Is a Lens Bag or Lens Pouch Better for Carrying Your Lenses?
- Camera Lens Bag
- Camera Lens Pouches
- A New Idea - Lens Quiver
- Other Workflow Solutions
- Other Recommended Photography Gear
- Why a Lens Pouch is a Much Better Option Than a Camera Bag
- Essential Camera Accessories
- How To Carry Gear for Wedding Videography
- How To Wow a Photography Client
- What to Look for in a Good Camera Strap
- Camera Safety Tips for Your Next Trip
When I’m out taking pictures for a job, for my stock images, or simply for fun, I tend to carry my camera, at least one other camera lens, and maybe some accessories. I figure I might as well since I’m already specifically bringing my camera, which isn’t pocket-sized.
Some of the options I have are a camera lens bag, a camera lens pouch either singly or in combination with a bag, or a camera lens quiver. I’ve found excellent examples of all of these from HoldFast Gear, one of my favorite sources of camera bags, lens bags, straps, and other workflow solutions for photographers.
HoldFast Gear makes its products right here in the USA, almost the middle, actually, in Oklahoma. They use American Bison leather and fine bridle leather, heavy-duty cotton twill, alpaca and sheep’s wool, wax canvas, copper, steel, and other durable and high-quality materials.
You can see Holdfast’s story on their YouTube channel. Above, check out the MoneyMaker story video to see how this iconic product came to be.
As we look at the camera lens bag, pouches, and lens quiver, I’ll give some ideas of how I use them in my own photography workflow and when I decided on one or the others.
Table of Contents:
Camera Lens Bag
Grab a camera! Now, think of the next thing you’ll want while shooting. For me, and probably many of you, that next thing often is a different lens. But how do we carry this extra lens, or more lenses, if we want other options?
My regular camera bag can carry many things, and I used it as a lens bag whenever I was out capturing images. However, a dedicated lens bag does the job of carrying my camera lenses better than the leftover space in my camera bag.
Have a look at the HoldFast Explorer Lens Pouch, a dedicated lens bag that comes in two sizes. The smaller lens bag holds two lenses or a lens and any other accessory, such as a flash gun. The larger lens bag can accommodate a large lens like an f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens plus any size of other lenses, and my flash gun fits in the outside pocket.
It’s fashioned primarily from heavy-duty and water-resistant wax canvas, has soft sheep's wool for padding inside, and multiple other pockets for holding memory cards, batteries, or whatever else I want with me on a photography trek.
This small lens bag was designed to fit seamlessly with the original MoneyMaker camera holster strap and can also be used with any other straps you may already have.
As a workflow solution, I like to pair my Explorer Lens Pouch with a MoneyMaker strap. Since the MoneyMaker is a two-camera holster, I can attach my camera on one side and this lens bag on the other.
Learn More:
Camera Lens Pouches
Next, I want to focus on a single lens pouch from the HoldFast Sightseer Collection, the HoldFast Sightseer Lens Pouch. Available in 4 sizes, the Sightseer lens pouch is a small lens bag for a single lens. They can also hold other items, such as a flash, LED light, or point-and-shoot (P&S) camera.
I tried numerous methods of using these. You can attach them to your camera strap, a belt, a camera bag, a backpack, or to each other in a daisy chain. Made from wax canvas, Merino wool felt padding, and leather, these lens pouches have a magnetic closure on the top flap. There’s a false bottom divider, handy for stashing memory cards or as a spacer between 2 lenses.
A New Idea - Lens Quiver
The HoldFast Lens Quiver caught my attention when I first glanced through the entire HoldFast catalog because I wondered how I would feel about having an open-top camera and lens bag. Once I used it, let me tell ya, I liked it!
Here’s how it works: Instead of having a flap, zippers, snaps, or any other type of closure, the quiver is deep and well-arranged, holding my lenses with security while allowing instant access. It’s made from either 18oz cotton twill or soft leather, which also aids in keeping my gear secure since that little bit of give seems to hold onto things when a stiffer bag might be prone to spillage.
There are multiple pockets and pouches in this lens bag. I put anything from a tablet and memory cards to a journal and even snack bars in the various pockets. I find it best suited to being attached to the MoneyMaker strap, but you could use it with other straps or a heavy-duty belt.
You’ll enjoy learning more about this innovative lens bag idea in the video above.
Other Workflow Solutions
Having the proper lens bag or pouch for my needs is one thing. Carrying it comfortably into the field is how I make it part of a simplified workflow solution. I tend to favor the MoneyMaker holster-style two-camera strap, but the Holdfast Tanker Belt is another fine way to use my lens bags and other things.
Here is one more video from their YouTube channel you will enjoy, an introduction to HoldFast Gear Ambassadors Ben and Erin Chrisman and their excellent photography as they explain why they enjoy using gear from HoldFast.
Take it from me, HoldFast Gear makes things photographers like you and I want. They work exactly as you need, and they also look great. As an added plus, these fine leather and canvas goods will outlive our gear changes, lasting for years.
