Review: Camera case & bags for the Leica Q2
Leica Day bag - Lowepro TLZ20 - Lowepro TLZ15 - Ona Bowery - Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 - Ona Brixton - Ona Prince Street - Oberworth Crossbody - Belstaff Colonial
Ok I admit it…. I’ve got a thing about bags and in the last year alone I’ve had 16 different bags for my Leica Q2.
Here’s a review of some of my favourites.
I tend to be either:
A. Out on my motorbike stopping at opportune moments to take some shots or
B. Doing something more organised, where I would take the camera, my iPad Pro (Lightroom and photoshop) + a spare charger (maybe a couple of filters etc). Therefore I need a few bags for my Q2.
One bag will not work in this case scenario and I’m going to need 3 of them….
One needs to be as small as you can get but with the ability to take an extra battery for when I’m out and about on my motorbike, and the other needs to fit my iPad etc, but look discreet and classy (not like a large rucksack or holdall) and I also need one that can carry everything including my MacBook Pro.
I already have a couple of sling type bags, my favourite being a Belstaff colonial, and although they are very cool, I ready wanted something more upmarket.
Leica day bag
I liked the look of the Leica day bag but the price seemed a bit high for something that I would not use that often so I put it on the back burner until I found one second hand (but in mint condition) one for half price. For that money it was worth a shot.
Quality wise the Day Bag its lovely. It feels like a five grand Chanel bag and it holds everything you need.
Pros.
Classy & Discreet
Superior quality.
Good protection.
Fits camera, USB charger, iPad batteries, iPhone pro max, SD card and a zipped wallet for your keys etc in the smallest package available.
Cons.
Cover does not sit flush and has a small gap if you leave the hood on the camera, but if you fit the standard lens ring and use a normal 49mm cap (which I do as I don’t like the lens cap falling off all the time) then its fine.
If the camera has a half cover then its a really tight fit - I’m hoping with use this will ease off, as I like to have the camera protected a bit.
Fits an iPad Pro 9.7 but its too tight for a pro with a smart keyboard.
The harder decision was for when I’m on my motorbike.
I needed something small, robust and ideally had a bell loop. ONA, Billingham and Belstaff all make great bags but they flap around when you’re doing 70mpg on a motorbike, even cross body bags lift and flap about.
So my choice was 3 Lowepros (TLZ20 & 15 and the SH100 MK 2) as they all had belt loops as well as straps.
Lowepro TLZ20
Pros.
Plenty of room, smart and streamline.
Two lid compartments
Cons.
Its a bit big.
If you fit a battery in the lid compartment it will fall out on the floor every time you open the case as theres nothing to hold it in.
Due to the battery falling on the floor twice I started looking for something else and came over a couple of other options.
Lowepro TLZ15
This is a great case and is highly recommended. The camera sits nicely in the bag and theres a compartment in the front that can fit a spare battery and SD card.
Pros
Small
holds all the basics
Good protection.
Cons
Design is old and is not very aerodynamic for me.
When I found the TLZ15 on ebay there was also a SH100 MK 2 for sale so I bought them both.
Lowepro SH100 MK 2
The SH100 MK 2 is the smallest possible size bag for a Leica Q2 and its Lowepro current design shape.
Pros.
Smallest possible bag with protection for a Q2.
Fits a spare battery in the main compartment using the movable divider.
Hard base protects the bag and also means that it stands up with you are not wearing it.
Cons.
None.
Ona Bowery - Leica edition
if I had to pick just one bag it would be this one.
The ONA Bowery is a superb camera bag and highly recommended. Although its quite small I can fit my Leica Q2., my Leica V-LUX, 4 extra batteries, a couple of lens cleaners, SC card with adapter and some contact sheets in it. I can even fit my iPad in the back compartment.
The bowery comes in a rage of colours in both canvas and leather. I have the canvas and leather Leica special edition versions, and both have a distinctive red interior and a red dot on the buckle strap. Its a lovely bag - beautifully made and this one will set you back £220 for the canvas and £340 for leather.
Pros.
The Bowery is virtually perfect in every way
Cons.
A press stud or something would be nice on the rear pocket just to make sure things are held tight.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
Lightweight, waterproof and functional with superb build quality (with some strange straps) makes the Hadley one of the best camera bag here.
Having things like the extra strap on the rear for sliding over a trolly case and the waterproof rear zip compartment makes it a great bag for traveling. Inside you can comfortable fit two camera a few lenses as well as a 13” laptop. The rear zip compartment is too small for a large iPad but ideal for an iPad mini or any paperwork you need to carry in a dry compartment.
Pros.
Lightweight, build quality, functional.
Cons.
Leather straps that pop on to the chrome pegs are fiddly to use and do not have that comforting feeling that you would get with a proper buckle.
The Hadley also looks like a cross between a camera bag and something Mary Poppins would use. . But if thats ok with you then I would recommend it.
Ona Brixton
When you are traveling and you need to carry a lot of gear, but you may not want to resort to the typical camera backpack I would recommend the Ona Brixton.
I originally bought the canvas version and loved it, then I was offered a great deal on the leather version in dark brown and had both for a while. I then swapped both of them for a lighter cognac leather version which matches my Bowery.
The leather version is 400g heavier. That may sound a lot but in real life it isn’t, and when you put what feels like 5 tones of equipment in it, it makes no difference.
Its my goto bag when I go away on a trip as I can easily fit my 2 Leicas, a flash unit, 13” MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and all the batteries, chargers and cables you need to keep you going when your away from home for a few days. The ona build quality is up there with the very best and can’t really be faulted.
If I could change anything, I would make the straps a bit shorter so when its in the perfect position the buckle is a bit lower on the strap, but that’s it really.
Pros.
its big enough to carry all your kit and still looks cool.
Cons.
its expensive, the strap is very long and its big - but it needs to be.
Ona Prince Street
Sitting in between the Ona Bowery and the Larger Brixton comes the prince street.
It’s a similar look to the brixton but 2” shorter and it does not have the (very useful) end pockets.
You can just about fit a 13” Mac in there but it’s very tight. I would say this is ideal for a camera / iPad setup.
Pros.
Its big enough to carry all your kit without looking overly large.
Cons.
If it had the end pockets (so useful for car ringing SD card etc) it would be perfect.
Oberworth Crossbody case
Sometimes though you might want something small, something the does not shout “hello I’m a photographer”. In that case I use a leather crossbody holders/case from Oberworth.
At £265 for a leather camera cover you would expect something very special and indeed it is. The quality of the workmanship and leather is exactly what Overworth are know for. Really the price is the only Con I can think off. Its a great case and had a removable pad at the bottom so it can be used with a Leica M series as well as the Q2.
Pros.
Very high quality and stylish
Cons.
You need to position the height correctly with the strap or you catch the magnetic flap with your belt and the case will open up.
Belstaff Colonial
If you don’t like any of the above and need something way more hipster, then I would finally recommend the Belstaff Colonial.
The bag is not waterproof and does not have any protection, so you would need to put your camera into a sleeve or something first. inside there is a handy zipped pocket which is ideal for batteries and SD cards and on the outside there is a pocket large enough to fit a small camera like a Leica D-Lux 7. Great for quick access to a lens cleaner or something..
Pros.
Its typical Belstaff - cooler than penguin pee.
Cons.
Theres no padding, its not waterproof and it costs a fortune.
So what do I actually use?
Although I own all the bags in this review I send to just use 3 of them.
If I’m riding my motorbike, then I use the Belstaff and only carry the Q2 camera and maybe one spare battery.
If I’m traveling I use the Ona Brixton in leather and carry my MacBook pro, iPad pro, both cameras, flash, batteries, cables, chargers, power adapters, water and passport and paperwork. The bag weighs a LOT, but that’s due to the things I’m carrying and not the actual bag.
All other times I use the Ona Bowery Leica edition in leather - its the perfect size and weight for two cameras, spare batteries and some other little things.
It really is the perfect bag.
