Bag decision. Hadley pro vs pro small?

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Ccoppola82

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Hello,
I’m currently using a domke fx5-b and while it works fine, it’s a bit cramped with what I carry. I decided on a Billingham Hadley Pro series, but I always find it difficult to determine the proper size. Generally I carry

M2 or m6 w 35 or 50mm mounted
Xpro2 w 18 and 35mm
90mm tele Elmarit
Extra batteries
Possibly a 28mm Elmarit v3

I’d like the bag to be fairly versatile and also have a canon kit with a 6d 50 or 35 etc as well as a hasselblad 500cm w 3 lenses. Would either of these fit comfortably in the Pro?

I’m leaning toward the Pro model for the extra size, but am wondering how much difference there is in actual carrying capacity. Thanks for any help!
Chris
 
Hadley small is 3.5 litres, Hadley Pro is 6 litres.

The small is fine for a couple of Leica M bodies with lenses, but that’s close to its comfortable capacity.

The Pro will take your entire M kit, and has sufficient depth to take the Canon and Hasselblad.

Get the Pro 🙂
 
I have a small and a digital. The small would hold your Leica and Fuji but you would probably have to put some lenses in the front pockets. I can put my M240 and A7RII with mounted lenses in the small but there isn't really room for additional lenses inside. It really isn't much different inside compared to the F5XB. The front pockets are larger in the Billingham though. I bought it used and probably should have gone for the regular sized Hadley.

Awesome bags BTW. I have a F5XA and a B. Getting rid of the zipper/velcro is nice.

For a single camera the Hadley digital is amazing. A little bigger than the 5FXA but the dimensions are much more usable. I can fit the M240 (or A7RII) with a 50mm mounted, Konica 90mm, Voigtlander 15mm III, Voigtlander 25mm and a UC Hexanon along with optical finders for the 15 and 25mm all insider the bag comfortably.

Shawn
 
I have the Hadley Original (I think the present equivalent is the Hadley Pro). I would find the Hadley Pro Small just too small to be of much use if needing to carry my normal load - Leica or M4/3 camera body with lens, at least one spare len lens and batteries, plus misc nick-nacks like keys,glass case, wallet etc.

I can fit my Nikon D700 (analogous to your Canon kit) and a standard lens or small zoom but much more than gets a little cramped. The extra front pockets help greatly with smaller items.
 
The Hadley Pro is ideal for your needs. Plenty of room for a couple of smaller cameras with lenses and two or three extra small lenses along with lots of film or the sundries needed for digital. For something smaller, I like the L2. For a slightly larger bag, I like the F1.4.
 
Hands down fur the Pro!!

Get both for maximum flexibility. But the Pro is by far the better/only for carrying and shooting a Hassy and other large body DSLRs.🙂

Not sure you will fit three lenses plus a 500 in even the Pro either. But I routinely carry the 503, and a ton of other items in mine.
 
I went from the f5 XC to my Hadley pro. I find them to be comparable in what they can carry actually. Usually M5, 240, 2 lenses (used to carry 3) a 5 canister jch film holder and other various accoutrements for cleaning and servicing the ms on the go.

I find I have a little extra space for snacks or small purchases. But if I wanted to carry something like a water bottle an m body would have to go.

To be honest I liked the layout of the domke better. The compartments were better for rf lenses and stuff.
 
Oskar's Day Bag from Artisan & Artist (or Black Label) is better for a Leica, and less expensive, than any of the Billingham bags, which in my view, are over engineered and overly fussy.
 
I've had a sage/tan Hadley Pro for almost 20 years and it's still going strong. I got it when I was using Leica rangefinders, used it with Micro 4/3 and now with Fujis. I'm also impressed with the F1.4 model. It's only a tad larger than the Hadley but it has a more boxy shape that makes it easier to get to gear while wearing it.
 
Dogman said:
I've had a sage/tan Hadley Pro for almost 20 years and it's still going strong. I got it when I was using Leica rangefinders, used it with Micro 4/3 and now with Fujis. I'm also impressed with the F1.4 model. It's only a tad larger than the Hadley but it has a more boxy shape that makes it easier to get to gear while wearing it.
Click to expand...

I had a Hadley Pro for a while, but exchanged it for a Black Label Bag "Oskar's One Day Bag Mark II" (linked to at Photo Village in New York City) for similar reasons. I found the Hadley Pro to be a little large for its volume, the rounded bottom edges reduce interior space, and a bit clumsy to get gear in and out of.

The One Day Bag has a slightly trimmer, boxier shape that I found held more, more easily, and was easier to work with. It molds to the body very nicely when in use. It has been my most used bag for traveling with since 2011 or so, and is still in excellent condition. My only criticism of this bag is that the original ladders that held the strap in place were too thin and with too large a spacing, allowing the strap to twist when I was wearing it too easily. I replaced those ladders with a pair of stainless steel carabiners (from West Marine) and the bag has been perfect ever since.

G
 
Dogman said:
I've had a sage/tan Hadley Pro for almost 20 years and it's still going strong. I got it when I was using Leica rangefinders, used it with Micro 4/3 and now with Fujis. I'm also impressed with the F1.4 model. It's only a tad larger than the Hadley but it has a more boxy shape that makes it easier to get to gear while wearing it.
Click to expand...

Have a Hadley small and its really useful for when I`m carrying an RF of a Sony body and a couple of lenses.
I picked up an F1.4 second hand a few years ago and that's my day to day go to bag.
I can carry an RF plus lenses but it will also take a 5D3 and a 70-200/2.8 too plus extra batteries and an extender in the front pocket.
Boxy shape as Dogman says but so easy to get stuff in and out.
 
for the use you will put it through, I'd say go with the Hadley Pro. The small is great for daily commute: a camera with a lens attached and a spare lens, and then i'll also place sunglasses, maybe a compact umbrella, a short water bottle etc. I use the Hadley Pro for when I travel, the space is much more useful.
 
My new Hadley pro came in today. Thank you all for your input. The bag is the perfect size and had I got the small, I know I would have been disappointed. So, thank you for saving me some frustration and $
 
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