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Yeah, it's the 20 that is very deep. The foam insert of the A&A Oskar Day Bag fits perfectly inside my 10. I think you can purchase it separately from A&A.

 

The two camera shops that carry them in the Bay Area sell out almost immediately when stock comes in from ThinkTank.

 

Funny you should mention the A&A inserts; I was just looking at those. Might be just the ticket... Domke also sells an insert, but that's a different beast (taller, square).

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[proy]

I am returning my Billingham Hadley digital today and will keep my Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home.

 

The Billingham was just too "Fox Hunty" for my taste (got the sage color) and I really didn't like the buckle system. Size and function wise, it seemed pretty good.

 

The Crumpler is a little larger (not necessarily a benefit) but is way cooler looking IMO. I like the closure system (velcro and/or dual plastic buckles / clips) and I LOVE the fact that the 5 Million version has a carry handle - this is what dragged me up from the 4 to the 5.

 

I also purchased an "Industry Disgrace" neck strap to go with it after reading many stellar reviews.

 

Whilst I like the concept of Billingham, it really does need to match your personality.

[d2mini]

The Billingham was just too "Fox Hunty" for my taste (got the sage color) and I really didn't like the buckle system.

 

Whilst I like the concept of Billingham, it really does need to match your personality.

 

Ya, that was one of the problems i had with it too, mentioned in one of my posts on page 1.

Domke fits my personality much better.

And although i like the quietness of the buckles vs velcro, they are much more cumbersome.

[Coach]

Hi folks,

i've just received the Domke F803 bag. I'ts perfect for me and my travel plans. I' carry One M9 body with mate, Wate and "frankenfinder", 90mm macro elmar, 35mm elmarit. 3 extra batteries, Sd cards, DL4 as Backup if needed and some flash pictures.

Strongly built and stealth enough !

 

Good choice for me !

 

Regards

Gerard

[250swb]

 

The Billingham was just too "Fox Hunty" for my taste (got the sage color) and I really didn't like the buckle system.

 

And although i like the quietness of the buckles vs velcro, they are much more cumbersome.

 

You do know you aren't supposed to use the buckles for opening and closing a Billingham bag?

 

Steve

[proy]

You do know you aren't supposed to use the buckles for opening and closing a Billingham bag?

 

Steve

 

Not the "tang" buckle. The "stud" buckle. It's still a pain in the ass.

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I also like the Thinktank Urban Disguise Bags. I have the 30 and the 40. The 30 holds the M9 with one lens mounted and up to three more very comfortably. The many pockets and two side pouches make it easy for me to carry my wallet, keys, voice recorder, a water bottle, sunglasses, mints and other things. I carry the 30 every day, and use the 40 for trips.

 

The zips are all coated, and do not scratch at all. This was a real draw for me, as many other bags have sharp zips.

[250swb]

Not the "tang" buckle. The "stud" buckle. It's still a pain in the ass.

 

God forbid you need to lift the camera out the bag as well, its all far to much work

 

Steve

[d2mini]

You do know you aren't supposed to use the buckles for opening and closing a Billingham bag?

Yes, but again this just proves how more time was spent thinking about ways to make the bag pretty rather than functional.

 

God forbid you need to lift the camera out the bag as well, its all far to much work

I'm looking for ease of use and functionality. A bag should not "get in the way". Closing those buckles, tabs, whatever you want to call them is cumbersome compared to just laying down a velcro flap. Closing them is sometimes a two-handed affair which sucks when you have $10k of gear in one hand. And there's two rather than one, which is not needed on a smaller bag. Pretty? Yes. Ideal? No.

 

But this is why the perfect bag is so hard to find and is like looking for the holy grail.

Something as simple as a closure system can be impossible to get right because the advantages of one become disadvantages for some and vice-versa.

[proy]

God forbid you need to lift the camera out the bag as well, its all far to much work

 

Steve

 

My profound apologies for not sharing your exact tastes, functional desires and spelling skills.

[250swb]

Welcome to the forum proy, its very nice to make your aquaintance

 

Steve

[brill64]

if you can find a good insert then you can put it in any bag you like. look around..you'll be suprised what you might end up modifying and using

[proy]

Welcome to the forum proy, its very nice to make your aquaintance

 

Steve

 

Why thank you. Nice to have the carpet rolled out.

[ianspector]

This thread started when I was on a photog assignment in South Africa and it made me smiled as I actually took the black Billingham Hadley Pro, the Domke Waxwear 803 and the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home and used all of them. The Hadley Pro is my go to bag and it carries my M9, MP, iPad in thick case and MacBook Air. The Domke was my bag to have across my shoulders all day when all I needed was the two bodies with a 35mm Cron on one and the 50 Noct on the other. A few rolls of Kodachrome in the front pockets and cleaning stuff and lightmeter in the other. Ironically it is this bag that has my least favourite fastener but this might ease with use.

 

The Hadley Pro now fastens very easily with one hand but I cannot remember if it did when new 9 months ago. Remember it gets daily use. The Pro takes a huge amount of stuff, so much so that it can become tiring on the shoulders.

 

The Crumpler is huge but I can never get as much in it as the Hadley when shooting Leica as I don't like having a lens on top of a lens. The bag is great for my D3 with a 70-200 mounted but is now more of a load hauler. The velcro fastener is tenacious but loud and is also a two handed close as I never leave a bag unfastened as I know I would pick it up and spill my glass. Thus I snap the buckle.

 

Sometimes I even just went out with the Domke and an M9 and one mounted lens (one of the 28, 35 or 50 Cron sisters). It was just as convenient to have a bag to throw the camera in rather than have it dangling.

 

Even though my Hadley serves me well every day sometimes one needs something smaller and even more discrete and sometimes one needs to cart big lumpy objects. That is why we end up with so many bags.

 

I am sure that the OP will be happy with their choice.

 

Ian

[SteveSFO]

Domke F803 or Billingham F1.4.

The Domke is thin but could be hard to get the camera out if you do street photography.

Looks just like any old shoulder bag.

Like the pockets with flaps (velcro is a bit noisy)

 

The Billingham F1.4 is easier to work with but is a bit wider than the Domke.

The Billingham smells (leather trim) and looks a bit expensive.

Well made. Lots of padding. However, a bit cheap that such an expensive bag charges extra for a shoulder pad and the dividers are limited and are ok.

I added some dividers from my ThinkTank bags in order to customize it they way I want.

 

I go between both bags and will be happy to update this feedback.

 

M9 w/ 35mm Summilux, 75mm Summilux and 90mm Summarit is in the bag.

Both bags will also fit another M9/M8 if needed

[Viv]

I just got the Billingham Leica M bag ( item number 590501-01).

 

Holds the M body and three lenses, together with my Lee filter kit (three grads plus a polarizer plus filter holder plus 43 mm and 46 mm adaptor rings).

 

Exactly what I need.

[lars_bergquist]

One Leica M and two extra lenses: Small Billingham Hadley.

One Leica M and one extra lens: An old Tamrac Velocity 2.

One Leica M: A Luigi Crescenzi eveready case.

 

For travelling where some extra life support equipment may be needed, and some people have long fingers: An older Billingham 325.

 

I am pragmatic, but not unprincipled: I am a consistent minimalist. And, to quote Oscar Wilde: I am a man of simple tastes. I just want the best.

 

The old man from the Age Before Soft Cases

[Peter.S]

I usea big Crumpler (3 years old don't remember the name) to move all lenses and camera when I travel and when I go out to shoot a messenger bag that I have padded myself. Those Billingham bags scream to much to be stolen in my opinion. I like bags not to look too much like camera bags. Thinking of this one : Incase | Ari Marcopoulos , not cheap though.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Adarsha]

Billingham Hadley Pro,

 

to me it's just the most perfect bag; holds 2 M bodies and spare lens, front pockets for my other bits and pieces, and yes they are safe; a 13" MacbookPro and you're away to go ready for anything, and there's still room for notes and papers in the back pocket. Mine is the canvas. And.. yes it's very easy to get the camera out quickly with the pop open leather fasteners, you just don't use the buckle.

 

I'm sure I saw a Burberry patterned one in London in the shop window of .. the shop next to Fortnum and Mason.. can't remember the name.. sorry.

[d2mini]

I like bags not to look too much like camera bags. Thinking of this one : Incase | Ari Marcopoulos , not cheap though.

 

Wow, that's actually a GREAT looking bag, both from a visual standpoint and a functional design standpoint. I wish there was a smaller one available as an everyday bag, but for a vacation or working assignment that would be great.