If you buy a luxurious German-made Leica, it makes sense to want a luxurious German-made bag to keep it in, right? A bag that oozes understated elegance and quality, just like your camera. That’s exactly what a hand-made Oberwerth Leica Q Bag® delivers.
The first thing that struck me when I pulled the Q Bag out of its cloth pouch is the quality feel of the leather. It’s made from soft, finely grained calfskin sourced from the best tanneries in France and crafted with meticulous precision. While your Leica camera gently ages over the years—developing brassing and a few battle scars—so too your Q Bag will develop a lovely, unique patina and age gracefully. There’s a natural water resistance to the leather, and side flaps help to keep moisture and dust out.
Leica Q Bag from Oberwerth
The red double stitching is immaculate, and every detail—from the Loxx® fasteners to the padded red interior—reflects a level of care and refinement that matches the Leica philosophy perfectly.
The Oberwerth Q Bag is designed specifically for Q cameras. You can store your camera, and there’s room for accessories too. The main compartment comes with a re-positionable divider, so you can stow your Q on one side and have a decent space on the other side for a wallet or small notebook, maybe some filters. There are also two slim side pockets in the main compartment: the back one is perfect for keeping a passport, and the side one for a couple of spare batteries. On the front of the bag is a separate pocket, which I discovered is perfect for my large Pro Max iPhone.
You could also use the bag for an M series Leica. I’ll confess, I’d pop a Nikon in there on occasion—shhh. If you use the bag for a film camera, there’s more than enough space for a few rolls of film and a spare lens. Oberwerth does make a slightly larger version of this bag—the Edward camera bag—designed for M owners. It’s 11 inches wide, compared to the Q Bag’s 7 inches. The extra space allows for a couple of spare lenses or a second camera body.
I’ve taken the Q Bag out for a day of urban exploring, and it’s proven to be the perfect companion. The perfect size too. I’ve found wearing it over my shoulder with a fairly short strap adjustment means I can comfortably rest my arm on the top of it while holding the strap. It measures 7 inches wide, 7 inches high, and 5 inches deep.
That compact footprint feels very unobtrusive while walking about—you barely notice it. And nor does anyone else. The bag is equally at home on your shoulder as you walk into a meeting wearing a Brioni suit, or walking around the backstreets in Florence wearing a Barbour wax jacket.
There are a number of models and colors available, including a very fetching but less inconspicuous red version. And for those with a Reporter Edition Q or M, there’s a Reporter green version, just for you. This black one with red stitching is from the Luxury range and retails at $699.
The Q Bag is the perfect companion for your Leica. It’s the kind of bag that doesn’t shout luxury; it whispers it.