let me start with my self by saying my favorite so far is Billingham Hadley Pro, small as a briefcase and i can easily take 1 long lens 70-200, and two medium size one of them mounted to the camera. also can take side bags like the photos below.
I highly recommend this bag for everyday use and for travel.
My needs might be a bit different because my travelling is pretty much moving my life from one place to the next, but I have found the Mountainsmith Borealis fantastic, loads of room, dead comfy, proper hiking harness, probably room for 2 bodies plus 2 lenses or 1 body & 4-5 lenses (my config).
It is just over the carryon limit for most planes but I have never had a problem, even when loaded upto 15kg with gear, laptop, change of clothes, flip flops etc. (for long-haul flights).
You can see my review here... I am hoping to update the review soon with better pictures and more real world use stuff.
I am a bit lazy to photograph with the 70-200 inside, but i have some I shot before. 70-200 easily, it can if mounted to a camera but you cant close the zipper. even my 300f4L IS can fit and i can close the zipper. However i dont believe its for sale yet in US, i bought mine from UK. US have the older version 306.
Thanx for the 307 photos! Before getting the 206 as my preferred walkaround, I scoured the net for photos. Why is it so difficult to find photos of Billingham bags? Doesn't help that the UK Billingham web site is a joke when you need any useful information and/or photos of their products.
You are very right m3rocket about the billingham website, when 307 was released i couldn't find any photo or info even when it was sold in other websites.
Very nice, have been thinking about the Hadley for some time...you may have tipped me over the edge. I have a 335, 445, and Rucksack...the best bags out there!
Which 70-200? And does it stand up and fit in the Hadley? ...stand up and zip closed still I mean.
I was talking about 70-200 f4 IS but i think even the f2.8 have the same length but wider. i have this image to give you an idea not the best quality. the Hadley Pro doesnt have a zipper just some padding to lay it on top as in the image.
I've been using photo backpacks for most of carrying. I've seen those bags around and really like the look of them. How is the wear & tear on the shoulders at the end of a long day? Does it balance the weight, well?
Deezie wrote:
I've been using photo backpacks for most of carrying. I've seen those bags around and really like the look of them. How is the wear & tear on the shoulders at the end of a long day? Does it balance the weight, well?
Shoulder bags have all the weight on one shoulder. You can switch shoulders or cross it. But anything with weight in one place and not two or three is not going to be like a backpack. Personally and tho I have backpacks, they are made for hauling gear and not for photography. Meaing that with a shoulder bag, you have instant access to your stuff. You can carry it open top and have the camera-lens mounted and ready to shoot. When you stop, you can just slip the bag off your shoulder. They also tend to be smaller than a backpack that has all the extra straps and loops and misc stuff. Just a personal preference of course. Billingham in particular have nice very big/wide shoulder pads on the strap that distributes weight. If you don't know if you like shoulder bags, buy a used one or a Domke and see...that won't put you out much to try. Personally, my backpacks sit on the shelves and my shoulder bags get 90% of the use...I like being ready to instantly shoot. I think it come down to are you shooting or hauling gear. Different needs for different events...that is why I use some of each, but my personal preference is shoulder bag ready to go--how you use camera gear is the main determinant.
To be honest, i have never used shoulder bag for too long this is why i cant judge however if the weight is light i think you would be find because you wont be walk all the time for sure. but if the weight is heavy i think you might lose your shoulder. so keeping it around three lenses i think you will be fine.
I have the Billingham Packington, which for some weird reason, always looks very different to me in photographs than it does in "real life". In real life, it's a thin looking bag, but in photos, it always looks "boxier". I'm able to fit my Nikon D200 with a 28-70mm mounted, a 70-200 and a 12-24 with flash and a bunch of accessories, but it's a bit tight. I actually use that bag more as a work and computer bag and use a Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 for my gear. While not as "pretty" as the Billingham, it's a very practical and well thought-out bag with tons of pockets and specific features for a photographer. But I use the Billingham daily as a work bag.
I was just at the PDN/Photo show in New York and stopped at the Billingham booth, but didn't notice any new bags, but I simply might have missed it. I would have liked to get a look at the 307. Guess I'll have to wait until B&H gets some in. With the weak dollar, I probably can't afford it anyway. (It's 1.63 British pounds to the dollar today and that's an improvement. That makes that bag $326 USD.)
I use two shoulder bags, Billingham 335 and Thinktank's Urban Disguise 60. Both are outstanding products with a different set of strengths. The Billingham is a handsome bag, a real work of art. It is well padded and built like a tank. Its drawback is usability - it takes a little time to get things in and out of the bag. The UD 60, on the other hand, is slimmer, not as well padded, easily accessible, and very versatile. It can also fit in a laptop which makes it an excellent choice as a carry-on for airplane travel.
I think I have a pretty unorthodox approach-- though perhaps not. Because of some of the places I travel, and what I'm doing there, I try to be as low profile as I can be with a 5D + 35L + tripod (sometimes).
I travel with a Northface Hot Shot, in black, with the labels taped over or painted black with a Sharpie. I'm obviously still carrying around a fancy-ish bag...though given that Northface knock-offs outnumber just about every other bag, real or otherwise, it's actually not that flashy once one is outside the United States.
I keep a 10-inch, 8-hr, netbook running Snow Leopard, an ultra-light/compact tripod, C. Pol + ND filter, remote release, 5D, Oly 24 2.8, 35L, 135L, light jacket, and whatever else I need for the day-- in the bag. I often leave the netbook where I am staying. The tripod fits folded INSIDE the bag, in the main compartment, next to the 5D w/ 35L mounted. The other two lenses in the "outer" pocket. I don't look like a photographer unless I'm actually in the act or have the camera on my shoulder.
Very easy to carry for hours, nice padding/mesh panel against the back to limit sweating. For moving between locations, I use the Northface day-pack across my chest, and carry an Osprey 48 L backpacking pack for everything else. The Osprey is only needed for extended travel (multiple weeks) and when I can afford to have two bags. Otherwise I can live out of the Hotshot for quite some time... though it's rough.
I plan on doing a subsequent post-- if I get a chance before I leave on assignment in Asia next week-- to detail this setup, as I think it might be useful to some folks out there with similar travel/photo needs.
This is a darn good thread. I am looking for the best system to take pictures on the move with, I do a lot of my photography while trekking/backpacking, so a system that could hold two cameras with lens attached (say the 5Dii with a 17-40 and a 7D with 24-105), and not get in the way of my backpack. Thoughts?
