I have been looking for the perfect camera bag. I have a camera bag that is ugly (actually it is a cheap Chinese knockoff of this bag. In better colors, but still ugly). I also have a convertible backpack/sling that is also ugly but great for travel. What has been hard to find is an everyday bag that is functional, protective, and looks cool. I want to carry my camera and a lens, maybe two, and I want room for my wallet, keys, and phone. And did I mention that I want it to look good?
You would think that after 4 years of designing and building leather bags, I could just make myself a camera bag. Believe me, I have started more than once. I have even considered branching out into leather DSLR bags as the means to revive my dwindling interest in making bags. But whenever I start thinking about design, pockets, and padding, I think about all the other people who really know this stuff. Why should I re-invent the wheel?
Well, the camera bag wheel needs re-inventing, in my opinion, for a serious lack of style. Although businesses like Kelly Moore and Epiphanie make pretty and feminine bags, black nylon still rules the market. Crumpler offers some alternatives, as do independent designers on Etsy, but the problem with Etsy is that it can be hard to tell how much the designers know about the needs of a photographer and how to keep gear safe.
PorteenGear stands out among the Etsy competition for two reasons. The designer, Robyn Porteen, is an award-winning photographer. This is the kind of person I want making my camera bag. She knows her gear, and I feel confident that her experience as a photographer informs her camera bag design. But what really makes her bags stand apart is the styling and materials. She combines water-resistant waxed canvas with leather and tapestry fabrics to create durable and protective bags with unique style. They're not flirty and feminine, but they're not black-nylon rugged, either. They are a little bit rustic, a little bit modern, and a little bit edgy. They fill a niche.
Did I mention that I bought one? This is the bag that fills my niche:
Its the small DSLR bag in waxed canvas and leather. It holds my Canon EOS 5D MkII nicely. It is well-made and comfortable, stylish, and protective. It meets my needs and has saved me from having to re-invent the wheel myself.
