Show your old Crusty Billingham

Dogman said:
Can't really agree on the Domke bags, Deardorff38. I think Jim Domke was still shooting for the Philadelphia Inquirer when he started marketing his bags and just about all the photographers at the two local dailies bought them. But within a short time all those bags had worn-through holes in them. They didn't stand up well to daily use and constant abrasion against our hips was a major factor. Some of us used duct tape to repair them because we like the bags otherwise but quality of material was pretty shaky. But the bags were cheap at the time so no one really complained. Today, they're not so cheap. I've owned a few since then and the later ones held up better. Maybe it was less frequent use but they held up okay. But nothing has held up and continued to look good like my Billinghams. They're expensive but worth it, IMO.
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Dog, I haven't seen a photo of a real heavily worn Billingham. Domke's and Filsons.... heavily used... yes. Billinghams are a little too Gucci for me. I had one and gave it away. There are many more discreet bags.
 
Deardorff38 said:
Dog, I haven't seen a photo of a real heavily worn Billingham. Domke's and Filsons.... heavily used... yes. Billinghams are a little too Gucci for me. I had one and gave it away. There are many more discreet bags.
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My Domke came already heavily worn! Okay, not really, but the waxed versions look pretty vintage.
 
Ororaro said:
He wins. Send him my regards.
I am now pondering restitching the BILLINGHAM leather patch… but this has me thinking. In the grand scheme of things, that is where I dwell, Billingham is about as notorious as Leica. Meaning none.

Besides, a patch does does not reflect what’s inside a Crusty bag. Like right now, if Crusty had to ve stolen, the thief would only earn two babanas and half a dozen peaches. And I dont think those fruits are under any danger.
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No winners, no losers. The Billinghams are like the Barbour coats of waxed thread. They are peculiar to the UK in design and quality. The Barbours are somewhat of an anachronism but also very distinguished wear. I get owning a Billingham. It is just that if I am schlepping a few thousand dollars worth of gear around I, and this may be just me, want to keep as low a profile as possible. I trust no one when I am out and about. That crappy old camera bag is in my hands or by my feet. I do not leave it in the car unless it is buried under some junk keeping it out of sight in a very, very safe area, like my local Costco parking lot.

My delusion is that someday I will get a good photo with this gear. I live on hope..
 
Mute-on said:
Fortunately none of my Billingham’s look at all crusty. In fact I suspect it would take a concerted effort over many years to make one look convincingly worn at all.

I must admit I do have a laugh when I read the comment “bag [x] screams steal me”. Maybe it’s just me but I’ve never heard a bag make a sound beyond “scrunch” or perhaps “swoosh”. Regardless it seems utterly ridiculous to contend that a bag, and often it’s a Billingham as the subject, somehow communicates a desire to have itself stolen. What bullshit. If you really live in fear of being mugged for a bag because of how it looks, move somewhere else or just suck it up. Criticising someone else’s bag choice because it “screams steal me” is paranoid, hysterical and, frankly, perverse. You may as well criticise all their other choices as to how they dress, how they walk, the camera they want to use, their haircut, and a thousand other factors that make someone a target for theft. Get a life. Get a Billingham ;)
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I only said what worked for me. I did not tell the fellow to use or not use his bag. I did not even tell hum to get a life or buy a Billingham. IIRC I suffixed the posts with a YMMV. Like it or not, I am entitled to my opinions and to share them. Without sharing opinions this board would be little more than un-annotated pics and camera specs. If you want to own Billinghams good for you. I said, and I repeat for your benefit, I like to expose myself to as little risk as possible. I find this a prudent course. As always, YMMV.
 
Deardorff38 said:
Dog, I haven't seen a photo of a real heavily worn Billingham. Domke's and Filsons.... heavily used... yes. Billinghams are a little too Gucci for me. I had one and gave it away. There are many more discreet bags.
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I think you don’t understand.

A Billingham can never be worn. It’s British, they are the masters of fabric. A Billingham Canvas simply does not wear out. And their Fibernyte simply always stays brand new. It’s that good.

Domkes are way bottom, quality wise, and Filson capitalizes on their canvas getting teared over the years.

I think it is obvious you do not own a Billingham, or else you’d know: a Billingham whitstands everything. As simple as that.
 
Ororaro said:
What about Leica? Also a bit too Gucci?
Or more “Nikonesque”?
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No.... Leica or Nikon are only "too Gucci" if they are sitting in a glass case as objects of devotion. Used, they're just tools for a regular Joe.
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Ororaro said:
I think you don’t understand.

A Billingham can never be worn. It’s British, they are the masters of fabric. A Billingham Canvas simply does not wear out. And their Fibernyte simply always stays brand new. It’s that good.

Domkes are way bottom, quality wise, and Filson capitalizes on their canvas getting teared over the years.

I think it is obvious you do not own a Billingham, or else you’d know: a Billingham whitstands everything. As simple as that.
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Bag snobbery :LOL:
 
I admit I bought my first Billingham when I was shooting with Leicas. But that was nearly 20 years ago. I haven't owned a Leica since but I've bought 3 more Billinghams (various sizes) during this time. They really are good bags.

But who cares? Mox nix. Or macht nichts if you wanna get technical. One of the better photographers I've known didn't use a bag. He only had two cameras and one of them could be carried in his pockets along with a couple of rolls of film.

Oh, how we dwell on the mox nixes of life.
 
I have several beaten up old nice bags! My theory is buy quality--and then use the hell out of it. Just like I do my cameras.

Here is my stained and worn old 335--I used to use it shooting some wild club nights in London, and so it's been splashed with drinks, sweat, and...god knows what else.

IMG_2153.JPGIMG_2154.JPG

I bought the 335 second hand, so it already had a bit of wear. However, my Hadley Small--which houses my M6 kit--was purchased new and has been my almost daily carry bag for well over a decade. And you can tell by the fact that the cover is worn through:

IMG_2156.JPGIMG_2155.JPG

However, my favorite old worn classy bag is one that I bought second hand, generously pre-loved. I've put fairly little new wear on it. My second-hand camera dealer in South London, who was quite fond of me (helped that I bought tons of stuff from him over the years), let me have this for the princely sum of £40...far, far below its price new:

IMG_2157.JPG

That's an early Fogg bag, from when they were still making them in E11, London. My M3, rigid Summicron, and 35mm/2.8 Summaron live in there.
 
Beauryful!

That’s some high-level crustiness! And you even managed the almost impossible: slightly tearing a Billingham corner!

rulnacco said:
I have several beaten up old nice bags! My theory is buy quality--and then use the hell out of it. Just like I do my cameras.

Here is my stained and worn old 335--I used to use it shooting some wild club nights in London, and so it's been splashed with drinks, sweat, and...god knows what else.

View attachment 4841350View attachment 4841351

I bought the 335 second hand, so it already had a bit of wear. However, my Hadley Small--which houses my M6 kit--was purchased new and has been my almost daily carry bag for well over a decade. And you can tell by the fact that the cover is worn through:

View attachment 4841352View attachment 4841353

However, my favorite old worn classy bag is one that I bought second hand, generously pre-loved. I've put fairly little new wear on it. My second-hand camera dealer in South London, who was quite fond of me (helped that I bought tons of stuff from him over the years), let me have this for the princely sum of £40...far, far below its price new:

View attachment 4841354

That's an early Fogg bag, from when they were still making them in E11, London. My M3, rigid Summicron, and 35mm/2.8 Summaron live in there.
Click to expand...
 
Somewhat inspired by this thread I went and organised all my Billingham camera bags (not the multiple other brands).

I am almost mortified to report that over the last 20 odd years I seem to have amassed around 14 Billingham bags, with multiples of some models. With recent price increases and our worthless AUD, I simply couldn’t afford to buy them again now. Yes, I am a little ashamed.
 
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