If you've been a photographer for any amount of time, you understand certain truths about photography.
First, you have to work hard for every shot.
Second, lenses are more important than cameras.
And third, you'll spend as much time looking for a good camera bag as you will searching for the best photos.
It's not too dramatic to say that a camera bag can make or break a photographer. With these simple tips, you'll learn about the best camera bags and the features to look for.
Editor's Note: I use Holdfast's Sightseer Backpack as an example throughout this article of what to look for in a camera bag. I use Holdfast products and can attest first-hand that their bags, straps, and other gear are second-to-none.
Think Ahead
One of the best things you can do when shopping for a camera bag is to think about your needs in the future - not just what you need now.
By that, I mean that right now you might have one camera and two lenses. But a year or two from now, you might have two cameras and four lenses.
That's why thinking ahead is so important. You don't want to have to buy a new camera bag every couple of years!
What you could do instead is invest in a modular camera bag system that can grow with you as you acquire more gear.
The Holdfast Sightseer Backpack is one such system that gives you excellent storage space to begin with, but also plenty of options for hauling more gear in the future.
As you can see in the image above, the interior of the backpack offers all the room you need to start out.
But on the outside of the bag are numerous leather loops where you can attach Sightseer pouches to carry everything from a small wide-angle lens to a short telephoto lens, and even your cell phone.
By making this bag adaptable, Holdfast all but guarantees you have the ability to tailor your bag to fit your needs each time you head out to shoot.
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What to Look for in a Camera Bag: Durability
Looking for a good camera bag is like looking for a good pair of shoes.
You not only want something that's comfortable and that looks good, but you also want something that'll actually last.
Some camera bags are made with flimsy materials, and a close inspection reveals shoddy work.
But that's certainly not the case with the Holdfast Sightseer Backpack.
I mean, this thing is beautifully made with materials that will stand the test of time.
The American Bison leather and waxed canvas exterior will stand up to the elements, repel water, and ensure that your gear remains safe and dry.
Better still, the leather components will age gracefully as you put the backpack through its paces, so as good as it looks brand new, it'll look even better once you've got a few knicks and marks in it that tell the story of your photography adventures.
This backpack also has waterproof zippers, so if things really get nasty outside, you don't have to worry if your gear is going to be ruined.
That's because between the waterproof zippers, the waxed canvas, and American Bison leather, the exterior of this bag will shed water with the best of them.
But there's other materials to consider when thinking about durability, like metal components.
Some companies use plastic buckles, snaps, D-rings, and so forth, but not Holdfast...
Stainless steel is used on this bag to ensure that it won't rust or corrode, and that the bag will perform just as well 10 years from now as it does on day one.
Bag Dividers are a Big Deal
I know that camera bag dividers aren't really a sexy topic, but when you have thousands of dollars worth of gear in your bag, you want to be sure that everything stays right where you want it.
That's where bag dividers come in...
The Sightseer Backpack has a customizable interior compartment with various bag dividers that you can move around as well.
That means that you can adjust the space to fit your specific needs both now and in the future. Not bad, right?
What's more, this bag has a soft flannel lining that prevents scratches, and the bag is surrounded by one-inch thick padded walls.
When it comes to safely transporting your gear from one location to the next, this is just the kind of bag you need.
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How to Organize a Camera Bag
When it comes to what to look for in a camera bag, you want a bag that's easy to customize and organize.
As I noted earlier, the Holdfast Sightseer Backpack is a breeze to customize, and that enables you to be a much more organized photographer as well.
When I organize my bag, I put the most-used items in the center compartments, that way they're easier to grab.
When moving the bag dividers around, I ensure that there's a little extra space - perhaps 1/4 of an inch - so that the gear inside the compartment is snug, but not crammed in there, either.
It's also important to lay all your gear out ahead of time so you can see everything you want to take and start customizing the bag's interior space to accommodate all your gear.
Of course, if you use something like the Holdfast Sightseer Backpack, you also have the option of carrying extra lenses on the exterior of the bag.
In that case, simply measure your lenses, determine which ones need to be carried in add-on pouches, and get the appropriate-sized Holdfast lens pouch.
Doing so will open up even more space in the bag for extra gear.
But don't worry about carrying more gear in this rig...
You can fill it to the brim with gear, and it's still a comfortable carrying experience!
Comfort, looks, durability, easy to organize, and future-proof. These are the qualities you should be looking for in the best Nikon camera bags, the best Canon camera bags, and the best camera bags for any other type of camera system, too.