When I bought my first prosumer camera, I made sure to purchase a quality bag to protect and transport the camera. I ended up selecting a Lowepro bag and I’ve been very happy with it. It has velcro dividers inside for customization, detachable side pockets, and a deployable rain cover (for the bag, not the camera). It has served me well.
I only wish it was cheaper. I paid roughly $275 for it.
Hey, it’s a great bag, but let’s not kid ourselves here. It’s still a bag, and, in my opinion, is highly overpriced. But, of course, because it’s designed for video, it has to come with a “designed for video” price tag, right?
Right.
A while back, I bought a second camera, and since then, I’ve been toting it around in the bag my Steadicam Merlin came in. It’s done the job but I definitely wanted something more suitable to the camera. I just didn’t want to pay $200+ for another bag.
And then I found the solution, inside a Wal-Mart flyer, no less. Go figure.
It was a blue bag made by Canadian Airline “Air Canada.” Take a look at it in the above photo. Now, tell me, does it not look like something PortaBrace would make?
It’s not as big as my Lowepro, but I didn’t really need another bag that size. It fits the camera comfortably and has a decent sized pocket in the front for accessories.
The best part is the price.
Would you believe I paid $20? It’s true. And while I was shopping, I came across the bigger black bag you see in the photo. It is perfect for some of my other gear, especially since it has a pull-out handle and wheels. It was only $45.
So the lesson here is that you don’t always need to spend “designed for video pricing” if you do your research and think a little outside the box (pro video gear at Wal-Mart?!).