Camera Bag or Camera Case: Which Do You Need?
- Camera Case vs Camera Bag - the Differences
- Choosing a Hard Camera Case
- Deciding On a Soft Camera Bag
- Other Vanguard Photography Gear
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- Which of These Vanguard Camera Bags Is Best for Your Needs?
- Preparing for Travel Photography - How to Plan and What to Bring
Photo by ozgurdonmaz via iStock
How much gear do you need to carry around? If you’re like me, you have a variety of equipment kits arranged for different needs.
For instance, I have a set of equipment I use for real estate photography, another list of gear for environmental portraits, and various levels of completeness covering kits for nature photography. I base using a camera case or a camera bag on what type of photography I’ll be doing, how I’m getting there, and the specifics of the gear needed.
I’ll illustrate each idea's differences and advantages using Vanguard camera cases and bags: the Vanguard Alta Sky 51D camera bag backpack and the Vanguard Supreme 53F hard camera case.
Table of Contents:
Camera Case vs Camera Bag - the Differences
Deciding on whether to use a hard case for camera gear or to opt for a soft bag style will depend on several factors, which I will list in the separate sections below. First, let’s see the major differences between a camera bag and a camera case.
The obvious difference that jumps right out at us is that one has hard sides, and the other is less rigid with soft sides. Think of the differences as similar to a messenger bag, an attache case, or a duffle bag vs a suitcase.
A hard camera case will often have dividers of some sort for the interior, providing some pretty specific places to put the gear. A camera bag will tend to have some less specific areas or spaces for your equipment.
A camera bag will likely be padded to protect your cameras and lenses, while a hard camera case is sturdy enough to hold up on its own during travel and transport. Some camera cases may also be watertight for additional gear protection.
Choosing a Hard Camera Case
For me, an early factor in choosing between camera cases and camera bags is how I’m getting to the place where I’ll be doing the photography. Another factor is how much equipment I'm transporting.
I will likely choose a hard camera case for longer trips. This decision applies whether I’m driving myself somewhere or traveling by plane, train, or bus. If I know there will be extra stresses, such as rough roads, jostling by baggage handlers, pressure or temperature changes, or any possible hard thumps along the way, I want my valuable cargo to be as protected as possible.
The Vanguard Supreme 53F hard camera case is a great example of a heavy-duty yet easily portable camera case. It’s big, so it holds a lot of gear. The inside dimensions are a very generous 22” x 17.75” x 7.875” with customizable die-cut foam padding. I can put some large gear in this camera case.
It’s a great way to transport by air or rail since it closes up tight and securely, is waterproof, closes up airtight to prevent dust, and has an equalizing valve for pressure changes. Outside of the cargo hold, it is easy to move with the telescoping handle and built-in wheels.
The video above from the Vanguard YouTube channel shows the lineup of their Supreme heavy-duty camera cases.
Deciding On a Soft Camera Bag
An issue for many camera bag options is that your gear never seems organized, no matter how many times you rearrange it. Professional-level backpack-style camera bags take care of this concern by creatively using velcro positioning space dividers.
Another feature or function I like for a soft-sided camera bag is extra pockets, loops, or straps for other equipment. Things like small inner pockets for batteries or memory cards that I want access to without digging around or an exterior strap for holding a tripod.
The Vanguard Alta Sky 51D is a large, soft-sided camera bag in the backpack style that meets all of the criteria set out above for overcoming common issues photographers have with a camera bag.
It can hold a lot of camera gear, including long, fast telephoto lenses, Full Frame format or Medium format cameras, and all sorts of accessories and other lenses. The side panels, interior dividers, and the main flap are thickly padded with protective material. The interior dividers are adjustable using Velcro flaps and stay where you put them.
Using this bag in the field is where it excels. It protects the gear and allows you various ways to access it. You can be on the move, such as hiking to the perfect picture spot or using it to carry gear in your car, ATV, or mountain bike.
Have a look at this video from the Vanguard YouTube channel showing how versatile their Alta Sky camera bag is:
Since you will be using this as a camera bag to work out of, another feature that works well for active photographers is that you can access your cameras and lenses in a variety of ways, fully or partially opening the entire bag, opening from the top, or using a specialized quick access camera partition.
I find myself using this camera bag to transport my gear and use it in the field, whether that field is an indoor venue such as a corporate meeting space or outside in a spot only found by extreme hiking trips.
Other Vanguard Photography Gear
In the argument over whether to use a hard camera case or a soft sided camera bag, I think it makes perfect sense to be open to using both. In my case, I sometimes end up with both and a holster style camera sling when I’m going on a photo trek.
I’m partial to high-quality, durable, easy-to-use, reasonably priced photography equipment, so I often find myself drawn toward Vanguard photo gear. Besides these camera bags and cases, you’ll also want to examine the fine lineup of tripods and tripod heads available at the Vanguard Store.
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