Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize: the bag

So, why do you need a bag?

Well, it's better to carry your camera in one because that way you won't bang the camera around and scratch it.

What are the most important features of a good bag?

It must be big enough to carry the things that you want and the strap! (yes, the strap!) must be made of good soft material.

I learned this the hard way after my first bag (a $20 Case Logic) ruined all my sweaters. The strap was so tough (and sharp) that when it moved around, it tore up the fabric on my clothes. I got my upgrade bag from Yodobashi on a trip to Japan. It's a OVA-004DR. For more models, you can go to Elecom's Webpage in Japanese) and search for OVA. Or look at this snapshot. I like the bag because it looks nothing like a camera bag, and its strap is very soft. The orange compartment at the bottom holds the camera. And the top compartment has enough room to hold batteries, my B-300, and SmartMedia cards.

Case Logic Bag	OVA-004DR Bag

These days, I like Crumpler bags (from Australia).

Other people recommend Lowepro and Tamrac. They have soft straps and come in all different sizes. For example, the UZ can fit perfectly in the Lowepro TLZ1. A lot of people I know also recommend the Lowepro Nova series.