Hard Shell vs. Soft Camera Case

Photographers are a picky lot, and many have a favorite camera case they won’t part with for love or money. But talk to a few of these picture fanatics and you’ll soon discover that although they all have a favorite style, very few of them can agree on which style of camera case is best. They will endlessly argue about the advantages of a backpack style over a shoulder holster, whether you want a hand-held camera case or a rolling Camera Bag and which kind of interior layout is best. One of the main points of contention, however, is whether a hard shell case or a soft side camera bag is best.

The differences between the two are very similar to the differences between traditional hard shell luggage and soft shell luggage. Hard shell camera cases are made from injection molded hard plastic, while soft camera cases are usually made from high denier nylon. You can also get leather camera cases, but these are quickly losing favor in response to the versatility, stain resistance and strength of nylon.

Some photographers favor hard shell cases because they’re virtually indestructible. If you’re traveling around the globe and have to check your camera bag, you’ll probably feel better using a hard shell case. If you’re boating down the Nile River and there’s a danger of your camera case falling overboard, a good hard shell camera case will float, which can save you thousands of dollars. Who wants to see their camera and gear at the bottom of the river?

That being said, most hard shell camera cases are heavy, cumbersome and can be difficult to pack. There’s usually not much versatility built into the interior, so you’ll have to stick with the default packing method the manufacturer has designed, even if it doesn’t seem practical or intuitive to you. If you want to carry your gear around in a backpack style case, a hard shell camera case won’t win points for comfort. It will tend to dig in at the shoulders and isn’t going to conform to the body at all.

Soft shell camera cases made from high quality nylon, canvas or leather, with nylon being the overwhelming favorite because it’s water resistant but breathable, almost impossible to tear, and comes in a variety of strengths and colors. Far more photographers use soft shell camera cases than hard shell cases.

Soft side camera cases are easier to pack and extremely versatile. Most have movable dividers that can be rearranged to suit your needs or removed to give you some extra space. They’re also great for traveling with as carry-on luggage. They will conform more easily to the overhead compartment shape without banging up your gear and are easy to stow almost anywhere.

A soft backpack camera case will naturally be more comfortable than a hard shell. It will conform to the shape of your back and will have some give to it as you’re moving around. The lightweight material is a bonus when you’ll be hiking long distances with a backpack camera case.

The versatility of soft shell camera cases extends to their interiors. In addition to movable dividers, most will also have mesh pockets for smaller items such as memory cards and microfiber lens cloths. Some soft camera cases are expandable, so you can fill them to capacity when needed, or partially collapse the bag to make it a smaller, more manageable size if you’re only carrying the essentials. Many of today’s soft side camera cases are also modular – you can order two different cases that work separately, but can be fastened together to make one larger bag when needed.

The versatility and lightweight of soft camera cases place them squarely at the top of the list for most photographers. Once you’ve decided a soft camera case is right for you, visit some websites that specialize in camera cases to find the perfect one for your photography needs.

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