travelers and photographers out there, have purchased or know of ergonomic designer bags or backpacks that would be best for big camera setups?

By all means I'm not a professional who needs a massive backpack and a ton of space, I'm just a happy hobbyist - but enough space for what you'd imagine to be a bulky camera (more specifically, room for the full frame Sony A7III camera + Sony 24-105 mm f/4, if anyone out there knows cameras c: ) and be able to throw in a wallet and phone in it too. I'd want to use it for city day trips, flying and travelling in the US & internationally.

For a long while I've been trying to find good looking bags, both designer and non-designer, that are suitable for holding camera gear, but I've quickly realized that even companies that design bags specifically for photographers, don't design bags that are ergonomic enough for easily and quickly taking out a camera. Other photographers would agree. But I figured who knows, maybe someone here has ideas, plus I'd prefer a stylish designer bag over the not so flattering bags currently in the camera bag market right now hehe c;

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I don't think you will find something "designer", purpose built for a big camera (or any exchangable lens camera setup), it just does not fit the market in my eyes. (I assume that you are looking for something quite padded, with internal compartments suitable for lenses and side/back opening etc.) What Elliespurse said would be your best bet.
 
#7
Not sure who you have or haven’t looked at. Which companies have you come across? It may be helpful for others, too.

Check out Peak Design. Not a designer bag, but nice design. You can look up reviews or videos to see how others, including photographers, like it.

https://www.peakdesign.com



BusinessFish said:
Hi all! I'm new to the forum [emoji4] I hope this post is in the right thread hehe!

Any travelers and photographers out there, have purchased or know of ergonomic designer bags or backpacks that would be best for big camera setups?

By all means I'm not a professional who needs a massive backpack and a ton of space, I'm just a happy hobbyist - but enough space for what you'd imagine to be a bulky camera (more specifically, room for the full frame Sony A7III camera + Sony 24-105 mm f/4, if anyone out there knows cameras c: ) and be able to throw in a wallet and phone in it too. I'd want to use it for city day trips, flying and travelling in the US & internationally.

For a long while I've been trying to find good looking bags, both designer and non-designer, that are suitable for holding camera gear, but I've quickly realized that even companies that design bags specifically for photographers, don't design bags that are ergonomic enough for easily and quickly taking out a camera. Other photographers would agree. But I figured who knows, maybe someone here has ideas, plus I'd prefer a stylish designer bag over the not so flattering bags currently in the camera bag market right now hehe c;

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
 
#10
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I used to carry 3 smaller cameras for work in a tote bag. I worked from my car, so I didn’t have to lug it around, just keep the cameras padded, and east to grab. I used this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F27IEFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You might also consider a backpack for travel. There are lots of designer styles, and you can use the above padded insert or something like it.
The inserts do come in different sizes, and the dividers are velcro’d so you can divide the space any way you want.
 
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#12
Urgh I keep coming back to this research topic every once in a while, glad to see that I'm not alone here! I have alternated between using a manfrotto bag, manfrotto bag inside longchamp neo in medium, and bag insert (designed for camera gear) in the same longchamp neo. None are ideal :(

I love that the longchamp is light, but unzipping single handedly or quickly is practically impossible.

The manfrotto is good with lots of pockets and organisational features, but on it's own, it's probably the best looking out of the range of camera bags, but still no cigar.

I wish there was a way to make the likes of manfrotto and lowe more good looking. (I almost typed Loewe there, that could work with the puzzle bag already being a decent structure to start with???)

For what it's worth, I use a Canon 70D, with a sigma 24-70mm lens. Backup lenses are a Canon 10-18mm, and 2x pancake lenses in 24mm and 40mm. I would like to be able to carry the body+lens without detaching them, and 1 of any of the other lenses. I've found that the only way of doing so is to basically keep the lens facing down while attached, otherwise it's hard to remove from my bag quickly enough.
 
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