Many photographers actually spend years, before finding a new suitable digital SLR camera bag, to replace their old one. It’s not surprising. Nowadays, there are hundreds of various camera bag models, offered by dozens of various manufacturers.

However, there are several manufacturers, who are on top of the competition, whether because of their low prices, high quality, or the combination thereof.

Three of the most famous brands are Lowepro, Tamrac and Crumpler. Let’s see what is different about these three brands?

Lowepro

Lowepro offers one of the widest selections of various camera bags. The company was established back in 1967 by professional mountain climber Greg Lowe. That was also the year when Greg had designed his first internal-frame backpack. Ever since then the company was among the best camera bag manufacturers, keeping up with the latest trends and requirements. Lowepro has always strived to produce bags, which would best meet the expectations of any photographer, whether an amateur or a professional photographer.

The smallest and cheapest digital SLR camera bag may cost as low as $10. A medium model, which would hold a camera with a lens attached, and some space for a couple additional lenses and other accessories, may cost around $50. The most advanced models, such as trekker bags, may cost up to $350.

Tamrac

Tamrac is another popular manufacturer of SLR camera bags. The concept behind Tamrac bags was conceived back in 1977. The name of the company comes from the pine tree, native to the American wilderness.

Tamrac has been offering quality innovative bags for dozens of years, well competing with various other companies in the industry.

Tamrac also offers a wide selection of bags for all types of photographers and their individual circumstances. The prices range from $20 to $200. As a brand, Tamrac is cheaper than many other brands.

Crumpler

Crumpler is another famous company, offering a modest variety of SLR camera bags. The variety might be smaller, in comparison to other manufacturers. However, the quality of the bags by Crumpler is second to none.

The company is based in Australia, and it was founded in 1995.

The cheapest Crumpler bag can be found for as low as $15, and the most expensive professional bag sells for as much as $500.

All in all, any one of these 3 manufacturers will provide you with a good digital SLR camera bag, depending on your needs and requirements.

SLR camera bags are probably the second most important accessory, after the SLR camera itself. Rapid development of digital photography and accompanying accessories resulted in the emergence of durable, practical and functional camera bags.

Currently, there are several major manufacturers of professional bags for SLR cameras, including Lowepro, Domke, and Tamrac. Before buying a camera bag, you should first try to get yourself acquainted with the most recent trends in the market of SLR camera bags.

Why do you need a good professional camera bag? Modern SLR cameras are quite expensive. The camera, optics, filters, flash, memory, etc., all require very careful handling. These requirements impose special responsibilities on the designers and developers of the camera bags. The best manufacturer is the one, who pays the most attention to the demands of their customers, constantly seeking new solutions and conducting tests and trials with a large number of professional testers.

A camera bag should not just feature nice design, fashionable color or shape; a good professional bag has to have other important features. For example, a bag must feature compact and, most importantly, safe compartments to transport one or two cameras, several lenses, tripod, and other accessories. In addition, it is very important to ensure a quick and easy way to access the contents of the bag, without having to turn the bag around.

Modern SLR camera bags come in a variety of lightweight waterproof materials. The bags generally have quality and quiet snaps and fasteners, providing the work of a photographer with the necessary comfort in any conditions.

What else should you pay attention to, when shopping for a bag? The outside of the bag should preferably be soft, with plastic in the middle and a padded surface: when you are walking through a crowd, a bag made from hard material could seriously hamper your speed and even irritate the people around you.

Furthermore, try to pay attention to the color of the bag. The best option is gray, blue and green shades. Such colors will not attract any attention to your very expensive camera. In fact, it’s best if your camera bag does not even look like an SLR camera bag. For example, a famous American company “Domke” makes its professional Reporter handbag look like “potatoes’ sacks”. Not all professionals like the organization of internal compartments, but this bag is very different, and it does not look like a camera bag at all.

Lowepro, Domke, and Tamrac are all well-known brands, which manufacture good professional SLR camera bags. Any one of these three manufacturers can provide you with an excellent top notch quality bag for your SLR camera.

Lowepro bags are reliable and convenient SLR camera bags, offering good protection for your SLR camera, lenses and other photo accessories. The Lowepro Company was established by Greg Lowe in 1967.

Lowepro features numerous bags for SLR camera bags, both, for amateur and professional photographers.

For instance, The Lowepro Nova series are meant for both, professional and amateur photographers. Nova series with model numbers from 1-5 differs primarily in their sizes, to accommodate different SLR cameras, extra lenses, filters and accessories.

Nova series SLR camera bags have several compartments for an SLR camera with large lenses, for two additional lenses or filters, and a front pocket for accessories. By dividing the compartments of the bag, Lowepro provides a simple and secure access to various camera accessories. The bags are made from waterproof nylon and other durable materials.

For those who need more space with the possibility to change the internal configuration, Lowepro offers unique and stylish backpacks. Despite compact size, backpacks can accommodate a lot of accessories inside them and can be used in a variety of situations.

Single interior space of a backpack in some models may be divided into three sections with separate access to each section. A long zipper provides quick, easy and secure access to the internal contents. Additional easily accessible zipped pockets are located on the right and left sides. In addition, the straps of these backpacks do not slide.

People, who have tried backpack SLR camera bags, state that backpacks are very convenient for general daily use and for travel.

Unlike previously described bags, “strictly” professional camera bags (e.g., the Omni series) have different designs and are generally much safer for storage and transportation. SLR camera bags from the Omni series include four models with different sizes.

Configuration of the main compartment of these bags can be changed depending on your needs. This is achieved with soft flexible pads, which provide a high level of security for your SLR camera, optics and accessories. Pockets on the top or side can be used for film and other accessories.

Traditionally, Omni Series SLR camera bags are made of a special waterproof material. For the use in extreme conditions, Lowepro offers additional shockproof and waterproof hard cases, which ensures the highest level of security in the most unusual situations.

For reporters and other active photographers, Lowepro offers special SLR camera bags with belts, vests, and a lot of various covers for different sized cameras, lenses, filters and accessories.

Lowepro S F series represent superbly organized fast-access SLR camera bags for cameras with large lenses, which are ideal for active use.

S F series feature fully customizable interior, with the lid of the bag opening in a reverse direction, for quick access. There are also special side pockets for ease when changing the film or filter, all-weather covers to protect against water, dust or sand, and a non-sliding belt.

Lowepro SLR camera bags will suit the most demanding photographers for all sorts of work conditions and situations.

Tamrac is yet another famous manufacturer of SLR camera bags. Tamrac bags started to be manufactured back in 1977. The bags manufactured by Tamrac have a very good quality, making these bags built to last. Most importantly, these bags are also very affordable.

Even the most affordable (around $40) Tamrac camera bags will provide you with the ability to place your camera with a grip and lens attached to it into the bag, as well as with the space for several additional lenses, an external flash and various other necessary digital accessories.

Tamrac bags feature special patented Dual Foam technologies, which will provide your valuable camera and the rest of your gear with extra security, and a custom fit.

Tamrac bags also feature non-slip adjustable shoulder straps, and a special patented design of the carrying handles. Most Tamrac shoulder straps come with a pad, making them well conform to your shoulder, so that even a full day’s use does not cause you any inconvenience. When buying a bag, make sure that the strap is long enough for you, especially if you carry your digital SLR camera bag around your neck – on the other side of your shoulder.

Another excellent feature of the Tamrac camera bags is a Velcro inner compartment, which can be adjusted to fit your particular configuration needs. Additionally, the lens compartments can also be generally subdivided to better fit your requirements.

The top of most Tamrac bags can be held closed with a nylon buckle (good for fast camera extraction), or it can be closed with a zipper for more protection.

Most of the Tamrac bags allow attaching smaller add-on cases, in case there will be a need to carry more items.

If you are shopping online, and you are not sure, whether Tamrac (or any other brand) is right for you, you can easily resolve a large part of your doubts. You should simply go to your local camera store and compare the quality of several different brands, such as the quality of the external material of the bag, the straps, the padding of the bag, etc. When you know which brand is of a better quality, you can go online and pick a particular bag (including the size and design), to perfectly fit your needs.

Overall, Tamrac bags are high quality bags, which last for many years. Tamrac bags are generally very popular among photographers, due to their excellent quality and cheaper prices.

Crumpler is a famous manufacturer of digital SLR camera bags, established in 1995. If you buy a digital SLR camera bag by Crumpler, one thing you will get for sure is quality.

Some of the bags might be fairly small, capable of accommodating merely a camera body and a medium telephoto lens. However, if you happened to purchase a small bag by Crumpler, the company does make special lens holders, which can be safely attached to the outside of most bags.

The quality of the bags by Crumpler is second to none. However, if you need a larger bag, you will probably be better off with a Tamrac bags, since the price of Crumpler bags steeply goes up, according to the size of the bag.

Generally, Crumpler bags are known also for their stiff Velcro, zippers and straps. Some people take it as a disadvantage, while others appreciate this feature for additional strength.

Overall, Crumpler is a good but a more expensive brand. If you need a large bag, a bag by Crumpler will cost you more than, say, a bag by Tamrac or Lowepro.

Many Crumpler bags come with a heavy padding. In most cases this padding is beneficial, because it would provide your expensive SLR camera with extra protection. However, in other cases your camera may not simply fit in the bag because of this padding.

In order to not waste your time or money, you should opt for a bag with the dimensions stated particularly for the inside of the bag. If the dimensions are stated only for the outside of the bag, you may be in for a surprise.

Crumpler bags are notorious for being very thick and solid. The bags use top notch materials. Many Crumpler bags come with special comfortable film holders.

A disadvantage of the bags may be the stiffness of the padding, making you need to spend time taking your camera out of the bag. Small Crumpler bags are also known for being very discreet. The bag actually does not look like a digital SLR camera bag, and rather looks like a regular bag.

Bottom line: Crumpler digital SLR camera bags are good quality bags, made from strong materials, with a good construction. The bags are comfortable to wear, and they do not look like SLR camera bags. The bags are made of water-resistant materials, with extra-strong padding on the inside.

However, Crumpler bags are more expensive than many other bags and may be less roomy than some others.