I've been looking for a new bag for the walkaround version of my Hassy kit (503cx body, 80mm, (2) A12s, and a 45 degree prism/meter), and wandered into Samy's here in LA to see what they had. I found this great-looking canvas and leather shoulder bag that I liked both for the looks and the fact that it didn't look like a camera bag. It didn't have a name brand on it, or even a price tag, so I decided to wait and look it up online when I got home. I searched and searched, and finally stumbled on Billingham, which I'd never heard of before. It looked like what I was holding in the store was a Hadley Small, which goes for around $170-$200. That didn't seem right, so I went back to Samy's the next day, and it turns out they do have Billingham's on the aisle next the one I was on, but what I was holding was by... Kenko? I thought they just did extension tubes and stuff?
My impressions are that it's a pretty credible copy, with real leather (?) and decent hardware. I did notice I was able to unscrew one of the studs that holds the belt clasps, but we'll see how much of a problem that turns out to be. I have a feeling the bag is much less durable than a Billingham, but then again Samy's marked it down to $55 for me, so what do I expect? Still looks great.
I'm just surprised they're able to do this. I can't believe Billingham isn't all over them for it - it's a pretty blatant rip-off, but I guess they're not branding it as Billingham, so it's less egregious than a fake Gucci bag or whatever...
I've got three Billingham bags, really great stuff! About a rip-off, I dunno, maybe they don't know about it, or can't do anything about it...it is just a camera bag after all.
I have to say, I'm liking the bag a lot so far. Once you work the leather straps a bit, they come on and off the quick release knobs pretty easily. They've put green felt inside, similar to a Billingham, and my gear fits really well. Positive!
Well for $55, I'd certainly buy that bag. It looks like a very credible copy. One way you can tell it's not a Billingham is that the Billinghams have a leather branding across the front.
Frankly, I always wondered why no one in the U.S. didn't produce their own leather and canvas bags with the general styling of a Billingham.
Billingham started out as a UK maker of fishing bags. But they found that photographers were also using the bags and they eventually gave up making fishing bags and now make only photography bags (and some travel bags, but the travel bags are not available in the U.S.) Kenko is distributed in the U.S. by RTS, which also distributes Billingham, but RTS (at least on their website) does not seem to distribute Kenko bags, so I wonder where Samy's gets them from. And I've just checked the Samy's website and there's no bag that looks like the Billingham on there either and no Kenko bags.
The only way something is a rip-off is if the logo is copied and placed on the copy or there is a patent/copyright infringement on the design. There is nothing unique in the Billingham design and the logo is not used so no rip-off. Anyone is free to make a identical copy if they wish and there are a couple of manufactures of Billingham look-a-likes.
Mickey wrote:
The only way something is a rip-off is if the logo is copied and placed on the copy or there is a patent/copyright infringement on the design. There is nothing unique in the Billingham design and the logo is not used so no rip-off. Anyone is free to make a identical copy if they wish and there are a couple of manufactures of Billingham look-a-likes.
True. I have Billingham bags but the real test is how well does the look-alike work, how well made, will it last...and ultimately, is it a good value (price/utility). It could be a great deal or a waste of money, hard to say with out a hands-on look. But I can't imagine that there is a legal case to be made by Billingham...what would they say...it looks like ours that we have been making for who knows how long? But I'm def not a lawyer. We have a few FM'ers that are and maybe they know something about trademarks and will chime in.
Well, I also did find a Domke look-alike but not the Billingham look-alike yet. Now I need to try Samy's again now that I have the link to it above.
This Safrotto which is a Domke look-alike and feel-alike is very good.
