What Does a $500 Camera Bag Look Like? The Billingham 307

[@settingofthesuns]

Thanks for the video. I have several Billingham bags, but I never would have considered the 307 seriously without seeing it presented like this. They absolutely need videos like this for all their bags!

[@bigheadtaco]

I knew I wanted to review the 7 series since there was so few videos on the series, and so few close up looks at it. I really do enjoy using it, as I do often work off a chair or table, or if I’m setting up a mobile office somewhere, to just put my bag down and start to organize. Of course, I have other bags for other purposes too, but this fits a very unique niche.

[@theanaloguemortgagebroker]

I have no doubt this is a great bag. I have a billingham I bought when I was in school - it’s 35 years old and still looks new.

[@JeffreyHauser]

Billingham bags are renowned for their legendary quality. I have the 307L & it excellent. My 307 L has 2 “belt bucket” type leather straps for opening the bag & a “dedicated” (padded) interior lap top sleeve compartment. It is not necessary a quick access bag, as you pointed out. I love the fact that it stays open, quite widely, when reaching in to access your gear. It is capable of carrying a very large volume of camera gear,but will be heavy, if fully loaded. By far one of my favourite bags, along with a Wotancraft Ryker camera bag. Nice review!😊

[@soewst]

Thanks for your great review! The 307 is an Amazing bag! Got mine since two months and love the look and quality!

[@ghas4151]

This has got to be my favourite Billingham. Like you said, the quality is right up there with bags costing more than 10x as much. Brilliant protection with the padding and waterproof material and some of the best leather I have come across. This is the ideal work bag when you need a couple of bodies with 3 or so lenses and flash equipment. It’s a shame that it hasn’t gotten as much attention online.

[@bigheadtaco]

Hopefully this video will help :-) Thanks for your input. It’s definitely a great bag for transportation and using it off the floor or table top. Very organized.

[@christianohlig9597]

I Owen four different Hadley models and got aware of the 7-Series recently. I knew the 5-series but never liked some details. But the 7s are my new favourites now. I luckily had been able to get hold of a used 107 and also found a second hand 207 recently. The 107 is slightly too small for all my stuff and unfortunately doesn’t fit an iPad Pro inside. Of course the 7-series is really pricy but it’s worth the money in my eyes. I think it’s highly underrated.

[@robinlennon4752]

Nice to see you review a Billingham Take, I don't mind admitting I'm a fan of Billingham's manufacturing and product quality. Their small to medium sized bags are ideal for my Fuji sized gear, the largest I have are the Hadley Pro & 225 which when you attach their Avea and Delta end pouches are more than adequate for the max gear & accessory load I'd want to carry on a longer travel trip in a pretty compact form factor. Needn't break the bank either, my lovely collection of 10, +5 end pouches & various inserts to customise my 225 cost me just over 1/3rd of retail by jumping on bargains when I saw them.

[@bigheadtaco]

I was actually initially wanting to review the 225, then moved to 207, and finally settled on the 307. My next review will also be a less known bag. Perhaps the backpack or duffle. I’ll eventually review one of the Hadley’s though. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@ronkiely6183]

I have two of the 107 bags as they are just the right size for me. One is smart all black, the other the same colour as yours. I have no idea why Billingham discontinued that model but kept the larger sizes. Cameras are getting smaller not bigger. I quite like the 207 but going by the weight of my 107 I should imagine that it's quite heavy.

[@Ankitvkc]

How is it compared to Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 in the field? Landscape and street photography are my use mainly. I carry 2-3 lenses with XT-5 orxt-50 with one attached lens, Gorpo and Osmo pocket 3 and an iPad Pro 11 inch, one SSd and cables+batteries and charger.

[@channamasala]

Good insights. Thanks for making this video. I’ve had this bag for 5+ years and it’s useful for many occasions but is heavy. You feel it. Not great for walking the streets, but super for moving between A and B. Also, you missed two discreet pockets in the main compartment- inside front.

[@bigheadtaco]

Yes, it’s great for transportation of gear, which I do often. I did discover the front hidden pockets after 😅😅😅

[@_o__o_]

is it a good bag to hold other smaller bags and around 8 knives in it ?

[@bigheadtaco]

Yes.

[@pratchsiri7153]

Perfect I’ve been seeing all your vdo and wanted the 307 to compare to the Lightning rider for ever and finally you are the only person with all the bags wotangcraft my favorite bag to compare with the 307

[@ma_tests]

Hi Take, can you tell me if a 14 inch macbook will fit too?

[@bigheadtaco]

According to the literature, it only includes up to 13” MBP, but since I don’t have a 14” MBP, I don’t know how much bigger it is. This info could have been written pre 14” MBP, so it might fit. Perhaps reach out to a retailer and ask, or I’ll see if any of my friends have one and I can give it a try.

[@a2b1]

Those straps on the side? It is for the Billingham back pack harness.

[@martynosborne8460]

This is a great video and a lovely bag. Just a note, the canvas is not made of wax - the canvas and fibrenyte both have the layer of butyl rubber, but no wax. A great review and a lovely bag.

[@TheRacerRich]

Billingham bags are so good that I once used my olive canvas (yes, they used to offer this, now olive is only nylon) Hadley Pro, with a some manual focus nikon lenses in it, to sled down a mountain when I bit off more than I could chew and was able to climb up by not down. After 15 years of use I finally had to replace it, only because my cat had a...stomach event...all over it, which was ok because I used the opportunity to buy the khaki canvas I had gotten the first time.

[@bigheadtaco]

Thanks for your crazy story!! Did you get a chance to compare the khaki canvas vs the khaki FibreNyte? Was it the feel of the canvas you preferred over the Fibrenyte?

[@TheRacerRich]

@@bigheadtaco It's in part the feel, but really the FibreNyte feels pretty good, and primarily that the FibreNyte will always look new. I'm sure to many it's a plus that the FibreNyte always looks good as new, but I like that the canvas' color eventually fades in the areas you always overpack.

[@bigheadtaco]

@@TheRacerRich like a nice pair of jeans, I get it!

[@settingofthesuns]

​@@bigheadtaco One benefit of the Fibrenyte is it doesn't attract pet hair and lint. The light color canvas is ok, but the black canvas needs to be constantly cleaned with a lint remover roller thing to stay looking nice.

[@bigheadtaco]

@@settingofthesuns for sure, black has to be some sort of synthetic material to keep it looking clean and new.

[@ulfgreger]

I 'm looking into this. Have a Billingham Hadley Small Pro ( doing a youtube video on that ) but i also want a bigger one

[@alien6551]

I just got this bag it's a great camera bag

[@alien6551]

Just bought this bag a great bag

[@dalewhitehead7527]

To each his own I guess . I had a Hadley Pro that I acquired in a gear trade , never could get used to the way the straps closed at the top. Seemed backwards to me . A lot of money for what they are so I sold it and out the money towards a lens .

[@bigheadtaco]

Sorry you had a negative experience with the bag you had. Perhaps one day you can give them a try again 😊

[@dalewhitehead7527]

@@bigheadtaco not really negative just wasn’t for me . I am more of a backpack guy for my camera gear anyway .

[@bigheadtaco]

@@dalewhitehead7527 understood. They also make backpacks too, but it’s not really their specialty. What’s your fav camera backpack?

[@dalewhitehead7527]

@@bigheadtaco I just picked up a 20L Tenba Solstice that I am loving . Lots of room for gear but not too big and heavy .

[@bigheadtaco]

@@dalewhitehead7527 Tenba makes great bags. A nice alternative to Lowepro and Peak Design. Congrats!

[@andretim75]

Why 2 watches ? Having a hard time to decide ?

[@MyNorthAmetican40]

Beautiful bag

[@bigheadtaco]

I took the bag to someone who makes custom bags and costume design, and he guessed the bag price above $2000. He was blown away when I told him $500, and made in England.

[@ggn1]

Are you interested in selling the X-Pro3? I also live in Vancouver

[@MyNorthAmetican40]

My only issue with bags like this are that they tend to be magnets for folks trying to pry your equipment apart from you.

[@bigheadtaco]

For those times, I think an all black would work fine. I know many street photographers who buy only black Billingham bags for the street.

[@Blackmind0]

..to open the bag you move the leather 1cm to the bigger hole and then it opens up easily.... ;-)

[@bigheadtaco]

Ha ha, yes I discovered this later 😂😂😂 thanks for the tip 😅😅😅

[@carlosmcse]

Looks like a sign that says “RICH GUY. PLEASE ROB ME!” 😅

[@garethwilliams976]

Nice but the leather is not hand stitched but is stitched by a machine - which for this purpose is better.

[@Bernard-ux2eb]

I had Domke bags. I sold them. Awful, only because of the PAINFUL sprung clips which would pinch.

[@dooda7170]

why is homie wearing two watches

[@swansong007]

Drop the H. If you want to be a Billingham guy, drop that H. It’s pronounced BILLING UM…….Nice bag tho. Going to get one the same colour too.

[@felixchong2002]

I own one and it’s freaking heavy. Just not practical.

[@A-RaHan]

It's too havy........

[@maxidrivemaxidrive4330]

Pricier and heavier, but less functional than the Wotancraft Pilot. No , thanks!

[@fffeuchtner]

I have the Hadley Small, Hadley Pro and Hadley One and love the quality. I use them for different use-cases. The Hadley One is my professional bag I use on assignments - especially when shooting high profile events it is a great fit (in my opinion an event-photographer should always dress for the occasion and why not carry a good looking bag as well).

[@bigheadtaco]

Dressing for the occasion is a good point, especially for formal events. That’s great advice!

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I got 2 billingham 225 models and the latest one I got I paid £40.00 for it from a Car boot sale and is brand new and not been used at all