yossarian123
Sam I Am
I couldn't find any direct comparisons between these two bags. Is one preferable to the other? Which one holds more stuff? Dimension wise they seem roughly similar. My usual walking around kit is 2 M bodies and 3 lenses.
Billingham Small or Billingham Leica?
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bonatto
looking out
I think the orientation of the straps on the small is much better though out. Never actually handled the leica, but from photos it looks to be a bit "fatter". Also, I quite like the two separate front pouches of the small which are easily opened by snap button vs zipper. You have to be careful though in flipping the bag upside down if the flaps are undone....but I guess you should with any bag anyways....
Edit:
The small will fit two m bodies with a 35 attached and one or two spare lenses.
Edit:
The small will fit two m bodies with a 35 attached and one or two spare lenses.
Sparrow
Veteran
Hadley Pro ...
yossarian123
Sam I Am
Thanks for that. I kind of like the idea of a single front pocket (on the Leica version) - looks like it would be a perfect fit for my kindle and a few rolls of film. Otherwise they look pretty similar - I'm pretty sure you could get 2 bodies & 3 lenses into the leica version too.
bonatto
looking out
In regards to the kindle, I keep an ipad mini in the "back" part of the small, between the lining and the insert, fits perfectly. Film in one front pocket, phone and slim wallet in the other.
The hadley pro is an excellent, albeit larger alternative. I keep the pro for longer trips, and use the small on a daily basis. Bottom line is, you can't really go wrong with a billingham, though they all have slightly different "ergonomics".
yossarian123
Sam I Am
I'm pretty much covered at that size (Domke F6). Great bag.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I've had a Billingham Leica for a number of years now. It was the perfect size for my M8 and three lenses. Always was a bit tight when I tried to put my two M film bodies in there with the three lenses.
Last summer I picked up a Domke F6 and it fits the two M film bodies, three to four lenses, and multiple rolls of film just right. It's now my go-to bag when I'm shooting with my Leica kit.
Last summer I picked up a Domke F6 and it fits the two M film bodies, three to four lenses, and multiple rolls of film just right. It's now my go-to bag when I'm shooting with my Leica kit.
Sparrow
Veteran
... I carry the same kit you mentioned, plus film and bits'n bobs ... and it works well
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
Here's another vote for the Hadley Pro. I have been carrying my street photography M kit in my Pro for ten years now. It flat out rocks.
However - there is a new contender that is challenging the Hadley Pro for street photography dominance: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/turnstyle-20-blue-slate-sling.aspx
DanielDuarte
Established
Eh, sling ?!?!
I like the prospect of a well made product, how would that hold up over time?
judsonzhao
Well-known
If Billingham is not the only brand you will consider, try Thinktank Retro 7, it will give you silghtly larger space than Hadley Small, I'd say you set up will be bit tight in Hadley just as Stewart showed above. I carried 2 M bodies with lenses mounted and a RX1 in Retro 7 easily.
It's well built and convinient, but I can't say it's as great as the bloody brilliant Billingham, of course, it's lot cheaper
It's well built and convinient, but I can't say it's as great as the bloody brilliant Billingham, of course, it's lot cheaper
RKh
RomanKh
Billingham for Leica indeed perfect for a M-body & 2-3 M-lenses, (been using 2 years).
For 2 body & lenses - too small...
For 2 body & lenses - too small...
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I tried a Billingham Leica bag, but found I preferred the very similar L2 "Alice" model. It differs in that instead of two small front pockets it has one large front pocket that is closed by the main top flap ... fewer closures to worry about ... and that large pocket holds a bit more. The padded interior of the bag seems about the same.
If you prefer the Hadley satchel style, I had a Hadley Pro but sold it and later bought a Black Label Bag "Oskar's One Day Bag II" sold by Photo Village in NY, which is my standard bag for when I'm traveling. It's almost identical to the A&A ACAM 7100, just a tiny bit larger. I find it carries just a bit more while being a bit smaller in overall size, and a bit lighter.
G
If you prefer the Hadley satchel style, I had a Hadley Pro but sold it and later bought a Black Label Bag "Oskar's One Day Bag II" sold by Photo Village in NY, which is my standard bag for when I'm traveling. It's almost identical to the A&A ACAM 7100, just a tiny bit larger. I find it carries just a bit more while being a bit smaller in overall size, and a bit lighter.
G
burancap
Veteran
My Leica has one large zippered pocket in front (under the flap). Might you mean the Hadley?
Godfrey
somewhat colored
No, I meant the Leica M bag... forgot it was one zipped pocket, rather than two.
I find the L2 a nicer design regardless.
G
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
I think this bag will stand up well over the years, provide it is subjected to normal photographic use. Will it survive a hundred back-to-back missions with Navy SEALs in Afghanistan? Probably not. Will it survive 10 years of normal photographic use wear and tear? Probably so.
From the Think Tank website, here is a listing of the materials that make up the exterior of the TurnStyle 20:
The padding that protects the camera and lenses from banging against each other and causing damage is thinner that the 1/4" closed cell foam padding that Lowepro, Tamrac, etc. uses in their bags. However, in my opinion, the padding that Think Tank used in this series of bags is heavy enough for its intended purpose.
The TurnStyle series of sling bags is built differently from what we have become accustomed to over the years; every photographer will have to see the bag for themselves and decide if it is sturdy enough for their purposes.
In my own evaluation, I found the TurnStyle 20 to be sturdy and protective enough for my purposes; YMMV.
The main thing I like about this bag is that it is much more comfortable to carry a walking around camera kit in than a satchel type bag is. The design is the best ever (that I have found) in terms of weight bearing and comfort. The design spreads the weight more evenly, making carrying your kit all day long much easier in terms of comfort. You can wear the bag on your back, on your chest or as a butt pack, giving you more options when fatigue starts to set in.
Fraser
Well-known
I think I've had a couple of Hadleys in the past both times I thought this is what I really need used them a couple of times and then decided didn't really need them and didn't really carry enough Leica M stuff to need all the space in one. I found this old CCS double lens belt pouch on e*ay and it works out great for a single body on the shoulder/neck three lenses two in the pouch and because the M lenses are so small plenty of space for batteries etc.
red snapper
Established
CCS bags
CCS bags
" I found this old CCS double lens belt pouch on e*ay and it works out great for a single body on the shoulder/neck three lenses two in the pouch and because the M lenses are so small plenty of space for batteries etc. "
Wow. That's a really nice one. Any link to same anywhere? Wouldn't mind checking it out as they are now quite cheap on ebay. CCS must be one of the most under rated British made camera bags around. They were always good value compared to Billingham's and whatever else was available at the the time. Not always that user friendly but really well made if a bit over padded and bulky. Still have some of their pouches and a CCS "messenger bag" from around 1990? May start using it again, it isn't that uncomfortable to carry if you replace the crappy strap with an Optech SOS one.
[/quote]
CCS bags
" I found this old CCS double lens belt pouch on e*ay and it works out great for a single body on the shoulder/neck three lenses two in the pouch and because the M lenses are so small plenty of space for batteries etc. "
Wow. That's a really nice one. Any link to same anywhere? Wouldn't mind checking it out as they are now quite cheap on ebay. CCS must be one of the most under rated British made camera bags around. They were always good value compared to Billingham's and whatever else was available at the the time. Not always that user friendly but really well made if a bit over padded and bulky. Still have some of their pouches and a CCS "messenger bag" from around 1990? May start using it again, it isn't that uncomfortable to carry if you replace the crappy strap with an Optech SOS one.
[/quote]Fraser
Well-known
I think its just a case of searching ebay never seen one the same since, I was actually quite disappointed when I first got it as I was expecting something bigger to use with DSLR lenses a couple of years later found it in the cupboard and thought mmm...? might work well with the M.
red snapper
Established
Just had a quick look. Not a lot there at the moment. Shame they ceased to exist. Wonder why CCS bags wernt as popular as they should have been? Their Billingham type ones were just as good and always really liked the colour of the blue ones. You really got me thinking now, must try them out again. Been years. Glad I still have some of the pouches, lot nicer and better made than modern Lowe Pro or Think Tank equivalents.
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