I bought today the 'Billingham for Leica' bag

[Manolo Laguillo]

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I bought today a black 'Billingham for Leica' bag (#14854), and I would like to share with you some pictures I've made with my equipment inside it.

The ingenuity of this bag is amazing. I can get easily in it 1 Leica M + 1 lens, and 3 more lenses: 4 lenses in total!

 

Now you see a M8.2 + WATE + Frankenfinder in the central space, although a bit crammed because the FF is perhaps too much.

In the side spaces there is a 75 Summarit with the leather bag for the Univ. Finder (left) and a 28 Elmarit ASPH and a 35 Summicron ASPH (right).

There is a space between the inner padding and the exterior wall (the one in contact with the body) where the personal documents (ID, passport, Cards, etc) can be fitted.

The zippered front pocket is roomy enough for the Leica small table tripod + ball head, and small items (batteries, cards...). A small note book would go as well.

The whole thing can't be smaller and lighter. And I can transport the M8 + WATE + FF inside it, mounted, which was precisely the point.

 

Finally, I like the fact that there is no visible logo on the exterior, nothing.

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[marknorton]

Thanks for posting, can't help feeling it's a bit cramped in there; great you have focal lengths from 16 thorugh to 75 but the 28 and 35 are among the smallest lenses Leica makes and I wonder how it would cope with some of the bigger lenses.

 

I don't have a Billingham bag, not sure how I feel about them but do have it in mind to check out the new 7 series bags for my Nikon kit at some point. Undecided too on the retro desert-rat khaki look and the olive-drab interior of the black bags.

[jaapv]

I carry the Summicron 90 AA, Summilux 24 and Summilux 50asph in there, Mark Plenty of space left.

[Jeff S]

The Fogg b-laika is marginally bigger. I have the older version from a decade ago (slightly smaller than current), and it perfectly holds my M8.2 and 4 lenses with hoods (28, 35, 50 and 75...plus front and back pockets for accessories.

 

I love this size for transporting a compact M system. And, I like access via flaps....no zippers (except back pocket).

 

In all black, the logo (embossed black) is hardly noticeable. The interior is beige linen, with totally flexible dividers, including a horizontal one that allows stacking lenses. Nice, but pricey. But, mine shows little wear after traveling the globe over a long time.

 

Jeff

[Manolo Laguillo]

This bag is 'bigger' than it appears to be. Let me say it the other way round: being small, the concept of the separation walls is so clever that every available space is used.

 

The Hadley Pro is bigger, but I was unable to put the armed M8 + WATE + FF in it, something I can do with this one.

 

It's possible, of course, to use the separation walls of the 'Billingham for Leica' bag in the other bags, Billingham or not, because they all use Velcro.

But to be able to do it first you must have the 'Billingham for Leica' bag, or at least study it.

 

Compared with the rigid leather Leica bag (I saw one 2nd hand in ebay recently), and with the glove leather Leica bag, this 'Billingham for Leica' bag follows the same idea. It's the same size, and the space utilization is similar (only natural, because the gear has the same dimensions...), only the materials change: instead of leather, canvas.

[Johnny_Johnson]

Hi Manolo (others),

 

Tell me about what looks like an interior padded flap that folds down to cover the camera and extra lenses and is then covered by the exterior flap. Is its purpose to semi-secure the contents of the main compartment when the exterior flap is opened to access the zippered front pocket? Does this flap not keep falling down in the way when you're trying to access the main compartment?

 

Later,

Johnny

[Manolo Laguillo]

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Hi, Johnny_Johnson,

that padded flap you ask about is precisely one of the strong points of this bag's design! I made one of the pictures to show that flap.

I would say it functions more as a padding for the camera when it is installed with the lens facing down (that's one possibility of carrying it), and therefore the LCD screen is horizontal and on the top. The contents don´t need to be secured, the compartment is deep enough. The padded flap in no way interferes when grabbing the camera.

The other possibility of carrying the camera is with the lens axis parallel to the ground, but only if the lens on the camera is a short one, ie either the 35 'cron or the 28 'rit.

Let me say it the other way round: with the dividers as they are now (more or less at 1/3 each), I can put the camera into the bag with whatever lens is on it. When the lens is long (WATE or 75), the axis will be looking to the ground. And when the lens is short (28 or 35), the axis will be parallel to the ground.

I hope I explained myself ! English is not my language...

[Johnny_Johnson]

I hope I explained myself ! English is not my language...

 

Perfect Manolo, thanks for the explanation. I've put one on my Christmas "wish list".