Please Post Your Billingham Bags!

Thanks Howard! I can't afford another bag for now...but I am thinking!

hfgarris wrote in post #15354414
Dave, I have considered what model would result in a larger Billingham keeping the depth / thickness of the Hadley Digital with no clear answer. I think the closest would be the "7" series (107, 207, 307), but they are somewhat deeper, although you may find after trying one that you like it for ease of entry/removal of the gripped body.


-howard

Yep, the 07 series is what comes to mind.

Well, as you know, I have the 307 and it is not as deep as the Hadley Large. I cannot fit my 70-200 mounted, not vertically anyway. It did fit in the Hadley Large (or pro, I get mixed up between the two), but it bulged too much.

MDJAK wrote in post #15355303
Well, as you know, I have the 307 and it is not as deep as the Hadley Large. I cannot fit my 70-200 mounted, not vertically anyway. It did fit in the Hadley Large (or pro, I get mixed up between the two), but it bulged too much.

I think the "depth" that Dave is looking for is the thickness front-to-rear of the bag.

I don't know why all bags can't standardize on terminology, but with Billinghams they describe a bag as:

width -- end to end
height -- bottom to top
depth -- front to back


The Hadley Digital is only 5.25" external thickness, making it almost as easy to carry as the Hadley Pro at 4.6" deep ... really sticks to your hip! However, inside the Hadley Digital is much roomier at 4.5" deep, whereas the Hadley Pro is less than 4" specced (it is flexible enough that it holds gear you never would expect to fit based on the numbers).

Going to the "7" series, while nicely roomy for gripped bodies, is 5.9" inside, and 7.1" exterior thickness ... not too bad for carrying, but it does stick out a bit more.

... and so ends "Analytical Billingham 101" .... class dismissed ...

-howard

Howard, Thanks!
you are right.
My brand new LP ProMessenger 200AW is working well for me. I have the Oly stuffed in, with grip attached. Leaves lots of room.
I needed an everyday carry work bag. I looked at retro20's for a long time. Long enough that Henry's price jumped to $225 + 13% tax out the door. Great bag. Price killed it. Vistek saved me. $149+13% tax, cheaper than the other two PM'S
Leaves a little room....

LowePro used to carry my photo business. This is a great bag. Ethough I would have preferred the 180AW if it was priced right c'est la vie

2mnycars wrote in post #15356006
Howard, Thanks!
you are right.
My brand new LP ProMessenger 200AW is working well for me. I have the Oly stuffed in, with grip attached. Leaves lots of room.
I needed an everyday carry work bag. I looked at retro20's for a long time. Long enough that Henry's price jumped to $225 + 13% tax out the door. Great bag. Price killed it. Vistek saved me. $149+13% tax, cheaper than the other two PM'S
Leaves a little room....

LowePro used to carry my photo business. This is a great bag. Ethough I would have preferred the 180AW if it was priced right c'est la vie

I'm using a 180AW, awesome..
But you know.. for a shoulder bag, things won't stop until you get a billingham..

Great lesson professor. Much appreciated.

hfgarris wrote in post #15355846
I think the "depth" that Dave is looking for is the thickness front-to-rear of the bag.

I don't know why all bags can't standardize on terminology, but with Billinghams they describe a bag as:

width -- end to end
height -- bottom to top
depth -- front to back


The Hadley Digital is only 5.25" external thickness, making it almost as easy to carry as the Hadley Pro at 4.6" deep ... really sticks to your hip! However, inside the Hadley Digital is much roomier at 4.5" deep, whereas the Hadley Pro is less than 4" specced (it is flexible enough that it holds gear you never would expect to fit based on the numbers).

Going to the "7" series, while nicely roomy for gripped bodies, is 5.9" inside, and 7.1" exterior thickness ... not too bad for carrying, but it does stick out a bit more.

... and so ends "Analytical Billingham 101" .... class dismissed ...

-howard

Judsonzhao wrote in post #15358900
I'm using a 180AW, awesome..
But you know.. for a shoulder bag, things won't stop until you get a billingham..

I agree. I've toyed with the idea of getting one for years but settled on a Domke at the time. My wife told me I would regret it and to just buy what I wanted at the time.

Years later, I wanted one again, so I finally bit the bullet and just ordered a black 555 and a brown 207. The scary thing is I don't think I'm done and will likely buy a more compact one for a mirrorless system.

SunTsu wrote in post #15359056
I agree. I've toyed with the idea of getting one for years but settled on a Domke at the time. My wife told me I would regret it and to just buy what I wanted at the time.

Years later, I wanted one again, so I finally bit the bullet and just ordered a black 555 and a brown 207. The scary thing is I don't think I'm done and will likely buy a more compact one for a mirrorless system.

What do you think of the Hadley Digital fo a mirrorless system? Add a Billingham shoulder pad and it's perfect!

^ive been waiting 2 months for my shoulder pad for my Billy large

And now I need the thinner one for my Pro

Dammit!

Mashimaro wrote in post #15360646
^ive been waiting 2 months for my shoulder pad for my Billy large

And now I need the thinner one for my Pro

Dammit!

I found mine at Rob S's.... www.rangefinderstore.c​om He is a gentleman, and a pleasure to do business with. I bought 2 (a narrow and a wide) before I bought my second bag. Should have bought 2 narrow pads. I don't even notice that the pad on my HPro is too wide.

If you ever have issues finding billingham stuff, check out Robert White in the UK. Great place to deal with. I get stuff there all the time. Bought my 107, 207, 307 and all of my LEE filter stuff there.

rklepper wrote in post #15361212
If you ever have issues finding billingham stuff, check out Robert White in the UK. Great place to deal with. I get stuff there all the time. Bought my 107, 207, 307 and all of my LEE filter stuff there.

Thanks!
Rob Skeoch is a 1/2 hour drive for me. He has stock of the smaller bags. www.rangefinderstore.c​om He also sells film, supplies and lenses for large format. He has gone out of his way to help me. www.bigcameraworkshops​.com IIRC.

Helps having a UK supplier too. I just set out to find a Barbour coat. Buying it locally was painful, and required a lot of work before I bought. So knowing a good photo supplier from the UK is good!

Mashimaro wrote in post #15360646
^ive been waiting 2 months for my shoulder pad for my Billy large

And now I need the thinner one for my Pro

Dammit!

There is no need to wait for months to get Billingham accessories when there is an easy solution: eBay.

Somebody (possibly MDJAK) was recently asking about better Superflex insert sizes for the "07" Billingham series. I pulled the insert out of my 207 last night to check, and the one I bought for it was the 9-15 size, which nicely fits the 16-35 and flash, located in the middle of the bag, with the 70-200 f/2.8 on one side, and the camera mounted 24-70 on the other (no inserts on either end, just the one in the middle). This configuration is pictured earlier in this thread.

As I recall, the 207 comes with a 8-15 insert which was too small, and the 307 comes with a 8-15 and a 9-18 (taller) insert.

The 9-15 insert seems to be a good size for todays digital lenses and fits most of my primes and medium length zooms.

-howard