Photo Bag News

I’ve seen more innovative camera backpacks in recent months than in the past five years. One innovation encompasses truly ergonomic designs aimed at providing hours of comfort.

We were in a zodiac boat in a bay of Pitt Island, a small island that is part of the Chatham Islands, six hundred miles east of the South Island of New Zealand. It was December, summer in the southern hemisphere, but the islands are far enough south that even in their summer, it was cold.

Shoes come in all colors, styles, and configurations. Some are ideal for the beach, others are only for formal wear, and still others shelter feet when it rains. Think of photo bags in the same way, only more so. You don’t have to select a photo bag to match your outfit, but you do need different carrying solutions depending on your activity.

The ONA Roma Camera Insert: If your just packing your DSLR and a lens, the Roma Camera Insert from ONA can easily transform any bag into a protective space for your gear. The Roma won’t replace a camera bag but it’s a good solution for short trips where only your camera and a lens are needed. The Roma also has five exterior pockets that’ll help keep your stuff organized. It is available in black and handcrafted from waxed canvas with leather side handles for easy removal.

Our show report this year is an amalgam of product news and trend spotting, which pretty much reflects what photokina has stood for in our minds. The sense of a United Nations of photography still prevails at this increasingly European-directed show, but the image and its uses is still the universal tie that binds.

Just when I thought I’d seen it all, along come camera bags that capture my attention. Photo backpacks are sporting new looks that are designed to reduce back strain. Messenger bags are seeing a resurgence, doing double duty as laptop and camera bag, while maintaining their svelte lines. The more conventional shoulder bag, however, is still on the scene for those who prefer tradition while...

Pompidoo has introduced the fashionable Lima camera bag, which offers the stylish retro flair of a designer handbag combined with the functionality of a photography gear bag. Aimed at female photographers, the Lima is available in the vibrant colors with whimsical names: Aqua Dreams, Fiesta Dreams and Nougat Dreams.