Photographers tend to collect camera bags. It’s not all desire. We buy more gear and reorganize our kits, and continue to look for the perfect bag to meet our needs. Some bags find the back of the closet quickly, and some are designed so beautifully, they continue to meet our needs until things are falling off. One bag, which I have owned for ten years, continues to wear well and regularly proves that it was well worth the money spent, the Billingham Hadley.
I purchased this bag ten years ago. It was probably my third or fourth camera bag since really getting into photography, and the others not only moved to the back of the closet, but to the far reaches of the basement. My intention in purchasing it was to have a bag which would hold my 15″ laptop and camera gear for travel. For long-distance travel, I now have too much gear, so I use the Think Tank Airport Airstream and International roller bags, however, for local travel or general use, the Billingham has never let me down.
I own the large Hadley. It fits a 15″ laptop in an optional laptop sleeve which slides behind the main compartment, although I no longer carry my laptop in this bag unless using it with a small camera kit for business travel. The main compartment can hold a DSLR or SLR with a 24-70 lens attached, with room along each end for more lenses or a flash and accessories. The best feature is the gusseted front pockets which are each large enough to hold two flash units with room to spare.
The front pockets are fastened with snaps if you like, or you can use the quick release system, a leather strap with brass fittings, to pull open either side off the top flap to access the main compartment or either pocket. That way, you can pull out another lens to make a change without having to open the entire bag. When shooting film, I put my film in one of the front pockets so I know exactly where to reach for it.
The padded interior sleeve is removable, and can be used in other bags when needed. The dividers, held in place by their Velcro edges, can be arranged as desired for your gear. I can fit my very large Mamiya Pro TL with the winder grip, prism, 80mm lens, and film back inside, with room to spare for extra film backs or inserts.
Given that it can hold so much, I would recommend the optional shoulder pad to provide more comfort when wearing it on your shoulder. The Hadley also comes in a “Pro” line, including additional features such as a rear zippered pocket and top handle.
It has survived rainstorms, as it was often used for shooting cross country meets. The underside of the canvas is coated with a rubbery substance to resist water. Despite regular use, and sometimes abuse, it has held up quite well. The leather trim is a bit worn on the quick release straps, and there are some stains from the rain and dirt it has encountered. If I wanted, I could replace those leather straps as they are sold individually by Billingham. There is also some wear on the padded insert and velcro dividers, which can also be replaced separately. However, it still looks pretty good after ten years of regular use!
The style is not for everyone. I was drawn to it because I loved the look of the classic camera bags made of canvas and trimmed in leather. It’s not just for those of us over 50. My daughter requested her own for there 18th birthday a few years back.
This bag has stood the test of time and will serve you well for many years to come.
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This post was originally published on our sister site dedicated to film photography, Film Road Trip.