Don’t get one that indicates the contents.

Now that you have acquired a nice camera and lens, you want to protect your investment. Shopping for a camera bag is almost as fun as shopping for the equipment it holds thanks to the wide array of options, sizes and styles. There is no right or wrong here. Just find one that suits your needs and most importantly, get one that does not scream camera bag.

Professionals tend to carry something similar to a Tenba Messenger Bag which offers lots of space and utility for multiple bodies, lenses, flashes, tablet/laptop and more. I am not a professional so I chose a Bestek Canvas Shoulder Bag. It provides more than enough room for my T6 with the lens attached. There’s plenty of space left for battery, cable and such. The canvas material makes it water resistant so that’s a big plus.

The design emphasizes security over convenience due to a two layer system but I can still get in it pretty quickly. At $16 it was a great value. The padded compartment is removable as pictured below. The divider detaches via velcro so you can adjust the space to your desire. There’s actually a second divider which I have placed beneath my camera for more padding underneath.

In addition to the outside buckle/snap flap cover, the main compartment can be zippered close for a second layer of security. If I need to get to my camera quickly, I will leave the cover flap unfastened and zipper open so I can just flip away the cover and reach in.

The flap cover fastens with snap buttons or you can leaven them snapped on and use the buckles. There are pockets on both sides, a front zipper compartment and finally a somewhat hidden zipper pouch sewn to the back of the bag. I imagine this is good for valuables and cash if you’re traveling. As you can see, lots of room! Dimensions measure roughly 11 x 15 x 7 inches. The only downside is that it lacks a top handle which makes it slightly awkward to pick up.