Best camera bag in India

The best camera bag depends on where it goes. Buy a Think Tank Airport Essentials if you fly with your kit. Buy a Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III if you work outdoors in the rain. Buy a Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L V2 if you carry one body and one or two small lenses.

A bag is the only piece of gear you use on every shoot. Think about your longest trip, not your average one.

Decide by where it goes

For flights

A backpack that goes in the cabin is what you want. Check your airline's current cabin size and weight rules before you pack, because a full camera backpack can go past the limit even when it fits the sizer. Never put lenses in checked baggage.

If your kit is heavy and you are moving through airports and hotels, a trolley backpack saves your back. Wedding shooters with two bodies and a long zoom often end up here.

For rain and field work

The Lowepro's All Weather Cover is the feature to pay for in the monsoon. At 2.3 kg empty it is not light, so it suits safari and outdoor work where protection matters more than weight.

Reinforced bottle pockets on its sides also take a tripod foot, which is useful with a travel tripod.

For one body

A sling keeps the camera at your hip and is quick to open in a crowd. Choose the size by your lens. Keep a sling for day trips, and do not expect it to protect a kit in heavy rain unless the maker says it will.

Indian conditions

Rain gear keeps water out, and it can also keep damp air in. Once home, take the camera out, leave the bag open to dry and store lenses somewhere dry to keep fungus away.

What to avoid

Avoid a soft bag with no padded dividers for anything beyond a compact. Avoid a bag that only just fits today's kit, because lenses tend to multiply.

Before you buy

Take your camera with the longest lens attached and try the bag at the store. Put it on and walk around with weight in it, and ask for a GST invoice.