This will be my final question so I need as much help as possible. As I have discovered that Billighma are sold here for about the same price of Domke I am keen to try. But they are sold in another state.....SO

.....I need to know if I am accurate about the following equivelents Domke F-5XB = Billigham Hadley Small

Domke F-803 = Billingham Hadley/ Hadley Pro (the one I want as it stores A4 paper).

The Billigham bags seem more padded and protective than my Domke bags. I am scared to drop my domke bags because of fear of damaging my equipment.

So I need your advice and wisdom. Please help :0

PS: Jay, where are you?

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002

Answers

Let me rephrase:

I have the two Domke bags mentioned above. What I want is: 1. Better padding/protection 2. Weather protection 3. Same/similar sizes to bags I already own. 4. A4 size for carrying papers (Hadley Pro?) My F-803 is too tight.

Am I on the right track with the hadley "small" AND "pro"

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Oh yeah and what I also hate the fact that with the Domke, you need to fill it FULL or it won't balance or sit right!!

So if the Billingham is rougher and stiffer, so be it.

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

The smallest Hadley is roughly the B'ham equivalent of the 803 satchel, but they're really birds of a different feather. The closest B'ham equivalent to the F5XB is the Series 3 (S3). I agree that the Hadley and other B'hams are better padded than the Domke bags, *except* for the F5XB. That is a different story, it is better padded and sealed with a zipper and a velcro flap. It also has a belt tunnel and removable/replaceable shoulder strap which to me put it well out front of the S3. I also feel that the small Hadley and S3, as well as the Alice are too remimiscent of ladies' handbags for my comfort level.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 31, 2002.

Don't know about the Billinghams you're talking about but perhaps you've checked out their website www.billingham.com. I have the 225 and it's very nice...very aesthetically pleasing and functional and protective. Holds my outfit and then some. Still that open lens space for the nocti though : ) I like the zippered opening and additional flapover, but perhaps a quicker way to open the flap would be nice. Anyway, they live up to reputation for quality.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Jay, so you are saying that the Hadley "small" is bigger than the F-5XB and close to the size of the F803, so the Hadley "pro" must be a pretty big bag huh? Is it much bigger than the F803?

Anyone else?

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Kristian: I think it's time you commit to a bag. Use it and you will find out which features work for you and you equipment. The features that miss the mark, will be incorporated in your next camera bag. Just like you use different lenses for different situations or applications, you will also own more than one camera bag.

The Billingham Series 3 is one of the most protective bags made, but it is also one of the smallest. It always sits up straight, because it has a stiffener in the side walls - it protects your equipment if somethig falls on your camera bag. A situation that can come up in the overhead bin of an airplane.

It sounds like you can't go wrong purchasing any of the bags you are considering. Good Luck - HAVE FUN!

-- Frank Ricatto (luttmann@nerc.com), March 31, 2002.

I have both the F5XB and small Hadley. Main compartment of small Hadley is slightly bigger than the Domke main compartment. On top of that the Hadley has two expandable side pockets that can hold quite a lot of stuff. The Domke only has a very slim outside pocket suitable for one filter or a small notebook.

F5 has very thin padding at the bottom and sides and not at all in ends. Comes with two thin padded dividers. I use one in the end of the bag to provide reasonably proper padding to the main compartment and one in the middle. This leaves the other end with no padding, but for the light meter and lenses I keep there it doesn't worry me much. F5 has a zipper in the main compartment and a (too) big flap.

The Hadley comes with a completely surrounding padded protection, bottom, sides and top and enough dividers to configure it any way you like. But no zipper. The flap covers it tightly and gives good protection for weather, but some dust might find its way in due to the lack of zipper. Very easy to open and close with the leather strips and brass studs. I usually keep just one closed when out on the street.

So why do I have both? I bought the Hadley first and like it very much. I also wanted a smaller bag that I can pack inside a suitcase when I travel without taking any additional space. The Billingham is strongly built but a bit stiff. Whether it is full or not, it still takes the same space in luggage. So I got the F5XB and it fits the bill nicely.

I hope this helps.

Ilkka

-- Ilkka Kuusisto (ikuu65@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.