Rough Guide to Bags

Choosing the perfect bag is a difficult task. If you have a modest kit, do you buy one to fit the gear you have or allow for expansion? If you have a larger system, do you get one big bag to house all of your gear, or do you only take selected items out at a time?

The truth is, there is no perfect bag and most photographers end up with several, which they'll use for different occasions.

Before choosing a bag, think about the type of photography you do. If, for example, you're a landscape photographer then a backpack may be the best choice for you. If travel photography is your passion you'll want to take your gear as hand luggage, and may also want it to hold your passports and tickets, newspaper and iPod. You might want to also pack a smaller shoulder bag for use once you get to your destination.

There are over a dozen major bag and case brands in the UK, each with their own design ethos. None are right, or wrong - in the end, once you've chosen the right type and size of bag for your needs, the rest comes down to personal taste. Here's our guide to help you choose.