A few days ago, several forum members raved about the Billingham S3 and preferred it to the Hadley Pro bag. My question is the following: Does the S3 have a zipper closing the MAIN portion of the bag that can be locked with a simple brass padlock? I travel alot and when visiting most museums, one has to check camera bags far more frequently than in the past. Thanks.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), March 27, 2002

Answers

Albert, you should be able to find all the info you need

-- sunil (yatsunil@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

Sorry....here's the link.

And if that html stuff doesn't work, just type the following address http://www.rtsphoto.com/html/bill9.html

-- sunil (yatsunil@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

Doing my research l;ed me to the fact that the bag doesn't sell well for one reason mainly, or maybe two. It's a bitch to open and close, plus the price is quite high.

Het the Hadley small or L2 at around the same size and cheaper.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

My own research of this Billingham and other small shoulder bags has led me in circles, always landing back at the Domke F-5XB. There are two things I don't like about it: 1) the velcro weather flap (so much for unobtrusiveness) but I always have the camera in my hand so it's not that big of a deal, and 2) I would have preferred a double-zipper pull flap instead of the single zipper closure, good thing my M+lens was so small it's not too hard to put in and take out. Aside from the above minor quibbles, the F-5XB is simply the most cost effective and low-key solution that I've come across. And yes, you can padlock the zipper shut.

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.

Thanks fellows! I guess that I will look at the Domke line before buying. Albert

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), March 28, 2002.

My Domke F5XB is a couple years old and has a double-pull zipper, have they started making them only with a single pull? The Velcro flap is not a problem, put a spare piece of Velcro over it to prevent it from sticking and let the flap flop, until you want to seal it down then take the spare piece off and slip in into a pocket. The main advantages to the F5XB over the S3 are 1)belt tunnel, 2)clip-off strap for use as a purely belt bag or for attaching an OP-Tech SOS strap, 3)looks less like a woman's handbag, 4)costs a lot less.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 28, 2002.

Albert, The Billingham Series 3 bag has a zipper closure under a buckle down flap. I use a small pad lock all the time. It keeps people out, at least for a little while. When I am flying anywhere I worry about people going through my stuff when I am up from my seat. Since the flap covers the zipper, you don't see the lock. You don't draw attention to the bag because it's so small. The same reason that most people think a Leica "M" camera is a Point-and-Shoot.

Since all Billingham bags are waterproof, the flap keeps rain from getting in the zipper; the only opening that the elements can enter. Yes the Billingham bags are expensive, and yes they never have as many pockets as you may like, but they protect your investment. If you are on this site, your photography equipment is probably very important to you. Compare the Billingham's overall construction quality, before you buy.

-- Frank Ricatto (luttmann@nerc.com), March 30, 2002.

I've been using a Lowepro Linx series bag...#160. It is one of the ugliest bags I've ever seen, but very fuctional and easy to work out of. I carried it all around Italy holding a Contax G2 with lens attached, a Bessa L with lens & finder attached, and an XPAN with lens attached, plus a 90mm lens, flash and accessories.

Like I said, ugly but functional, mainly because it has no flap to get in the way. And it's meant to be carried across your chest, so the weight is pretty evenly distributed. Here's the link:

Lowepro Linx 160

-- Jim Tardio (jimtardio@earthlink.net), March 30, 2002.