The Right Camera Bag Can Save Your Vacation

Going on a long, relaxing vacation usually involves taking lots of pictures, so you pack a camera bag with your gear and head out.  Unfortunately, you sometimes find that packing a camera and gear for your vacation and actually toting them around and using them are two very different things.  The wrong kind of camera bag can become such a problem that you end up leaving your camera behind in your hotel room so you don’t have to hassle with it.

Small Camera Bags for Sightseeing

If you have simple point and shoot camera, your best bet is a nice, lightweight camera bag that will tuck into your pocket, purse or a belly pack so that you aren’t carrying extra weight or bulk you don’t need.  Most point and shoot or auto-focus cameras don’t need extra compartments for lenses and attachments.  The primary purpose of your camera bag will be to protect the lens from scratching and to keep your camera safe from being banged around or dinged up.  

If you’ll be putting your camera in your pocket or purse, you may simply need a soft, drawstring camera bag that can easily be tucked away.  Look for ones that feature a lock on the drawstring for added safety.  These are ideal for vacations that focus on sightseeing and guided tours where the risk of more severe camera damage is minimal.

If you’ll be going somewhere more rugged and are worried about bumps and dropping, consider a small padded camera bag.  You can find some excellent ones that also feature enough room for extra batteries or a lens polishing cloth.  For versatility, look for a compact camera bag that can be attached to a belt, carried with a padded handle, and includes a removable shoulder strap so that you have your camera available at all times without having to carry it.

The Wrong Camera Bag Can Drag You Down

Some people are so excited about their camera and gear that they purchase an expensive camera bag with every feature imaginable so that they can carry lenses, cameras, filters, flashes and tripods in one case or bag.  This is an excellent idea for photo opportunities when you will “want it all.”  However, on vacation you will generally want to streamline what you carry, paring things down to the essentials.

It may seem like a great idea to have an oversized backpack camera bag, but about four hours into a major sightseeing hike in Egypt, you’ll be cursing the cumbersome backpack.  For this reason, anyone who has a backpack camera bag may want to consider investing in an additional holster camera bag for day trips where a lot of walking or travel of any kind is involved.  Holster style camera bags keep you camera handy while leaving your arms free without weighting you down.  They are large enough to hold some essentials such as extra batteries and additional memory but small enough to be comfortable all day long.

If you discover the perfect site for taking sunset photos or some lush scenery you’d like to photograph using a variety of photo techniques, you can always come back later with a larger camera bag full of the gear you need.  This way, you only carry as much as you need when you need it instead of lugging around a lot of stuff you don’t need four out of five days.

If you’re planning a vacation and aren’t sure what style of camera back is right for you, research the different sizes and styles and ask yourself these questions:

•    How much do I need to fit into my camera bag?
•    Do I want to carry my camera bag or be able to wear it?
•    Will I need quick access to my camera?
•    How long will I spend carrying my camera bag as opposed to actually using my camera?

If you’re still not sure, talk to a customer service person who can guide you to the right camera bag for your vacation needs. And have a great trip!