Anyone who knows me (Anne) knows that I love bags. However, I don’t just purchase a bag to be a trend setter or to show off a designer label. It has to be a high-quality bag at a decent price, and I usually purchase from smaller, local designers. If you’re reading this blog, you also know that I love cameras. So it only makes sense that I would have a large collection of camera bags, right? Not really. Until a couple weeks ago, I only owned two camera bags. Much to my surprise & delight, I came home from work one day to find an unexpected gift from my awesome husband, Rich. It was a B-Hobo camera bag by photographer Kelly Moore that I’ve been eyeing up for a while (thanks, Dianne). Since there aren’t many bags geared exclusively towards the female photographer, I thought I’d write this little review of the B-Hobo for us girls.
Quality: When I first opened the box, I was immediately impressed with the quality of the bag. It is made of a high-quality synthetic leather, but in the mustard color that Rich chose, it looks and feels pretty darn close to the real thing. Synthetic leather could be a pro or con depending on individual preferences, but I think it’s a good thing for a photographer whose camera bag needs to withstand all types of weather conditions and is often tossed on the ground while trying to chase kids around during a shoot!
Appearance: I really love that I could use this bag as a regular purse. If you don’t want something screams “I’m carrying an expensive camera”, you should definitely check out Kelly Moore Bags online. There are plenty of sizes, styles, and colors to choose from. This particular bag comes in nine different colors right now. It’s stylish enough for me to use during a shoot, then out to dinner afterwards. It also comes with a short strap to carry over your shoulder, and a longer strap with a removable pad to carry it crossbody. The straps are a functional feature, but also helps to dress the bag up (short strap) or down (long strap).
Size: For DSLR owners, this is not a huge bag. It won’t be making any appearances at weddings, but for quick outings, vacations and day trips with our 9-month old son in tow, it is perfect. It’s just the right size to fit my Canon 5d Mark II body (with no battery grip), and two lenses, or a lens and a flash, plus accessories. My current walkaround lens is the Canon 24-105L IS, so this will be in my bag most of the time.
Shown below: Canon 35mm f/1.4L, Canon 5d MkII with Canon 24-105mm f/4.0L IS attached, and Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L
Function: It’s obvious that this bag was designed by a photographer. One of my favorite features is the flap, which can go over the zipper like a messenger bag, or can be in the open position for easier access when shooting on the fly. The flap is a bit long in the open position, but this doesn’t interfere with the functionality. Pockets are also important for anything from memory cards to lip gloss, and this bag has plenty; five on the outside to be exact. Inside, it has two padded velcro dividers which is a standard feature for most camera bags. The bottom and sides are also padded, which keeps your expensive camera gear well-protected.
Cost: It was a gift, so it cost me nothing 🙂 But, it retails for $169. Just like with good photography, you’ll have to decide for yourself if it’s worth the investment!