Billingham Hadley Pro is amazing

[dave lackey]

Good writeup Dave, and great feedback from all who have chimed in. Imagine a few images might add to the thread, but it is easy to get a feel for what the Hadley Pro can hold. I've been playing around with the idea of getting a nice Billingham bag for the last good while now, but always have been unsure which of the Hadleys would suit me.

For a simple guy like me, who usually just totes something from a single camera and lens & notebook, to all that, with an additional lens, book, or compact camera/ additional body, I can see the Hadley Pro would be too big for my needs. Hadley Small it is, one day, I think..

At our Asheville RFF meet a couple of weeks ago, there were, IIRC, six Billingham bags.😱 Ranging from small to the Pro size. I must admit that I had really wanted the Billingham "Leica Bag" (I forget the model number) but am glad I settled on the larger Pro.

Now, I want the Leica bag just for walking around with the M3 and an X1.😀 It is that much smaller.

 

[sevres_babylone]

I have the Hadley Pro too, but am less ecstatic about it. It would be nice if it had an additional smaller zipper pocket for just an extra battery, sd cards, card-reader. I use the pouch pocket for those, but it's really too big, and I'm cautious about using it for my iPod, because I'm afraid those things will fall out if I am pulling things in and out all the time. Bag neurosis🙂 One thing I do like is how the compartment comes out as one piece. I frequently replace it with a Barebones bag, and carry the Hadley to work with my macbook air and the bbb (with my camera and a lens or two in it, of course); then if I'm shooting at lunch or at a bar in the evening, I leave the Hadley and Air at work, and shoot using the Barebones.

 

[dave lackey]

I have the Hadley Pro too, but am less ecstatic about it. It would be nice if it had an additional smaller zipper pocket for just an extra battery, sd cards, card-reader. I use the pouch pocket for those, but it's really too big, and I'm cautious about using it for my iPod, because I'm afraid those things will fall out if I am pulling things in and out all the time. Bag neurosis🙂 One thing I do like is how the compartment comes out as one piece. I frequently replace it with a Barebones bag, and carry the Hadley to work with my macbook air and the bbb (with my camera and a lens or two in it, of course); then if I'm shooting at lunch or at a bar in the evening, I leave the Hadley and Air at work, and shoot using the Barebones.

Actually, that is why the add-on pouches are available. I am sure there are lots of tiny changes that we could all suggest but I have not found anything that can not be addressed with a separate solution. I keep all of those things mentioned in a small bag under a trap door beneath one of the cameras. 🙂 I will probably pick up one of the nice wallet organizers for all of that one day.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Actually, that is why the add-on pouches are available. I am sure there are lots of tiny changes that we could all suggest but I have not found anything that can not be addressed with a separate solution. I keep all of those things mentioned in a small bag under a trap door beneath one of the cameras. 🙂

But under the "trap door" is where I keep my Canon 28 F3.5 lens -- and then forget it's there 🙂 But seriously, that's a good tip.