Camera Sling Bag
Hard Shell vs. Soft Camera Case
Photographers are a picky lot, and many have a favorite camera case they won’t part with for love or money. But talk to a few of these picture fanatics and you’ll soon discover that although they all have a favorite style, very few of them can agree on which style of camera case is best. They will endlessly argue about the advantages of a backpack style over a shoulder holster, whether you want a hand-held camera case or a rolling camera bag and which kind of interior layout is best. One of the main points of contention, however, is whether a hard shell case or a soft side camera bag is best.
The differences between the two are very similar to the differences between traditional hard shell luggage and soft shell luggage. Hard shell camera cases are made from injection molded hard plastic, while soft camera cases are usually made from high denier nylon. You can also get leather camera cases, but these are quickly losing favor in response to the versatility, stain resistance and strength of nylon.
Some photographers favor hard shell cases because they’re virtually indestructible. If you’re traveling around the globe and have to check your camera bag, you’ll probably feel better using a hard shell case. If you’re boating down the Nile River and there’s a danger of your camera case falling overboard, a good hard shell camera case will float, which can save you thousands of dollars. Who wants to see their camera and gear at the bottom of the river?
That being said, most hard shell camera cases are heavy, cumbersome and can be difficult to pack. There’s usually not much versatility built into the interior, so you’ll have to stick with the default packing method the manufacturer has designed, even if it doesn’t seem practical or intuitive to you. If you want to carry your gear around in a backpack style case, a hard shell camera case won’t win points for comfort. It will tend to dig in at the shoulders and isn’t going to conform to the body at all.
Soft shell camera cases made from high quality nylon, canvas or leather, with nylon being the overwhelming favorite because it’s water resistant but breathable, almost impossible to tear, and comes in a variety of strengths and colors. Far more photographers use soft shell camera cases than hard shell cases.
Soft side camera cases are easier to pack and extremely versatile. Most have movable dividers that can be rearranged to suit your needs or removed to give you some extra space. They’re also great for traveling with as carry-on luggage. They will conform more easily to the overhead compartment shape without banging up your gear and are easy to stow almost anywhere.
A soft backpack camera case will naturally be more comfortable than a hard shell. It will conform to the shape of your back and will have some give to it as you’re moving around. The lightweight material is a bonus when you’ll be hiking long distances with a backpack camera case.
The versatility of soft shell camera cases extends to their interiors. In addition to movable dividers, most will also have mesh pockets for smaller items such as memory cards and microfiber lens cloths. Some soft camera cases are expandable, so you can fill them to capacity when needed, or partially collapse the bag to make it a smaller, more manageable size if you’re only carrying the essentials. Many of today’s soft side camera cases are also modular – you can order two different cases that work separately, but can be fastened together to make one larger bag when needed.
The versatility and lightweight of soft camera cases place them squarely at the top of the list for most photographers. Once you’ve decided a soft camera case is right for you, visit some websites that specialize in camera cases to find the perfect one for your photography needs.
About the Author
A Yosemite camera bag is available at the author’s Web site. This camera bag is slim and sleek in nature. These digitalcamera bags are of great use and ease to carry.
Tenba Gen3 Sling Bag: Backpack or shoulder bag?
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Klein 58889 Padded Adjustable Shoulder Strap $10.69 … |
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Ventra Pack 2-in-1 Chest Pack / Slim Shoulder Sling Messenger Bag $64.95 VentraPack positions frequently used accessories within sight so you don’t waste time un-strapping and removing your backpack to find your camera, sun-block, etc. while on the move. A zipper releases a drop-down work surface with a map window and comprehensive organizer to store items internally; optional modular exterior pouches are available to hold larger contents. How it works: VentraPack’s 4 … |
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NEW TARGUS RED TGC-SBM200 DSLR CAMERA SLING BAG (MEDIUM) (TGC-SBM200) $47.51 SLING-STYLE BAG; CUSTOMIZABLE MAIN POCKET WITH PADDED DIVIDERS; HOLDS AN DSLR WITH MID-RANGE ZOOM LENS ATTACHED, 2-3 EXTRA LENSES, CABLES & ACCESSORIES; BUILT-IN DIGITAL MEMORY CARD ORGANIZER; BUILT-IN MICROFIBER CLEANING CLOTH; MEDIUM; DIM: 17″L X 8.12″W X 5.62″H… |
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Fisher-Price Go Diego Go My Talking Rescue Pack $19.99 Be prepared for adventures in the wild with everything you need to help Diego rescue his animal friends. Talking Rescue Pack includes all the tools to care for animals in need: clipboard chart, food and water dish, stethoscope, animal cast, and of course, Baby Jaguar. Press Rescue Pack’s mouth to hear four fun phrases, real animal sounds and his signature song from the show. Also includes an exclu… |
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47x11x14 Orion Padded Telescope Case $79.99 We offer a rugged, soft custom case to fit large reflectors and refractors. It is fully padded on all sides to provide maximum protection of your instrument. Our padded scope cases provide a convenient means for transporting and storing your scope. It’ll stay cleaner and last longer, free of dings and scrapes. They’re made of heavy, water-resistant polyester/nylon material with padding sewn into t… |
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Vivitar DKS-25 Photo/SLR/Laptop Sling Backpack – Large (Black) The lightweight and extremely durable Vivitar One DSLR Sling Backpack (VIV-DKS-25) fits one DSLR camera with lens attached, a 17-in. laptop computer, 1-4 extra lenses, a flash unit and numerous accessories. Features adjustable foam padding, adjustable straps, tripod holder, trolley sleeve, and removable rain cover. Interior Dimensions: Laptop Compartment: 18 x 10.5 in. (45.7 x 26.7 cm) / Top Compa… |
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Diego’s Animals on the Move! (Nick Jr. Go Diego Go! (Simon Spotlight Unnumbered)) $6.87 Learn along with Diego as he downloads information from his Field Journal about how animals move. Keep your eyes on the screen to see the animals move!… |
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Bower SCB1450 Digital Pro Sling SLR Backpack – Black $19.37 Half size back pack : Made of weather resistant material : Holds SLR Digital with long or short Zoom Lens with extra space for up to 2 additional lenses and flash unit : Full comfort shoulder straps : Approximate Dimensions – 6.6 x 6.9 x 15.75… |
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BlackRapid 3-in-1 Midsize Camera Bag Sling and Hand Strap SnapR 35 $56.95 |
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Brand New Camera Case Bag with Sling for Canon SLR $9.00 |
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dmk2 Fancier Sling Bag for DSLR Camera 4-5 lenses – NEW $29.49 |
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Lowepro Passport Sling Case – Dslr Camera Shoulder Bag $46.95 |
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Rokinon Aktiv Pak 100 Camera Sling Bag for Nikon D7000 D5100 D3100 D5000 D3000 $39.99 |
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Rokinon Aktiv Pak 100 DSLR Camera Sling Bag for Canon T3i T3 T2i T1i XSi 60D 7D $39.99 |
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Incase Sling Pack DSLR Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag Canon Nikon Limited CL58033 $185.95 |
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Incase Sling Pack DSLR Camera Bag Canon Nikon CL58032 $78.29 |
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KATA LighTri-315 DL Sling & Torso Pack DSLR Camera bag $83.89 |
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NEW Lowepro Passport sling camera bag (Mica) $59.95 |
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Lowepro Photo Sport Sling 100 AW Backpack Bag Digital Camera CANON NIKON SONY $134.09 |
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Lowepro Photo Sport Sling 100 AW Backpack Bag Digital Camera CANON NIKON SONY $135.90 |
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NEW Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW DSLR Camera Photo Sling Shoulder Bag with RAINCOVER $31.00 |
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Lowepro Passport Sling Camera Bag Series BLACK Color * Free Shipping * $65.99 |
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Lowepro Passport Sling Camera Bag Series MICA Color * Free Shipping * $64.99 |
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Lowepro Passport Sling Camera Bag Series SKY BLUE Color * Free Shipping * $65.90 |
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Beseler Citipak Cm300 Sling Camera Bag BLACK NEW $75.97 |
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Lowepro SLINGSHOT 302 AW Digital Sling Shot Camera Bag $99.95 |
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Manfrotto Unica V Camera Bag Sling Shoulder Case Champagne Colored $72.99 |
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Lowepro – LP36139-0EU Passport Sling Camera Bag – Mica $59.95 |