Domke VS A&A?

The Mekko bags are made in Korea and are crap IMHO. All of the The A&A bags are super--light, well organized and preferred by serious photographers here. The "richies" here who just wanna show off carry Billinghams (which cost a fortune).
 
If I could buy my Bare Bones over again, I think I'd get the regular Courierware Incognito bag in one of the two smallest sizes...personally. I like the BB, though, and it's perfect for the size kit the OP is talking about.

I think a divided interior that holds some shape is easier to work out of. And I'd have liked the option to have a clip closure and maybe a different color.
 
AgentX said:
If I could buy my Bare Bones over again, I think I'd get the regular Courierware Incognito bag in one of the two smallest sizes...personally. I like the BB, though, and it's perfect for the size kit the OP is talking about.

I think a divided interior that holds some shape is easier to work out of. And I'd have liked the option to have a clip closure and maybe a different color.
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I'm sure that the BBB is a good product, but these are the reasons why I haven't bought one. I want some amount of structure to the bag, mostly to get a camera/lens back in quickly/easily. I also don't care for the color choice. And frankly, I'm just so tired of velcro.
 
I have a A and A 7100 and a Domke F-5XC, padding in the Domke is thin but the bag its self is quite small. one camera quick and dirty I like the Domke, but for everything else the A and A is my go to bag. two cameras, 3 lenses, film and meters. THe A and A also has better materials and stiching, but oyu pay for it...
 
Are Billinghams overpriced and poncey or merely very well made at a fair price?

I've been using then for 28 years and would back the latter. But bags are at least as much a fashion statement as a way of storing your kit. Most non-Chinese bags are pretty good, and do what they say they will. The same is true of the best Chinese bags. But there's some right rubbish out there, and the great majority of it is Chinese knock-offs.

A&A straps are probably among the best you can get, but A&A bags are (for my money) much more fashion-dependent: they're top quality, but either you like the styling or you don't.

Cheers,

R.
 
Of course Chinese knock-offs are cheap as they pay the kids .50 cents (USD) an hour when they can get the work. Try passing that one off in London as you get the bum's rush out the door -- head first.
 
I have the BBB and at first thought it was just what i needed but after usiing it I'm finding it a little cramped. I don't carry a ton of gear (my dodgy back won't let me) just an RD1 and three lenses, batteries, cards, notepad, spectacles and I'd prefer a clip fastener too than the velcro. I quite like the separate compartments within the bag but think it would suit carrying a couple of fixed lens RF or compact shooters.
The comfort of the bag is improved slighlty by the shoulder pad but it still offers no grip and continually slides off my shoulder.
That said I will be trying it out again this week while taking a trip to Oxford and seeing if I can arrange things a little better and make the bag work better for me.

My Hadley small is made from superb twill material and the fasteners are the best. Generally I use this bag as a day bag when I'll want to carry other stuff such as a magazine / newspaper / books of if I'm likely to pick up something from the shops.

My own choice would be something the size / slimness of the BBB but made by Billingham. Unfortunately as Billingham bags get smaller they become more box-like.
 
marke said:
I'm sure that the BBB is a good product, but these are the reasons why I haven't bought one. I want some amount of structure to the bag, mostly to get a camera/lens back in quickly/easily. I also don't care for the color choice. And frankly, I'm just so tired of velcro.
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Yes, those factors are what raise questions for me about the BBB. But I admit I have yet to lay hands on one to try it out. It may even surprise me.
 
Spleenrippa said:
I've been using this bag everyday for the better part of the last year. It's held up quite well. Nicely made for a knock-off, I think.
Clone A&A Bag
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I have the A&A bag. From the pictures of the knock-off, the structural differences I can see is that the original has two strong rivets on the sides where the strap connects to the bag. Also, the pad on the strap of the original is well padded and has a nice grippy surface.

It's a very study and nice looking pad, but I rarely use it as it's a bit of overkill for me. I wish the padding was a little thinner, and something other than that bright red!
 
marke said:
I have the A&A bag. From the pictures of the knock-off, the structural differences I can see is that the original has two strong rivets on the sides where the strap connects to the bag. Also, the pad on the strap of the original is well padded and has a nice grippy surface.

It's a very study and nice looking pad, but I rarely use it as it's a bit of overkill for me. I wish the padding was a little thinner, and something other than that bright red!
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No, no rivets on this bag but the part that the strap/ring attach to is sewn to the walls of the bag in multiple places. I reckon it'll hold for a while yet 😛

As for the strap, no grippy material there- just a six inch piece of the leatherette sewn onto the underside. I haven't had problems with the bag sliding around much, though.

The only thing I don't like- and I'm sure this holds true for the real A&A bag as well- is the depth of the front pockets. They're just shallow enough that if the bag tilts over when you set it down, your spare GRDII battery or Blackberry may go for a ride 🙄
 
I guess it's a matter of taste but I'm going to have to step in and defend the Billingham bags. They are well made, quick and convenient to use, and look good both pristine and worn. The padding can be rearranged and removed to allow use as a bag for general duties, which I do a lot. Even with a Hadley you can still get a small camera in the front pockets while the rest is full with a laptop and papers, with the larger ones a Leica M plus lens and lightmeter fits in with the rest of my stuff.

In the UK at least, they are not much more expensive than Domke, and A&A is unavailable.

Matches my Barbour as well 😉
 
Domke. I usually use an F2, and sometimes the F-803 which I think they should call the "Little Too Small".

I have an A&A 7100 on the way to try against the F-803, hoping it feels just that little bit bigger.
 
historicist said:
I guess it's a matter of taste but I'm going to have to step in and defend the Billingham bags. They are well made, quick and convenient to use, and look good both pristine and worn. The padding can be rearranged and removed to allow use as a bag for general duties, which I do a lot. Even with a Hadley you can still get a small camera in the front pockets while the rest is full with a laptop and papers, with the larger ones a Leica M plus lens and lightmeter fits in with the rest of my stuff.

In the UK at least, they are not much more expensive than Domke, and A&A is unavailable.

Matches my Barbour as well 😉
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On point I think.

Ive got a beater Hadley I picked up here the other day. Thru it in the washer for 3 long wash cycles to get that special smell out of it. Now its a clean beater and structurally fully intact. [Im looking for a beater brown leather jacket to complete the ensmble (just kidding).]

As you stated, the padding is great and can be reconfig to what gears Im carrying that day. Easily carry my 2 Leicas, 3 lenses; or, one Leica and alot of other stuff to work.
 
I've got an A&A bag and a new Barebones. I took a hard spill last week using the A&A, which hit the sidewalk as hard as I did. I'm still wearing bandages and showing bruises, but the hardware inside the A&A bag was unscathed. Not sure the Barebones would have been as protective. I bought it for a different use, but when you need padding, you need padding.
 
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