Why are all camera bags black?

[tim48v]

As we move toward production for our RuXpod, we're rethinking the color scheme. Personally, I prefer the Coyote Tan (see attached) but what do you prefer?
Are 95% of all camera bags black because that's what photographers want, or because that's what manufacturers built?

 

[koraks]

Yeah, tan would be nice. I like that. But frankly, I don't mind much either way. And it's been a really long time I used a proper camera bag to begin with. I mostly use a ragged, cheap messenger tote.

 

[tim48v]

In case you missed it:

 

[koraks]

Yeah, I've seen it. Cool, but I'm not the target market.

 

[AnselMortensen]

Tan
Black gets hot in the sun.

 

[Donald Qualls]

My only true camera bag (a 42L Gitzo that holds most of my RB67 kit) is forest green. My other backpack, purchased for my Graphic View II (easier to haul than the original case) is gray.

 

[BrianShaw]

My camera bags are brownish-tan, gray, and blue. Only 1 black bag that I won’t use.

 

[xkaes]

I don't see WHITE or FIRE ENGINE RED on the list.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

My Zone VI 4x5 field camera outfit came in a very white fake leather bag. Over forty years old, not quite a white as it used to be, but still going strong.

 

[Kino]

Tan is fine but PLEASE no cammo!

I also have an original Zone VI bag that is white, but it is canvas. It was filthy and stained when I got it, but it cleaned-up amazingly well and is still quite the good bag.

 

[Horatio]

Mine is blue.

 

[Alan9940]

I actually prefer WHITE for working out here in the blazing sun of the desert southwest. I have two Zone VI bags--both white. The original version (canvas inside) holds my Hasselblad outfit, while the later larger version holds my 4x5 outfit. If I had to pick a color for the ruXpod, I'd choose tan.

 

[Harry Callahan]

...
Are 95% of all camera bags black because that's what photographers want, or because that's what manufacturers built?

I am also wondering about this for years now, as black bags heats up significantly in the sun... i havn`t found out why most bags are black, but i made up a theory:

When photography came up as a wider spread phenomenon there weren`t synthetic materials invented yet, so camera bags were made out of leather for the most. Leather is pretty resilient, therefore a good choice for a camera bag, but untreated/uncolored leather doesn`t have a very nice color. So leather often is colored brown or black to make it look better/more uniform, as uncolored leather can show differences in color or structure.
A black leather bag does look better and even can look somewhat elegant if the black leather is shiny.
Apart from the looks a camera bag also should be water-repellent, you can get leather water-repellent if you grease it - with ordinary shoe-shine for example. Quite some shoe-shines have black color, to re-color a black shoe having lost some of its color due to wear - and if your camera bag is blackened leather you can use just shoe-shine to care for the leather and to make the bag water-repellent again. You don't need any special care-product and back in those days a lot of people had shoe-shine at home.
But it also could have been some sort of fashion. Gramophones are black for the most, instrument cases (cellos, violins etc.) cases for binoculars... though at least gramophones aren`t covered in leather for the most but cloth.
This could be the reason(s) why camera bags were made black in the beginning - and then they just kept on doing it, because, you know, a camera bag is black, right?

 

[koraks]

Maybe camera gear is predominantly black because it reflects little light, so in a controlled lighting setup a stray bag etc. doesn't interfere with the lighting.

And maybe it's just people thought it looked cool so they stuck with it. Or because it just doesn't stand out too much.

 

[Harry Callahan]

But black leather being cared for with grease can reflect light pretty well... while in a world where everybody is wearing a black suit a black camera bag wouldn't stand out much. But back then not everybody was wearing (black) suits, but also workers clothes, so the color black also might have been some sort status symbol... if it`s black it`s "better".

 

[grain elevator]

I think black is simply the smallest common denominator - if you offer one colour, black will be acceptable to the largest clientele.
I use a green bag. Black would be fine by me if it's not a shiny very synthetic looking material.

 

[koraks]

Good point @grain elevator . Black is probably "the least worst" color. The French fries of colors.
Edit: sorry, quoted the wrong person!

 

[benjiboy]

I have four black camera bags, one grey one, and two olive green ones.

 

[bags27]

I tend to favor black, too, largely because I think (may be wrong, but seems) to draw the least attention.

 

[blee1996]

I like medium gray, discrete and neutral. Plus it can be used as gray card for reflective metering.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Black is sophisticated. Looks more expensive. Wasn't it Henry Ford who said about his Model T automobile that you can buy it in any color as long as it's black.

 

[Peter Schrager]

take a thermometer and stick it your black bag and then put it in a white bag...you'll shortly know which color it should be

 

[tim48v]

Black is sophisticated. Looks more expensive. Wasn't it Henry Ford who said about his Model T automobile that you can buy it in any color as long as it's black.

Interestingly, Ford originally offered a half dozen colors including green and blue. He switched to black for production reasons, it was easier and cheaper if everything was black; didn't have to switch the production line over or wait for paint to dry. Bear in mind that they didn't have the same paint technology we have today. They had limited lacquers and shellacs etc. It was much more difficult to get everything to match. The "any color as long as it's black" ended in 1926.

 

[tim48v]

I am also wondering about this for years now, as black bags heats up significantly in the sun... i havn`t found out why most bags are black, but i made up a theory:

When photography came up as a wider spread phenomenon there weren`t synthetic materials invented yet, so camera bags were made out of leather for the most. Leather is pretty resilient, therefore a good choice for a camera bag, but untreated/uncolored leather doesn`t have a very nice color. So leather often is colored brown or black to make it look better/more uniform, as uncolored leather can show differences in color or structure.
A black leather bag does look better and even can look somewhat elegant if the black leather is shiny.
Apart from the looks a camera bag also should be water-repellent, you can get leather water-repellent if you grease it - with ordinary shoe-shine for example. Quite some shoe-shines have black color, to re-color a black shoe having lost some of its color due to wear - and if your camera bag is blackened leather you can use just shoe-shine to care for the leather and to make the bag water-repellent again. You don't need any special care-product and back in those days a lot of people had shoe-shine at home.
But it also could have been some sort of fashion. Gramophones are black for the most, instrument cases (cellos, violins etc.) cases for binoculars... though at least gramophones aren`t covered in leather for the most but cloth.
This could be the reason(s) why camera bags were made black in the beginning - and then they just kept on doing it, because, you know, a camera bag is black, right?

Search for camera bags online and they're all black; search for hiking backpacks and you can get any color you can imagine! Our theory: there is no reason, it just happened. To be honest, I think it's a terrible color for camera gear, it gets way too hot!

 

[tim48v]

But black leather being cared for with grease can reflect light pretty well... while in a world where everybody is wearing a black suit a black camera bag wouldn't stand out much. But back then not everybody was wearing (black) suits, but also workers clothes, so the color black also might have been some sort status symbol... if it`s black it`s "better".

I wonder if the other colors were more expensive and photographers took the cheapest option?