Billingham Hadley Small Pro, BEST Day-Bag for photographer - RED35 Review

[@Red35Photography]

I couldn't find the picture of my old Billingham Hadley Small and if I find it, I will post it on my FB and IG. Seriously, one reasons I drew to Billingham bags not only for their functionality and durability but also the ageing process. The more you use them, the better they get. Then they become part of you. Scary thing!

[@ginaachoi]

SOLD! I've been tired of stuffing padding into my purses or backpacks to make pseudo-camera bags. This is a great price point for a bag made of such high quality in England. Will definitely be purchasing for my upcoming trip to England/France! Thanks Jimmy

[@thilobraun3440]

Thank you for this review. After trying out several bags and bad experiences with rain and snow, I have converted to Billingham. I love the Hadley Digital which fits an OMD M5 with Lens, the small external flash and an additional lens like the 14-150 or an APS-C Camera. The Hadley Small Pro comes in handy, when I want to add some extra lenses or things like a wallet and documents. My S2 carries a Lumix FZ1000 II and the Galbin is perfect for the E-PL9 with the EZ 14-42. Great Products from a great company.

[@Van-Wolff]

That luggage loop is also great for putting a strap through and a carabiner onto your belt. That way no one can run up behind you and grab your bag.

[@ALWH1314]

I bought this exact same bag, same color too. The bag is extremely narrow so I removed the insert to fit my full frame camera and in US that shoulder belt pad is a $45 optional item does not come with the bag. I bought the pad because it looks good, this small bag is not heavy to need one. I also installed copper feet to the bottom of the bag so it stands upright. The bag is beautifully made, the style and the durability should last 100 years. This is the bag I brought to Japan Shiki-Shima train tour, it sits proudly on the dining car table white cloth next to crystal champagne glass. It’s a bag you don’t mind showing off. Don’t leave it on table or carry on one shoulder in Paris tourist locations though, it will get stolen or robbed, wear it cross body and keep the bag in front of you at all time is my advice. The canvas cloth does attract hair and fur so avoid white mohair’s. The perfect camera to go with this bag is Leica, fits perfectly in the narrow interior, if you spent all the money on the bag then Fujifilm is a good choice. Remove the insert should fit larger cameras, I’ve carried medium format and DSLR in it, losing some drop protection is a price to pay for fashion.

[@MrScotchpie]

There is an interesting history associated with this type of camera bag. Back in the day, photojournalists would buy UK made Hardy or Brady trout fishing bags. The only other alternative back them was heavy leather, box type, camera breifcases. For photojournalists who wanted a light weight yet rugged bag, fly fishing bags from the UK were perfect. Award winning photojournalist Bill Pierce made an interesting observation when he told of how US photojournalists would often stop over in London for 24 hours and during that time would buy new Brady or Hardy bags for their cameras. The most popular bag was the Brady Gelderburn which Michael Palin used in his Around the World in 80 Days series and is still made today. Billingham are basically copies of these fishing bags, marketed to photographers, yet they charge two or even three times the price! The founder of Billingham worked for Brady before setting up his own company. After visiting a football (soccer) match he noticed that all the press photographers were carrying Brady/Hardy fishing bags and decided to set up a camera bag company using the trout fishing bag design. If you are on a budget, save your money and go with a Hardy or Brady. There is also the waterproof waxed Tarras bag from Barbour that was popular with photographers back in the day and that is still made - its also the cheapest of the three costing little more than £100. If you like the distressed look, buy from ebay where you can pick up a used Brady or Hardy trout bag for £30-100 yet it will last you the rest of your life. I recently purchased a little used Brady Ariel Trout bag (large size) for £70. Add in a camera divider/insert for an extra £20 and for less than £100 I have a bag I know will last me decades of shooting because of the quality of materials and manufacturing and that has a place in the history and tradition of photography.

[@Red35Photography]

Thanks for all the info and yes why journalists loved fishing bags was because they have 'compartments' that can hold films, lenses and all kinds of accessories. There weren't anything like that before in a softshell bag. And Billingham also made fishing bag and they never copied others but instead improved on them by adding paddings and created a complete waterproof canvas for that extra weather protection. Barbour bag looks very similar and has wax cover for 'water resistant' feature and yet, if you wear barbour wax jackets, I do have a few, they wear out and you need to retreat them every year, they are not completely waterproof, trust me, none of their wax jackets are and in really heavy rain, water can still get through. That bag also has no padding, you can get a hadley insert, to 'make' it a camera bag. But then you are paying almost the same price as a Billingham.

[@akgreenberg]

Hi Jimmy, you posted a review about the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 a few years back. I finally purchased one. It is terrific! I plugged you as my reason for purchasing one on the manufacturers warranty cards.

[@Red35Photography]

Haha thanks! They are great aren’t they? That’s why I have many… addicted 😂

[@Seanonyoutube]

If Billingham would add to the front pockets the same internal pockets which they have in the AVEA 8 side pockets - this bag would be absolutely PERFECT.

[@dennisj100]

100% agree I own six dating back from the 80s just got the weekender, in my opinion the worlds finest camera bags.

[@Red35Photography]

Dennis Jones can’t agreed more Denise!

[@Leptospirosi]

My Hadley small is so packed up that I think can be used as a bludgeon weapon! Four lenses (12f2, 17f1.8, 25f18 and 45f1.8) plus EM5MKII, Gx9 (with a 12-32), a torch, filters, cleaning stuff, SD Card holder and a portable recharging battery

[@Red35Photography]

OH yes, that's tasty

[@joshua4578]

My wife bought me the small pro as part of her anniversary present to me! Now to wait on shipping to the USA! That red looks awesome...but went khaki. Maybe I'll get the 72 in red soon enough!

[@raksh9]

I really wanted to love my Hadley Pro. The build quality is so good and it looks amazing. But my style of working and carry means being able to access gear quickly and discreetly, which rules out bags with flap closure. It's far easier for me to work with a zippered bag like a Thinktank or Crumpler, But I'm glad you love the Hadley Pro Small. LOVE the blooper reel at the end!

[@Red35Photography]

raksh9 haha thanks for watching though! If you zips, 335 or the bigger Eventer, which I also use allows you to flip the cover and just use the zip for quicker access :)

[@raksh9]

Ughhhh don't tempt me, Jimmy!

[@behrmantraut]

This was super-helpful, thank you!!

[@niallmurray9725]

Just bought one.. bit fancy, but hey it’s nice to have well made products! 15% off with a voucher on eBay too.. so had to be done 😁 cheers for the review 👍

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Love the Hadley small ... eventually got the Ona Prince Street cos i needed a little bit more space ... if only the Hadley small pro was slightly bigger

[@CarryQuandaries]

You do realize they make a Hadley Pro 2020 which is exactly that, a slightly bigger version - identical in every other way.

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

@@CarryQuandaries Hadley pro is too big … so far Ona Prince street able to fit my A7R2 with 24-105F4 & GM 24F1.4 + sunglasses case , couple of spare batts, etc

[@CarryQuandaries]

@@meat_loves_wasabi I agree, it’s a pretty big jump in size…

[@jackmcbannon]

Thank you man! Loved your vid and review!!

[@baan3197]

thanks for your review. I ended up getting one and the same color. unfortunately I couldnt use your link since I am not in the UK :(

[@Red35Photography]

That's Cool Baan. Don't worry about the link. Enjoy the bag :)

[@johnferry5668]

Jimmy, you'll have me bankrupt before long hahahaha

[@Red35Photography]

Photography is expensive 😂

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

Any suggestion which shops in London have the widest range of Billinghams to check out? (Side note, funny how many people say it is too expensive and ugly. I used to think the same but since my iPhone got fried in a non-waterproof bag and after looking at a lot of camera bags, Billinghams look more and more attractive!)

[@Red35Photography]

Hi Jennifer, WEX Photographic has the largest stock, then some smaller shops like Park Camera, Jessops (both in Oxford Street) and Leica Mayfair stock some too.

[@ghas4151]

Will this fit an 11” iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard?

[@geofff6671]

Serious question - do these bags attract thieves? They look beautiful and expensive, which worries me a little.

[@cheralynn4417]

This is what I’ve been waiting for! Still not available in the US yet, though. Will keep waiting :)

[@Red35Photography]

Don't worry, they will come and even in UK, Billingham is still trying to ramp up the production to deliver them to customers.

[@c.augustin]

Well, I still prefer my Billingham bag they produce for Leica M (the front pouch is very generous and comfortably takes an iPad mini). But the handle on top of this one is really intriguing - a detail I'm missing …

[@Red35Photography]

Cheers Christian, I do know what you mean, yet I've been a big fan of the Hadley range and I've own a few actually from the original to the Pro to the One and now the Small Pro :) I also own the Leica SL Billingham which is nice too. I think I have one too many :)

[@evanstheframe]

I have same colour combo on my Hadley Pro in FibreNyte. Wanted to get the Small Pro for my Fuji X100f and GoPro kit as think it would be a nice size compared to the larger Pro (what do you think)?Sadly the Small Pro in same Black/Tan is only made in canvas not FibreNyte. Do you find much difference in the canvas and is it as waterproof? Also did you get the sp40 or sp50 padded strap for this bag? Thank you for another great video.

[@Red35Photography]

Cheers mate, I have both FibreNyte and Canvas bags and they have equal performance in terms of wear and waterproofness. However FibreNyte is lighter and feels 'thinner' compare to traditional canvas. So you don't have to worry too much, just a matter of taste (FibreNyte also feels a little 'smoother'). I did get the SP40 for the Small Pro :)

[@evanstheframe]

Red35 Photography thank you for the quick reply.

[@chayanintoey]

Jimmy, I'm looking to buy one. Do you think a 12 Inch retina Macbook would fit into the laptop slot? Thanks

[@Red35Photography]

Yes it will fit, it even fits my 2017 15in MacBook Pro!

[@jingruiyu6854]

Nice vid and certainly nice bag! I am considering trading out my hadley pro and buy this small one!

[@Red35Photography]

Thanks mate! You won't regret the quality as it feels and looks more substantial due to the use of leather. It's smaller than Hadley Pro so just note :)

[@theotherlinh]

This feels like targeted advertising, I've been looking at this bag (and similar ones) the past couple of days, lol. Did you consider any other bags? I have an Ona Bowery, but I've found it maybe a little too small. And functionally lacking a bit compared to something like Thinktank. Billingham comes close, but is even more expensive, and not quite a style I love.

[@Red35Photography]

Haha it’s not an advertisement but just coming from a fan. I know other bags has more pockets or dedicated compartments or even moulded cushion for some bodies and lenses. I’ve been using Billingham for ages and I had other bags too like Lowepro, Kata (now Manfrotto), ThinkTank (I still use their rollers) and many others but it’s the Billingham that I always just ‘grab and go’ for all my jobs. Ona is a little ‘heavy’ for my taste, and somehow they are not as versatile as Billingham even though they are very similar in many respects (bar the full leather bags)

[@theotherlinh]

Heh, it was more a joke at Google's surfacing algorithms :) But yeah, Ona is the closet, but a bit too form over function. I like Peak Design, too, but I'd want their 10L sling as a messenger bag.

[@stefanusadrian8398]

Would it fit sony a7 series with fe 24-70mm 2.8 GM?

[@kiss4luna]

this bag is too fancy to me. i use a pure black bag lol

[@Red35Photography]

I love the all black version too and if I have all the space I need, I would have all the colour combinations! 😂

[@MegaXoz]

what is the brand or where can i buy the leather padding in the strap of the bag?

[@Red35Photography]

That's part of Billingham's accessories range. It's made for this bag. The model number is SP40 from Billingham's website.

[@MegaXoz]

thanks. i realized it when i looked at the billingham accessories. i find the sp50 much more comfortable in the shoulder due to wider padding but i also bought sp40 for the front to protect my ribs. having two in the strap is so comfortable.

[@bobcresswell1270]

EM1 ii, 12-40 Pro, 40-150 Pro, 60mm Macro. Plus bits...What bag?

[@spwilliams13]

Consider the Billingham Hadley large.

[@CarryQuandaries]

I owned the old Hadley small and recently bought the new Pro model. I don’t like it as much as the old model. The handle is too bulky, the detachable strap is unnecessary, adds extra weight and doesn’t feel as nice when my forearm rubs against it when I walk, the luggage passthrough is also totally unnecessary for such a small bag, and the zippered back pocket is the only new feature I like, but I can live without it. Just repurchased the good old non pro model and will be selling my almost brand new navy pro model.

[@ianmaw66]

Great video thanks.

[@Red35Photography]

thank you for watching!

[@TrangNguyen-cs6wv]

Hi Jimmy! What was the colour of your first Hadley Small? (also sorry for that, but you may take all the stories with you :) )

[@Red35Photography]

It's the standard Khaki colour, mine was canvas and not fibrenyte.

[@Rayshader]

Less is more, I prefer the old

[@captainawasome8985]

I'd go for the hadley pro that is bigger. It looks less like a womans handbag and has more space for lenses and a full frame body.

[@markgillett5574]

I like your reviews of Billingham bags but, frankly, they should contain a health warning. If you are not careful, you will end up with a ludicrous number of their bags, just like you have!

[@Spazza42]

Far too small for a full frame DSLR and good lenses

[@KnivesNow]

This dudes accent is literally 50/50 lmao

[@user-qp6vg9ho8u]

Shame it looks like a handbag

[@soulcareer5261]

The all-black version looks manly enough.

[@frankiecalabro2617]

I think the small pro looks very effeminate, for a few bucks more, the Hadley regular pro is a much better bag

[@luizz_k]

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