Billigham question....yes another one. PLEASE HELP

[kristian dowling]

This will be my final question so I need as much help as

possible. As I have discovered that Billighma are sold here for

about the same price of Domke I am keen to try. But they are

sold in another state.....SO

 

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.....I need to know if I am accurate about the following equivelents

Domke F-5XB = Billigham Hadley Small

 

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Domke F-803 = Billingham Hadley/ Hadley Pro (the one I want

as it stores A4 paper).

 

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The Billigham bags seem more padded and protective than my

Domke bags. I am scared to drop my domke bags because of

fear of damaging my equipment.

 

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So I need your advice and wisdom. Please help :0

 

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PS: Jay, where are you?

[kristian dowling]

Let me rephrase:

 

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I have the two Domke bags mentioned above. What I want is:

1. Better padding/protection

2. Weather protection

3. Same/similar sizes to bags I already own.

4. A4 size for carrying papers (Hadley Pro?) My F-803 is too tight.

 

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Am I on the right track with the hadley "small" AND "pro"

[kristian dowling]

Oh yeah and what I also hate the fact that with the Domke, you

need to fill it FULL or it won't balance or sit right!!

 

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So if the Billingham is rougher and stiffer, so be it.

[jay_.]

The smallest Hadley is roughly the B'ham equivalent of the 803

satchel, but they're really birds of a different feather. The

closest B'ham equivalent to the F5XB is the Series 3 (S3). I agree

that the Hadley and other B'hams are better padded than the Domke

bags, *except* for the F5XB. That is a different story, it is better

padded and sealed with a zipper and a velcro flap. It also has a

belt tunnel and removable/replaceable shoulder strap which to me put

it well out front of the S3. I also feel that the small Hadley and

S3, as well as the Alice are too remimiscent of ladies' handbags for

my comfort level.

[james_.1]

Don't know about the Billinghams you're talking about but perhaps

you've checked out their website www.billingham.com. I have the 225

and it's very nice...very aesthetically pleasing and functional and

protective. Holds my outfit and then some. Still that open lens

space for the nocti though : ) I like the zippered opening and

additional flapover, but perhaps a quicker way to open the flap

would be nice. Anyway, they live up to reputation for quality.

[kristian dowling]

Jay, so you are saying that the Hadley "small" is bigger than the

F-5XB and close to the size of the F803, so the Hadley "pro" must

be a pretty big bag huh? Is it much bigger than the F803?

 

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Anyone else?

[frank_ricatto]

Kristian: I think it's time you commit to a bag. Use it and you

will find out which features work for you and you equipment. The

features that miss the mark, will be incorporated in your next camera

bag. Just like you use different lenses for different situations or

applications, you will also own more than one camera bag.

 

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The Billingham Series 3 is one of the most protective bags made, but

it is also one of the smallest. It always sits up straight, because

it has a stiffener in the side walls - it protects your equipment if

somethig falls on your camera bag. A situation that can come up in

the overhead bin of an airplane.

 

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It sounds like you can't go wrong purchasing any of the bags you are

considering. Good Luck - HAVE FUN!

[ilkka]

I have both the F5XB and small Hadley. Main compartment of small

Hadley is slightly bigger than the Domke main compartment. On top of

that the Hadley has two expandable side pockets that can hold quite a

lot of stuff. The Domke only has a very slim outside pocket suitable

for one filter or a small notebook.

 

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F5 has very thin padding at the bottom and sides and not at all in

ends. Comes with two thin padded dividers. I use one in the end of

the bag to provide reasonably proper padding to the main compartment

and one in the middle. This leaves the other end with no padding, but

for the light meter and lenses I keep there it doesn't worry me much.

F5 has a zipper in the main compartment and a (too) big flap.

 

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The Hadley comes with a completely surrounding padded protection,

bottom, sides and top and enough dividers to configure it any way you

like. But no zipper. The flap covers it tightly and gives good

protection for weather, but some dust might find its way in due to

the lack of zipper. Very easy to open and close with the leather

strips and brass studs. I usually keep just one closed when out on

the street.

 

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So why do I have both? I bought the Hadley first and like it very

much. I also wanted a smaller bag that I can pack inside a suitcase

when I travel without taking any additional space. The Billingham is

strongly built but a bit stiff. Whether it is full or not, it still

takes the same space in luggage. So I got the F5XB and it fits the

bill nicely.

 

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I hope this helps.

 

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Ilkka