Which Billingham Camera Bag Should You Buy? Feat. NEW 5 Series MK II//Hadleys//Eventers

Visit Squarespace for a free trial and 10% off your first purchase: squarespace.com/kai
THIS VIDEO WAS SHOT WITH:
Panasonic S5 II www.adorama.com/pcs5m2.html?u...
Panasonic S5 II X: www.adorama.com/pcs5m2x.html?...
Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 www.adorama.com/pcsr2060.html...
MUSIC
Sam Barsh - Scott's Plane
(soundstripe.com)

[@D1N02]

Do another toy camera challenge they were fun :p By the way you are now 7 years along with your own channel, just as long as Digitalrev.

[@savagemadman2054]

As someone who owns more camera bags than they know what to do with (including a Hadley One and Hadley Small) I'm glad to see I'm not alone in it!

[@UltraDoug]

None of them. Trust me. This is 25 years of photography experience, primarily weddings. I have permanent shoulder damage from wearing shoulder bags for so many years. Then, 10 years ago, maybe less, I purchased a camera backpack. It was life-changing and solved a lot of issues of pain in my shoulders, and my back and my feet. If you’re looking for a right shoulder bag, Purchase a backpack instead. The system I uses the one from peak design, but there’s plenty of good options out there.

[@sgpork]

Yea. Its true. Small and medium size sling bag is still fine. But not the big/large size sling bags. These big sling bag are already heavy itself with some stuff in or more stuff in. It could weight up to 5kg or more. Nobody would enjoy carrying a sling bag so heavy for a half/whole day. Get a backpack instead. It will save you and you will be happier

[@ChoaYeon]

Agreed if your going to be carrying camera gear always wear a backpack over a shoulder bag. I also went from a shoulder bag to a backpack, upgraded to a hiking camera bag from shimoda and that bag is so comfy, & fully adjustable

[@nipstyler]

I used a lowepro flipside 200 for over a decade doing club nights and festivals. With the waist band allowing it to be opened infront of you and you never needing to put it down was ace. Plus it had the zips on the back meant no one could steal anything when it was on your back.

[@GreenscreenukCoUk]

Yep i agree

[@J_Stinger]

Ah yes, i’ll carry around a big backpack for my DSLR, 2 lenses and a few accessories and every time i have to grab something i gotta stop and dismount my bag. Very versatile!

[@seaeagles6025]

The Bellingham Bags look very modern and sturdy and I like the range of colours. Great idea Lok had about Carry-on luggage, like it 😂. Thanks Kai a fun video this was. 😊

[@vermis8344]

"If you're lucky enough to have two pens..." Those times when you have to pay extra close attention to the video because you don't know if he means Olympus cameras, or writing instruments.

[@GordonMoat]

They’re certainly stylish. However, I’ve gone for a rolling HPRC for airline travel, or a messenger bag with inserts for lighter gear.

[@xjoexedge]

I have my Hadley Pro for nine years and it’s been with me everyday. It’s been the best bag I have ever had. The shoulder pad on the strap is a must.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Thank you! Glad to hear it is lasting you well!

[@HurzMurz]

Once again a very interesting and funny video, just like in the old days 🙂 I've got my Hadley Pro for about 3 years now and I'm really happy with it. It starts to get some wear and tear where the harness touches the bag, which made me kind of nervous. But now, seeing Loks Hadley Pro, I feel better knowing that this is normal 😊

[@Neopulse00]

I miss my old Billingham Hadley Pro. Used to use it with my Nikon D800 and Canon 5D3. Had a Fuji enthusiast offer me a ridiculous amount of money for it when traveling because where he's from they don't allow it to get imported so I sold it to him. Kind of regret it because it was just so beautiful to have and the inner pockets were comfortable to manipulate. This video reminded me about them. Will look into this MK II to see if they'll house well my Zf.

[@DiggingForFacts]

I can at least confirm that at Zf with an FTZII and a 24-70 will fit comfortably in the old model Pro.

[@Pixels_And_Petrol]

I have you guys to blame for my long love and desire for Billingham bags. I finally got the Hadley Pro I wanted for an absolute deal, and I got a Presstop for another amazing deal on the way. Thank you for making me want one for so long. Next is that Red photographer jacket for sure. You guys are the best bad influence

[@wyx087]

I bought the Hadley pro after watching your DRTV waterproof video. Still using it as my primary bag (weekend hobbyist) to this day, great bag.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Thanks for your custom! :)

[@kribomon]

I have the Billingham small original for several years now and it can carry a lot more than people think. It's also saved my gear twice near a waterfall and in torential rain in Japan.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Thank you! Glad to hear it protected the gear well!

[@nejibob]

My Billingham Rucksack 35 is all I need, perfect for a Street Photographer 🫶🏻

[@gewglesux]

Thats more like a backpack right? None of the street shooters i know even use a Back pack.Just a leica and 1 extra lens. sorted.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

I own the Hadley Pro. Picked it up in London, actually, on my last visit from Canada in 2016. Brilliant bag, built to last. Billingham factory is not far from where I grew up.

[@kenc2257]

Those are really nice bags. I particularly like Lok's older, slightly faded and distressed olive green Billingham. [I remember when he tested the waterproofness of his personal bag in Hong Kong]

[@patrickhopkinson1851]

My Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 got chewed by a wild animal one night. Parts of the leather on the sling got eaten, as did quite a lot of the popper strap on an AVEA 8.

[@Cpt.PickHard]

As always your jacket game is on point

[@gewglesux]

Agreed.picked up the NF jackets. her used to wear

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

I got a Hadley pro .. but I use the Ona Prince street cos it’s the perfect size for my set up

[@picbygiz]

I love my billingham bag, bought it after your video when you throw it and leave it in the rain😂

[@xanedan4565]

I've got a Hadley Small (just fits a Lumix G9II and Lumix Leica 100-400mm - perfect for long hikes!) in Canvas and a Hadley Pro (which can carry two G9's and basically every lens I own + my drone and accessories). Love them both. I'm an ecologist by trade and have actually slipped while wading in a river and dunked my Hadley Small, I scrambled back up to my feet immediately and quite surprisingly the bag didn't flood (other than the front pockets). I agree Canvas > Fibrenyte. The Fibernyte almost feels a little crinkly. I actually love that black bag that faded that Lok has - it's brilliant! I also have a couple of those overpriced extension pockets that clip onto the sides for my Hadley Pro. I like them for video accessories (I sometimes record public meetings for some environmental groups) because you can just unclip them and clip them to your tripod to hold things like power banks or hard drives neatly. Also recommend buying the (once again quite pricey) shoulder strap pad if your bag doesn't naturally come with one. Really helps.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

[@aliceausachev855]

the vanguard city cb34 bag is quite good "qual" but it fit a 13"inch tablet. hope to see you at the photography show this spring.

[@GreenscreenukCoUk]

I used a 550 for all my architecture photography from the late 90s till 2004. I would carry my super wide, a pentax 67 and corfield wa67 in it. It did the job but man was that single strap a killer on my shoulder and back. I have a 555 today but i never take it out. I much prefer a rucksack today.

[@googleuser3163]

Kai id love to see tou cover Polaroid again! The DR episode on instant cameras was my all-time favourite and dadly they havent reuploaded it.

[@ianforber]

Hadley Small Pro and Hadley Pro user here. I only ever use them to carry one camera/lens but use the small when the weather is consistent (rain or shine) because I can wear whatever clothing I need and it lets me also fit a bottle of water inside. The Hadley Pro is best when the weather is changeable and I need the water and a rain jacket. I also use the Hadley Pro as a normal bag without the camera insert. Only downside is that I’ve yet to find an easy way to carry a tripod when out taking infrared shots in London

[@ianforber]

Sorry, my iPad isn’t letting me edit my comment. I use the Hadley Pro 2020 which is why there’s no tripod straps for it. Anyone got an idea for how to carry a tripod! I use the Heipi travel tripod, which is basically similar to the Peak Design.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

ALL OF THEM THEYRE B====Y FANTASTIC!!!! Actually I use large 555 bags most of the time as they take a load of GFX gear easily. And a profoto B10..

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Yes they are great for GFX gear, thanks for sharing your experience :)

[@jamesbuckley6875]

Lily Hill Park! I'm definitely going to bump into you one of these days 😅

[@ALWH1314]

Those huge size bags are gonna kill your shoulder full loaded, lol. I like my Billingham Hadley Pro, enough for gears and manageable in weight. Share a little mod I did, I installed brass tips bought on Amazon exactly the same as the buckle button at the bottom to keep the bag sit still and avoid dirt and scratch.

[@matthewwilson3673]

Have either of you used a chrome industries bag for camera gear?

[@landodream]

Love my Ona bags!

[@frutt5k]

Fostex deployment bag #3, aka parachute bag. Holds a Nikon D600 DSLR, 4 lenses, SB400. Bag is $30.

[@robinlennon4752]

With my bags I keep it simple, Billingham & Domke for my shoulder bags and Thinktank for my backpacks, the quality/durability of these brands is such I can pick up used in great condition within my budget. The smaller Billinghams like the Hadley Digital, Hadley Small Pro, L2 & Leica are perfect for my minimalist Fuji carry street shooting, through to the largest 550 which I take as my single carry 3/4 day trip bag with the Hadley Digital + photo gear inside plus all my clothes and other items. I pay close attention to the weight of all my gear plus my bags themselves and managing comfortable carry is common sense regardless of the brand or type of bag you use, Billinghams are comparable weight wise with other brands in their various capacities. Don't pack the kitchen sink if you're worried about your body.

[@NicJohnson]

4:40 casual sneak peak at the Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF before it had even been announced.

[@Hyper88]

Need a video like this but for gimbals

[@studiovitta]

I have three since 1993 and still in good condition The only problem is the straps which close the pockets because after years of using they cut and never be the same after repear in ..shoe maker because they are no other way

[@stuartcarden1371]

I totally forgot Kai had an M5! It gets way too much hate; I love the big shutter speed dial and overall chunkier feel. Plus they're 'cheap' 😅

[@TacComControl]

I WOULD be getting petrol bags for gear, but Videndum bought them out and took what was already an expensive but reliable bag and made them a VERY expensive bag of questionable reliability by folding them in to the Sachtler brand. (if you're not familiar with Videndum, they own Manfrotto, Joby, Sachtler, Gitzo, National Geographic bags, Avenger, Teradek, and like 100 different other brands used in videography and photography. And if you're not familiar with Sachtler, think of the most money you've ever spent on a tripod. Now add two zeros. Videndum is the asshole reason that everything in production costs so damn much)

[@munzeerahmed2726]

varsity jacket 🔥👌

[@wayne3206]

Thankyou!

[@charliewaterman816]

Fibernyte is a bit lighter, but I'm so not a fan. Give me canvas any day. Hadley small sage is still my favorite bag. Keep going back to it. :)

[@danielbrown5541]

Thanks for sporting a PENTAX hat. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@amazme1398]

Cen you talk about bags for Leica q3.

[@apuldram]

Unless you’re Nick Carver, and have an SUV to carry around your kit, tripods are always a problem. I have a Fotopro/Rollei (City Traveler Mini) that is something of a compromise between a full tripod and a table top… with the emphasis on compromise🙄

[@bimmerfan2126]

wish I had seen this before I was in HK last week :P

[@fototryhard]

Danke!

[@francisgarofalo3434]

My Billingham bag is 31 years old and still going strong

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Glad to hear it, thanks for sharing your experience!

[@user-vf5ei9zg6o]

NICE COLLECTIONS I ONLY HAVE 4 BILLINGHAM BAGS >> FOR LARGER THAN HEDLEY PRO I PROBABLY CAN'T CARRY IT HAA

[@sgpork]

Nice design and good long lasting bags i must say. But they come at a cost of course. I have 1 of the 555 kinda and regreted buying it. Because its heavy even when empty. Then after you put some stuff in. You wont want to lug or sling it with you. Its terrible. That weight its better you get a backpack rather than a sling bag. I would gladly recommand the pro or hadley small. They are fine.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing your experience. The 555 will be heavy if you fill it full, but as Kai says in the video people often use it to carry gear from shoot-to-shoot rather than keeping it on their shoulder constantly like with the Hadley Pro. Glad to hear the Hadley Pro and Hadley Small worked better for you!

[@probablycensored]

Hate to be 'that guy', but OCD does not mean liking to keep things clean & tidy. It's an anxiety disorder where you have recurring unwanted thoughts and/or compulsions that can consume hours each day with uncontrollable repetitions of physical actions (brief description). It's commonly misunderstood and it can include cleaning, so I'm not suggesting you're a bad or ignorant dude for not knowing!

[@JanneRanta]

Pentax gang! ✊

[@Bish_OP]

I've got a Billingham Hadley Pro and a Peak Design sling 6L and almost always use the sling for 2 reasons; the Billingham bags use such a basic shoulder strap; even with the shoulder pad which is very small and slides around the strap is uncomfortable for me, it never feels good when I wear it and I can't imagine wearing it for full days out. Billingham bags also stick out far from the body. Comparing this to the peak design sling, it has a much more comfortable strap with quick adjusting mechanism and the sling hugs closer to the body, this makes it feel lighter with the same gear in, presumably due to the centre of gravity being closer to the body. If I was looking for a larger bag such as some of the ones you show here I couldn't justify looking to buy another Billingham bag; the uncomfortable strap would be even worse on a larger bag and it would stick out even more! Its a shame because they are beautiful looking bags.

[@StingrayOfficial]

Not gunna lie, by the looks of the thumbnail I thought it was a Demolition Ranch video about to shoot a bunch of bags off a table to see which ones is the best.

[@RalphHightower]

Billingham makes gorgeous bags. But dang, they are expensive!

[@nathanvrvrt]

Its because they are made in England. My girlfriend works for a tent company, the ones made in belgium are 3times the prize of a pakistan made. Its just because of the prizes for workers

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

@@nathanvrvrtlabour costs are certainly part of it yes. Also though our materials costs are much higher - the 3-layer fabric with the butyl in the middle costs us more on its own than the final selling price of some other brands' bags. We choose nice leather, solid brass etc too. Of course we are just an option for people who like our approach to making bags!

[@nathanvrvrt]

@@BillinghamBagsOfficial there are always differences but made in England always sounds better than china. Fabric and labourcost aside!

[@nathanvrvrt]

@@BillinghamBagsOfficial btw would be cool if you made a bagpack

[@GreggFellows]

Cradley Heaths' finest aye it bab

[@alwinbenjamin]

🔥

[@mproyuclan]

Don’t like Billingham bags. Absolutely love my Wotancrafts! Have a large messenger and their backpack with loads of accessories 👍👍👍

[@TungstenOvergaard]

They are really nice if you have +80 years old.

[@1BigBucks1]

😍

[@shadylckklc]

That xpan tho🤪

[@user-ip9oo8de4v]

5 years with slings. Photo and fishing slings. And now I cant take seriously all these bags from the previous century.

[@bikecommuter24]

"You can put your head in it and then some" Hmm Dim Sum sounds good

[@gewglesux]

Pentax Cap though

[@_Chris390]

Do the larger ones come with a discount code for the chiropractor? Large shoulder bags = fail. Use a backpack instead.

[@h.o.j2375]

would never carry more than 2-3 kg on a shoulder bag unless you want mess up shoulders and spine.

[@Johnny641]

None of them unless you have a Leica to put in it and wear a beanie hat no matter how hot it is.

[@alcoholicmonkey1980]

I’d probably be able to only afford their paper bag

[@GilbertTV]

I just don't get who would pay a hundreds of quid for any of these .. they look so dated too or is that the idea "RETRO" ?? good entertainment as always Kai

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Completely understand that they look expensive at first glance - they certainly aren't cheap. The cost however comes from how they are created - for example the 3-layer waterproof fabric costs us more than the final selling price of some other brand's bags (the middle layer is butyl rubber that water can't pass through). Further there is the real leather, solid brass and that they are made in England. If you read customer testimonials you'll see our bags often last customers several decades too. So the cost per year of ownership is often very good value. Of course if you want to go for another manufacturer we completely understand - we are just here to offer an option for people who might like our way of doing things and the way our bags look.

[@GilbertTV]

thank you for the insight .. price is not everything I agree & quality matters @@BillinghamBagsOfficial

[@EugeneMaynard]

👍🏾🙏🏾 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇸🇪🇹🇹

[@jackedbabington6206]

Why are camera bags so expensive seems bit of a ripoff

[@JYMBO]

My main issue with Billingham is they are so vague of just straight up don't tell you what martials they are using, Fibrenyte/ canvas is the only materials they state outright, they don't say what Grain the leather is, it should be 'full grain' at that price but instead they just say the colour or use words like "real leather" (if you didn't know 'genuine leather' is the cheapest & lowest grade of leather you can get with 'full grain' being the best) they also don't say what brand of Zippers they are using? (YKK zippers are widely considered to be the best & most durable so you would think if they are using those they would advertise it as a selling point like most other bag manufactures but i can't see that anywhere on the website) and or though reviews keep referring to the metal hardware on the bag as "Brass" the website actually doesn't mention what they use outside of "nickle plated buttons" and you don't need me to say just because it has the appearance of brass doesn't make it real brass... of course there might be some info page i missed with all of this information on it so please correct me if i'm wrong!

[@garywhite3314]

Think you missed the info page... Made of a 3-layer waterproof material, butyl rubber is the waterproof layer Real, full-grain, vegetable tanned leather Solid brass fixings Individual serial number The zips are solid, not sure if YKK. Worth searching YT for the How A Billingham Is Made vid, along with Amateur Photographer magazine factory tours. Also all of the X55 bags have 5 loops for a harness to be added, turning the bag into a rucksack. Not a lot of people know that 😀

[@JYMBO]

believe it or not i actually emailed them myself directly after this comment essentially just repeating this comment and asked them for more info on what everything was whilst making a few suggestions for them to be more open about what they use via some sort of description under each item or a dedicated materials page... i received a very polite email back thanking me for my "contribution" and was told it was a great idea and that they would be implementing something in the near future... so hats off if thats already happened :D @@garywhite3314

[@JYMBO]

i actually emailed them myself shortly after writing this comment and essentially just repeated it, they agreed they could & should be more open about materials used as it can only really benefit them if they really do use the "best materials" they thanked me for my feedback and said we should expect changes shortly so respect to them if they've already done it in such a short amount of time :D@@garywhite3314

[@howardthechuck7794]

Guys I think Kai might have OCD

[@Severisj]

Aspect ration 3:2 would better for this kind of video🤓

[@ryanwdmn]

Most of the video has errors and **** if ur doing a bag review do ur homework. We pay u guys handsome money on KZbin pls put in the work guys ❤

[@starfishnt2551]

you will get sholder pain real soon

[@ShlomoLevi]

None of them! Person that buy bag for this price either delusional or commercializing victim

[@AsapOdd]

Peter McKinnons backpack is superior😬

[@Mamo878]

'Billingham bag' is just another way to say *STEAL ME - This is a very expensive bag with even more expensive camera gear inside* So there is that.

[@xmeda]

No thanks, these are basically canvas fancy junk for hipsters :D I prefer my Vanguard Heralder 38, Vanguard Uprise 28 and Kata 3N1 30. All of them are very durable and with excellent storage options.

[@sgpork]

Thinktank is good too.

[@_o__o_]

subtites for the other guy please

[@NullStaticVoid]

Wish Billingham would make a version suitable for vegans/vegetarians.

[@eigenkuro7166]

Awful, ridiculously overpriced bags for 'Leica users'. Looks cool if you're into fashion, alright, but in reality, they're not even feel pleasant to the touch, straps are godawful and bites into your shoulder, while leather holders will wear off within a matter of a single goddamn week (a single one!) - all for 300-600$ non-waterproof bags, some of which can barely even hold smallest modern ML cameras with 50mm on the front. Don't listen to this salesman, I swear to my bones you will regret it. At least check it in the store before buying this hipster crap. Literally any other regular bag risks to be more comfortable and practical at the same time.

[@BillinghamBagsOfficial]

Completely understand that they look expensive at first glance - they certainly aren't cheap. The cost however comes from how they are created - for example the 3-layer waterproof fabric costs us more than the final selling price of some other brands of bags (the middle layer is butyl rubber that water can't pass through). Further there is the real leather, solid brass and that they are made in England. If you read customer testimonials you'll see our bags often last customers several decades too. So the cost per year of ownership is often very good value. Of course if you want to go for another manufacturer we completely understand - we are just here to offer an option for people who might like our way of doing things.

[@And_Bio]

Either you are just trolling or you probably never saw a Billingham bag close enough to understand what you are talking about, sure never touched one, leave alone using it, otherwise you would not write anything like this. You may complain about pricing, fair enough, that’s what many naive people do. You may dislike the style, fair enough, that’s indeed subjective. But sure you cannot argue about the quality, the durability, the waterproofing, the design and functionality of these bags. I own several Ona, PeakDesign, ThinkTank, Artisan&Artist and many other fairly expensive camera bag brands. Many more I owned and sold. But I still have to find one that comes even remotely close to my Hadley Pro. Really, Billingham is in another league. My Tumi travel bags are the only one that I could put close to Billingham for functionality and durability.

[@user-mr9cb6se6e]

That xpan tho🤪