Billingham L2 (Alice) bag, still available?

[Manolo Laguillo]

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Hi,

 

just out of curiosity: in the official Billingham page there is no mentioning of the L2 (Alice) model.

 

But it seems to be available in some UK stores (Red Dot Cameras, Dale).

 

Is it still being produced? Are those bags still in stock simply the remains?

 

The differences with the Billingham-Leica model, besides of being a little bit more spacious and completely open (no zippers), are the leather and the metal parts on the bottom.

 

What's your experience with this bag?

 

Manolo

 

 

NB The title should say: "still being made?"

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[rramesh]

Easily available in many markets including US online retailers. Very well made and compact bag. However if you need more pockets and compartments the Hadley (small or large) may be preferred.

[George Hart]

The L2 has been discontinued. I have both the L2 and the Leica/Billingham bags and for carrying a Leica MP with 3 lenses (1 attached to the camera), the L/B bag is preferable because it's a better use of space, and it's very easy to remove the camera from under the top flap. That's not to say it's difficult with the L2, but there is a lot of dead space above it if the camera is put in bottom down (not so if put in sideways). Longer lenses attached to the camera would be difficult with the L2 in bottom-down mode because the front-back dimension of the main compartment is only 110 mm. No problem with longer lenses attached to the camera in side-down mode. The front panel is easier to access in the L2 having no zips at the top. Both bags are first-class, but I'd say the L/B is more "in tune" with the Leica camera, the L2 could be used for other purposes more easily than the L/B. Hope this helps.

[Manolo Laguillo]

Thank you, rramesh and George! I had the Billingham Leica bag, sold it in an impulse (better to do this with a bag than with a Leica lens), and now regret it. Because of this missing it I am comparing it with the L2.

Let's see, I have to think about it...

[Bill W]

I have the Leica Billingham bag. It is great for a compact kit.

[Guest SUMOLUX]

The L2 has been discontinued. I have both the L2 and the Leica/Billingham bags and for carrying a Leica MP

 

Just came across this after the fact ;0-)

Just for info: L2 is not discontinued, it is in the 2013 Billingham catalogue and available everywhere.

[wattsy]

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I looked at both the Leica Combination bag and the L2 and decided I wasn't keen on either. Both are quite chunky and I didn't like the metal feet on the L2 or the zipped front of the Combination bag. In truth, I find these smaller Billingham bags the wrong shape and prefer the greater width and narrower form of the Hadley Pro. I don't carry a lot of equipment (especially when I'm not being paid to do so) but I like the gear spread out and I also like to have room for non-photographic stuff like OS maps, a book and something to drink. I can also easily get a Macbook Air or iPad in the Pro, though prefer not to over fill the bag.

[chrism]

I use the Alice, and routinely travel with one body, two lenses, a Leica charger, an IPad charger, and an iPad in the back pocket. There's room for a paperback in the front pocket too.

 

Chris