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.

Each square is 1 inch.

My next show isn’t for another week or two so I figured I talk about something different today. It has nothing to do with photography but it’s a critical consideration for anyone who partakes in concerts. The title says it all. Hearing is something you do not get back once lost. At least probably not in our lifetimes even though there are talks of the possibility. When I first started going years ago, I went without because the joys of youth (silly me). Then one night I saw a doubleheader of Atmosphere then Yelle. Needless to say, it was amazing. But the next morning my ears were still ringing which really scared me. Please learn from my mistake.

I tried various ear plugs including those $3 clay textured round plugs and those popular orange foam cones. The former, while far more comfortable than the latter, not only distorted the sound but muffled them.  I finally settled on Etymotic’s High Fidelity earplugs and have never looked back. They effectively work by turning down the volume. In other words, you do not lose any fidelity in sound. Push them in deeper to lower the sound to your preference. They are very comfortable and come in different sizes to fit your ears as well as colors. I like blue. They also come with a small handy carrying case which I love. When I first got them they were $10. Prices have since increased to $13 but very worth it! They last a year or two which is about 60 to 70 shows for me.