Gear review: Billingham Hadley Pro

[ChrNil49]

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I use this bag for my Leica gear and decided to write a short review. You can find it here: Gear review: Billingham Hadley Pro

[earleygallery]

Try running grammar and spellcheck over your text before publishing.

 

We need more bag threads though, so well done!

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[ChrNil49]

Thank you for pointing that out, was a bit to quick on the "publish" button, that in combination with a slight case of dyslexia. Should be sorted now.

[RFNewcomer]

I can also recommend this bag. I too wanted a smaller bag when I switched to a Leica M7 and ended up with the Hadley Pro, based on my previous positive experience with the brand and a recommendation from Red Dot Cameras. I find the quality and flexibility excellent, and the bag works equally well slung on your shoulder or carried. I also always use it for my R9 gear.

[stevelap]

......................We need more bag threads though, so well done!

 

:eek:

[lars_bergquist]

I would not dreaming of lugging a laptop (any laptop) any more than I would lug a toaster. So for me it's the Billingham Small Hadley, in khaki thanks.

 

The old man from the Age of Leather Luggage

[earleygallery]

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:eek:

 

Wait til I post my bag review!

[jdlaing]

I love that bag.

I fit my entire kit in it.

Everything is padded well.

Water resistant.

It carries extremely well.

My only qualm is it did not come with the shoulder pad.

[ChrNil49]

@lars_bergquist - I wish I did not need to carry my laptop, but I need it for work and at home in the evenings, so I have no other choice, but it's not too bad, broad shoulders and all ;o)

 

@earleygallery - Can't wait, when is it coming and which bag are you looking at?

 

@jdlaing - I agree about the shoulder pad, I used the one that came with the Billingham Leica bag

[philipus]

Thanks for a nice and well-written review. You have a nice website (this is a good photo).

 

For me, however, that bag sort of defeats the purpose of Leica as a small and portable camera. Why bring a laptop? Doesn't make sense to me, but we all have different needs. Plus it looks way to preppy and "please rob me now, please".

 

I usually have my cameras in Barton 1972 straps, excellent quality for virtually nothing. Extra lenses usually fit in the pockets of my jacket or such. If it is necessary to bring a bag, I use my trusty Crumpler Wonder Weenie. It has taken everything from a full EOS rig to a Leica and extra lens and a champagne bottle. Never fails.

 

cheers

philip

[Rick]

Fantastic!!! Another bag thread. What, it's been about a couple of weeks since we've talked bags. For those of you into bags, try this site: http://www.thebagforum.com/

[Ellie]

I think a bag is a good idea for extra lenses etc, I have a coworker lost a new expensive lens while walking in terrain (he's photographing birds with Nikon), it fell out of a pocket

[bocaburger]

Billinghams are beautifully made, that's true. I've got 4 of them, an Alice (my Leica bag), Packington, X-Pan (which fits a Rollei TLR like a glove), and the Rucksack. One advantage for me is that my S.O. doesn't put on a miserable face when I bring my cameras along, as my bag doesn't look, quote: "camping-like"

 

I won't take either the Alice or the X-Pan bag when flying anymore. I had a bad experience once at airport security, to do with a TSA inspector who found the press-stud closures overly daunting . Sheer luck my gear didn't come crashing to the tile floor. AFAIK the Hadley also has no zipper on the main compartment (the Packington and Rucksack do).

 

I've tried many bags for the Leica, and keep returning to the Domke F5XB/J5XB.

[jdlaing]

@lars_bergquist - I wish I did not need to carry my laptop, but I need it for work and at home in the evenings, so I have no other choice, but it's not too bad, broad shoulders and all ;o)

 

@earleygallery - Can't wait, when is it coming and which bag are you looking at?

 

@jdlaing - I agree about the shoulder pad, I used the one that came with the Billingham Leica bag

 

Wow.

Me too.

[Studio58]

my favorite bag ever is my Artisan and Artist. It is tiny, yet it fits 2 Leica bodies, 4 lenses, light meter, flash card case and my wallet..... with room left over. Do not remember the model number but it is referred to as Oscar's one day bag.

[lars_bergquist]

I'd like to point out that Bllingham do sell shoulder pads separately. I bought mine that way.

 

The old slightly lop-sided man

[pgk]

So with all this expertise in bags around about who's going to tell me how to clean mine now its getting too much 'patina' - washing machine?

[jdlaing]

So with all this expertise in bags around about who's going to tell me how to clean mine now its getting too much 'patina' - washing machine?

 

I think a washing machine will ruin the waterproofing?

[Messsucherkamera]

I have a Hadley Pro that I got in 2003 and it still looks almost new - it's just starting to show hints of being broken in. I carry this bag almost every day and it has held up very well. It will accommodate up to two M bodies with lenses attached and my Sekonic L-508 meter, along with rolls of film and a few photographic trinkets - a fair amount of gear for a small bag.

 

I have gotten into the habit of treating the leather parts of the bag 2-3 times a year with a leather treatment product similar to Biwell hiking boot wax (the one in the red tube, not the green tube). This keeps the leather from drying out and cracking and it restores the water repellency of the leather.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Manolo Laguillo]

...

I remember seeing somebody, perhaps one year ago in the Blvd. Beaumarchais Leica shop in Paris, with a Hadley in leather, very nice indeed, albeit heavier. I was told there was a special edition for that shop made in the predigital days.

...

Is the Hadley Pro available in FibreNyte?