Video Bag Buyer's Guide

Randy Hansen
May 2008

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You have to put "it" somewhere, right? All that pricey video gear sitting in its original cardboard box is not doing anyone any good up there on a dusty shelf in the closet. You want to take it with you on your next shoot, so you can put it to use. (Remember this? "I'll use it, honey...I promise!") A bag would be ideal to haul it from here to there and would offer some measure of protection, but how do you know just what to get and how do you find what's out there, anyway?

Carefully consider your needs and desires before you go shopping. What do you want the bag to do? Protect, carry or store the camera or gear? Protection can get heavy and expensive, carry is cheaper, while storing just keeps the dust out and can require the least investment of money of the three choices.

How much weight are you willing to carry all day? A large case may hold everything you require, but it can feel like a ton of bricks after eight or ten hours on your shoulder. Take a Saturday and carry your current bag (if you have one) on your errands. Gets heavy, doesn't it? Now remove a few low-priority items from the bag one at a time until you get a weight you can live with for several hours. Inventory the contents and you'll find the case you need, as opposed to the case you may want, is smaller than you previously thought. Keep this in mind as you seek out the new bag.

What is your price point? Bags can get quite pricey, but if much of your use is light duty, then you might be just as happy with a cheaper case that isn't built like a Sherman tank.

It seems that some people have no trouble dropping more than $1,000 for the newest gee-whiz deluxe HD camera with multi-zoom, only to balk when it comes time to drop a few bucks to protect it in a quality case. A case made for your specific model of camera holds it better, protects it better and will last longer than bargain cases.

Some low-cost cases hold generically-sized cameras, and, while they may hold your camera, they may not provide the best fit available. A too-small case means the camera may rub the sides of the interior, possibly damaging control buttons and the finish, while a slightly too-large case allows the camera to bounce around and invites dust and debris to enter the delicate mechanisms. Look for a case made by your camera's manufacturer or one specifically designed for your camera. If possible, take your camera into the store with you and try it on for size.

Once you find a few that fit, seek out other features that could prove useful: big pockets for batteries; a strong, wide strap to spread the weight and carry it safely; and a secure, lockable zipper for security's sake.

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