Those of you who enjoy the great outdoors, whether it is in remote nature or an urban setting, should enjoy my review of the Billingham Hadley Small Pro Camera Bag.
Billingham, who for many needs no introduction, is a camera bag brand (Made in England since 1973) which I’ve always held dear in my heart for the quality of their product and how lovely and supportive their team is of my work.
For years now I have had the opportunity to use their bags and the Hadley Pro is one I love and already reviewed as part of my review of the best camera bags for street photography.
So when Billingham kindly offered to send me the latest “small” version of the Hadley Pro their best selling camera bag as a gift, I just couldn’t refuse and was keen to give it a go.
The Billingham Hadley Pro is a messenger bag. One you either wear on your shoulder, across your torso or by hand using the handle.
Messenger bags are a pretty standard option among camera bag manufacturers, although I think most would agree they are primarily aimed at more compact cameras, perhaps micro four thirds, or a Fuji X100V up to the larger mirrorless such as a Sony A7R (whatever iteration).
Of course nothing would stop you shoving a Canon DSLR with a small prime in there but in reality it all depends how much you do carry a bag, how much you walk with it, etc…
In my experience as a street photographer, walking many miles with my camera every day, the heavier the camera the less comfortable will a messenger option be and you may prefer a backpack camera bag. A heavy messenger bag can affect your posture and seriously hurt your back after a while.
But for everyday photographers, not carrying the heaviest of gear, Billingham’s Hadley Pro is an excellent option.
In this particular review I focus on the Hadley Small Pro, Billingham’s latest offering.
Why small? Well I personally like to have options, at times I need space for a bit more and opt for a medium size while other times I choose a bag which allows me to just about carry my camera and an extra lens perhaps.
The smaller the bag obviously the lighter it is and the least it gets in the way of a good photo. This one is under 1kg so very light indeed.
I recently reviewed another type of messenger bag, a STUNNING medium sized luxury camera bag by Hawkesmill England. A fabulous bag but altogether a very different beast. (Link to that review at the end of this article).
Billingham were very early in the camera bag game. Many have come since (and copied them) but Billingham were relative pioneers, they brought photographers bags which didn’t scream “There is a camera in there, rob me”.
Bags which looked good, felt good and lasted well. Bags which feel as if created by photographers for photographers and not by an executive committee which has never handled a camera.
I always think of an explorer carrying a Billingham bag. They are discreet but people in the know… know.
Any of you watch BBC Gardener’s World? I’m pretty sure I spotted Monty Don carrying a Billingham Hadley Pro, a man of great tastes it seems!
So onto the bag itself.
As I write, the Billingham Hadley Pro Small is sitting on my desk and in there I have a Sony A7RII fitted with a small Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 prime lens, and in the other compartment I have a larger Sony FE Zoom 24-70mm f/2.8 GM.
The Sony is on the larger side of mirrorless cameras and yet it all fits very snuggly but not “squeezed-in” with a shoehorn.
Alternatively I can also use this bag to take a Mavic Pro out for a flight. The folded drone and remote fit perfectly.
Fear not as, even if the bag is filled with the above gear, there are two quite generous front pockets and larger back pocket for documents or bit and pieces you wish to carry.
The sample I am reviewing is a beautiful black bag with chrome metal fittings. I find it really looks the part but in a classy discreet way.
The fabric feels thick and long-lasting, the leather they used feels rich and not cheap in any way. A close look at the stitching and overall finish tells me Billingham has very high manufacturing standards and great quality control.
The strap is detachable and therefore washable.
Inside, the bag is provided with many extra inserts/dividers so you can customise the interior to fit your particular piece of kit or altogether remove them to turn it into an everyday bag.
Personally, I never use camera bags for other purposes as I don’t like to bring in contaminants (dust, crumbs…) which could damage my camera later. In fact I’m so obsessive when it comes to protecting my gear that I wrote a full article on how to look after your digital camera. They are expensive so why not care for them, right?
Will a fabric bag not let the rain through though?
If you are in the UK or anywhere else with such unpredictable weather fear not as Billingham has your back.
The bag is constructed with 3 waterproof layers as well as a back pocket for documents with a weatherproof zip. Your gear is safe in there.
Overall I love this bag as an option for long days out when I really need the smallest lightest bag to carry my most essential gear.
Don’t like black? No worries here either, there is a truly wide choice of colours available on the Billingham website.
It feels solid and the kind of bag you don’t fear damaging, because it’s well made but also because it almost asks that you take it out for a rough ride, life is like this at times and we can’t worry about the bag we use to protect our gear. Otherwise we’d need a bag to protect the bag itself!
Billingham bags have a 5 year warranty and I’ve no doubt they’ll outlive it.
I recommend any of you looking for a bag should check the Billingham website, it’s hard to go wrong.
Until next time,
Nico