SLR Equipment
Camera/Equipment Bags

This Tamrac 610 bag was my first quality equipment bag. It will comfortably hold two cameras with lenses attached and four to six additional lenses and flash units in the main compartment. A variety of smaller equipment can be carried in its various pockets. Over-stuffed, as mine is, it can be quite heavy to carry around for long, but for the average advanced photographer, who prefers a shoulder bag, this bag is just about ideal. It's very tuff and well padded for the protection of your equipment, and well sealed against the elements.

This is Tamrac's economy version of the bag above, the 5612 Pro 12 bag. It'll hold nearly as much equipment as the bag above, is just as well padded and sealed, but for less money. The material may not be as heavy and contains more plastic parts, but I've found it to be just as hardy and waterproof as the 610. Therefore, for anyone having not more than two cameras, five or six lenses, and a flash, plus normal accessories, this is the bag I would recommend for most photographers who prefer a shoulder-type bag. However, I've since replaced mine as a camera bag and it is now regulated for use as a filter and accessory bag.

I also have a couple of Domke bags, the F-1X and F2. The F-1X is pictured at right, is the larger of the two, and still in use. The F2 is currently not in use. They are just as rugged as the Tamrac bags above, but they are not as well padded or sealed. The advantage of the Domke bags is that they are more flexible and don't have all the zippers to mess with, which can be a great blessing when scrambling for equipment. Being softer, especially after being used a while, they are also more comfortable to carry. I would recommend these bags, especially the larger, to those who are constantly changing lenses and equipment, and need to grab equipment quickly.

My most recent bag acquisitions have been photo backpacks. If I'm doing photography near my vehicle or in a fairly stationary location, I'll take one of the above bags. However, if I'm hiking in the wilds or along trails, a backpack makes the ideal equipment bag. It's much easier and more comfortable to carry a bag over your back than over your shoulder for any length of time. And, opening them up brings all your equipment within easy grasp. No diging down inside a shoulder bag searching for equipment.

Pictured at left is Tamrac's 5275 Expedition 5. It'll carry a camera and several lenses plus additional equipment. It's the backpack I use most often on short trips when shooting Konica.

Nearly identical in size is a Photo Technic photo backpack I own (not pictured). I also use it for Konica equipment, but the 5275 houses my favorite Konica gear. They are both great for hiking while not making you feel overly loaded down.

These are also quite hardy, seal well against outside elements, and provide good protection for your equipment.

At right is Tamrac's 5278 Expedition 8 photo backpack. It's large enough for two cameras, a flash, six or more lenses, and a good variety of other equipment. It's also better suited than the 5275 if you have long telephoto lenses. I use it for extended photo trips when I need or want more than one camera and a good variety of lenses when shooting with my Konica gear. As the picture shows, additional bags can be attached for carrying additional equipment and even a water bottle, and it has a built-in tripod carrier. Except for the tripod carrier, this can also be done with the Expedition 5. I have water bottle carrier, film management pack, and two backpack pocket attachments that can be used with either the 5275 or 5278.

Although the pack is quite comfortable to carry, and weight is well distributed, it can be quite heavy if fully loaded. One needs to be in good shape to carry it far.

At left is the Pro Trekker AW photo backpack from Lowepro. And, as its name implies, is a popular backpack with the professional photographers. It is slightly larger than the Tamrac 5278, being 1 1/4 inches wider and 1/2 inch longer inside. It's well built and very hardy, comes with a quick-release tripod mount, built-in travel cover, all weather cover, accessory pouch and attachable lens pouch. Overall, with accesssories attached, it measures 21" wide, 15" deep, 23.5" high and weighs about 9 pounds. It'll easily carry 50 pounds or more of equipment. More than you'd probably like to carry.

For the average photographer wanting a photo backpack, this Lowepro Trekker Classic, the Mini Trekker AW below, or the above Tamrac 5275, is what I recommend. They easily hold as much or more equipment than most people own, are lightweight, comfortable to carry, are hardy, and give good protection to equipment. They will easily carry a camera five or six lenses, and a flash, along with other gear. There's even a tripod carrier built into the Mini Trekker AW. I bought this backpack for when I want to really travel light and/or over long distances with a decent amount of equipment.

The Lowepro Mini Trekker AW is similar in size to the Mini Trekker Classic and the Tamrac 5275, but built with water-resistant material and a better harness system, plus it has a built-in tripod carrier. Interior size is 11"W x 5"D x 14.5" H.

Here you see the Lowepro Photo Trekker Classic. Not as large as the Pro Trekker AW, it still will hold a lot of equipment. Mine carries my digital SLR equipment: D100, lenses, battery pack, spare battteries, battery chargers, and more. It is very well padded, and provides extra thick padding down it's center length, which is perfect protection for a long telephoto lens. If not for my last backpack purchase, it would be my favorite equipment bag.

My favorite equipment bag is this Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II, and is used with my favorite shooting gear. Interior size is 12 inches wide, by 6 inches deep, and is 19 inches high. As of this writing, it is Lowepro's best-selling Trekker AW backpack for outdoor photographers. It's very hardy and quite water-resistant. Its outer fabric is water-resistant 600D ripstop nylon and 600D Endura nylon. The very comfortable harness is adjustable and distrubtes weight exceedingly well. It's more comfortable and feels lighter than some of the smaller backpacks I own.

I also have the F.64 BP and BPX bags at left. The interior dimensions of the BP are 13"x16"x6", and the BPX is 14"x23"x6," the latter (immediate left) being my largest equipment bag. I use the F.64 BP bags as a combination digital/film bag. The F.64 BPX is used as my primary Nikon manual equipment bag.

A small Nikon Gadget bag holds my Nikkormat EL and the few non-AI lenses that I have.

For short walks and hikes, I have a couple of day/hip bag/packs. At left above, is the Tamrac 5749, which is large enough to carry a large camera, two or three lenses, and other minor equipment.

At left below is the smaller Adorama Slinger bag, which I use for smaller cameras.

Both are good for when one wants to carry a minimum of equipment while out walking around the neighborhood or at an amusement park.

The 5749 remains empty and is only loaded with whatever equipment I want to take along when traveling extremly light. I use the Slinger for my Konica T4 and two or three lenses.

As I get older, I find I want to carry less weight. Therefore, unless I'm on a photo trip of a day or longer, these bags fit the bill for most of my casual photography.