My first Billingham!

[YYV_146]

I wanted a two-camera bag and was torn between the Hadley pro and the ONA Union Street for a long, long time...I've been lukewarm about Billingham since I started photography, probably because I see too many of them around, but then I saw a like new one being sold in the classifieds and pulled the trigger.

And here it is! 😀 After a day's handling I have to say that I'm extremely impressed with how well-built and thought-out the design is. These bags are popular for a good reason. Fits two A7s plus four lenses or a laptop and a two-lens kit with a bit of room to spare. And if it actually helps start conversations with other Leica users on the street...all the better.

Anyways, a big thanks to Brad for making sure that it arrived before my winter trip to the tropics.

 

[lxmike]

My Billingham 335 is over 30 years old now and is battered beyond battered, its still going great, they are built to last, enjoy your bag

 

[kxl]

I wanted a two-camera bag and was torn between the Hadley pro and the ONA Union Street for a long, long time...I've been lukewarm about Billingham since I started photography, probably because I see too many of them around, but then I saw a like new one being sold in the classifieds and pulled the trigger.

And here it is! 😀 After a day's handling I have to say that I'm extremely impressed with how well-built and thought-out the design is. These bags are popular for a good reason. Fits two A7s plus four lenses or a laptop and a two-lens kit with a bit of room to spare. And if it actually helps start conversations with other Leica users on the street...all the better.

Anyways, a big thanks to Brad for making sure that it arrived before my winter trip to the tropics.

Oh, you're the one that got that. You got a great deal! I thought about it, but I think you pulled the trigger as I was procrastinating. Congrats on the new bag!

 

[YYV_146]

My Billingham 335 is over 30 years old now and is battered beyond battered, its still going great, they are built to last, enjoy your bag

30 years? Wow - I guess that explains the "so many" part. 😀

 

[YYV_146]

Oh, you're the one that got that. You got a great deal! I thought about it, but I think you pulled the trigger as I was procrastinating. Congrats on the new bag!

I bought mine from an earlier ad - probably not as good as that deal you missed.

Yes, I saw that one too, but when I did I already paid for this one...

 

[lxmike]

all the leather is worn on mine now and one of the flap fastening straps perished years ago, its till a very usable bag and its still water proof, even after 3 decades, mind you I think billinghams look better once they are battered a bit, mind you I would say that as mine looks like it has been nuked

 

[Godfrey]

Enjoy it!

Billingham makes excellent quality bags. My Alice L2 (also black/black/nickel like the one you bought) is twelve years old now, still looks as if new despite being used and used and used.

G

 

[kxl]

Couldn't resist

Couldn't resist

Well, after seeing one Billingham Hadley Pro in the rff classifieds and seeing this post, I searched through ebay and found an almost new Hadley Pro for $165.

Being leery of ebay fakes, I asked the seller (100% positive, 1465 feedback) if he was the original owner and where he had bought it, etc... His answers were good enough for me (original owner, bought it from B&H, etc...)

So, I pulled the trigger on it. While I would have preferred black or olive, I guess this will have to do. Here's a picture of the bag, which I hope to have in my hands in a few days. 😀

 

[back alley]

beautiful capable bags…i just could not get used to the strap system…my fingers are maybe a bit too stiff for one handed operation.

 

[YYV_146]

Well, after seeing one Billingham Hadley Pro in the rff classifieds and seeing this post, I searched through ebay and found an almost new Hadley Pro for $165.

Being leery of ebay fakes, I asked the seller (100% positive, 1465 feedback) if he was the original owner and where he had bought it, etc... His answers were good enough for me (original owner, bought it from B&H, etc...)

So, I pulled the trigger on it. While I would have preferred black or olive, I guess this will have to do. Here's a picture of the bag, which I hope to have in my hands in a few days. 😀

Nice color 😀 The nice thing about the brown trimmings is that it immediately identifies as a camera bag. Black on black is more discreet but loses some of the Billingham "flare", IMO.

I'd still check the bag carefully, though. I once saw a whole stack of multicolored fake Hadleys in a camera store in Hangzhou, going for $40 each...and they could absolutely pass for real ones unless you looked inside them.

 

[YYV_146]

beautiful capable bags…i just could not get used to the strap system…my fingers are maybe a bit too stiff for one handed operation.

One handed operation? I'm mostly a backpack guy, so it's two hands, a flat surface and a full minute of fidgeting 😛 Now this bag eliminates two of these three requirements...

 

[Godfrey]

beautiful capable bags…i just could not get used to the strap system…my fingers are maybe a bit too stiff for one handed operation.

The keyhole and peg strap fasteners are often a little stiff when new but break in nicely in a week or so of use. The ones on my Alice L2 now glide on and off smoothly one-handed with no effort, then a little tug to drop the peg into the keyhole and they lock securely.

 

[Ben Z]

I have 5 Billingham bags and the Rucksack, all bought used in like-new condition for quite a savings. All of them are black w/brn leather except my Hadley which is all black. Black seems to stay cleaner-looking. (I don't care about wear, but dirt and stains irritate me 🙂 ). When the padding in the superflex inserts deteriorated, Billingham replaced the inserts free with new ones with upgraded padding material. Great quality, great customer service. I have other bags also, but I have a soft spot for Billinghams.

One note to potential buyers of used ones: the early ones have studs with rounded ends of narrower diameter than the wider, flat-ended ones they went to some years ago now. Those smaller ones tend to slip out of the leather fobs too easily once the leather becomes supple with age.

 

[lynnb]

Today I walked into the local Vinnies op shop, and walked out with a new/unused khaki colour Billingham for Leica bag (minus the 2 dividers) for USD55, complete with warranty registration card. I've got some old LowePro dividers that fit, so I'm a happy camper.. it seems about the right size for a film CL and lenses or a couple of Barnacks.

 

[helen.HH]

Beautiful, Stylish, I love it !!

Congrats and Enjoy !
Now put it to good use. 😉

 

[Ccoppola82]

I love my Billingham. It’s a “buy it once” sorta purchase.

 

[Emile de Leon]

Billinghams are my faves!
Got 3 of them.
The 30 year old one is looking pretty ratty these days though.

So they dont last forever.
My new one..

 

[Michael Markey]

I have four .
A 335 bought about 25 years ago , a small Hadley , an F4 and a Billingham 72 .

 

[kuvvy]

Had the Hadley Original for about 25 years. Though it didn’t get heavy use it was always my choice for when the weather was poor or as my carry-on bag. It was still in excellent condition when I sold it.
Now have the Hadley Pro and the Small.

 

[robert blu]

I like the "steal" my wife's Billingham, it's perfect 😀

Of course the bag was a present from me to her ...