Camera Bags – The Wreckage….

Camera bags are very personal things, what works for one person’s job / gear pile just won’t cut it elsewhere, so what follows is a purely personal rant / review of some of the great and not so great bags I’ve had over the years.

I’m a lightweight gear person. Sure, when I need to, I can fill a car with the very best of them, but as I spend a lot of time alone, without a crew of sherpas to help other than a poor long suffering journalist waiting to get behind the wheel, I try and pack as much as I can into just one or two bags and travel light. Additionally, in today’s Jobsworth World of airline travel, I refuse to check anything that might be of value or vital to the job. And I avoid certain airlines who only allow you to carry on a credit card and toothbrush – you know who you are…

So let’s start with the great…

Camera Care Systems. Sadly, I believe CCS are winding down and indeed may already be closed. The CCS belt and pouch system was the first camera storage system I ever bought, way back in the 80′s when I was into shooting rally cars. And it’s still going strong today. The key to the system is that it lets you stay on your feet and stay mobile withough worrying where your gear is. The system of pouches and belts needs to be loaded correctly and balanced across your hips. Avoid the temptation to load ANYTHING across your front. If you have to run suddenly, it’ll swing and catch you right in that place you don’t like to talk about… Most of the time, it’s sitting in my office, but every now and then, it proves it’s worth, such as shooting street scenes that turn into a riot or standing on an airfield in the pouring rain shooting cars. The fabric is incredibly durable and water proof and still works. Look on eBay to find remaining stocks.

The Perfectly OK but Showing It’s Age.
The Lowepro. A household name in camera bags, if you like. Still a good bag, but a few years old now, this Micro Trekker is one of my good everyday bags that can carry and average amount of kit. Main drawbacks are that it’s a traditional rucksack shape, so you lose useful space across the top corners, plus you’re never going to get even the smallest laptop into it. Good points are that it has a full rucksack harness for extended trecking that spreads the load well onto your hips and also, it’ll fit into nearly all airline carry on size cages, even with the harness on. I can get a Canon 1DS, a couple of lenses, two strobes and some Pocket Wizards into this bag, plus filters, spare batteries etc etc etc.

The El Cheapo bag.
I don’t know where I got this one from, but it’s crap. These days, it’s relegated to holding anything that I know won’t break when the two clasps give way and the top opens when you’re carrying it from the car spilling it’s guts all over the road… Things like Arri clamps, gaffer tape and Manfrotto Magic Arms….. The top won’t even hold it’s shape and it lets anyone see what’s inside. About as strong as a supermarket carrier bag.

The Good Idea At The Time
This aluminium case is a phase I went through thinking, “It’s metal, so it’ll be strong.” That’s true to a point, but there are several drawbacks. It’s brittle so drop it and it’ll dent, although this scruffiness adds to the look.
It’s not squashy, so that space in the back of the car it might just squeeze into is not negotiable.Left unrestrained, it’ll damage the car interior too…
Finally, the biggest drawback is it says, “Expensive Cameras Inside, Please Steal Me” in big letters all over it…

Peli Cases
I don’t own any, but when I hire in lighting and other kit, it always comes in a Peli. They’re incredible, super, super tough with that O-ring seal that means you never get any damp into them. But boy, are they expensive….

The Wish List

Basically, I want a Tardis. Something that will swallow anything you throw at it, but when resting on airport scales, weighs just a few ounces and with a cloaking device that makes it apparently fit all of the UK’s amazingly stupid luggage regulations…

But Seriously…. What would make a good bag for the mix of car photography work? I had a brief look around at Focus On Imaging in February this year and the favourites seem to be coming down to either Think Tank Photo for their square shape and disguise, or the rather interesting Kata bags from Israel with the yellow interior. They both seem to make a square bag that will take a 17″ Mac Book and have an empty weight that’s light enough to start with

Finally, if you haul a SERIOUSLY large amount of gear around the planet, or you want some tips on how to pack your gear, take a look at this Chase Jarvis video on how his team pack for those large shoots he does.

So what’s your thoughts on the perfect luggage for car photography? Do you need a Landcruiser full of Peli cases, or are you an urban run and gun shooter?

Tagged as: camera bags, car phoitography, professional camera bags for car photographers