Camera bag (again and again)

[didier]

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On 10/22/2020 at 5:39 AM, Jeff S said:

Fogg bags are hand crafted by the two owners (bee and Nigel), have closures without Velcro, and they routinely accept custom orders.  

Audi/Billingham > BMW/Fogg?  😳

Jeff

😊

Well in my View Fogg Bags are more exclusive as they are made and signed by the 2 company owners. Maybe if Audi/Billingham, I’d say Fogg is closer to a more confidential / higher quality CarMaker Brand 😉

... such as Bentley, Maserati or Maybach ?

[Jeff S]

12 minutes ago, didier said:

😊

Well in my View Fogg Bags are more exclusive as they are made and signed by the 2 company owners. Maybe if Audi/Billingham, I’d say Fogg is closer to a more confidential / higher quality CarMaker Brand 😉

... such as Bentley, Maserati or Maybach ?

I wasn’t comparing Audi/Billingham to Fogg/BMW.  You have to understand the reference to my quote from Bud James.  He owned 6 or 7 Audi’s before recently buying his first BMW.  Since he also has decades of allegiance to Billingham, I was suggesting that he could similarly switch to his first Fogg.

Jeff

[didier]

6 hours ago, Jeff S said:

I wasn’t comparing Audi/Billingham to Fogg/BMW.  You have to understand the reference to my quote from Bud James.  He owned 6 or 7 Audi’s before recently buying his first BMW.  Since he also has decades of allegiance to Billingham, I was suggesting that he could similarly switch to his first Fogg.

Jeff

Thanks for clarifying Jeff !

D

[Per P.]

So, would you believe it, after singing the Billingham hymn for so long, I put a Fogg B-Laika on my birthday wishlist. It only arrived this week, so I cannot comment on functionality yet.

First impression is that Fogg bags have heart and soul. And the quality of materials and craftmanship is wonderful. Whether you like the style is a personal matter, but I do.

In terms of fit with my equipment needs it is perfect. But so was the Billingham Hadley Small and L2s. And many of the other obvious or less obvious candidates would also do. But someone who buys an M are likely to appreciate a bag with soul. For that purpose the idea of a Hadley insert (or an ONA Roma) is IMO an underestimated opportunity for going off-piste, often at a lower cost than with a dedicated camera bag. Just in case price matters.

P.S. How did the Fogg happen? I blame @jonoslack - and not for the first time, but so far I never regretted following his lead 😀

[Kwesi]

As an artist, it is important to go off-piste. 😀

[leitna]

Am 23.10.2020 um 19:36 schrieb Bobitybob:

I don't have an M10 but this is my M bag is an old Tweed Jacket with a padded camera insert from off eBay, and the pockets still function as such ...

i bought also such a bag ... really nice, i like it !

 

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[Bobitybob]

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3 hours ago, leitna said:

i bought also such a bag ... really nice, i like it !

Glad you like it and I hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoy using mine.

[Jadcx]

On 10/24/2020 at 5:19 PM, Kwesi said:

Billingham Hadley inserts - Small / Pro are probably the best kept secret for transforming any bag into a camera bag. I use them with messenger bags from Coach and Armani. I hate the "tourist photographer" look that boxy traditional camera bags impart.

I'm looking for a bag, and hadn't considered this - great plan.

[Guest]

Too many bags and backpacks sit in my closet unused. These are what I actually use:

Ona Bowery (Canvas) - my EDC for two M10s, each with a lens, spare batteries et al. Very comfortable and light (8.5 pounds loaded). With me every day.

Ona Prince St. (Leather) - 2 M10s, 4 lenses, Visoflex, spare batteries, et al. Comfortable, beautiful, a tag heavy (11 pounds loaded).  Handle doubles as a roller case handle sleeve.  What I use when I know I’ll need the whole kit.

WaterField Designs Pro Executive Laptop Backpack (Leather & Nylon). My travel bag - holds all photography gear (I use separate pouches) and electronics (16” MacBook Pro, 11” iPad Pro). Incredibly well made, durable as hell, beautiful, doesn’t look like a camera bag, comfortable (if a bit heavy loaded), has a roller case handle sleeve. This thing holds everything and the kitchen sink. 

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[Guest]

I know this subject surfaces on a regular basis on these forums and to be honest mostly I find it annoying as it seems like some Leica owners are in a competition with each other to find the most expensive de-luxe solution for a bag to carry their "babies" around in, tuck under an expensive restaurant table, or travel in sight on the seats of their new BMW or whatever car whilst at the same time provide a neon-lit invitation to would be bag snatchers that shouts that there's "something worth nicking inside".......But every now and again I too re-join the never-ending "DoDo bird quest" for the perfect bag, which most of us know only too well doesn't exist. However a few years back someone on these forums turned me onto Crumpler camera bags, even mentioning at that time that there was a decent sale on so on a whim I bought a Proper Roadie 4500, it was cheap enough to join the rest of my bag "mistakes" and never see the light of day after a couple of outings and with the sale on that made it even more attractive, I think I paid about 50 Euros for it, new. Well as it turned out it quickly became my favourite bag, even displacing my long time first runners, Domke bags. The Crumpler easily carried a couple of M bodies with 2-3 lenses, plus a Kindle and travel stuff like passport and so on with no annoying velcro too, a real plus for me. It's been everywhere, even on my hastily aborted working trip to NYC Last March which was abandoned after only three days for what are now obvious reasons. I really appreciate this bag's usefulness, design and build........So much so that this past week when I noticed that Crumpler had another sale on I went and bought a larger one, a Triple A Sling 8000 for the grand sum of 77 Euros, how could you go wrong with such a deal?

I fully appreciate that for some skimping on a cost of a bag to hold these expensive camera is something that runs against their grain, after all what's 500 € for a bag when you've shelled out well north of €10,000 on it's contents? I also get the allure of the craftsmanship in making some bags such as Fogg's wonderful creations, ( I know them both, they live close to me here in SW France ), is entirely justifiable, and if you've the bunce to spare then why not? But for those that are somewhat impoverished after doling out for an M and a lens or two, look at the Crumplers. They are really good, have worked very well for me and they are astonishing value for €€€'s paid...............And no, in case someone asks, I have no connection with Crumpler.

[budjames]

On 9/4/2020 at 7:55 AM, jonoslack said:

I’ve tried so many different bags, but in the end I always go back to Fogg

Two favorites are The Last Waltz

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and the new Satchmo leather

 

What I really like about them is that they make them themselves (rather than using some sweatshop somewhere). I wrote a small piece on Fogg if anyone is interested:

It’s mostly in their own words

http://www.slack.co.uk/fogg-and-the-new-satchmo.html

All the best

Nice bag.

Regards,

Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[Harvard Kiwi]

13 years of shooting has already left me with a collection of 10+ bags which all seemed suitable at the time but then became hideous or impractical to me at a later stage. 

Earlier in 2021 I purchased a Peak Design Everyday Messenger which is great for functionality with several innovative features. I'm a fan of PD overall.

However, I found the Everyday Messenger too big for my street shooting and not classy enough for my new M10. I now have an Ona X Leica Berlin II in black leather. It fits my M10 with three lenses and a few other accessories but isn't as big as my other bags. It doesn't look like a camera bag so people hopefully won't try and steal it for the gear inside, but I think it may be stylish enough for someone to steal in its own right. Being leather, it is heavy and being a satchel style it probably isn't going to be great for my back on long street shoots (8 hours+). But despite it possibly looking a bit like a murse (man purse) to some, damn I love the aesthetics of this bag from its high quality leather, bright red interior, and little red rivet reminiscent of a Leica dot. The leather is already developing a nice patina.

I may look at a Billingham Hadley Pro at some stage (all black) for when I need something a bit more durable.

[Jeff S]

8 hours ago, Harvard Kiwi said:

I may look at a Billingham Hadley Pro at some stage (all black) for when I need something a bit more durable.

My all black Hadley Pro still looks new despite years of use.  Much more practical than ONA (especially leather) for me; not just weight, but weather sealing (including much better top flap coverage), craftsmanship and customer service. The ONA Berlin II in particular was developed in part because of straps breaking in the first version.  There were posts here on the forum from unhappy customers regarding quality and company follow-up.  But the ONA’s look nice.

Jeff

Edited May 15, 2021 by Jeff S

[russell]

I used to be a big fan of the Billingham bags. I've owned a Hadley Small and an Alice bag for almost 20 years.

However, in hindsight, I think I was a bit too loyal or attached to the brand and the bags. The are very good but have, in my opinion, a weakness.

The straps lose effectiveness relatively quickly. They went already after a few years and no longer hold fast that well.  The implication is that I would have needed at least a couple of replacement straps over the years, each costing ~14 GBP. Plus a relatively high shipping rate even for UK domestic (4.17 GBP with UPS when Royal Mail would ship it for less than 2 since it qualifies for letter sized) -- yes a nitpick, but sorry, why should I pay overpriced shipping.

The Alice cannot replace straps and would have had to be sent in with more postage and downtime.  I now realise my stubbornness to replace the strap more frequently meant that I have been running the risk of my cameras falling out of the bag as the straps are not as effective as when new.  Silly me.

For some of you, I appreciate that you're quite happy to order new straps and pay the postage from time to time.  But I want a bag that just works and just lasts. I don't like ordering bits and bobs as I go.

So I am at a crossroads. Is there a comparable bag in terms of very small size, high quality, but without needing periodic replacement parts?

Oh and velcro fails as well. So you have to re-order inserts from time to time from Billingham as well.

 

FYI I emailed Billingham customer service about the straps, but their stance (paraphrased) is that it is what it is, i.e. not open to challenging themselves to innovate. Very British in that sense, but some people really go for that style. 

[Matlock]

52 minutes ago, russell said:

I used to be a big fan of the Billingham bags. I've owned a Hadley Small and an Alice bag for almost 20 years.

However, in hindsight, I think I was a bit too loyal or attached to the brand and the bags. The are very good but have, in my opinion, a weakness.

The straps lose effectiveness relatively quickly. They went already after a few years and no longer hold fast that well.  The implication is that I would have needed at least a couple of replacement straps over the years, each costing ~14 GBP. Plus a relatively high shipping rate even for UK domestic (4.17 GBP with UPS when Royal Mail would ship it for less than 2 since it qualifies for letter sized) -- yes a nitpick, but sorry, why should I pay overpriced shipping.

The Alice cannot replace straps and would have had to be sent in with more postage and downtime.  I now realise my stubbornness to replace the strap more frequently meant that I have been running the risk of my cameras falling out of the bag as the straps are not as effective as when new.  Silly me.

For some of you, I appreciate that you're quite happy to order new straps and pay the postage from time to time.  But I want a bag that just works and just lasts. I don't like ordering bits and bobs as I go.

So I am at a crossroads. Is there a comparable bag in terms of very small size, high quality, but without needing periodic replacement parts?

Oh and velcro fails as well. So you have to re-order inserts from time to time from Billingham as well.

 

FYI I emailed Billingham customer service about the straps, but their stance (paraphrased) is that it is what it is, i.e. not open to challenging themselves to innovate. Very British in that sense, but some people really go for that style. 

What on earth do you do to your bags? I have never had any strap failures (or velcro for that matter, but I hate the stuff).

[jdlaing]

19 minutes ago, Matlock said:

What on earth do you do to your bags? I have never had any strap failures (or velcro for that matter, but I hate the stuff).

I’m thinking the same thing. I’ve carried Billingham for many many years and had no faults at all.

[LeicaS2]

Harry Benz once made a bespoke camera bag worthy of holding several M10 cameras.

It once appeared on his Instagram stream, not his website. Looks magical, and more like a briefcase/camera case. Seeing his level of craftsmanship makes me realize his camera straps are not only wonderful, but we’ll worth the expenditure.

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[LocalHero1953]

1 hour ago, russell said:

I used to be a big fan of the Billingham bags. I've owned a Hadley Small and an Alice bag for almost 20 years.

However, in hindsight, I think I was a bit too loyal or attached to the brand and the bags. The are very good but have, in my opinion, a weakness.

The straps lose effectiveness relatively quickly. They went already after a few years and no longer hold fast that well.  The implication is that I would have needed at least a couple of replacement straps over the years, each costing ~14 GBP. Plus a relatively high shipping rate even for UK domestic (4.17 GBP with UPS when Royal Mail would ship it for less than 2 since it qualifies for letter sized) -- yes a nitpick, but sorry, why should I pay overpriced shipping.

The Alice cannot replace straps and would have had to be sent in with more postage and downtime.  I now realise my stubbornness to replace the strap more frequently meant that I have been running the risk of my cameras falling out of the bag as the straps are not as effective as when new.  Silly me.

For some of you, I appreciate that you're quite happy to order new straps and pay the postage from time to time.  But I want a bag that just works and just lasts. I don't like ordering bits and bobs as I go.

So I am at a crossroads. Is there a comparable bag in terms of very small size, high quality, but without needing periodic replacement parts?

Oh and velcro fails as well. So you have to re-order inserts from time to time from Billingham as well.

 

FYI I emailed Billingham customer service about the straps, but their stance (paraphrased) is that it is what it is, i.e. not open to challenging themselves to innovate. Very British in that sense, but some people really go for that style. 

Without doubting your experience, I have never heard of this as an issue before. I owned a Billingham for a year or so, but replaced it with a Fogg (nothing wrong with the Billingham, but the Fogg was a more convenient size & shape). The strap was tough and went round the bag. But this is the first time I've heard of strap failure. What fails?

[fisheess]

I have had a hadley pro and used it regularly for four years. The straps became very smooth but there is no danger that they can come loose by themselves. I am also curious how you use your bag.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[rramesh]

Billingham does have a newer range for the Hadleys with removable and replaceable straps. But using the older design with fixed straps for many years, I have not seen any problems. They have gotten soft but no fraying or tearing.