Why put your camera lense first into a bag?

Question

I work at best buy (ironically in the camera department) and i always look at the DSLR bags and all of them (or most of them) have diagrams of the camera being lenses down. Is there a reason for that? I mean, lenses get pretty expensive and if your bag ever fell, you would probably say bye bye to that glass and i would think it would be more stable with the body on the bottom of the bag.

Answer 1

With the lenses still attached to the body, it's quicker to get the camera up to a shooting position than the other way around. The bags are designed to be more mobile and allows for quick access of all the one would need in the field. Ideally if one was transporting ones equipment from one location to another, a different type of luggage would be used. This means separating the glass from the body and laying them both in their separate compartments.  

Answer 2

Its the best way with a lens attached in a small bag to save space (i.e. it takes up less room that way)

...unless you've got a 600 f4 in which case all bets are off... :)

Answer 3

most good bags have extra cushion in the bottom that would save glass. also if you work there u know that pushing uv filters is a big deal they help to save the glass