Oh Behave!


You've got to love anytime you can reference the 1997 classic film, Austin Powers. I watched that movie ALOT back in the day. Anyhow, the purpose of this entry is to discuss something you'll need if you're a photographer with any amount of gear and that's a bag...or in my case, bags. Lots of bags. So many camera bags. I'm beginning to think I have a problem with camera bags. At current count I've got six camera bags and I'm not sure that's enough? I'll do my best to discuss the merits/shortcomings of the bags that I've purchased, sold, and/or currently own.


My first bag was a Lowepro Nova Sport 17l in "Pepper Red" back when I was shooting my Canon Rebel T5-this eBay link is basically an exact match. That was a great bag and I probably had that for about a year until which point I got pretty hooked on photography and outgrew it. To fit my growing "family" I purchased a Lowepro Passport II Sling in Olive green and that's actually my "everyday carry" bag most of the time. Save for the monster Tamron 35-150 lens that I've been using for a while it easily accommodates my camera, an extra lens (or two), and a flash in the rear compartment. Also, I often hang a low-profile travel tripod off the side (or in the back pouch) with ease...and was how I carried gear for most of England/France.



Mo Gear, Mo Problems


There were times where the Lowepro Sling was just too small to meet the space needs of my growing arsenal of gear and as memory serves the next purchase was an Amazon Basics Large Photography Backpack. With a larger/full-frame camera body (Sony A7ii if I recall) and a multitude of lenses more real estate was a must. FWIW, I've still got that bag and use it on occasion. The thing to know about this style of pack is they can get HEAVY in a hurry-especially when you put your laptop inside and strap a tripod to the outside.


As I found the backpack somewhat cumbersome for a "daily carry" bag I found a deal in early 2017 on an Olive Green Tenba DNA 13 at B&H Photo (great site-order from them!) right around the time I was playing with a Nikon D750. I can't recommend the Tenba DNA series of bags enough as they've got a few features that are spectacular:

  • Waterproof bottoms-so if you set it down on a wet surface your gear stays dry
  • Whisper velcro-if you pull straight down vs. outward the bag makes almost no noise. This is super useful in a quite event setting.
  • Zipper access to the top of the bag-speedy access to gear inside
  • Adjustable strap pad-helps on long shoots/walks
  • Magnetic clasps for the main flap
  • Adjustable dividers allow you to build a "shelf" that you can quickly access via the zipper on top for rapidly storing/grabbing your gear


Around Christmas of 2022 I sold the Tenba DNA 13 bag to purchase a Peak Design Everyday Sling 13l v2...and that's a bag I wanted to like. The odd thing about that is I REALLY like other Peak Design products. I love their "Leash" camera straps, "Capture" clips for mounting on a belt or bag, and the soon to be mentioned Everyday Sling 5l bag. I found the internal storage kind of lacking, hated the fact the top flap wouldn't stay open by itself, the strap was uncomfortable/un-adjustable, and the magnetic clasp was clunky. I schlepped the Peak Design bag to Mexico with us in January and after a week of lugging it around the streets of Puerto Vallarta I knew it was time to move on.




More recently...


Always on the hunt for newer/better gear I'd had my eye on a Peak Design Everyday Sling 5l bag to replace the blue generic(ish) bag Tracy took to France in 2019. The bag she'd used was perfectly functional just kinda clunky and screams "camera bag", which if you've traveled abroad isn't always the best idea. When a good deal on a refurbished bag from Peak Design's eBay store presented itself I scooped it up in their grey color wave. I really like the accents of leather and it easily fit her A7iii with the Tamron 28-75, a CPL filter, and spare battery. Some of the high-end touches are the mount for the Capture clip, metal rotation points, it can be carried left or right side, and worn as a fanny pack. Cool stuff. I occasionally steal this bag as a walk around as it's pretty low-profile and comfortable to wear. I've converted it (as with all our other bags) to left side carry so I can use my right hand to grab gear.


Before we went on our 2022 European vacation I picked up a bucket list item in the form of a Pelican Air 1535 in "Orange" (because it's awesome). I was concerned with the long trip and wanted to ensure all the gear was safe so I used corrugated plastic with adhesive TPU foam for a DIY divider system (so as to save myself $100 from their "Trekpak" option) that's flexible and sturdy. This case is amazing and nearly bulletproof. Though, it's a problem in the sense that I'm so confident that it will survive that I overpack it and, when loaded, it's HEAVY and may not be allowed in the overhead compartment if the plane is full. That's a big no for me-don't want to gate check it if I'm not on a direct flight. I've made a vow to pack lighter for our upcoming Spain trip in April.


As it stands now my everyday carry would is the Tenba DNA16 Slim. It has all the features of the DNA 13 with the ability to carry a 16" laptop (I'm hoping I can make it fit my 17") and an updated blue color wave. I like the bag pretty well, though I prefer it's older, olive green cousin, the DNA 13 as it seemed to be a bit deeper (which is to be expected as I ordered the "Slim") and was able to fit a mixture of camera and drone equipment a bit better.


Wrapping Up


As you've already gathered I've owned quite a few bags and I've not yet made a final determination on the Tenba DNA 16 Slim and may bring it to Spain with us in April. The next challenge is figuring out which bag (or bags) to bring for that trip as I've made a promise to myself to pack lighter than I did for our most recent two trips. In Mexico I didn't use much of the gear we brought so I carried unnecessary weight/volume. When we go to Spain there's a good chance the regional airline we use may not allow the size/weight of the Pelican case. As a result, I'm leaning towards the backpack and Lowepro sling because Tracy says she's comfortable carrying her gear- which would be a huge help. Heck, if she does that I might be able to skip the backpack if I can find an elegant solution for backing up our images on a daily basis without the laptop. Rest assured, intrepid readers, I'll figure something out and keep you posted.