Last Updated on 07/09/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
Street photography is a fun pastime for many photography enthusiasts
Street Photographers. You may know one or you may be one. Regardless of your status, there is one thing about street photographers that’s a given; unlike other professions where the luxury of taking their camera bag off their back to be set down is a possibility, for most street photographers this is not an option. They must be able to carry their gear around comfortably for long stretches of time. Let’s be honest; not all camera bags are going to be good for that type of use.
Today, we wanted to highlight some of our top camera/gear bag picks with street photographers in mind. As well, if you have a big street photography kit or a small street photography kit, it makes no difference. We will have options below that appeal to a wide variety of photographers with varying amounts of gear. So, if you are ready. let’s get into it…
Peak Design Everyday Sling
Why you should consider it for your street photography: The Everyday Sling 5L is an excellent choice for those who are already on the Peak Design train as well as those just looking for a good sling type bag that can carry their camera and an extra lens or two. This bag would be excellent for film and mirrorless street photographers.
Everyday Sling Review Excerpt:
“I really, really like the Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L. In fact, it’s the first bag from them that I thoroughly enjoy. I don’t use their Tote anymore because I feel like Manfrotto makes a significantly better product. Their Messenger bag and I never quite got along, and I have yet to test their backpack for a prolonged period of time. At the moment, both Vinta and Olliday have my heart for backpacks while Tenba, CRAVAR, Black Forest, and Hawkesmille dominate my life for messenger bags depending on the situation I’m in. But I don’t have a sling except for the Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L. This sling is really nice and I’m looking forward to using it on bike rides when I finally conquer legal blindness.” (Read the full review)
You can currently grab them over on [amazon_textlink asin=’B076B2NYGC’ text=’Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’418f6b5e-3913-11e8-b9ed-4bb43ead3cef’] for [amazon_link asins=’B076B2NYGC’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’503a9b67-3913-11e8-b729-bf3843c6be69′].
ONA Bowery
Why you should consider it for your street photography: For those of you who are fans of the more classic look of a messenger style bag made of canvas or leather, the ONA Bowery will be a bag you should keep an eye on. These bags are perfect for street photography because they look great, don’t attract a ton of attention, and can carry plenty of gear for standard street photowalking.
Bowery Review Excerpt:
“The beauty of this bag is really in the details. The stitching, the high quality hardware, the sturdy waxed-canvas material, and the extra secure foam inserts all come together to make a truly excellent bag for someone looking for a great carry-around solution for their mirrorless camera system. I couldn’t be happier with it!” (Read the full review)
You can currently grab them over on [amazon_textlink asin=’B00X3ZMBQA’ text=’Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’4ae4d58d-3914-11e8-9938-3b9017955640′] for [amazon_link asins=’B00X3ZMBQA’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’55ceb7ae-3914-11e8-9978-cd013b9445e9′].
Hawkesmill Sloane Street
Why you should consider it for your street photography: Another excellent option in the messenger/briefcase style camera bags, the Hawkesmill Sloane Street is a bag that looks great, will protect your gear with lots of padding and can surely take the beating that comes along with being a street photographer’s bag.
Sloane Street Review Excerpt:
“There’s a lot to like with the Hawkesmill Sloane Street camera bag. It’s the single best made messenger bag out there. It’s handsome, has a lot of security, uses nickel instead of brass, has lots of room, lots of padding, a comfortable shoulder strap, a solid suitcase handle, pockets, more pockets, and overall it makes someone not think that you have a camera bag. Instead, it’s easy for one to think that you’ve just got a really nice briefcase.” (Read the full review)
You can currently grab them over on the Hawkesmill website.
Domke F-803
Why you should consider it for your street photography: Probably one of the least stylish of the bags on this list, the Domke F-803 family of bags are good at what they do; carrying your gear from point a to point b in one piece, along with an array of accessories you can store in the little pockets. This bag won’t attract a ton of attention either, which is nice if you live in a city where flashy bags are a theft magnet.
F-803 Review Excerpt:
“Finding the right camera bag is often a never-ending quest for most photographers. All camera bags have their good and bad qualities, it’s all a matter of finding the bag that meets most or all of your core requirements and for me, the Domke F-803 is one of them. I was looking for a well made bag that had a slim profile, could carry all of my Micro Four Thirds gear, was cool/handsome looking, didn’t scream camera bag, could carry an iPad or 11″ MacBook Air and was somewhat protected against the elements. So far, I haven’t found another shoulder bag that can best the Domke F-803 based on the above requirements and honestly, I haven’t really felt the need to look.” (Read the full review)
You can currently grab them over on [amazon_textlink asin=’B00009R8AI’ text=’Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’174953ea-3918-11e8-aba2-9db7977c94c9′] for [amazon_link asins=’B00009R8AI’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’21479e96-3918-11e8-9910-396be3961932′].
Tenba Cooper 13″ Slim
Why you should consider it for your street photography: Do you need to carry more than just your camera gear? Maybe a laptop or larger tablet? Well, the Tenba Cooper 13″ Slim is an excellent option for that. It will protect your gear and your laptop/tablet which would make it a great option for those who want to do some street shooting on the way to client meetings or the office.
Cooper 13″ Review Excerpt:
“For the past couple of years, I’ve been in search of my own camera bag that really suits me and my needs. I’ve spent hours on Amazon looking for cheap leather or canvas bags that I could modify myself to become a camera bag, and no one has really gotten it just right. The closest company for years was ONA, but even then they didn’t quite make it. At one point, I even considered approaching a company about building a bag. When it comes to a messenger style camera bag designed for the working pro using mirrorless camera gear, this is the only camera bag that you’ll ever need. Again, it’s stylish, comfortable, low profile, and it gets the job done. Though I may not carry it around when using lots of DSLR gear, most of my kit is mirrorless and for that this bag will always remain close to me and will constantly be reached for.” (Read the full review)
You can currently grab them over on [amazon_textlink asin=’B016PU2100′ text=’Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cc3f7853-3918-11e8-8e0b-aff848f203db’] for [amazon_link asins=’B016PU2100′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’thephobl-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d453f366-3918-11e8-ab81-15f8f610d826′].