Today we need to discuss the all important subject of camera bags. And believe me, this subject would be important to you too if you'd already been through 2 bags to your disliking, both of which are neither stylish nor comfortable. Nor useful (which you'll notice is 3rd on my list of important things in a camera bag - kind of like shoes... and men).
When I was 20 I asked for a 35mm SLR camera for Christmas so I'd have something decent to take with me when I moved overseas. In case you're not the photography type, that meant I wanted a film camera (digitals weren't even out yet) and I wanted it to be the kind of camera that, when you looked through it, you were actually looking through the lens via an elaborate system of smoke and mirrors. I ended up getting the Canon Rebel G (thanks to Andre Agassi and all his hair) with 2 lenses, but the kicker was that I didn't realize I needed a camera bag until I had all my loot. By then I had spent all my alotted Christmas money and had an "Oh shit" moment. Um, yeah. Carrying around expensive camera equipment with a plastic Target bag might work for some people, but not so much me.
Luckily my parents are really cool and they gave a poor, starving college student enough money to buy a cheap camera bag. And by cheap I mean the smallest bag in the store that, when jimmy'd with a little velcro, was juuuuuust big enough to hold my stuff. Not only was it the smallest and cheapest bag in the store, it was the ugliest. Forest. Green. And when you pick up the strap it falls 90 degrees in the wrong direction. Why Tamrac built a top-heavy camera bag that can't even be held up-right is BEYOND me. DO YOU HEAR THAT TAMRAC? WHY???!!!1oneone
But this is the camera bag I got. And I was 20. And pleased. And there was much rejoicing.
When I bought my Nikon D70 I realized I was big enough to buy a *new* camera bag!!! Cuz when you're the youngest of 5 children you're never big enough to do ANYTHING (which, just short of a therapist, gives you a pretty sufficient complex about proving everybody wrong as often as possible), but I had a moment where I was like, "Oh my god - I'm 27 years old and I can buy a new camera bag if I want to. SWEEEEET!" So I bought a tall bag (cuz wide ones are totally impractical) that holds my 2 camera bodies, 3 lenses, pocket digital, 2 lomos, a lens hood, and as much film, batteries, and memory cards as my heart desires. It's black and grey too, which is nice. Or nicer than forest green anyway, but we're still not at burgunday, baby blue, or even pink.
The newer bag is great for long trips because it's protective, waterproof, durable, holds all my shit, and isn't forest green (sorry, I just can't let that go). But I would say the majority of my shooting is done locally, where hauling a huge-ass bag around isn't practical (The Tourist Guide's head is about to fall off because he's shaking it in agreement so enthusiastically). The smaller bag is okay when I put it inside my shoulder bag (so it doesn't fall its top-heavy ass over), and this solution means I also have compartments to store away my iPod, keys, money, lipsticks, black books, gum, and everything else women need when they leave the house (save the extra pair of shoes). But frankly, I bought the shoulder bag for $9.99 at Target and it's real, real uncomfortable after about an hour.
Yes, I've thought all this through once or twice.
I'm leaving for Florida on Thursday and am struggling with what to bring. Yes, the big one for transport purposes. But no I don't want to be walking around South Beach with that fucker all messing up my style 'n stuff. And if I'm gonna be walking around for extended periods of time the shoulder bag is gonna leave a nice, red mark right over that which my tank tops reveal. I'm sooooooooo in love with Crumpler bags, which is a good solution, but since I already own 2 bags that I don't love I'm not entirely certain I want to drop that kind of kizzash on a stylish bag I can't even manhandle first.
Ugh. How can buying thousands of dollars in camera equipment be easy in comparison to buying a fucking bag? I mean really. Seriously.
Comments
I have never even seen the crumpler bags...do I have a new bookmark, like hells yes! Those bags are awesome! And I think I needs one. But having a great *non-forest-green bag* is very important.
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a green camera bag, but not a real green camera bag, that's cruel. Sorry, it's 1:30am and I just got woken up for work.