Herr Barnack Posted August 22, 2014 Share #61 Posted August 22, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm getting my bowery delivered today but this thread has me concerned. It looks nicer than a Billingham but maybe I should send it back and go the safe route with the Billingham. Do yourself a favor - send the Bowery back and get a Billingham. In terms of value, performance, durability, camera & lens protection and craftsmanship, Billingham bags are the gold standard. Of course, you can buy a camera bag that costs more than a Billingham - but you can't buy a camera bag that is better. I just wish Billingham would resurrect their day pack sized camera backpack. I still regret not getting one when they were in production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Hi Herr Barnack, Take a look here Be careful trusting the strap on your Ona Berlin bag!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
metalbernd Posted August 22, 2014 Share #62 Posted August 22, 2014 A small update, after 9weeks I received it back. They "shorten" the leather straplug and used a white stitch to attach it back. On a very DIY way, so if they want to be premium? they have to do it different, once but never a ona again. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tookaphotoof Posted August 23, 2014 Share #63 Posted August 23, 2014 I'd probably send it back en tell them to fix it like its supposed to. It's not a cheap 20 dollar bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberti Posted September 1, 2014 Share #64 Posted September 1, 2014 I've had a Liddlesdale "fishing bag" for over 30 years . In the beginning of eighties they were marketed as an un-camera bag. very apt. - recently added a larger Brady "fishing bag". I made a new insert myself for 5 lenses. Looks rather conventional. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! These bags are real sturdy. They last forever. (but they bleach out in the sun) They have a rubber layer between the canvas to make them rain-proof. And it can house my 13" MBPro. 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! These bags are real sturdy. They last forever. (but they bleach out in the sun) They have a rubber layer between the canvas to make them rain-proof. And it can house my 13" MBPro. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/227763-be-careful-trusting-the-strap-on-your-ona-berlin-bag/?do=findComment&comment=2661437'>More sharing options...
250swb Posted September 2, 2014 Share #65 Posted September 2, 2014 Liddesdale were taken over by Barbour some time ago, but you can still get something similar in the range. The price however is very similar to a proper Billingham bag (who also started by manufacturing fishing bags), and you get a padded insert for your cameras and lenses. They look identical, and use the same waterproof material. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattMaber Posted October 7, 2014 Share #66 Posted October 7, 2014 That's nice, but one would expect a company that stands behind its product and craftsmanship would either: (1) send a new bag immediately for replacement; or, (2) expedite repair at their own facility, with strong future guarantee against any other issues, and not want another shop to repair. At a minimum, this would allow them to inspect the damaged goods in order to research cause and to ensure integrity of future inventory. But glad that you're satisfied. Jeff Yeah, QC and finding the flaw you would imagine would be utmost, not having it fixed locally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted October 15, 2014 Share #67 Posted October 15, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Good engineering dictates a strap that goes all around the bag. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted October 17, 2014 Share #68 Posted October 17, 2014 I've had a Liddlesdale "fishing bag" for over 30 years . In the beginning of eighties they were marketed as an un-camera bag. very apt. - recently added a larger Brady "fishing bag". I made a new insert myself for 5 lenses. Looks rather conventional. [ATTACH]455092[/ATTACH] These bags are real sturdy. They last forever. (but they bleach out in the sun) They have a rubber layer between the canvas to make them rain-proof. And it can house my 13" MBPro. Thanks for the suggestion. I googled Liddesdale and came across Chapman with which I was not previously familiar. They offer very bags and a range of customisation options. The thing I have against Bilingham (just my view) is their preppy, well-heeled Leica gent look which just isn't me. A part of this is that their colour options are too limited. The khaki/beige is too yellow and the dark options are too boring. Chapman's options appear to be considerably better. Interesting indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 26, 2014 Share #69 Posted October 26, 2014 I have just received an email from Robert White in the UK who are a very good dealer in my experience. They are now selling this range of bags. The fixings for the strap don't look as if they have been improved , just one row of sewing . My comments are based on just looking at the pictures and not examining a bag so quality may have improved. My benchmarks for leather bags is the Italian company " The Bridge " . I have a few of their products and the quality is on a differant leval, as are their prices. I don't think they make a bag dedicated to cameras. BrianP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torgian Posted November 25, 2014 Share #70 Posted November 25, 2014 After reading this thread, I will no longer consider buying an ONA bag. I'll be sticking with my billingham. I do want to get a larger billingham bag, but not yet. As for my current one, it's the small Hadley. Protects my Leica very well; in fact, one time I was jumping into a Subway here in osaka and the doors closed ON MY BAG the second I stepped in. Fortunately one of the operators noticed and opened the door long enough for me to pull it in, but the bag did its job and kept my camera safe. It also rained that day too and kept my camera dry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted November 25, 2014 Share #71 Posted November 25, 2014 If I had discovered this thread before I bought my (now 2 week old) ONA Berlin 2 Mess. bag I would not have gone ahead with the purchase. However I have the bag now and I am really pleased with the way it handles......but what do I have to look forward to in future as the bag ages? I would really be interested to know if the problem with the strap connection on the bag that initiated this thread is/was a design flaw or a failure of workmanship on the part of one underpaid person who was having a bad day or the result of a bad bit of leather, such as a weakness in the original hide. This thread is heavy on the criticism of ONA bags but not many people are posting to stick up for them. Incidentally it is amusing how many people have noticed my new bag and have remarked that one of the little silver "buttons" on the front straps have come off to reveal a "little red dot and what a shame that happened as the bag is so new".......... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotofool Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share #72 Posted November 26, 2014 Dee, as the owner of the bag in question I can give you my opinion. I think it is a design flaw. If you inspect the joint on your bag carefully I think you'll see that it looks like my picture. Specifically, the thickness of the material "necks down" where it is stitched. Multiple rows of stitching are nice, to reduce the risk/consequence of the thread failing, but if the strap itself separates at the top of the joint all is lost. I had both sides of my bag reworked by a very good local craftsman. He commented, actually, that it was a very high quality bag with good materials and craftsmanship but was mystified by the joint design. I use it constantly and love it's size architecture. It is aging nicely. My suggestion to you, given how you like the bag, is to have the joints reworked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted November 26, 2014 Share #73 Posted November 26, 2014 Dee, as the owner of the bag in question I can give you my opinion. I think it is a design flaw. If you inspect the joint on your bag carefully I think you'll see that it looks like my picture. Specifically, the thickness of the material "necks down" where it is stitched. Multiple rows of stitching are nice, to reduce the risk/consequence of the thread failing, but if the strap itself separates at the top of the joint all is lost. I had both sides of my bag reworked by a very good local craftsman. He commented, actually, that it was a very high quality bag with good materials and craftsmanship but was mystified by the joint design. I use it constantly and love it's size architecture. It is aging nicely. My suggestion to you, given how you like the bag, is to have the joints reworked. Jeff, thank you for the suggestion. I'm slightly confused, this afternoon I had time to really look very closely at my bag and also at your photo at the start of this thread and, comparing them...... my bag appears to have a second row of stitching attaching the strap directly to the bag and running just above that leather cross piece that the strap on your bag has torn out of. In the photo your bag doesn't seem to have this row of stitching. It's just occurred to me that a photo would explain this better! Your opinion would be appreciated as we are very short of good craftsmen to do that sort of repair, I have no idea where I would find one in this country these days, so I would rather not have to go that route. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/227763-be-careful-trusting-the-strap-on-your-ona-berlin-bag/?do=findComment&comment=2714593'>More sharing options...
fotofool Posted November 26, 2014 Author Share #74 Posted November 26, 2014 Very interesting Dee! That is absolutely an updated design. I see two important differences. First, there is a square block of stitching going through *both* layers of the tab. The top layer of the tab on my bag was attached by only one row of stitching at the point where it failed. And, probably more importantly, the tab appears to be consistently thick all the way down to where it tucks under the feature below. I like the design of this attachment much better and believe that if mine had been this way it would not have failed! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted November 26, 2014 Share #75 Posted November 26, 2014 Thanks so much Jeff....it looks as though my bag has a clean bill of health then? I notice you say your bag was only two weeks old when the problem occurred? Assuming it was old stock the company should immediately have replaced it with a new bag as soon as they received your complaint....that they did not does not speak well of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 26, 2014 Share #76 Posted November 26, 2014 Good detective work Dee, unfortunate for those with the weaker strap but it shows that things can change. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 26, 2014 Share #77 Posted November 26, 2014 (edited) Dee, you mentioned earlier (in this thread) that your bag was the updated Berlin 2 design, which I explained to the OP [in this post 6 months ago] was due this Fall. I was concerned that the company knew the new bag was coming, yet didn't bring that up with the OP. When you said that you had the Berlin 2, that's why I said in response that I hoped the new bag (meaning the new version, not just new to you) would be improved. Your pics show the apparent change. Jeff Edited November 26, 2014 by Jeff S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2014 Share #78 Posted November 27, 2014 The bag is such " dogs dinner" I would rename it the Rover. Granted they have made the strap more secure as best they can but overall quality is pretty poor. If the bag retailed for £100 or there abouts fine but attension to detail is non existent.Stitch length should be exactly the same on all seams with the stitch balance set the same. Where the brand is stamped on the leather the row of sewing obove and below should be the same distance and it's not. Only small details and not important or even noticeable to many people but this is a high priced bag not a high quality bag. BrianP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted November 27, 2014 Share #79 Posted November 27, 2014 Dee, you mentioned earlier (in this thread) that your bag was the updated Berlin 2 design, which I explained to the OP [in this post 6 months ago] was due this Fall. I was concerned that the company knew the new bag was coming, yet didn't bring that up with the OP. When you said that you had the Berlin 2, that's why I said in response that I hoped the new bag (meaning the new version, not just new to you) would be improved. Your pics show the apparent change. Jeff Jeff, I did indeed say that my bag is/was "new"....I meant new to me. Until all of this interesting information surfaced in this thread I had no knowledge of the ins and outs of ONA bag design and production, nor of quite what a minefield one walks through when choosing a bag. I am impressed by your prior knowledge of the situation and I wish I had thought to ask your opinion. Obviously I have dodged a bullet! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted November 27, 2014 Share #80 Posted November 27, 2014 The bag is such " dogs dinner" I would rename it the Rover. Granted they have made the strap more secure as best they can but overall quality is pretty poor. If the bag retailed for £100 or there abouts fine but attension to detail is non existent.Stitch length should be exactly the same on all seams with the stitch balance set the same. Where the brand is stamped on the leather the row of sewing obove and below should be the same distance and it's not. Only small details and not important or even noticeable to many people but this is a high priced bag not a high quality bag. BrianP Am I right in assuming you are basing your comments on the photo of my bag? So I guess I'm just not as picky as you. I like the bag a lot, my MM slips in and out of it more easily than it did the Billingham Hadley I previously used, the interior padding is better than the Billingham in my opinion....plus it's a nice bag to carry..... that is it's well balanced. I'm not about to sit down and examine it's stitching under a microscope. But thank you for your opinion....... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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