Wotancraft or Ona?

[Vince Lupo]

I've been thinking about replacing my Domke F803 to carry my Leica kit, and both Wotancraft and ONA caught my eye.

The bag would have to hold my Monochrom body with a lens and viewfinder attached (21mm finder, and likely a Summicron or Noctilux lens attached), plus a 21mm Elmarit, 35mm Voigtlander, 50mm Summicron (or Noctilux) and 75mm Summarit lens (a pair of each are attached to each other via the Leica two-sided rear lens cap), plus an extra battery, cards, blower, small tabletop tripod, and hopefully a pocket on the backside for a magazine, laptop, or other flat-ish items.

In particular, I'm really intrigued by the Wotancraft Urban Classic 'Ryker': http://www.wotancraft.com/shop/bag/ryker

A really beautiful looking bag, though I'm not really sure about the quality and function, or if it would hold everything efficiently. Plus with shipping, it would tip the scales at over $400.

The ONA would be cheaper (the Union Street), but here again, not sure about the quality of materials and manufacture (where is it made, BTW?), and not sure if I'm crazy about the two buckle/latch arrangement: http://www.onabags.com/store/messen...union-street.html?color=ranger-tan#ranger-tan

The Wotancraft is leather, the ONA is waxed cotton -- I don't really prefer one over the other, so that's not really an issue. I do like the idea that neither one of them screams 'camera bag', and both bags each have their virtues. I'm leaning a bit towards the Wotancraft, but their website doesn't really show the interior of the bag (though there is an illustration of it). ONA has a couple of videos that clearly illustrate what can be packed in the bag, how big it is when you wear it, and some good closeups of the material and other details. Here again though, I don't know whether I'll like having to unlatch those two buckles to get to the inside, rather than the single flap of the Wotancraft.

Does anyone have either one of these bags? Opinions on each? Loves? Hates? Is the Wotancraft worth the money? Are the ONA bags all they're cracked up to be? Should I just forget both and suffer with my Domke?

 

[sevo]

I do like the idea that neither one of them screams 'camera bag',

What do they scream, then?

 

[Vince Lupo]

I don't think they really 'scream' anything other than being very nice multi-purpose shoulder bags. I suppose I was raised with the perception of a 'camera' bag as being black cordura nylon, Lowepro/Tamrac/etc label on the outside, black plastic clips etc. Neither one of these bags seems to be like that, at least to my eyes.

 

[back alley]

they both look bigger than what i remember the 803 being.
they both look gorgeous...love the leather...

have you looked at the new think tank 'citywalker' bags?

 

[regularchickens]

I looked at the Ona Brixton when I was looking to replace my aging J-803 last year. When I saw it in person, it seemed too large and too stiff for my needs. The Ona bags have stiff foam padding in the outer surfaces, and I'm not a fan of the style of buckles - they tend to bang around a lot when you're walking with them undone. With the size of the Brixton (already wider and thicker than the J-803), I'm not sure if I'd carry the Union Street unless I was sure I'd be carrying a 13-15" laptop pretty regularly. It felt like more of a briefcase than a shoulder bag.

FWIW, I ended up going with a Fjallräven shoulder bag and adding a Domke insert. I think your kit would be just a little too big for that setup, but I know my old J-803 would fit it fine.

 

[furcafe]

I have no experience w/either Wotancraft or Ona. I generally favor Chrome Mini-Metro messenger bags, & also have a Moop messenger No. 1 (here's their larger No. 3: http://www.moopshop.com/products/messenger-no-3-in-gray-waxed-canvas) for a slightly more traditional look as well as other bags, all w/Domke, Tenba, & Billingham inserts depending on what I'm carrying.

 

[shadowfox]

I think the wotancraft screams "expensive"
The ona less so, given the two choices, I'd lean towards this one.

But I'll keep my dingy-looking Domke F2 though 😀

 

[Vince Lupo]

Thanks for replies guys -- I've been doing a bit more research, and now just discovered that the Wotancraft Ryker is 'sold' on their website. Don't know if that means that it's permanently unavailable, in which case I'm out of luck for that one. Still haven't completely embraced the ONA bags -- between the two buckle opening and (in the case of a couple of models) an open front pocket underneath the flap -- I'm starting to back away from them.

In my online research I did come across these ones that are pretty cool looking (they do offer them in different patterns and colours), but size-wise, aren't much different than the Domke: http://www.etsy.com/listing/118778357/leather-camera-bag-plaid-tartan-tapestry

So maybe for the time being I should stick with the Domke!

 

[hrzlvn]

Try Brady from UK. The large Ariel in Navy Blue kills me..

 

[majid]

I have the Ryker. It's a great bag, the quality is top-notch, and the purple microfiber lining is a nice touch. It fits my M9 with 50 Summilux ASPH, a 90mm APO-Summicron ASPH and 28mm Elmarit with room to spare (enough for an extra APO-Summicron or 2). You may find it a bit tight for the assortment of lenses you are considering.

I wish it were large enough to accommodate an iPad - the iPad Mini will fit in the outer pocket, but not the regular-sized iPad.

Oh, it does scream "expensive" and "camera bag".

Unfortunately Wotancraft is a small artisanal outfit and their products are out of stock. I've been waiting for over a year for the new Etan to come out.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Thanks for the info -- yes, I did notice that a number of their bags are 'SOLD', in particular the Ryker. So it appears that door is closed, at least for the time being.

As far as ONA bags go, I was starting to lean towards the Union Street bag, but I read a few not so good reviews on B&H Photos site, particularly concerning access to that front zippered pocket. I think when all is said and done, I might just stick with my Domke for now. Everything does fit in this bag, though I wish I had a bit more wiggle room in it.

Funny thing is now I'm starting to look at JnK half-cases for my Monochrom, and they're as much if not more than a bag!

 

[D&A]

Hi Vince,

I recently purchased the ONA Union Street. It's interior and exterior is bigger than the F-803. It is heavily padded and constructed extremely well and easily fits a M body with lens attached and 2-3 other lenses in the main compartment. A 13 inch laptop will fit in there too. The front zippered pocket although appearing quite large, is as you and others who reviewed this bag mantioned, could have been designed better. It doesn't open up in a way that invites filling it with misc. items and getting one's hands inside to reach for items is sometimes a struggle. It's simple narrow and doesn't easily expand.

With that said, I like the bag for transporting all I mentioned and more but not my 1st choice in a bag "working the street", where I quickly reach in and grap the M or possible make lens changes. Not bad for that, but a smaller, lighter bag with just the M and 2 maybe 3 lenses worn over the shoulder is better. As for outer size of the Union Street, think of a Billingham Hadley Pro, and it's slightly bigger on the outside, but inside, it will easily hold a 13" laptop or ipad where the Hadley pro is pushed with anything larger than a ipad (such as a laptop). Don't get me wrong...I really like the Union Street for carring a sizeable kit and laptop when it has to be a shoulder bag...but then again there are so many choices with larger shoulder bags. I suspect it will hold more or at least as much as a F-803 but in a different configuration. Actually those two outer closures you mentioend are light on the touch and open up very easily (when you want to open them up). Much faster than say the Billingham Hadley's closures.

If you get down to D.C, the new Leica store has this and other ONA bags on display for you to inspect. I occasionally get up your way, but don't have any plans in the next few weeks.

Looked at the Ryker on Wotancraft website and I simply cannot understand how one can get an idea how their bag is set up, inside and out, when the only pics they show, are artistic, slick images...but not practical ones for understanding all the inner pockets, zippers and interior of the bag. That one pic showing a M and another camera and lens with the bag on its side, just does't say very much to me...regardless of how fabulous the bag might be.

I tried a A&A bag, the GCAM 7200, and for a body and 2 lenses (possible 3), M8/M9 batteries, memory cards, small accessories and a ipad mini, it's about the slimest, most compat bag I've come across that holds all this and more and can easily reach inside while actively shooting. Only the large nosy velcro closure wasn't well thought out. The rest of the bag is quite well designed. I haven't yet converted the Ryker into inches to get some idea of it's dimensions, but if it's small like the A&A bag I described, the GCAM 7200 appears at first glance better designd for the things one would take with a Leica Digital M. Just some thoughts.

Dave (D&A)

 

[D&A]

Let me add a few things to my post directly abouve regarding the ONA Union Street Bag. After having a 2nd look at mine, I now realize the front zippered pocket is actually fairly large but appears to hold far less than max. capacity and opens up with a relatively narrow slit...is simply due to the following: Ona provides two fill legth diverters (and some small ones. The two big ones divide the main compartment into three spaces. Unfortunately theses two dividers are both quite rigid and who's width across the bag (front to back), is a bit too wide. Therefore it pushes out against the back wall of the front zippered pocket and therefore doesn't allow it to flex the front pouch of the bag to open it up wide. Temporarily take out these dividers and the front pocket has a lot of space inside.

The the other thing thats very disappointing, is the neck pad, which is non-removeable. It's comfortable all right but it's underside is basically the same frabric as the waxed smooth canvas itself. I often like to hang my shoulder bags off my shoulder hanging straigt down (as oppsed to the strap going across my chest on a 45 degree angle). The neck pad is so smooth and slippery...the bag will slip off my shoulder with a few steps. They need to put neoprene on the bottom of their nect pads lke Billingham does...which would solve this problem.

Dave (D&A)

 

[Vince Lupo]

Dave -- tremendous info, thanks. I had been thinking of pulling the trigger on one of those ONA bags, but ultimately decided against it. And you know what? I think that the Domke is pretty hard to beat, so I think for the time being I'm going to stick with it until something more definitive comes along. The A&A bags look great, so perhaps I might ultimately go that route down the road.

 

[D&A]

Dave -- tremendous info, thanks. I had been thinking of pulling the trigger on one of those ONA bags, but ultimately decided against it. And you know what? I think that the Domke is pretty hard to beat, so I think for the time being I'm going to stick with it until something more definitive comes along. The A&A bags look great, so perhaps I might ultimately go that route down the road.

Domke bags are generally a excellent value but I personally have favored some others. Not sure when I'll be in Balt. next but I have dozens of all different kinds of bags..for rangefinders and DSLR's, some hardly used and am planning to sell most of them. If there was a chance for a get together, I'd just load them up in the car and bring them up there..or if you happened to be arround the DC area some time.

Dave (D&A)

 

[Guaranteed]

Now I want a brown Ryker, I must possess one(as if I need another bag).

 

[Vince Lupo]

Well after much camera bag wrangling, I finally got one (with extreme input from my loving wife).

As noted at the beginning of this thread, I was quite interested in the Wotancraft and the ONA bags. Ultimately, I decided against both -- the Wotancraft being too expensive for me, and the fact that they 'sold out' of the one that interested me; the ONA just didn't move me, and after having seen one in the flesh at the DC Leica store, it confirmed my decision.

Don't know how I came across the bags made by Robyn Porteen, but they definitely caught my eye: http://porteengear.com/

I perused her shop on Etsy, and took note of several that I liked (the 'Medium' sized bag for $140). Of course, the ones that I gravitated to were in various shades of brown, grey, black etc. I printed off a few pages and then showed them to my wife. "Which one do you like?", I asked. Her response: "None. They're all boring!" Okay, fair enough. Far be it from me to offend the stylistic sensibilities of my wife. I tried to explain that I wanted to be all stealthy photojournalist with a dark bag, but she casually dismissed the notion and maintained I wasn't being particularly adventurous (I should point out that she ridiculed me for having chosen a BLACK half-case from JNK Handworks -- well it has WHITE stitching, so what was there for her to complain about??? Sheesh.).

One of the options that Robyn offers on her site is a 'design your own bag' feature. So, I suggested to my wife that SHE choose the leathers, fabrics and colours that she thinks would look best, and I will go with that bag, whatever she came up with.

Here is the result of my wife's creative mind at work....are you sitting down?

Quite stealthy, isn't it!

Gotta say I really like it. Definitely doesn't look like any camera bag I've ever seen on the streets of Baltimore -- or anywhere else! It holds my Leica kit perfectly, and the quality of materials and assembly is outstanding (as good as any Billingham I've owned). It FEELS great! And one of the bonuses (for me, anyway) is that it's made in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Couple of minor nits:

i) The padded dividers for holding lenses are too long for my Leica lenses. I know that she made them that way to accommodate a variety of lens sizes (she actually shows Canon SLR lenses in here sample photos), but with my Leica lenses there is all this extra fabric left over that takes up precious interior space. My solution was to have an upholstery friend of mine cut the dividers, remove the excess fabric, and then sew the two cut ends back together. Problem solved;

ii) The shoulder pad is too short for me, and is not padded. I did call and discuss this with Robyn, and she offered to make me a longer pad (like the ones she offers for her large bags), and incorporate padding, as well as a velcro closure so that I could attach it myself. Only about $7 extra, so that should be just fine.

Overall, I love this new bag -- don't know whether its 'anti blackness' actually makes the bag less stealthy or more stealthy, but the one thing I know is that I'll have the only one like it around! And most important, my wife is happy.....

 

[Marc G.]

well people will definitely not think that you're a camera guy. rather think you're carrying your wife's bag 😀

did you tell her she should design a bag for you?

just kidding around, dont take it personal please 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

No definitely no offense taken -- I've actually thought that too!

Yes, I did tell her to design the bag, based around Robyn's 'Medium' bag style (which was the only parameter that I gave my wife). I do admit, though, having mentioned in passing that I liked that red leather, but only as a generality. So yes, my wife chose the leather colour/style, the fabric pattern, the strap colour, the interior colour. I basically said that since she had so little faith in my ability to choose an interesting-looking bag (you know - something grey, brown, black -- 'blah' in her eyes), then she should do it for me. And there would be no input, no disputes, no nay-saying from me. And this is what we ended up with. And you know, I really do like it!

If you check Robyn's site (or her Etsy store), there are all kinds of different fabrics, leathers, colours etc to choose from, so you can really make it as stealthy or as 'fashionable' (ha!) as you like....we know which way my wife went for me!

 

[Marc G.]

yeah. if my girl designed a bag for me I'd use it no matter how it look like. especially if I asked her to do it.

but posting this on a photography forum where many people think bags are something for douchebags (ha!) or just use WWII military bags... really made me laugh hard 😀