M kit bag

[TJV]

Hi all.
I'm on the hunt for a good size bag for a modest size M kit. I'm wondering if anyone out there actually uses the M Billingham bag and if it's any good? I seem to remember thinking it was too small when I saw it a few years back, but the quality was really good.
I want to be able to hold two lenses, a flash and, at a push, two bodies each with lenses mounted. I say at a push because I'd usually be wearing one of the cameras.
I like leather and good quality canvas bags because they don't necessarily look like camera bags. I love my Crumpler "5 Million Dollar Home" but now everyone has them here and it's looking a bit like a beacon in the night!

Suggestions welcom.

Tim

Oh, and my kit consists of M7, M3, 35 'lux, 50 'cron, 28 ASPH, noctilux and SF20 Flash. Room for keys, film and a wallet would be good...

 

[jky]

Just a thought...
I've looked at the Billingham bags and they are great.... several here will attest to that (their quality & craftsmanship are top notch). However, it was way out of my budget when I was looking for a bag. I decided to purchase a "Domke clone", Safrotto 803... so far it's been wonderful.
j

 

[ian_w]

I have, and love the Billingham M bag - very easy to work out of and seems extremely well made. However, your kit sounds a little big without some constriction. Frankly I think it'll be a little pushed even if you left one of the bodies out. I have a body and three smallish lenses plus about four films, a filter, a couple of notebooks and usually an iPod and it works well as I have enough room to reach around things. I bet you could squeeze your kit in but you would have a heavy bag and some difficulty accessing your stuff. Maybe a Domke of some type? How about the F-803, F6 or even F-3X.

Good luck on the never ending hunt

Ian

 

[Andy Aitken]

Indeedy. Try a Domke F803 or the Safrotto copy (that's what I have and the quality is, dare I say, better than a Domke I have). Easily takes the stuff you mention, has the best shoulder strap in the world, ever, bar none, doesn't look like a camera bag and has hooks on each end to add extra pouches (pretty much anything with a belt loop will fit). They also "scruff up" more quickly than a Billingham - which takes about a decade to wear in. They're not nearly as durable as a Billingham but they are a lot cheaper.

If you do want the quality a Billingham Hadley Pro is the same size and also takes Billingham end pouches for extra flexibility.

 

[kully]

Billingham Hadley Pro will sort you out.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I use the Billing Hadley Pro with extra pockets on the sides which are easily detachable when you don't need the extra space . I also use the Domke 803 and 802's as well as the F6. The digital version of the 803 is slightly bigger than my canvas 803 with better padding (and more useful here in the rainy season). All of the above work well and the inserts are interchangable so it makes it flexible.

 

[MichaelHarris]

Man I found the best bag for my CL, three lenses, and a Leica P&S. It's called a Timbuk2. Don't know which model but it's very cool, looks like a baby messenger bag.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm

on edit, it's called the Metro and it rocks.

 

[peter_n]

Two bodies, four lenses, a flash, keys, film and a wallet: Domke F-2. A personal opinion but I don't like the look of Billingham bags. Maybe it's because I'm English. 😉

 

[Ben Z]

I have four Billingham bags (Alice, Leica-M, Packington and the short-lived X-Pan bag which fits a Rolleiflex perfectly). They are beautifully made, top-notch all the way and a delight to "work out of". But from recent experiences, I have a word of caution if you will be travelling thru airports: don't use a bag that doesn't have a zipper on the main compartment. I had a screener take my bag back for another pass thru the x-ray, after she had pawed thru it, and only one of the press-studs was fastened properly. Luckily nothing fell out. I couldn't step foward of the white line to tell her to fasten the stud, or I'd have been tackled by TSA agents. From now on I'm travelling with a heavily-padded zippered bag, even if when I get to my destination I switch into a Billingham or Domke that was packed in my suitcase.

 

[sepiareverb]

Two bodies, four lenses, a flash, keys, film and a wallet: Domke F-2. A personal opinion but I don't like the look of Billingham bags. Maybe it's because I'm English. 😉

Peter has it right. The F2 is for you. I carry about your same kit in this bag with room to even fit in an extra body or p&s if the mood stikes. Comfortable and comes in a couple of colors so you can blend in or stand out. This is my main bag- I use an 803 as a smaller bag if I'm doing other stuff besides just shooting- I just carry a single M and a mini camera- TVS, T2 or Rollei 35, occasionally a second M lens.

 

[John Noble]

I have 3 Domkes: F-2, J-803, and F-6.

They have various strengths and weaknesses for my uses:

F-2
Pro: Roomy, enough space to live out of. You keep putting stuff in, and it asks for more. Depth is adequate for longer SLR lenses.
Con: It tempts you to load it up until you can't carry it anymore! It's also too deep for shorter lenses and smaller bodies.

I use this one as a semi-mobile home for my Minolta SLR kit. My wife and I practically lived out of it for a couple of weeks in England.

J-803
Pro: Shares inserts with F-2, fairly roomy, and comfortably holds a smaller notebook computer (iBook fits fine) in addition to camera gear. Ballistic material makes it ideal for use as a diaper bag.
Con: Falls over when set down, too deep for smaller bodies and lenses. Ballistic material isn't as nice as canvas, IMO.

This one isn't getting as much use lately, but it would be my go-to bag if (heaven forbid) I had to start traveling for work again.

F-6
Pro: Small enough to not bump into everything you pass, but big enough to allow for two row inserts. Single zipper pocket in front is nice. Ideal depth for my CL, CM, and small M lenses. Doesn't tempt me to overload as much as my F-2. Stands up on its own when set down.
Con: A little small for my SLR gear, back pocket doesn't fit magazine-sized items, wish it had elastic holders in the front pocket like my J-803.

This is my daily carry bag these days. I'm able to easily fit basic toddler care items along with a CL, lenses (see sig line), film, light meter, miscellaneous personal stuff (phone, Moleskine-style notebook, leatherman, etc.), and it's small & light enough to not be too much of a burden. I think Domke should have called the F-6 A Whole Lot Smaller: in use, it feels about half the size of my F-2. I got mine in olive green, so it sort of looks like a military surplus knockabout rather than a camera bag.

 

[John Bragg]

My Leica M6 now resides in a newly acuired Billingham M bag and I am over the moon with it. The body and 28, 50 and 90 make an ideal travelling kit for me. I do agree that an extra body would be too much, unless I left the 90 at home though.

 

[jack palmer]

I just bought what might be the last Billingham 225 in the Nytex fabric. Now discontinued( the fabric not the bag) I bought it from Robert White in the U.K. excellent people to deal with. It's perfect for your M kit. The main compartment will hold two bodies and four or more lenses. A full sized zippered pocket in front of that , I carry a table top tripod in and two bellows pokets for film , wallet, glasses etc. and a back pocket for paper, magazine or what ever. It's still compact enough to carry anywhere. I also have a Domke F6 which is a bit smaller and also very nice.

 

[steve garza]

actually looking for a new bag for my NYC trip this month. I will take the following as a minimum:
1 D200 w/ 18-200 zoom
Extra battery
wolverine storage device
MP w/ CV 50/2.0

Would like to add:
M2, 35 lux asph, 75 lux. Although it seems a bit heavy and bulky.

Suggesitons???

 

[TJV]

maybe I'll regret posting this if you guys end up out bidding me...

But I've checked out these two ebay auctions and am pretty interested in the older Leitz one. Maybe they're a little overpriced but I'm quite fond of old, roughed up bags.

I'd love a good Billingham bag but it's insane money here in New Zealand, not to say that the prices in the UK and US aren't...

What are you're opinions on these two old beater bags?

ebay acution # 120128699165
" " # 160124736835

 

[jk251]

Billingham Hadley series are great for you.
S3,L2, Billingham for Leica are too small to load.

 

[Film dino]

The Leitz one does indeed looks very functional & not unlike the configuration of a Domke. Great colour as well. Presumably the inserts are in good condition.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[ChrisN]

Two bodies with lenses, plus lenses plus flash? Yep - Hadley Pro. What do the fetch over there? They are about AUD$270 in Sydney, plus postage.

 

[tbarker13]

I have a Hadley Pro. I love it. But I don't think they will work for everyone. It has a fair amount of space in it - if you are willing to pack things tightly, and on top of each other.
My M8 takes up the main center compartment. That leaves room for 2 lenses (one on top of the other, separated by a foam insert) in each of the other two compartments. I guess I could squeeze another lens under the M8 in the center compartment if I wanted.

The drawback -- if you have several lenses in the bag -- is that you only have ready access to whichever ones are on top of their compartments. You may end up fishing around a bit if you change lenses frequently during shoots.

As someone pointed out, it does have the advantage of being able to add pockets on the end. That would probably help.

I'm looking now at some of the domke bags (and others) to see if I can find something that would be a better working bag (for my own style) for those times when I want access to multiple lenses. I want something that holds 4 lenses, each in their own small compartment.