Billingham bag recommendation

Neilmack

Neilmack

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I would like a shoulder bag to carry a Nikon D800 fitted with 50mm lens and a couple of small primes. The nearest Billingham stockist is nearly two hours away - so can anyone advise me whether the Hadley Pro or Hadley Large is big enough?
thanks,
Neil
 
My 335 is a brilliant bag I love it
 
I popped into LCE yesterday to have a “ogle” at new kit - they had some Billingham bags on display that looked brilliantly designed - checking the price of £250reminded me how he elite live, and there is me with my Lowe pro Tesco special!
 
My Hadley Pro can fit (tightly) my 5d with kit lens plus sigma 85 1.4 and sigma 35 1.4 leaving the front pockets free . It's a very nice size of bag to carry around
 
Pro would fit it fine, but the large will give you a bit more height for a longer lens, its surprising just how much you can fit in to them. Another one to look at might be the new Hadley One which is bigger than the pro but not as tall as the large.
 
stickytape said:
I popped into LCE yesterday to have a “ogle” at new kit - they had some Billingham bags on display that looked brilliantly designed - checking the price of £250reminded me how he elite live, and there is me with my Lowe pro Tesco special!
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But a Billingham bag will last at least 30 years and out live most forum members, and I know of at least one person who got some torn stitching on a 30 year old bag and Billingham fixed it for free (and cleaned the bag!!). I think when you take the lifetime into account they actually represent decent value for money

Neilmack said:
I would like a shoulder bag to carry a Nikon D800 fitted with 50mm lens and a couple of small primes. The nearest Billingham stockist is nearly two hours away - so can anyone advise me whether the Hadley Pro or Hadley Large is big enough?
thanks,
Neil
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Neil, if you do buy a Billingham bag, I would recommend investing in the optional wide shoulder pad, your body will thank you!!!
 
Mr Perceptive said:
But a Billingham bag will last at least 30 years and out live most forum members, and I know of at least one person who got some torn stitching on a 30 year old bag and Billingham fixed it for free (and cleaned the bag!!). I think when you take the lifetime into account they actually represent decent value for money
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The bag equivalent of the Tilley Hat ???
 
I had a 335 once, loved it for it's looks and build quality, but by the time I'd put something in most of the pockets etc it was too heavy to carry for any real length of time. I always find myself coming back to backpacks...
 
flashp said:
I had a 335 once, loved it for it's looks and build quality, but by the time I'd put something in most of the pockets etc it was too heavy to carry for any real length of time. I always find myself coming back to backpacks...
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I use mine as a man bag too!

D700 with 80-200 on it inside and went deer park yesterday ! I bought it second hand! I don't like new ones! Mines old and worn ! Looks great! My dad bought a 550 35 years ago! Still looks like new! I think he paid £175 for it in about 1980! They are best part of £600 now
 
Mark twiglet said:
I use mine as a man bag too!

D700 with 80-200 on it inside and went deer park yesterday ! I bought it second hand! I don't like new ones! Mines old and worn ! Looks great! My dad bought a 550 35 years ago! Still looks like new! I think he paid £175 for it in about 1980! They are best part of £600 now
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I use my Hadley Pro with my Df and a couple of primes along with one attached. Nice and snug but fits without a problem.
 
They are great bags, but I've always thought of them as old man bags so sold mine :o
I now us a Think Tank Lily Deanne, which is apparently a girls bag - but I love it!
 
You won't believe where mine came from ?
 
I was visiting a tenant at his home and I walked in and saw it...... I asked if he was a photographer and he said no...... I said do you know what you've got there...... and i offered him £50 to him there and then......

He took money and sold me bag!!!

After paying him I said it's the rolls Royce of camera bags that is...... he said he had it with an Olympus film camera and lenses and a flash gun in it....



Paid £2-50 for it at the local refuse dump!

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I am J.R.Hartley
 
Some of you guys have no style :D but having said that...

I'm on my second. I didn't like my first as it seemed like style over function, well made but as a camera bag a damn poor design IMO and I just couldn't imagine what camera it was actually made for. I sold that one but it was lost in the post...so maybe someone fancied it a little too much. I now have a second bag identical to the first (a gift) and my opinion hasn't changed... I think it's a lovely bag and looks gorgeous but God knows what they had in mind when they designed it as my cameras (Sony A7 and Panny GX80 and GX7) just don't sit well in it at all.

They look lovely and are no doubt exquisitely made but I'd recommend anyone interesting try one first before buying to see if the gear fits well and they're happy with the handling.

I use a man bag bought in a Thai market.
 
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stumac said:
My Hadley Pro can fit (tightly) my 5d with kit lens plus sigma 85 1.4 and sigma 35 1.4 leaving the front pockets free . It's a very nice size of bag to carry around
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wibbly said:
I use my Hadley Pro with my Df and a couple of primes along with one attached. Nice and snug but fits without a problem.
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The words "tightly" and "snug" are suggestive. My D800 has an Arca Swiss plate on the underside - given that it's already taller than the 5d and the Df, I guess that rules out the Hadley Pro, and by implication, the standard Hadley.

I will maybe have to "go large".

Thanks for the inputs, guys.
 
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