I don't know about you, but when I'm out taking photos of beautiful landscapes, I want my attention on what I'm seeing and photographing, not on how uncomfortable it is to carry my gear.
What's more, I want a camera bag and a camera strap that allows me to easily access my gear without my gear getting in my way.
It seems like a tall task to accomplish these things, but I'm here to tell you that I've found the ideal camera bag and camera strap for landscape photographers that meets these criteria - and more.
Best Camera Bag: Holdfast Explorer Fundy Streetwise Bag
Here's the thing...
When you're out and about photographing landscapes, there's a very good chance that you're going to be in places that have a lot of dust, dirt, pollen, water, snow, and other environmental contaminants that aren't very nice to your camera gear.
That means you need a bag that's built to resist these elements and keep your gear safe.
The Holdfast Fundy Streetwise Bag is one such bag.
What impressed me about this bag is the incredible attention to detail with the construction.
Not only is the exterior of the bag made of waxed canvas and leather - two materials that make it a waterproof camera bag - but everything from the stitching to the buckles to the zippers demonstrate the craftsmanship that goes into these bags.
So, why's that important?
The answer is simple - durability.
I've owned dozens of bags over the course of my career, and have found that Holdfast stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to crafting gorgeous bags that are also functional and incredibly durable.
Bags like the Fundy Streetwise are built specifically for on-the-go photographers like myself that need a bag that can take the lumps I throw at it and still protect my gear.
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But you also want a DSLR camera bag or a mirrorless camera bag that's versatile and customizable to your needs.
Again, the Explorer has your back.
Between the Fundy Streetwise Bag, the Explorer Lens Pouch (shown above), the Explorer Wallet, and the Explorer Water Bottle Pouch, you have a modular system that allows you to mix and match elements to get a custom carrying experience.
If you're headed out for a quick shoot, just take the Fundy Streetwise Bag.
If you've got a more intense landscape photography goal in mind, add the Explorer Lens Pouch to expand your ability to carry more lenses.
You get the point here - why buy a single bag that might be great at one thing when you can invest in a bag system that you can tailor to your needs?
Learn More:
Best Camera Strap: Holdfast MoneyMaker
There's two reasons why I believe that the Holdfast MoneyMaker is the best camera strap for landscape photography.
First, it works with the Explorer line of bags and pouches I described above, meaning you can carry each element in the incredible comfort of a dual-strap system.
Second, the Holdfast MoneyMaker is built to last, just like the Explorer line.
That means that if you invest in a MoneyMaker, it'll be the last strap you buy!
The MoneyMaker is offered in a variety of "flavors," many of which are various leathers. Opt for American Bison Leather, Bridle Leather, or Water Buffalo Leather for the best leather camera strap around.
Heck, you can even get one in Python skin, or if you prefer, cotton canvas.
The point here is that no matter the material, the MoneyMaker is built to last and it's built for comfort.
Again, looking at this thing you can immediately see the attention to detail and the incredible craftsmanship that went into making it.
Better still, the MoneyMaker - especially the leather models - adapt to your body over time.
That means that a few months from now, your MoneyMaker will have broken in and conformed to the contours of your body, which gives you the ultimate in a comfortable carrying experience.
If you've ever headed out for a long day of photographing landscapes and done so with an uncomfortable camera strap, you know the importance of having gear that hugs your body, not makes you scream in pain.
And, as I noted above, the MoneyMaker allows you to customize your carrying experience.
You can attach the Fundy Streetwise bag to the back of the MoneyMaker for ease of carrying and access. You can also bring along whatever Explorer pouches you need for your day.
But better still, the MoneyMaker allows you to carry your cameras on the camera strap.
That means that you have easy access to multiple cameras, right there at your fingertips.
Have one camera with a 24mm prime lens and another with a 24-70mm zoom lens, and you've got a nice range of capabilities.
In the end, the quality of the landscape photos that you take rests on your ability to take a good photo.
And believe it or not, your ability to do so starts with how you prepare and what gear you have.
You can't take great photos if you lug around your gear in a way that causes you added fatigue, nor can you take great photos if you can't access your gear easily.
The Holdfast Explorer line and the Holdfast MoneyMaker solve those problems. And as a cherry on top, these rigs look really, really good, too!
Learn More:
- The Worst Things About Your Camera (and How to Fix Them)
- 3 Things to Consider When Buying a Camera Bag