A camera bag for every occasion

Friday 17 October 2025, 13:31 by Nando Harmsen | 3,680 views | 6 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

How many camera bags do you have? One? Two? More than two? One camera bag is not always the most practical. Make sure you have at least two. That makes it easier to take a camera with you.

My first camera bag (in the digital era) was a shoulder bag. It was soon too small, because it could hold no more than one camera and one lens. Then I bought a large camera backpack. Everything fitted in it, and more.

A huge LowePro camera backpack. Large, heavy and with a sea of space. Sometimes even too large, too heavy and with too much space.
Every time I went out, I had to put on that large backpack. As a result, there were times when I did not take a camera with me. Carrying that large camera backpack around all the time was not ideal, especially when I only wanted to take one camera and one lens with me.

So I got a smaller shoulder bag. A sling bag, to be precise. And it was ideal, because I did not have to carry that enormous camera backpack around with me. Unless I was really going out for an extended photography session.

A small Crumpler Muffin Top 7500 shoulder bag, ideal for one camera and one lens. Perfect for city trips.
It is therefore always sensible to have at least two camera bags. One for proper photography trips, and one for lightweight outings where you are only taking one camera. That makes you more likely to take your camera with you more often.

You can expand your collection. A simple shoulder bag for a city trip. A small camera backpack for a walk through a beautiful area. A large camera backpack for proper photography trips and photography holidays.

You can expand it even further. A camera trolley if you have an assignment somewhere, so you do not have to carry everything on your back. A larger shoulder bag, or a bag that only fits a camera. Or a belt with lens pouches.

Do not overdo it. Only buy what you need.
Having several bags has the advantage that you only take what you need or think you will need. It encourages you to take your camera with you more often. It gives you flexibility and convenience.

However, do not buy things just for the sake of buying them. Find out through using your bags what you are missing. Only then will you know what you would be best buying next.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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6 comments

Mac wrote on Monday 20 October 2025 at 08:03 | reply
I have (too) many camera bags. From large shoulder bags to small shoulder bags. And large backpacks and small backpacks.
My wife sometimes nags me to get rid of some.
Then I always reply, when you get rid of some shoes
Translated from Dutch.

Chris wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 10:39 | reply
Well Mac, if you have too many bags... I'm actually still looking for a second-hand one .

A bag that can fit 2 bodies with lenses (17-70 and 70-200. both 2.8) and some extra lenses including e.g. a macro lens, a couple of flashes and "some other junk". In other words, I have a few bags for when I want to take less with me but I also want one that can just fit everything in and I find 300/400 euros for a bag quite a lot because you don't take it with you very often but sometimes it really is quite handy.
Translated from Dutch.

IYJM Gommers-Bergmann wrote on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 18:18 | reply
I have a Lowepro slingback (ideal, but sometimes just a bit too small). When I bought a Manfrotto tripod, I got a backpack as a gift. Along the way, that also became a bit tight, so I bought a larger one and sold the medium-sized one via MP. In addition, I have a small bag, in which the mirrorless camera + 24-105 lens just fits.

Tip for when you find the backpack heavy: choose one with a strap around your waist and possibly also around your chest. Then the bag feels much lighter on your back.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 09:04 | reply
That's a good tip you're giving.
A backpack should actually be carried on the hips, not on the shoulders. The hip belt is essential.
Translated from Dutch.

MacBigfoot wrote on Monday 8 December 2025 at 00:03 | reply
I usually have to take more with me than just photo equipment. In that case, I find it handy to have a separate insert. It fits, for example, in a daypack or a shoulder bag. There are different types and sizes, so there is also one to suit what you want to take with you.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 9 December 2025 at 09:45 | reply
That Lowe Pro backpack that's listed first in the article has a daypack that you can hang on the outside... Or separately if you don't want to take the bag itself with you. You can see it in the photo.
All in all, this bag was enormous if you also attached that daypack.
Translated from Dutch.

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