This is a guide covering the best camera bags for photographers and videographers.
We have categorized this list into different categories based on use cases.
In a hurry? Here’s a quick rundown:
- ⭐ Best Overall Camera Bag
- 🎒 Best Camera Messenger Bag
- 🎒 Best Camera Holster Bags
- 🎒 Best Camera Backpacks
- 💸 Best Budget Camera Bag
How to Choose the Best Camera Bag?
Size and Capacity: Make sure the bag or backpack is the right size for your camera and other equipment. Consider how much gear you will need to carry and if the bag has enough compartments to organize your equipment.
Material and Durability: Look for a bag or backpack made of high-quality, durable materials such as nylon or leather. Make sure it is well-padded to protect your equipment from bumps and scratches.
Comfort: Look for a bag or backpack with comfortable straps and a padded back panel. If you will be carrying the bag for long periods of time, it’s important to choose one that is comfortable to wear.
Accessibility: Make sure the bag or backpack has easy-to-access compartments for your camera and lenses. Look for a bag with a side opening, or a backpack with a quick-access panel, so you can quickly and easily access your equipment.
Security: If you will be carrying valuable equipment, look for a bag or backpack with security features such as locking zippers or RFID blocking technology.
Table of Contents
9 Best Camera Bags
1. Kattee Leather Canvas Camera Bag
With its retro look that is evocative of something between Indiana Jones and that cool vintage bag of your Uncle’s that you found in the attic, the Kattee Leather Canvas bag features a durable canvas exterior and durable leather straps and is, quite simply, one of the best camera bags for a DSLR with a battery grip.
Best of all, its interior consists of moveable dividers that can be moved or even removed entirely to give your camera and miscellaneous belongings the space they need.
The bag fits comfortably over your shoulder with padded straps to keep you traveling comfortably.
My Pros With This Bag:
- The material is nice, strong canvas
- Very well stitched
- The bottom corners of the bag are reinforced
- Roomy
My Cons With This Bag:
- The main flap closes with magnetized latches. It would have been better if it used snaps to discourage pickpockets.
- The zippers are exposed and can be a little sharp so be careful with lenses and fancy laptops.
2. Pacsafe Camsafe V8 Anti-Theft
The Pacsafe Camsafe V8 is a shoulder bag for photography aficionados looking for a professional yet sophisticated way to travel with their gear.
Its interior is lined with wire netting which functions both as a means to secure your equipment and as a way to keep it out of the hands of thieves who have the notion to dip into your bag while you’re on the move.
Furthermore, it features Velcro dividers to customize the interior to fit your equipment snugly.
Its exterior is made of a durable synthetic fabric that is tear-resistant, water-resistant, and looks stylish.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Well-made and robust
- Light and comfortable
- Built-in rain cover and zippered pouches
My Cons With This Bag:
- Zipper for camera access can be a little awkward and you may need two hands to operate it
3. Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag
Peak Design’s messenger bag is a simple, yet elegant solution for your travel.
It features a waxed canvas exterior to keep your valuable equipment out of the rain as well as a rigid exterior to your bag keep its shape even when filled to the brim with accessories.
Best of all, the bag comes with a silicone ring designed to carry a full-size tripod, which makes this “everyday” messenger bag an innovative, one-of-a-kind item.
Not only will this bag fit a DSLR camera with a battery grip, but it’s roomy enough to accommodate three lenses.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Excellent fabric
- Stylish
- Deep and roomy enough for larger lenses
My Cons With This Bag:
- The strap can bite the shoulder a bit if not adjusted
- Has trouble standing up
4. Ape Case Small SLR Holster Camera Bag
Ape Case has built a holster-style (it sits on your hip) camera bag that comes in a small package yet is still big enough to store a gripped DSLR camera with a lens attached.
It features front and interior pockets for your smaller accessories as well as a convenient belt hook to connect to your belt loop.
If hip bags aren’t your thing, it also comes with a shoulder strap. Its water-resistant exterior makes working in the rain a little less harrowing as well.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Small, light bag
- Comfortable shoulder strap
- Weather durable with rain cover
My Cons With This Bag:
- Pretty minimal pocket space outside the main compartment.
5. AmazonBasics Holster Camera Case
Amazon, due to its large reach and access to buyer data, is always at the forefront of finding the “middle ground” with its product designs.
Their holster camera case is a great example of having their R&D laid out for them by simply selling other brands’ products.
The holster case is carried via a padded shoulder strap—the bag does not come with a belt loop attachment.
Its exterior is made of synthetic material but its interior is lined with water-resistant latex.
Its most interesting feature is its rubber base, which affords you a stable and waterproof way to sit the bag down on the ground.
The case is designed to carry a DSLR camera and zoom lens (or shorter.)
My Pros With This Bag:
- Very compact, barely larger than the camera. Doesn’t add much weight.
- Adjustable divider (velcro) which supports the weight of the camera (so it doesn’t rest on the end of the lens).
- Hardened end-cap. Stands upright.
- Large enough for a mid-sized camera with a mid-length lens.
My Cons With This Bag:
- The bag jangles as you walk. The zipper tabs need to be rubberized or should be only one per pocket.
- Could be a half-inch wider to accommodate additional camera models.
6. Ape Case ACPRO1800
Sometimes you can find a camera-carrying solution that is all-encompassing; compact, rugged, and versatile.
The ACPRO1800 Compact Backpack by Ape Case is that exact solution.
It’s a small yet mighty backpack that’ll carry your DSLR camera plus any number of lenses and accessories via a series of elastic interior bands.
It also features Ape Case’s unique tripod carrying ring on its exterior, which is made of rugged synthetic material.
When in wet weather, a convenient rain cover can be pulled from its hidden pocket to make your entire setup waterproof.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Durable and well-made
- Interior very customizable
- Sturdy exterior, zippers are strong
My Cons With This Bag:
- Camera-only bag, does not hold laptop
7. Case Logic SLRC-206
Case Logic makes some of the best camera backpacks found on Amazon.
While they’re not exactly a name brand, they’ve made a name for themselves online as a reliable and organized choice for carrying your gear on your back.
It features a waterproof base so you can set the entire pack down without worry and has enough interior room to fit a more-than-modest photographic arsenal.
Uniquely, its interior is lined with memory foam to protect your sensitive electronics.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Adjustable, padded compartments
- Weighted, flat foam bottom
- Super easy access to a DSLR from the top of the bag. The suspension system is unique, and it works well.
- The shoulder straps and back padding to the backpack are very good. A lumbar pad was an extra-nice touch! All are covered in mesh to allow for the material to breathe, making it relatively comfortable to wear.
My Cons With This Bag:
- The carrying handle at the top of the bag is almost like an after thought in terms of build quality by comparison to the rest of the bag.
8. AmazonBasics Hiker Camera Backpack
This durable yet lightweight backpack is great for landscape photographers looking to take the less-traveled path.
It can hold a camera with lens, plus a multitude of accessories including a 13-inch tablet or laptop.
The backpack makers behind this design even thought to include a hole to thread your headphone cable through so your phone can stay high and dry while you listen to music.
The backpack comes with a gray rain cover to keep out the elements on a wet day.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Has a good amount of space for both a camera + accessories as well as a top pouch for whatever you want
- Comfortable to wear
- Fits under the seat on an airplane
- Versatile
My Cons With This Bag:
- The shoulder straps loosen up after a while. Not a huge deal, just a quick hop and cinch on the straps mid hike, but you will notice it.
- The waist strap can be high for taller people
9. Deco Gear DSLR Camera Backpack
Part backpack, part sling bad, this backpack by Deco Gear is great for the pack mule in us that absolutely needs to bring along every lens they own.
Altogether, this backpack can carry up to 6 lenses (including one attached to the body) with remaining room for miscellaneous accessories.
Yet, with all that room, the backpack is still designed to fit in a plane’s overhead compartment.
My Pros With This Bag:
- Backpack has two zippered openings on either side to quickly access cameras and lenses. This feature allows a camera and three of the additional compartments to be easily accessible.
- Backpack straps are comfortable even after hours of walking and can be adjusted to fit most sizes easily.
- Looks simple and professional.
- Sturdy and durable
My Cons With This Bag:
- There is a loop with a quick-release connection on the back of the bag. This is great for tripods but also blocks the camera compartment flap from opening. You have to push the tripod to the side in order to access inside.
- This product only includes two external pockets (not counting the laptop sleeve).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Camera Bag Called?
A camera bag is also commonly referred to as a camera case, camera bag, camera backpack, or camera shoulder bag.
Is it Okay to Store Camera in Camera Bag?
It is generally considered safe to store a camera in a camera bag. Camera bags are specifically designed to protect and organize camera equipment, and often feature padding, compartments, and other protective features to keep your camera and lenses safe from scratches, bumps, and other damage.
Can I Use Any Bag as a Camera Bag?
Technically, you can use any bag to store and transport a camera, but not all bags are designed specifically to protect and organize camera equipment.
Form & Function Should Inform Your Personal Pick for Best Camera Bag
Choosing the best camera bag for a gripped DSLR sometimes means making more than one choice.
After all, you’re not always going on the same, garden variety photo session.
Sometimes you need to travel; sometimes you need to travel far.
Depending on your regular routine as a photographer, you should pick a bag that conforms to those circumstances.
However, if you find yourself branching out from your regular old clients, then invest appropriately.
Having the right bag means peace-of-mind and being ready for anything–both are important for successful photography.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Nate Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. Outside of photography, Nate specializes in SEO, content marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Imaginated.com, a platform for creator education.
