Billingham

gil, i did have a billingham at one time. a discontinued model, small...made for a small rf kit. it was lovely and i sold it to a former member here.

as of today i am quite content with my 2 think tank retro bags...as for tomorrow...😉
 
I had a Billingham Packington that I used for an SLR kit for a while. I hated the metal zipper that I had to pull my gear through when using the main compartment. It didn't open wide enough, and the metal was sure to scratch something up eventually. Glad to be rid of it. Besides, it didn't match my shoes.
 
RObert Budding said:
I had a Billingham Packington that I used for an SLR kit for a while. I hated the metal zipper that I had to pull my gear through when using the main compartment. It didn't open wide enough, and the metal was sure to scratch something up eventually. Glad to be rid of it. Besides, it didn't match my shoes.
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And that is why I recommend what I have, the Hadley Pro...no zipper! And if you get in black, it matches my shoes!😛
 
The new 7 series (I have the 207) has a zipper but carbon fibre 'wands' hold the bag open allowing me too remove gear without catching the zipper. The 445 serves as my all-purpose travel bag.
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
is it really that expensive? I paid ~150€ for a new one from a shop here in germany.
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What Simon says - there are at least two reputable sources in Germany that sell (legit) Billinghams for less than what similarly sized Domke's cost (at the sites I checked). I was really surprised, too, when I found out. At least for Germany my take is that, yes, it is a handsome lump of cash, but it is by no means extravagant for what you get.

I bought the Hadley small, and I like it very much. The only thing that nags me is that there are two spots on the top, corners to be precise, that wear way faster than the rest of the bag, because of the geometry. If the fabric were cut /bent around the corner differently, it would not get rubbed like that.
If there are ever going to be holes in the fabric, I'm sure it's gonna be there.
Well, that is going to take some years, and even then, I could send it to Billingham and have it repaired.

About the famed leather straps for closing and opening: they REALLY work. it took me one day to learn the ropes, then it became second nature. I can open and close the bag silently and without looking very quickly. Very, very nice.

So - go for it! 🙂

Greetings, Ljós
 
Just like you guys, I have a tan Hadley pro too.
Great bag. The size is just nice for me to carry 2 Ms and some other little stuffs. Most of all the bag is pretty and gives me great joy using it.
I double mine as a really stylish work bag too and have had quite a few compliments.
 
As you go bigger the Billingham can be expensive, though. $238 for the Hadley Pro is on the high side for me but I think quality and durability is worth it. Before the days of the Ipad and small laptops, it will be a bit big for me. I just carry 1 body + 2 lens and a P&S and some bits of accessorie, maybe an L2 will be sufficient at that time.

Joe I was also tempted to get the Retro 10 maybe a Retro 5 for walk around will be good for me though my F5xb also do the work.
 
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I have on old 225. It is a rather large bag, and I can carry a couple of SLRs and another pair of rangefinders in it, along with at least one lens for each. The main compartment zips shut, which is no big deal, the zipper isn't metal, and it doesn't scratch. The pocket on the back is large enough for my iPad.

My bag is quite worn, it looks like a surplus item from the first war. But it does it's job well.
 
gilpen123 said:
I'm figuring out mentally how I can fit Mamiya 7II with lens on (80).
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It is possible. First step is to reattach the lens hood of the 80mm so that it is in the stored position (i.e. pointing backwards). This minimises overall length. Then you move the inserts around in the bag so that one partition is wide enough for the cam + body to fit in. When I do this I usually have one other partition wide enough for an M body + even my Nokton 1.9, which is a long lens, and one other partition for stuff like my Fuji film carrier.
 
I have the Billingham for Leica bag, and it's a very nice bag to have. It looks classy, small enough for me, and tough too!
 
This guy does a pretty good review of the bag. I like how the insert comes out and the bag can fold flat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yft_DNEJ6Vs

I see he carries 4 lenses and a Leica, but for those that show you've packed more than one rangefinder body into it, how do you stack them into the bag? I mean, are they easily accessible so one or the other can be pulled out to be used, or are the stacked in there pretty good so you have to do some unpacking of the bag before using the gear, if that makes any sense?
 
Gil, I've had a 335 for about 25 years and other than having been faded slightly by the hot Aussie summers, it is as good as new. As is a Hadlley Pro I bought in 2003. Like others have suggested in the long run they are cheap because they wear so well. The only bag I own which is on a par with the Billinghams is a Fogg B Major and I only bought that for myself as a gift for winning a big contract a couple of years ago. The Hadlley Pro is perfect for a rangefinder kit based around one or two bodies and a few lenses. Get it and flog off the rest. Cheers, Alan
 
When I do carry 2-3 RF bodies and lenses or 1-2 with a Mamiya 7II, I would normally use the Domke F2 classic. With the Hadley I intend to use for travelling, (which is quite frequent) with the RD1 + 2 lenses and either GRDIII or S90 so I guess it will do the work well.
 
gilpen123 said:
When I do carry 2-3 RF bodies and lenses or 1-2 with a Mamiya 7II, I would normally use the Domke F2 classic. With the Hadley I intend to use for travelling, (which is quite frequent) with the RD1 + 2 lenses and either GRDIII or S90 so I guess it will do the work well.
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Absolutely...you will be very happy, I am sure of that.🙂
 
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