So I finally pulled the trigger on an M10-R and I am SO pumped tbh, but now I'm stressing out over finding the right bag before my trip to Chicago next month... I really wanna keep it minimal and not look like Im carrying a giant gear vault. Right now Im totally torn between the Billingham Hadley Small Pro and the Wotancraft Pilot 7L, leaning a bit toward the Wotancraft because it looks slightly more low-key for city walking, but Im worried it wont fit my extra lens. Budget is around $300 max. Which one of these is actually better for a two-lens Leica setup when you're walking all day?
So funny you ask this — last summer I walked all over Chicago with a two-lens M setup. I used the Wotancraft Pilot 7L Canvas Camera Bag and it easily held an M body with a 35mm attached plus a 50mm in the extra slot. The Cordura fabric looks like a normal messenger bag, which keeps you under the radar in tourist areas. Get the Wotancraft.
This comes up a lot — honestly, both bags are fine, but for a two-lens M setup, just grab the Wotancraft Pilot 7L. It easily handles an M10 plus a spare glass without screaming "expensive camera inside" (unlike most Billingham bags, which practically have a neon sign on them). Quick tip: ditch the heavy Leica straps while you're walking the windy city all day, your neck will thank you.
Same here!
Did this last week, worked perfectly
oh man this is my absolute jam right here. heads up though, whatever you do dont overload a tiny bag with heavy glass like a 50mm noctilux or fast summiluxes cause that front-heavy bulk will def wreck your shoulder by hour three. stick to smaller crons or older elmarits. anyway bottom line is keep it light or youll regret it.
To add to the point above: this comes up a lot on the rangefinder boards. The short answer is that lighter is always better for all-day walking. TL;DR: Drop the weight. I switched to a minimal canvas bag last year and ditched half my kit. My neck stopped hurting by day two, and I actually enjoyed shooting instead of carrying a brick around. Search the forum archives for packing lists if you need more details.
So funny you ask this — last summer I spent three days walking through downtown Chicago with my rangefinder kit and completely destroyed my shoulders trying to figure out the exact same bag dilemma. Before I tell you which one actually worked for me, what lenses are you planning to pack besides the body? That really changes the capacity math.
- Check YouTube for comparison reviews
- Search the manufacturer sizing pages
- Look at Reddit threads from last month Honestly just search for the specific model comparisons online, there's a great video about it that pops up as the first result and shows exact dimensions with gear inside.