This article was written on June 19, 2020

When it comes to choosing a camera bag, choices can be endless, but keeping things simple in the beginning is the smart thing to do. When you are looking for your first camera bag, what you want to look for is value for your money. You don’t want to spend too much money too soon. Ideally you want to purchase a middle of the road priced bag that is able to carry your camera gear and leave you with enough money for more important items such as lenses, tripods and memory cards. When picking your first bag however, you need one with sufficient carrying capacity, large enough to carry one DSLR camera, several lenses and other accessories.

The ideal bag we found for a beginner photographer is the Amazon Basics Amazon Large DSLR Camera Gadget Bag. It comes at a reasonable price of $35+shipping. For this price you cannot beat the value. It allows you to get a quality product at a reasonable price. It is customizable, you can configure the interior as you please. It comes with removable compartment dividers. It includes with a tablet compartment or small laptop. It is comfortable to walk around as it padded around the shoulder strap, as well as being padded on the interior to keep your fragile equipment in working order. It comes with a large zipper to keep your equipment from falling out if you hit the buckles release by accident. In addition, you get 3 additional zipper compartments to carry your camera, charger, batteries, lenses etc… The best part of this bag is that it comes with carry straps that allows you to bring along a compact tripod or monopod. These straps are discreetly tucked away in the underside.

I have had my Amazon Basics camera bag for the past year and I am pleased with it, especially for the value it provided. Having said that, the bag is lacking in several areas.

It is being marketed as a large camera bag, but it is fair to say that it’s really a medium sized bag. This bag can only accommodate one DSLR and two lenses. If you are a professional photographer and you routinely carry a back up cameras and multiple lenses, this bag does not have the capacity to haul all that gear.

The carry strap that comes with the bag is made of plastics which will break sooner or later.  Ideally you want these hinge points to be made of metal for added insurance. If your straps break, your entire kit will bounce off the ground and will damage your equipment.

These same plastic buckles that come with this bag also make friction noises that can become a nuisance. If you are taking photos in a quiet space like a church or at a wedding ceremony, you will be heard moving around. Not a deal breaker but the issue is quickly noticeable.

For those who plan to use this bag for outdoor photography, be aware that it is not waterproof nor does it come with a waterproof sleeve like more expensive bags or camera backpacks do. If you get stuck in a rain storm, you risk to lose your expensive camera and lenses. This can be mitigated by purchasing a waterproof sleeve bag at added cost and keep it inside the main bag for those rainy days.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this camera bag for the beginner photographer. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. When starting out, it’s best to invest your hard earned money or more important items like lenses and camera bodies. It is the perfect starter kit and can be upgraded down the road as your photography equipment and hobby grows.

Samatar David – Photographer

B&D Photography

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