Leather Camera bag....suggestions..

[rafael_macia]

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The  new range of photo bags is limited to 4. I believe all Brady bags are waterproof. The Ariel and Gelderburn are the original English fishing bags photographers have used for decades.

I do use Billingham inserts inside my Brady bags. The model I showed you is Brady's new line specifically for photography. Look at the Gelderburn and small and large Ariel.

The fishing bags have rubberized inserts which snap in.

You are soo.... lucky to be living so nearby!

 

this should serve to familiarize you more;

 

https://eyebeamimages.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/before-there-was-billingham-the-brady-gelderburn/  a comparison review

 

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2015/08/brady-gelderbun-the-grandfather-of-modern-camera-bags/

good luck in any event!

Rafael

[LocalHero1953]

Thanks - though that reviewer says it's "almost as well built as the Billingham". Those zips would annoy me as well. But everyone looks for something different in a camera bag.

[LocalHero1953]

You are soo.... lucky to be living so nearby!

It looks like they are only available online - google doesn't turn up a UK outlet. I'll have to wait till I go to Walsall 

[Peter Kilmister]

A trip to Walsall followed by Dudley, Tipton, Wednesbury and Darlaston is a must for every serious traveller. Only then can you say you have seen the world.

Finish off the trip by visiting the northern parts of Birmingham, then Coventry and Leicester. Unbeatable. Who needs Baedeker's guides?

[LocalHero1953]

You left out Brownhills

[rafael_macia]

It looks like they are only available online - google doesn't turn up a UK outlet. I'll have to wait till I go to Walsall 

 

 

Here ya go

 

http://www.thesportinglodge.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=brady&page=2

a UK shop in Cumbria that has the Kennet plus a nice selection of Brady bags.

 

Happy shopping!

Rafael

[LocalHero1953]

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Now that IS off the beaten track. I don't suppose they're used to passing trade 

[Yan.lay]

On 8/8/2015 at 4:49 PM, elmars said:

Marc ist right. There is no perfect camera bag. The Ona Bowery is nearly perfect in my opinion and looks nice. But it is far too heavy.

 

The Headley digital is also nearly perfect, but it is canvas, not leather.

 

Look for this:

 

(i mention product link to visit now, but not there it;s in question.

Perhaps You find someone, who makes the perfect bag individually for You. I got one

(

I have a small leather bag for camera/lens and spare lens, but it was made to my own design by a local leather bag maker. It has no padding (the material, seams and gussets provide excellent protection), and at that size it is light enough. Its weather proofing is not as good as it could be (design failure!), so at that size I alternate between that bag and a Domke F5XB (lousy padding, but great weather protection)

It is light enough for that size and without padding because the material, seams, and gussets offer superior protection.

[ricox]

I haven’t read the whole thread but in case no-one has mentioned Compagnon leather messenger bags here is a link: https://compagnon-bags.com/en/collections/messenger-bags

I have the Nano Messenger and the Little Messenger for my M typ262  and various lenses. Highly recommended, they have the most secure and convenient closure of any bag I have tried.

[Smudgerer]

On 8/8/2015 at 11:11 PM, MarkP said:

Personally I wouldn't touch a leather bag. Their weight compared to synthetics or canvas completely negate the low weight advantages of my Leica system.  I find many of them too OTT, and potentially become more of a target by screaming out "well I'm a really expensive camera bag with preally expensive equipment inside me!"

 

For carrying more equipment around I use a black Crumpler 5 Million Dollar bag, but when going out just for the day I like to be as compact and light-weight as possible so I use a Hadley Digital or Crumpler 4 Million Dollar Home (similar capacity) or a Black Label Ockar's One Day Bag with an extra divider.  The Black Label is more of a satchel and I'm starting to come around to satchels. Of course many of the smaller Leica lenses can be stacked in twos so the smaller bags can still easily get 4 lenses in them should I choose (rarely) to take that many.  I find that where possible I'm now taking my smaller lenses - 2.8/28 Elmarit, 2.8/50 Elmar-M, 4.0/90 Macro-Elmar or perhaps just the MATE with one other lens).

 

http://www.crumpler.com/au/camera-bags-straps/4-mdh

satchel http://blacklabelbags.com/_products/oskars_one_day_bag_mark_ii.htm)

I guess because they are not expensive that the Crumpler bags get so little mention here, not enough "bling" for our expensive M's maybe............BUT I have been using them for years now, the Proper Roady line would suit the needs of a M+ two lenses and more perfectly, as they have for me, ( I have a couple of the bags ), and leave money in the pocket too.

[mottykytu]

1 hour ago, Smudgerer said:

I guess because they are not expensive that the Crumpler bags get so little mention here, not enough "bling" for our expensive M's maybe............BUT I have been using them for years now, the Proper Roady line would suit the needs of a M+ two lenses and more perfectly, as they have for me, ( I have a couple of the bags ), and leave money in the pocket too.

I think Billingham make best canvas out there, but Crumpler is the best p/p camera bag for sure !

[Smudgerer]

Billingham are nice bags for sure, Fogg perhaps the best there is........but they all look too much like they are holding something expensive, which in the case of Leica stuff they are indeed. Crumpler not so much and I've found that they function just as well as more expensive bags in my usage, ( I also have a couple of Wotans which are ok.......)

By the way, what is "p/p"?

[pippy]

14 hours ago, ricox said:

I haven’t read the whole thread but in case no-one has mentioned Compagnon leather messenger bags here is a link: https://compagnon-bags.com/en/collections/messenger-bags

I have the Nano Messenger and the Little Messenger for my M typ262  and various lenses. Highly recommended, they have the most secure and convenient closure of any bag I have tried.

Thanks for the link. Nice bags!

Having read through this post (which is new to me) I was slightly surprised to see several mentions of leather being discounted due to weight issues. My own usual carry is a small full-leather bag made by MegaGear; their 'Torres'. Having just checked using digital kitchen scales it weighs-in at 773g / 1.11 lb which isn't too heavy for an all-day snapping-session.

I've written about it before and posted pics to illustrate its size relative to a Leica M. Here's a link to the page (my post is #13);

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/381181-camera-bag-recommendations/#comment-4843150

Philip.

[mottykytu]

6 hours ago, Smudgerer said:

Billingham are nice bags for sure, Fogg perhaps the best there is........but they all look too much like they are holding something expensive, which in the case of Leica stuff they are indeed. Crumpler not so much and I've found that they function just as well as more expensive bags in my usage, ( I also have a couple of Wotans which are ok.......)

By the way, what is "p/p"?

It is Price/Performance !

[MarkP]

On 5/26/2025 at 5:17 PM, Smudgerer said:

I guess because they are not expensive that the Crumpler bags get so little mention here, not enough "bling" for our expensive M's maybe............BUT I have been using them for years now, the Proper Roady line would suit the needs of a M+ two lenses and more perfectly, as they have for me, ( I have a couple of the bags ), and leave money in the pocket too.

In more recent years I have moved to the Peak Design 3 or 5 Litre Sling as my favourite M system camera bag. I like the features of the newer 6 Litre sling but it's a bit too big for what I need.

Personally, I still have no interest in leather camera bags but I understand why others do. 

[setuporg]

I've been using Oberwerth bags occasionally, and I love how they open easily and can be secured quickly.  On a lark I got their Q bag for the Q3 43, and it's amazingly small and thus you can take it anywhere.  It fits only one camera with the lens, a perfect fit for M too.  It's kind of a forced minimalism, you have to choose a lens and stick with it.

[mottykytu]

On 6/3/2025 at 12:46 AM, setuporg said:

I've been using Oberwerth bags occasionally, and I love how they open easily and can be secured quickly.  On a lark I got their Q bag for the Q3 43, and it's amazingly small and thus you can take it anywhere.  It fits only one camera with the lens, a perfect fit for M too.  It's kind of a forced minimalism, you have to choose a lens and stick with it.

I believe the Q Bag can go well with M body + attached lens + 1 additional lense. So you don't have to stick on one lense with Q bag. The only problem is the price, it is way too overpriced MSRP I think.

BTW did you choose the normal line or hydro line ?