Looking for a Billingham style bag

[exe163]

Hi, I have been eyeing for a Billingham bag for a while now but still couldn't convince myself to spend so much on a bag, especially since I am still a college student with no substantial income. I have been looking around for similarly styled bags. Most of them, albeit great looking, are made in China. I have heard bad things about quality of these Chinese bags.

I have an M4 and two lenses. With the hood the camera gets pretty long. Any suggestions on what I could get under $100?

 

[kbg32]

If you can spend a bit more, you can't go wrong with a Thinktank -

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/retrospective-5-blueslate.aspx

Perfect for a body with lens mounted and 2 extra lenses.

 

[dave lackey]

Hi, I have been eyeing for a Billingham bag for a while now but still couldn't convince myself to spend so much on a bag, especially since I am still a college student with no substantial income. I have been looking around for similarly styled bags. Most of them, albeit great looking, are made in China. I have heard bad things about quality of these Chinese bags.

I have an M4 and two lenses. With the hood the camera gets pretty long. Any suggestions on what I could get under $100?

KEH has a Billingham Hadley Digital for $149 if I recall correctly!:angel:

http://www.keh.com/camera/Cases-Soft-Compartment-Cases/1/sku-CS319991314180?r=FE

Or you could spring for a Domke 5XB for well under $100...lots of choices!

 

[lxmike]

I have abillingham bag I bought it in 1981, its now tatty looking, (cosmetically) but mechanically its still very very strong bag, yes Billingham bags are expensive but it will last you for decades, (when other bags will not)

 

[Sparrow]

I have just one bag it was expensive but I've had it for ages and don't feel the need to replace it ... probably cheaper in the long run ... you'll end with a Hadley Pro if you're thinking long term anyway

 

[dave lackey]

I have just one bag it was expensive but I've had it for ages and don't feel the need to replace it ... probably cheaper in the long run ... you'll end with a Hadley Pro if you're thinking long term anyway

What he said!!!!🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

Bought my first Billingham in about 1982.

Sure, if you want a cheap copy -- buy a cheap copy.

Cheers,

R.

 

[zuikologist]

I use a Domke Sat700 with camera bag insert. The Sat700 is actually a laptop satchel. Total cost £16. Works brilliantly, with usual Domke quality.

 

[eliev]

I would save and get the real thing. Think long term. You'll end up buying the Billingham some day anyway. Why pay twice?

 

[DtheG]

My 1987 Billingham is still in use, though I have stopped using the Canon EOS that used to live there. It's a little too bulky to carry around now with the Fuji X100. But a Hadley Pro was a little too small, a Hadley large too large. So I this morning the postman delivered a Brady Ariel Large. It just need a couple of years to stop looking too new.

 

[RFluhver]

Spend so much? Frankly, for the quality you get I don't know why Billinghams are not more expensive. These bags will last you years!

 

[johannielscom]

And here I was, considering selling mine since I'm pressed for cash... 😱

To the OP, where are you located?

 

[sebastel]

concerning "chinese bags":
there are good ones, and there are bad ones.
for example, there are some domke copies made by safrotto, which (from my experience) are better than the original (especially the FX-5B).

but they are not as good as billingham (and similar).

i can only +1 (*) to the opinion that billingham are worth their price.



(*) remark:
i should better use the syntax
billingham.opinion_on++

 

[exe163]

I live in the US. I guess I'll just have to save up enough to get one then.

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

i have a hadley pro and it's great. however for the same amount of money i would recommend a thinktank retrospective 7 instead. when i was travelling around the hadley was minimalistic and hard to cram (and didnt feel safe) passports and travel documents into. however with the retrospective it felt much better and safer with the pockets for my documents. with both of them you cant go wrong as they have special back pockets for an ipad.

 

[jsrockit]

Any suggestions on what I could get under $100?

Wow all of those responses and not one answer to the question? Have you looked for used ones on ebay (because there is one that will work for under $100 right now, though it might stay that way)? In all seriousness, ebay is your best bet. Used bags routinely sell for half of new price on ebay.

Also, some may use the same bag for many many years... but many of us don't. There is nothing wrong with getting a cheap bag. A bag isn't too hard to make and I've never had even the cheapest of bags just fall apart on me.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

I found a like new Billingham Combination bag on another camera forum several months back. If you want a Billingham like bag I'd just get a Billingham. They do come up occasionally here and on other forums.

 

[xia_ke]

I have just one bag it was expensive but I've had it for ages and don't feel the need to replace it ... probably cheaper in the long run ... you'll end with a Hadley Pro if you're thinking long term anyway

What he said!!!!🙂

Another +1

I have the Hadley Pro and while I may trade cameras left and right, that bag is the one piece I can truly say I will never sell. It goes with me everywhere. Yes they are expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for. Just keep an eye out for used ones. I snagged mine in excellent condition with the optional shoulder pad for $150.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Wow all of those responses and not one answer to the question? Have you looked for used ones on ebay (because there is one that will work for under $100 right now, though it might stay that way)? In all seriousness, ebay is your best bet. Used bags routinely sell for half of new price on ebay.

Also, some may use the same bag for many many years... but many of us don't. There is nothing wrong with getting a cheap bag. A bag isn't too hard to make and I've never had even the cheapest of bags just fall apart on me.

I have. When a bag dumps your Leica outfit on a jetty, you wish you'd bought something better.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Highway 61]

I have an M4 and two lenses. With the hood the camera gets pretty long. Any suggestions on what I could get under $100?

Buy a Mekko F3-X. It will cost you around $75 and the quality is truly excellent. The inserts and padding are just what you need, there are many flaps and a secure zipped pocket.

The canvas they're made of is of superb quality.

Best bang for the bucks. Really.

The problem that I see with Billingham bags nowadays is that they very widely and loudly scream "Hey, Leica gear inside !". Plus, the insert is optional (not a joke). And the ergonomy isn't terrific (to tell it politely).

I am not into buying for buying - I have the same leather camera bag since 1981 (a clone of the Domke bag of that era, but hand made in southern France off premium leather and high-end craftmanship) but I also own a Mekko F3-X bag (sand color) and I can vouch for its really stunning quality.