Jon Sienkiewicz

Photographers young and old love photo backpacks. Small wonder: they’re easy to carry, as durable as a mountain goat, and they hold a ton of gear. Photo backpacks are available in hundreds of styles and colors, and at every price point. Which to choose? Here are our picks of seven new camera packs that run the gamut from economical to luxurious.

The specifications are impressive, but can a super-wideangle zoom with a super-fast f/2.8 aperture deliver the results pros and ardent amateurs demand?

A friend showed me a Father’s Day gift list published by venerable Vogue and on it was a pair of socks from Thom Browne for $150. Not to be a lowbrow, but I would think that for $75 a foot they could at least learn how to spell colors. If I put $150 socks on my feet I’m afraid that my other extremities would be jealous. Imagine what I’d have to pay for a hat, gloves and a jockstrap.

Even people who are passionate about photography often make common mistakes that prevent them from reaching their maximum potential. No one is immune. To advance to the next level of proficiency, overcome the tendency to fall victim to these common goofs.