Information

[AnnH]

I have a Canon Rebel with a fairly standard camera bag. We're planning a family vacation for over the New Year holiday, and I'd like a better camera bag that would also have room for a small wallet so that I can carry it as my purse. I've looked in the ACOT store and see the zebra bag there, which is cute. Anyone else have recommendations for an SLR camera bag that can double as a purse? (A bonus would be even more room for my second zoom lens, but it's not a must.)

[AnnOminous]

I've got a Cannon bag. It's not the bag they usually push for the Rebel, but the next size up. I can fit inside my Rebel body, my three lenses, my two close up tubes, my flash unit and my Powershot "purse camera". I put my flash cards and some other stuff in the inside mesh pocket in the top. In one side pocket I have my two battery chargers and three batteries. In the other side pouch I can put my wallet. In the front pocket I can put my checkbook. I got it through Amazon (though it came from one of their affiliated camera stores, Camata Camera, I think) in a package deal with 2 extra batteries, a battery charger that had a car adaptor and some lens cleaning stuff. And the price for all of this was about the same as the list price of the bag! I would suggest checking Amazon for bags and package deals. It is nice to have extra batteries and an extra charger, especially one that works in the car. Just be sure that you get a package for the right Rebel model. The XTi and the XSi use different batteries. I found that out the hard way! (The return was handled fine.)

[SarahA]

I have a Nikon and the Nikon bag that came with it. It can hold my camera, zoom lens and then has an extra zipper pocket on the front that has 2 compartments that I can put my wallet, or at least money, license and cards in if you had a bigger wallet. Of course, maybe you don't want a Nikon bag if you have a Canon.
One thing I saw someone with this summer was an SLR backpack bag. It looked so convenient because she could fit the camera and several lenses in it and still had her hands completely free and wasn't trying to keep a bag balanced on her shoulder or being bulking strung across her body. I really want one of those now!

[scrapy1967]

I have the zebra and I love it and it is big enough to carry everything and then some.

[AnnH]

Thanks, all. Hmm... that backpack bag sounds intriguing. And scrapy1967, if you can fit everything you need in the zebra bag, I might need to revisit that. I'd like something a little fun, that doesn't "look" like a camera bag.

[Nikki_E]

I like that zebra bag.

[Firegems]

I have a back pack camera back which is nice because I can also put my person purse stuff in the front pocked and still have all my camera stuff with me. There is different sizes and I know they have a smaller one then I have that will fit your extra lens and camera nicely and not be so bulky.