hi, is there anyone using a Billingham bag? How good is it?.....i mean how convenient and heavy-duty is it..

the price of Model 335 in B+H is $300 USD but the price in UK only about $200 USD....

where did you buy the bag?

thanks

-- Jeff Liao (jliao66@aol.com), February 20, 2001

Answers

Camera bags are a very personal issue; what Iove, you may hate. Personally I am not a big fan of velcro as it is so NOISY; so, I really like Billingham loop and post system. I have used a Photo Hadley for quite awhile now and like it very much. So much that I am ordering an Alice as well. These two bags are some of the few bags that are completely waterproof when closed. The large flap is easy to open and close. Construction and materials are beyond reproach. Unfortunately the price is also high.

I have tried many bags and the Billinghams are the only ones that have been keepers.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), February 20, 2001.

I currently own 3 Billingham bags (and untold scores of other brands!). They are a 335, Packington and 206. I sold a virtually new 225, which is similar to the 335 except smaller, that I never actually used. They are all the best-padded bags I have ever found, and the workmanship is beyond reproach. The cost of this quality is reflected sharply in the price. There are only 3 drawbacks to the Billingham bags in my opinion. First, the shoulder straps are not detachable. I am completely sold on the OP-TECH "SOS" (Saves On Shoulders) elastic/neoprene straps which make a bag seem 50% lighter and eliminate the pain and rubbing normally associated with shoulder bags. They can replace the OEM strap on any bag with rings for clip- on straps, or which have sliders through which the strap can be threaded. The Billinghams have neither. Second, the Billinghams are so beautifully crafted and so expensive that I tend to pamper them more than necessary. Third, due to the extensive padding and top- notch materials, they are somewhat heavier than other bags of similar dimensions. To me the Billingham makes a great bag for airplane carry-on, and then I transfer what I want for the day into a Domke which was packed full of socks, etc. in my checked luggage.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 20, 2001.

Jeff:

The Billinghams are indeed very well made, high-quality bags... However, the reason I DON"T like them is they are excessively heavy, have excessive padding, and thus do not "hug" or carry very well when slung over your shoulder full of equipment. And yes, the Billinghams are expensive! I prefer my Domkes for most uses -- they hug well, have enough padding to adequately protect the equipment inside, are well thought out, and I can buy three for the cost one Billingham. An added plus is they don't look like a fancy, expensive bag worth ripping off!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 20, 2001.

I agree with what has been said previously, both pro and con. For the last 5 years I have used a 335 (for an SLR kit), and Alice (M6) and a Hadley for camera and notebooks. In the past 6 months however I have returned to my Domkes. I find the Billingham, though beautifully made is heavy and stiff, with the Domke hugging my hip much better. In a fast moving street situation I found the Billinghams, because of their weight and stiffness, to start a pendulum motion that could be quite disconcerting. Also, though it was explained a number of times to me how the 'press opening' of the Billingham should work, I never found it convienent. I think that in a more static shooting mode the Billingham would be quite satisfactory though.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 20, 2001.

Ditto on everything that has already been said. I use the photo Hadley and Alice bags; and I am 100% satisfied. Bought the Domke little bit smaller bag--didn't like the metal fasteners. Regards, Richard Fulco

-- Richard Fulco (calcinc@mn.rr.com), February 21, 2001.

thank you for your comments...

the reason i am buying Billingham is that i don't want everyone notice i am a photographer who carry cameras on the street.

i am going to Europe for 3 monthes this summer, and i want to play safe....^_^.....i heard lots thieves there..

does Billingham look more low-key in some way? will Model 335 hold 2 M6 with four lens + 20-40 rolls of film at onece?

thanks

-- Jeff Liao (jliao66@aol.com), February 21, 2001.

You may want to consider the Domke 803 Satchel for your trip to Europe, as it's even more discreet than the Billingham's. It should hold what you descibed if you use an adapter to hold 2 lenses back to back, w/ the other 2 attached to the bodies.

I used a Billingham years ago and appreciated the quality (it's made like fine luggage), but didn't care as much for the weight, stiffness and that it looks a little too nice for maximum discretion. Now, I use the Domke which I prefer much more.

-- KL Prager (www.pragerproperties@worldnet.att.net), February 21, 2001.

Jeff- I agree with everyone else. I just sold my Alice on Ebay. The are really beautiful bags: very well made and well thought out, very easy to work out of. But it was just "too pretty" for my taste. I also agree that it was a bit stiff and did not mold to your hip as it should. It doesn't feel secure enough for me. Not to mention the pendulum thing...at a brisk walk, once that thing got to swinging, I found myself trying to slow its momemtum. The proof is trying to walk with the bag on your shoulder while carrying a cup of coffee in your hand, it gets a bit sloshy...

It's a little heavy too, but not as heavy as the Domke 803, in my opinion. But I think the Domke is much less conspicuous and very moldable. I have a black one that I ran through the washing machine twice with fabric softener (line dry only). The washing sort of knocks the edges off the bag, softens it, makes it look more worn in. I don't use this bag anymore either. For only one M6 with a 50, plus film, wallet, etc. it is still too big for me. I use an Eagle Creek field pack, its about 7wx4dx10h, black cordura nylon. It has no padding which I like and I use one Domke insert to hold the camera. Its small but has plenty of space, and compartments. It definitely doesn't look like a camera bag...

-- jeff voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), February 21, 2001.

Dear Jeff Liao

I don't think you need to worry about thievery in Europe so much, or at least, your bag is not the problem.

As a tourist, you'll stand out like a sore thumb and be going to places other tourists go to (this is not a putdown, just the way it is) and these are places thieves congregate. It really doesn't matter what bag you have over your shoulder. Anyone looking at a tourist with a bag over his shoulder of almost any description will say - cameras. To avoid this, maybe you should consider a daypack.

As for Billinghams, I'm a fan - of the Alice and Hadley. The others (I have a 225 if anyone wants to give me a reasonable amount of dosh for it) are IMHO no good for working out of. Look nice and all, but extremely fiddly.

I agree 100% with John Collier's remark that the Billinghams (these two, at least) are just about the only waterproof bags on the market. I don't run much with my bags - I don't run much at all - but haven't noticed this to be a big problem with the Billinghams. Seems some people spend half their time with camera bags sprinting after demos. Not me.

Enjoy your trip to the dark continent ;-)

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), February 21, 2001.

Jeff Liao:

Here is a bag you might want to check out... Also, it might be interesting to hear other opinions -- It looks like a neat set-up to me. Here is the link: http://www.mclassics.com/ (Someday I'm going to have to learn how to make these show up as clickable links in this forum!)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 21, 2001.

If your goal is to not have your camera be noticed, then there are much better solutions, often pointed out on photo.net, such as diaper bags. Otherwise, a Domke bag should be fine and a whole lot cheaper than Billingham bags, which strike me as designer bags. Domke bags can be padded, if that's desirable, I find them very comfortable and easy to work out of.

However, I go the opposite route when I travel, I look as much like a photographer as possible, rather than a tourist. Seems to work, nobody has ever approached me when cameras were out and prominent. In train stations and airports, I use a backpack, which I would highly recommend. THe only place any theft was threatened was in a train station in Paris, and my camera gear was on my back.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), February 22, 2001.

I have used a Billingham bag for 21 years. I bought one of their first models which is fairly large and it is as good today as the day I bought it apart from some slight fading. These bags are made for the long haul.

The Billingham was fine when I carried around Nikon gear but now I have changed to Leica I find my bag a little large and cumbersome. I'm going to buy a Domke F6 which I hear is a good little bag for a couple of Leica M's and a few lenses.

-- matt veld (mahv@xtra.co.nz), February 22, 2001.

I have been using a madarina duck shoulder bag which somehow has just the right shaped pockets and even some side pockets that are perfect for lens caps... BUT the best bag i have found for my m6 is a qantas business class toiletry bag! It was free (someone else paid the fare) non descrip, water resistant padded, takes body with a 50 or 21 (with hood and viewer) and is generally the business. I suppose wondering about with a toiletry bag may look a bit odd but there you go!

To get one you will need to do the Europe - Aus long haul... that's a price.

-- Charles Curry-Hyde (charles@chho.com.au), February 24, 2001.

I've used a 335 for my Nikon F90x and a couple of lens for a year now. It is extremely well made, padded and large enough to accomodate more gear. However it is a little on the heavy side.

-- Dan Low (daniel.low@ntlworld.com), September 03, 2001.

I bought a bunch of bags looking for one that made sense for an M6 and maybe 2 lenses. The Alice ended up being the best. And no need to baby it. I abused it for 10+ hours a day for two months and it still looks like new. Plus it was outside and raining most of the time and no problems. Needless to say that the search is now finished...

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), September 03, 2001.

Do you not all find the Billingham bags all a bit featureless? I love the look of them but they are only a canvas shell with a floppy padded insert . I prefer the lowe-pro bags for all of there features esp when on and off planes. Lots of places to hide travelers cheques etc

-- Tim (timphoto@ihug.com.au), September 04, 2001.

Alright, I'll come clean with what I packed in my J-803 Domke Camera satchel two weekends ago.

Two M lenses (M6+50 around my neck), 20 rolls of film, film cleaner, 2 microfiber cloths, hoods, lens and rear caps, 6 batteries, SF-20 flash.

Hardly impressive? But that's not all...

1 pr. dockers, 2 undershirts, 2 shorts, 2 pairs socks, 1 extra T shirt, 1 shirt, 1 pr. Pajamas, 1 Pr. running shorts, shaving kit and toothbrush kit, full tropical medicine kit, 10"x5"x1.5" Travel wallet, regular wallet, cell phone, Palm pilot, pens etc. spectacles in hard-case, travel guide book (Insider Guide), 1 other paperback book on destination (Angkor).

Oh yeah, and a plastic shopping bag to catch the inevitable used clothes overflow :-)

The truth, I swear :-)

This is the best designed small satchel bag in the world for business travel and weekend travel. Oh yeah, it swallows a ton of gear as well.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), September 04, 2001.