The best leather camera bags offer that added touch of style and protection that is often lacking in many other camera bags. You'd be forgiven for thinking they also cost a lot more too, but these days you can pick up a really durable, beautiful leather camera bag for a really affordable price.
Leather camera bags tend to based on a classic satchel or messenger bag design, usually with a few flourishes to give them that stylish edge. But it's not just a case of style over substance, as these are proper camera bags, and have all the necessary features for protection of camera kit.
This tends to consist of a padded interior, with removable and customisable dividers that you can fit around the precise contours of your specific setup, protecting it from knocks and bumps. Some will have dedicated mounting points for a tripod, as well as small pockets for extra items like SD cards.
We've made sure that all the leather camera bags we've included in this guide are not just good-looking, but also have got the features that photographers need, giving you the best of both worlds. If none of these suit, be sure to check out our pick of the best camera bags and cases to suit a variety of needs and tastes.
The best leather camera bags
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Billingham has been creating premium handmade bags in England since 1973. Typical of the range, the Billingham Hadley One combines a three-layer waterproof material with top-quality leather and solid brass fittings.
Noticeably larger than the classic Hadley Pro, the Hadley One is similarly available in a range of canvas or FibreNyte color options with contrasting leather details.
The bag comes complete with a full height, half-length camera insert, so you can use the bag for camera kit and daily essentials. A full camera insert is available for an additional £60/$70, which will accommodate a full-frame DSLR with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached, plus a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens complete with tripod mounting ring, an additional medium sized lens and a pro-grade flashgun.
Other included highlights include an internal pocket for a 13-inch laptop, a rear zippered pocket for a tablet or documents, and two large ‘dump pockets’ at the front, with popper fasteners.
2. Ona Brixton Messenger Bag
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With gorgeously aged leather and beautiful brass buckle details, if style is your number one concern then look no further. The Ona Brixton Messenger Bag is beautifully designed and crafted from Italian leather in two color options (if you want to economize there are three canvas versions available too).
Inside this premium bag, there's ample room for a DSLR, rangefinder or mirrorless camera with an attached lens and two extra lenses. The padded interior dividers enable you to customize the organization of your kit to best suit your needs. There's also a handy interior pocket to slide in an 11-inch laptop or tablet.
On the front of the bag are dual front pouches for accessories such as your phone, keys, memory cards or batteries. Along with an adjustable shoulder strap with comfort pad, this bag also features a removable top carry handle for maximum ease of use on the go.
One of our favorite aspects of this bag is that it's easy to whip out the interior dividers, making this not only a superbly stylish bit of photography gear, but also a versatile bag for everyday use.
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Reasons to buy
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This is a comparatively new bag from Billingham, replacing the now-discontinued Eventer. A tall bag that's comfortable to wear on the shoulder, the Eventer MKII retains all the classic Billingham features that photographers have come to expect – the sturdy leather straps that hold the bag closed, and the deceptively large pockets that can hold simply reams of stuff. The expandable pockets at the front of this bag are especially impressive.
The minimal design means it lacks some features of less chic bags that are actually somewhat handy – we're thinking of the little pockets that many camera bags have which are great for holding SD cards and things of that nature. However, the padded internal compartment is excellent, allowing your gear to fit snugly and securely, with dividers at just the right level of thickness.
As this is a new bag, you're not likely to get it at anything less than full price, which is considerable. However, we're on the luxury leather buying guide for a reason, and this is one of the best you can buy. Just be aware that it's new enough that it's still not quite widely available in the USA, which will hopefully change soon.
4. Megagear Leather Messenger Bag
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If you're heading out with your camera and don't want to be lugging around a huge bag full of equipment, this Megagear messenger bag could be just the solution. The stylish, Italian leather design offers enough space for mirrorless instant and DSLR cameras, as well as one or two lenses. Small pockets at the front and sides offer comfortable storage for a small notebook, wallet and or phone too.
The compact design looks lovely, and the quality material is sure to keep your camera well protected. But if you camera set up requires anything more than a lens or two, you'll need something a bit bigger. With cushioned insides and a removable Velcro divider, this could also easily be used as a stylish every day bag too. If you want to travel light and in style, you'd be hard pushed to find a better leather camera bag than this right now.
5. Gitzo Century Traveler Camera Messenger
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Just when you thought you were safe from the onslaught of black nylon camera bags, here comes the Gitzo. Despite being famous for luxury tripods that are massively expensive to buy, Gitzo's Century Traveler is very competitively priced for a camera messenger bag.
It’s not altogether nylon either, as the front flap is faced with premium Italian leather, which is also used for the top strap, baggage trolley loop and a few other flourishes. Although reasonably slim and lightweight, the Gitzo can play host to a full-frame DSLR with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached, an additional 70-200mm f/2.8, plus a full-sized flashgun, or a bigger collection of smaller lenses and accessories.
There’s also an internal compartment for a 13-inch laptop, plus full-length zippered external pockets at the front and rear of the bag, and two smaller zippered pockets, one on each side. The front pocket has a built-in organizer section. Access to the main compartment is via a clever ‘G-Lock’ pull tab, and there’s also a zip across the top flap so you can grab your camera without having to open the whole bag.
And lest we forget that Gitzo is predominantly a tripod manufacturer, the underneath of the front pocket has a separate zip that gives access to a pull-down tripod carrier for a reasonably small travel tripod.
6. Think Tank Signature 13
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Although it looks comparatively small and slim, the Think Tank Signature 13 can nevertheless accommodate a full-frame DSLR with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached, plus a 70-200mm f/2.8 and large flashgun, along with a 13-inch laptop tucked behind a divider in the main compartment.
Sprung latches with adjustable leather straps enable easy access to the main compartment, but there’s also a secondary internal zippered cover. You can use this for added security, or fold it away into a rear section if you don’t feel the need for it.
The front of the bag has a large additional pocket, with its own internal divider. One part of this is accessed by a leather strap with a popper. The other adds greater security, with an additional zip revealing an organizer section.
There’s yet another zippered pocket at the rear, plus a luggage trolley strap. The shoulder strap has a neoprene lining to enhance comfort, and there’s also a carrying handle on the top of the bag.
Unlike the full leather or canvas-like material that’s usually used in luxury bags, this one is made from rain-resistant wool-like material which is pleasantly soft to the touch. A waterproof rain cover is also supplied.
7. Leftover Studio Leather Camera Bag
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This stylish bag from Leftover Studio is perfect for those photographers who want a stylish bag that doesn't scream "I'm a photographer". It's not the biggest camera bag in the world so would suit someone who just likes to pack the bare minimum: a camera body with a lens attached plus another small lens.
The leather finish not only looks great but it's durable too, can be wiped clean and provides a little protection from the weather. It can be worn either across body, as a shoulder bag or carried in your hand. It has a padded storage section with 3 movable dividers and has space for a 13-inch laptop or tablet. Two large pockets on the front and two zippered pockets on the inside and on the back are great for storing accessories such as SD cards and spare batteries or personal items.
How we test leather camera bags
At DCW, photo and video accessories are tested out in the field by experienced, knowledgeable reviewers who know the product area and have used them before. Our reviewers test leather camera bags for capacity, durability, weight, and other common concerns such as whether they fit in standard airline carry-on luggage dimensions. We use our findings in the testing process to inform our comments in buying guides, so that we can be sure we're recommending products that we would buy and use ourselves.
Read more:
Best camera bags and cases
Best messenger bags
Best camera backpacks
Best Canon camera bag
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Best camera straps
The best camera holsters and pouches
