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Billingham Buyer's Guide

 
Where do you start when buying a Billingham for a loved one, or even yourself? We've made this guide to give you some easy starting points.

Remember if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us! Also, there are stores in over 20 countries stocking our products - find them in our store finder.

 

Billingham Buyer's Guide - Camera Bags

 

It's camera bags that we became famous for. They are notable for being handmade in England with 3-layer fabric which is impervious to water - they also feature top-grain leather and solid brass.

Here is a selection of good starting points...

 

Hadley Digital Camera Bag

Billingham Hadley Digital Camera Bag

A very simple and relatively compact bag. It still has room for a mid-sized DSLR with a small-to-medium lens or a couple of rangefinder style cameras. Find out more here.

Need something smaller? Look at the '72' and the 'Galbin' and 'Stowaway' bags.

 
  

Hadley Small Pro Camera Bag

Our best-selling camera bag. A little bigger than the 'Hadley Digital' and has room for a mid-sized DSLR and a couple of small-to-medium lenses, or even more for small mirrorless or Leica M gear. The luggage strap on the back is particularly useful while travelling. The padded insert is removable to let you turn the bag into a casual bag in seconds. Find out more here.

Don't need the top-handle or luggage strap? Check out the Hadley Small. It's a favourite of many street photographers as it's so discretely styled.

 

Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag

Exactly the same as the 'Hadley Small Pro' just bigger. This makes carrying 3-4 small-to-medium lenses with a DSLR camera realistic. The extra height lets you store a 70-200mm lens (most are approx 200mm (7⅞") long). Again it features a luggage strap on the back and removable camera insert. Find out more here.

If you need to store a camera with a 70-200mm lens attached (and store it facing lens-down) look at the 'Hadley Large' or 'Hadley Large Pro' instead as those bags are a bit taller.

 

Mini Eventer Camera/Tablet Bag

Mini Eventer Navy Canvas Chocolate Leather

A little bigger than the 'Hadley Small Pro' and a little smaller than the 'Hadley Pro 2020'. In common with those bags it also has a luggage strap on the back.

This luxurious bag features a dedicated padded slip sewn into the back of the removable padded insert for tablets up to 11" in screen size. Further differences from the Hadley bags include that this bag closes with a zip on its main compartment (the Hadley's don't have this to aid quick access), the top-grain leather on the bottom third of the bag and that a shoulder pad is included at no extra cost. Find out more here.

Want a larger version? Check out the 'Eventer MKII'.

 

Hadley One Camera/Laptop Bag

Hadley One Camera/Laptop Bag

A little bigger in all dimensions than the 'Hadley Pro 2020' or 'Mini Eventer'. It features a padded 14" laptop slip at the back. The padded camera insert fills half the bag - leaving the other half free for sandwiches etc! A full size insert can be purchased that makes carrying a DSLR with a battery or vertical grip attached more feasible than with the bags listed above. Find out more here.

Need to carry a 70-200mm lens attached to the camera? Look at the 'Hadley Large'. Need to carry a 15" or 16" laptop? Look at the 'Hadley Large Pro'.

 

Eventer MKII Camera/Laptop Bag

 Billingham Eventer MKII Camera/Laptop Bag - Sage FibreNyte / Chocolate Leather

Similar internal size to the Hadley One but with a bit of extra height. Some prefer this because of the luxurious leather base on the bottom third of the bag, the zip on the the main compartment (the Hadley One does not have this to make access easier) and that it comes with a Full Size Padded insert (the Hadley One comes with an insert that fills half the bag).

This bag also has a 14" padded laptop slip - this is sewn into the back of the removable padded insert. Find out more here.

 

225 Camera Bag

Billingham 225 MKII Camera / Tablet Bag

A favourite among many photographers with many examples having lasted 30+ years. It's main compartment is 305mm (12") long and 150mm (6") wide. The larger '335 MKII', '445 MKII' and '555 MKII' increase the length and the height of the bag. The full length front pocket (behind the two front dump pockets) can store an 11" iPad, larger versions can store laptops (14" in 335, 16" in 445 and 555). Find out more here.

The '555 MKII' is the largest bag we make. The similar 550 is an even higher end version of the 555 MKII, and our first camera bag (although it does not have space for a laptop).

 

207 Camera Bag

207 Camera Bag

A more modern alternative to the 225. It's different closing straps and 'doctors bag' style opening makes it easier to get into the bag while on the move. An internal pocket can carry an 11" iPad Pro. Find out more here.

Also available is the larger '307' version which can store 14" MacBooks.

 
 

25 Rucksack and 35 Rucksack

 

Billingham 25 Rucksack & 35 Rucksack

While Billingham found fame with shoulder bags we also make rucksacks. They are great for outdoor adventures as they feature the same 3-layer waterproof fabric as our shoulder bags.

The 25 Rucksack (left) is ideal for larger gear such as a mid-size DSLR with a moderately long lens such as 70-200mm (with some small lenses too). The smaller 35 Rucksack (right) is ideal for slightly smaller gear such as a mid-sized mirrorless camera with 2-3 small-to-medium lenses.

 

Click here to see our full collection of camera bags...

 

Billingham Buyer's Guide - Leisure Bags

 

Made from the same 3-layer fabrics, top-grain leather and solid brass as our camera bags this luxury luggage is great for a work trip or a short-break.

 

Overnighter Bag

Billingham Overnighter Duffel Bag

Designed for travel gear rather than cameras this duffel bag makes a great gift for any Billingham fan. Find out more here.

A Hadley Large Pro (with the padded insert removed) also makes a great overnight bag.

 

Weekender Bag
Billingham Weekender Duffel Bag

Larger than the Overnighter. Designed for travel gear rather than cameras they make an excellent holdall on a weekend trip. Find out more here.

 

Thomas Briefcase & Laptop Bag

Billingham Thomas Briefcase & Laptop Bag

Carry your laptop and/or papers in luxury. Removable umbrella straps on the front make this the ideal companion for the business traveller - even in English weather! Find out more here.

 
 

Click here to see our full collection of leisure bags

 
 

Billingham Buyer's Guide - Accessories

 

The ideal accompaniment to your Billingham purchase.

 

Shoulder Pads

Billingham Shoulder Pads

Most of our larger bags include these as standard. Our smaller ones do not but they can assist greatly in increasing comfort when the bag is heavily packed. Compatibility table on product page. Find out more here.

 
 

Luggage Tallies

Billingham Luggage Tallies

Handmade with top-grain leather and brass fixings. A real luxury addition to any Billingham bag or luggage generally. Find out more here.

 
 

AVEA 7 End Pocket

New design to fit the 'Hadley Small Pro', 'Hadley Pro 2020' and 'Hadley One' bags but also fits some other bags too. Make sure to choose the fabric to match your bag. Other sizes available for other bags. Find out more here.

 
 

AVEA 8 End Pocket

New design to fit the 'Hadley Pro 2020' and 'Hadley One' bags but also fits some other bags too. Make sure to choose the fabric to match your bag. Other sizes available for other bags. Find out more here.

 
 

Delta End Pocket

 

Great fit for 225, 335, 445, 555, 207 and 307 bags. Please make sure to choose the fabric to match your bag. Find out more here.

 
 

Tripod Straps

Billingham Tripod Straps

You can attach these to some (but not all) Billingham bags to enable you to attach a small tripod. Bag compatibility table on product page. Find out more here.

 
 

SuperFlex Partitions

Billingham SuperFlex Partitions

You get 1-3 of these included with 225, 335, 445, 555, 207, 307 and 550 bags. Alternative sizes and extras can really help you customise your set-up. Lens and flashes tend to be stored in these - cameras tend to be stored between these. Size chart on product page. Find out more here.

 
 

DF Divider

Small dividers sold individually. The '15-15' size is particularly useful in the 225335445555207307 and 550 bags bags. This is due to it reaching front-to-back inside these bags (as they are all 150mm front-to-back inside the main compartment) making them good for dividing up the space inside. They can attach to each other for more complex arrangements. Find out more here.

 
 

Divider Sets

Billingham Hadley Large Divider Set

We sell replacement divider sets for our bags. Each of these divider sets are designed for specific bags, however sometimes customers order the dividers designed for different bags to create their own custom arrangement inside their bag. These are supplied and used in most of the bags that don't contain the SuperFlex Partitions mentioned above. Find out more here.

 
 

Front Straps

Billingham Eventer Front Straps

We sell replacement front straps for many of our bags. Make sure you choose the right size for yours!

 

For context: the buckles that these straps go through are designed for occasional adjustment of the height of the front straps or to allow you to pack a little more or less into the bag. We recommend keeping the straps inside the buckle during normal use - to open the bag slide the top of the strap off the brass clogball (round stud). This is a very quick way to open and close the bag, many people learn to do this one-handed as the leather softens. Find out more here.

 
 

50th Anniversary Belt Key Fob

Billingham 50th Anniversary Belt Key Fob
Celebrate our 50th anniversary with our special edition key fob. Expertly handcrafted from top-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide, in the same factory as our bags, it offers both style and practicality. It easily attaches to a belt as needed, enhancing convenience. This luxury item arrives in a custom cardboard tube - perfect for gifting. Find out more here.
 
 

Click here to see our full collection of accessories

 

Billingham Buyer's Guide - FAQs

 

I'm still stuck on choosing, any extra advice?

Yes. Here are some key points (with some of them we have assumed the person reading might not be the person who owns the camera so please forgive any oversimplifications):

  • For cameras that have detachable lenses - the number and size of those lenses is far more important than the model of camera when considering what bag to select. The more you aim for the smallest bag possible the more careful you'll need to be to read the sizing specs.
  • Most of our bags are flexible - the 'Hadley' bags especially are very flexible front-to-back (allowing you to store set-ups larger than the specs suggest). For the example the 'Hadley Pro 2020' has an internal depth of 80mm front to back - the Canon 5D is 113mm tall so it should be impossible to insert lens-down into the bag BUT really it fits VERY easily. The bag flexes to accept the size. On the product pages for our most flexible bags we have included advice about how much you can reasonably expect them to flex.
  • Remember if you are struggling you can contact us for advice. If you can let us know which lenses you need to carry (or at least their size in mm, cm or inches) that will be a big help to us giving you advice. It's natural to have to spend 10-25 minutes to choose the right bag but if you have to spend hours then you probably just need to ask!
  • DSLR cameras literally have little mirrors inside that move to allow the photograph to be taken. When we say 'mirrorless' cameras we just mean cameras that don't that mirror inside - usually meaning they are at least a little smaller (but not always). So these terms are just generalisations to help people understand quickly. 'Leica M' cameras also mentioned in this article are a pretty consistent size - approx W140 x D40 x H80 mm (W5.50 x D1.50 x H3.20″) the lens will add to the 'D' measurement though.
  • Battery grips can be added to the bottom of many cameras to give them better battery life - this does affect what bags they can fit inside though as it makes them much bigger.
  • If you need a starting point look at the 'Hadley Pro 2020' then decide if you need to go bigger or smaller from there. It's small enough for small set-ups and big-enough for big(ish) set-ups - that sweet spot has made it (and it's predecessors) our best selling bag for years (until the 'Hadley Small Pro' overtook it). The 'Hadley Small Pro' is exactly the same as this bag - just a bit smaller.

 

Why should I choose Billingham bags over other brands?

Billingham bags have been handmade at our factory in England since 1973. We use only the finest materials - including hardwearing 3-layer waterproof fabric. This fabric has a layer of butyl rubber in the middle that is impermeable to water (this is the same with both our canvas and FibreNyte fabrics) - because of this butyl layer our bags never need reproofing. The bags also feature top grain leather and solid brass.

You can find customer testimonials all over the internet from people who have owned and loved their Billingham for many years, even decades. 

Our bags come with a 5 year guarantee against defects in workmanship or materials and we offer a paid repair service after this.

 

Where can I see the bags in person?

There are lots of retailers who stock our bags. Remember very few retailers will stock the full range so always ring ahead before travelling. Find stores here.

 

Do you ship worldwide?

No. This site only ships to the USA.

Customers wanting delivery to other countries should order from https://billingham.co.uk/ (the Billingham UK store also includes a store finder for the rest of the World.)

 

Will I get charged duties or taxes on delivery?

No. All items are already in the United States with customs and duties paid by us. There will be nothing extra for you to pay on delivery.

 

If I choose the wrong bag can I return it?

If you buy the bag from this website yes. You'll need to return the bag unused, in perfect condition and with tags attached. You have 30 days after delivery to contact us to start the returns process. Read our full returns policy here.

 

Click here to contact our customer service team

  

Video featuring Denise Sutton, Billingham's head of retail in the UK & Nordics, going through a selection from the Billingham product range with Nigel Atherton, the group editor of Amateur Photographer Magazine. (Please note the Hadley One shown in the video features the optional Full Size Removable Padded Insert, as standard it is supplied with the Half Size Removable Padded Insert). Filmed in mid-2023.

 

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