Best DSLR Camera Bags and Carrying Cases 2012

Lowepro Photo Sport AW

These are dual-purpose bags that have separate cavities for camera equipment and other of life’s lug-alongs. The lower cavity is what Lowepro calls the Ultra-Cinch Camera Chamber, which is designed to keep the camera gear from bouncing when the wearer is performing vigorous activity. The upper cavity is a conventional backpack design. Two models are available: the Photo Sport 200 AW backpack and the Photo Sport Sling 100 AW.

Billingham 07 Series

If you want a premium product to carry your gear, Billingham bags will fill the bill. The 07 Series, which includes the 107, 207 and 307 are an evolution of the company’s PressTop shoulder bags. The 07 Series has the PressTop’s innovative center-zippered closure system: when you unzip the top, a pair of embedded carbon-fibre wands forms a wide rectangular opening for easy access. These bags are big enough for one SLR, a couple of lenses and accessories.

Think Tank Retrospective

The Retrospective is a line of soft-sided shoulder bags that pay tribute to the “old-school” street photographers back in the day. They are designed to be inconspicuous but functional and come in Pinestone Cotton Canvas and Black Poly Spun Canvas finishes. The Retrospective line goes from the Model 30, big enough for two pro SLRs and four to six lenses, down to the most recent edition, the Retrospective 5, big enough for a full Micro Four Thirds camera with four to six lenses or an SLR with a lens or two.

CottonCarrier Carry-Lite

You may know CottonCarrier for its industrial-strength modular holster and vest systems. The Carry-Lite applies that modular design to a smaller product, suitable for a single SLR and lens. The key is the hub, which attaches to the camera’s tripod socket. The metal hub is designed to lock positively and securely into a special metal slot, which is found on modules like the vest or holster. The Carry-Lite kit includes belt, holster, hub, shoulder strap, D-ring and camera tether. The standard model is for a regular SLR but there are two beefier models designed for larger cameras or bulkier cameras with auxiliary grips.

Lowepro Streamline 100 Digital SLR Camera Bag

This tote bag is big enough for one of the smaller CSC models, like a Sony NEX, with a kit zoom attached. It also has a built-in memory card pocket and two zippered outer pockets.

Pelican 1075 HardBack Case

This watertight and crush-resistant shell is perfect for your iPad or netbook, or other device with a screen size up to 10 inches. It’s made of a high-impact material that is resistant to heat and chemicals, and the inside is lined with smooth foam – Pelican cases come with a lifetime warranty. The lid has a tongue and groove construction with an o-ring waterproof seal.

Tamrac Big Wheels Camera Rolling Case

When you need to transport a lot of gear, a wheeled bag is the natural choice. Tarmac’s Big Wheels SpeedRoller series gives you two choices: 1x and 2x. These hold two pro SLRs with lenses attached, plus several other lenses and other accessories. Both use the QuickClip system to attach a tripod to the front of the case. The 1x will take a 15.6-inch laptop while the 2x is good for a 17.3-inch laptop.

Billingham F/Stop Shoulder Bag

The f/Stop Range is Billingham’s new line of small kit bags – big enough for a camera, lens and flash or other accessory. These bags have a clean squared off profile. Two sizes are available, the 2.8 and wider (just like the aperture) 1.4.

Tenba Discovery Messenger Bag

The Discovery Messenger is big enough for an SLR camera body, two or three lenses, a 13-inch notebook and accessories. It includes a few more pockets and the divider inserts can be completely removed so the bag can serve as a general-purpose messenger bag. Tenba also has added a single-camera top-load bag to the Discovery line that will carry a full-size SLR with a lens up to five inches long (Canon 5D or Nikon D700 with 24-70 mm f/2.8, for example).

Airport International V2 Rolling Camera Bag

If you don’t want to check your valuable camera gear when flying, ThinkTank’s Airport series offers a solution. These are big rolling cases that hold one or two SLRs, a mess of lenses and accessories. Yet they meet US domestic (Security series), international and US domestic (International series) or international (AirStream series) carry-on luggage size requirements. They come with front and rear cable locks that are TSA-compliant.

Vanguard Adaptor Series

The Adaptor Series is a new line of convertible backpacks. To convert the backpack to a left or right shoulder sling you can stow either one of the backstraps in its own pocket, and adjust the other strap so it’s optimized as a single sling strap. All four models will take one SLR with an attached lens, but vary in how much other equipment they will hold. One model also comes with a notebook computer compartment.

Tamrac Zuma Series

These are dual-function bags for camera gear and an iPad or netbook with up to a 10-inch screen. The Zuma 2 is a vertically-oriented day bag that’s big enough for a compact camera and accessories. The Zuma 4 and Zuma 7 have similar capacity – an SLR with lens, a couple of extra lenses and other accessories. The Zuma 4 is a shoulder bag, the Zuma 7 is a backpack.

Think Tank Modular Component Set

Think Tank says it has extensively redesigned the Modular Rotation System and Modular Rotation Skin Systegi to improve ergonomics, style and equipment accessibility. These two lines are similar in design except that the Skin system uses unpadded pouches. The system is made up of lens pouches, gear pouches and belts. The lens and gear pouches come in a variety of sizes to accommodate cameras, lenses and other accessories. These pouches can be mixed and matched to customize capacity according to need. The pouches attach to a belt system.

Think Tank offers three models – Pro Speed Beit V2.0, Steroid Speed Belt V2.0 and Skin Belt V2.0 – along with a shoulder strap called the Keep It Up. The belts use a system called Rotate and Lock that lets you slide components along the belt or lock them on a specific position of the belt.

Vanguard The Heralder Digital SLR Camera Cases

This messenger bag family includes three models: 28, 33 and 38. It has a fold-over flap like all messenger bags, but a second zippered opening makes it a top-loader. The inner dividers can be removed as well as the notebook sleeve – to turn the bag into a regular messenger bag. The Heralder features a built-in tripod sling and accessory pockets. It also comes with a rain cover.

Lowepro Compact Courier 80

The Compact Courier 80 was designed for the Sony NEX or similar CSCs, and is two bags in one. The main bag holds camera, kit zoom and a pancake lens. A second removable Mini Quick Case is big enough for the camera and pancake lens.

Acme Made Union Kit Messenger

This bag is designed for an entry-level SLR or larger CSC with kit zoom lens plus another lens or two, or other accessories. It has extra interior and exterior pockets, a handle as well as carrying strap, and is made of a waterresistant fabric called Bombshell Technical Fabric.

Think Tank Speed

The design and attention to detail on Think Tank bags are a cut above the ordinary. The Speed Convertible series, which includes three models differing primarily in capacity, work as shoulder bags or as belt packs. The Speed Freak 2,0 is the middle model, large enough for an enthusiast-level SLR with moderate zoom, another lens or two and/or a flash unit. There is also a couple of zippered front pockets and a slim one on the rear. A quick-access zipper on the top lid offers another way into the main bag.

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