Whether you’re a professional photographer or a budding photo enthusiast, your camera deserves all the love, care, and security you can give it. There’s no reason to walk around carrying your expensive camera when a sturdy camera bag will do the trick!
Camera bags are more than simple storage containers for your photography equipment—they can hold accessories, additional items, personal items, and more. Camera bags are modern enough to stand up to daily wear and tear, but comfortable enough to stay as secure as a backpack. A good camera bag is a personal little buddy, as necessary to your photography life as the camera itself. But how do you decide on the best camera bag for you and your equipment, when there are so many options out there? We’ve put together this list of our favorite camera bags, the ones that were perfect for daily use and country traveling.
Read on to see why our experts love these camera bags!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Need A Camera Bag?
Camera bags are protective, secure, convenient, weather-proof, and stylish. They hold your camera while it’s not in use, keeping it secure and safe from the environment. They also allow you to carry more accessories, lenses, cards, batteries, etc, while also fully organizing your items so that you don’t have to worry about leaving anything behind on an important shoot. They’re a terrific option for traveling, hiking, and excursions into the wild to get that perfect shot.
What Should I Look For In A Camera Bag?
Cameras are not one-size-fits-all, and neither are camera bags. While shopping for a camera bag, ensure you do your due diligence by checking out the carrying capacity, the size, the customizability, the features, and the weight. You don’t want your bag to feel heavy or cumbersome—the ideal bag is a secondary feature to your day, something reliable and comfortable. Look for bags with waterproof materials, smart dividers, protective shoulder padding, and additional pockets.
Buying Guide
We’ve put together this handy little buying guide so that you can enjoy your shopping experience and arrive at the best choice with confidence. Check it out!
- Pockets: How many pockets do you need? For a bag, the amount of pockets can make or break the purchase—ensure the camera bag you buy has all you need.
- Waterproof: Is the bag entirely waterproof or does it just come with a rain-proof cover? If you’re intending on doing a lot of outdoor shooting, you’ll want to make sure you know.
- Size: Can this bag hold everything you need? Is it made for your camera/laptop/tablet/drone? Make sure the camera bag meets your needs.
Amazon Basics Camera Bag
Best Overall
Store and Protect All Your Equipment
This bag can be attached and carried with a tripod if you like, or you can use the heavily padded shoulder strap to carry your bag comfortably over your shoulder. The interior offers customizable dividers, giving you full control over how you choose to use your storage space.
Why We Love It:
- Sold in two colors (gray or orange)
- Includes slot that can hold tablets like an iPad Mini, Google Nexus 7, or Amazon Kindle Fire
- Holds one DSLR body and up to three lenses
- Exterior measures 12 inches by 7 inches by 9 inches, and the interior measures 10 inches by 5 inches by 7 inches
Something to Consider:
- Can be a little confusing to figure out how to close the bag
- Inner lining is not the most durable, and may wear out over time
Case Logic Camera Bag
Best Side Pocket
Store Batteries, Cables, and Lens Caps
Not only is there a side pocket, but the bag also offers an internal zippered pocket that is great for holding extra SD cards. The entire bag is made from a flexible and protective polyester material, and it will be easy to remove your camera from your bag whenever it’s time to start taking pictures.
Why We Love It:
- Includes shoulder strap
- Can be attached to lanyard or belt loop
- Accented with red detailing
- Offers plenty of space for extra cords and accessories
Something to Consider:
- Fits devices 13 centimeters by 8.5 centimeters by 14.7 centimeters
- Not the best bag for holding accessories because of the limited space
Fosoto Camera Bag
Best Protection
Anti-Shock and Waterproof
This lightweight bag provides plenty of space for holding your camera and all of your accessories. It can hold cameras of many different sizes and brands, and features several additional pockets to keep all your supplies organized. The interior includes multiple velcro tabs that, when closed, can help keep your items in place as you travel.
Why We Love It:
- Includes anti-dust storage pocket for extra accessories
- Features zippered protective overlapping closure
- Comes with adjustable shoulder strap and rain cover
- Detachable divider allows you to customize the inside space to your preferences
Something to Consider:
- Cannot handle complete water submerging
- Best to put the zipper head horizontally into the sheath so you don’t scratch your camera or lens
Neewer Camera Bag
Best Backpack
Includes Several Padded Compartments
Don’t want to leave anything at home? With this backpack-style carrying case, you won’t have to. Each backpack offers plenty of space for holding a variety of items inside, and you can even strap a tripod to the side of the backpack if you choose.
Why We Love It:
- Sold with four different interior colors
- Made with strong waterproof fabric
- Includes anti-slip zipper
- Comes with water-resistant polyester rain cover
Something to Consider:
- Main compartment can’t be customized
- Telephoto-lens cameras may not lay flat in the main compartment
Besnfoto Camera Bag
Best Looking
Cute and Compact Messenger Bag
Summary: Each bag is made with PU leather and features stronger stitching with a durable zipper. It includes a removable shoulder strap and an attached top handle, and is large enough to hold a variety of mirrorless cameras.
Why We Love It:
- Sold in two different colors (army green and baby blue)
- Shell is water-resistant
- Designed with PE foam for better shock-proof protection
- Capable of hooking onto your belt like a waist bag
Something to Consider:
- Items will fit best when disassembled