Recommend me a bag.....
Discussion
I was a pro during the 90's so I've been there, done that with the Billingham range.....truly great kit !
Nowadays I'm more an occasional photographer so I need something understated to take a large Nikon + Motordrive, 2 lenses and a smallish flash....
I don't want no man-bag type stuff, nor a rucksack.
Top quality..... with maybe some leather.
Whats out there ?
Nowadays I'm more an occasional photographer so I need something understated to take a large Nikon + Motordrive, 2 lenses and a smallish flash....
I don't want no man-bag type stuff, nor a rucksack.
Top quality..... with maybe some leather.
Whats out there ?
I've got one of these http://products.lowepro.com/product/Nova-160-AW,21... and it works well for me.
Loads of pockets, well made, carries my 450D both my lenses and my Lumix compact with ease, I'm very pleased with it. I know my kit isn't massively high end but it was quite a lot of money for me and it feels nicely protected in this.
Loads of pockets, well made, carries my 450D both my lenses and my Lumix compact with ease, I'm very pleased with it. I know my kit isn't massively high end but it was quite a lot of money for me and it feels nicely protected in this.
I'd pretty much decided on a slingshot 300 from looking on the internet, then actually went into a camera shop and didn't like it! I then decided on a classified 250 http://products.lowepro.com/product/Classified-250... but didn't really like the acess to it. The guy in the shop told me that lowepro have a new range of bags due any time now which is a mix of the classified style and the slingshot quick access, so best of both worlds.
The moral of this very badly worded story is don't trust the internet for a bag. Go and feel some up in a shop!
The moral of this very badly worded story is don't trust the internet for a bag. Go and feel some up in a shop!
jon- said:
I'd pretty much decided on a slingshot 300 from looking on the internet, then actually went into a camera shop and didn't like it! I then decided on a classified 250 http://products.lowepro.com/product/Classified-250... but didn't really like the acess to it. The guy in the shop told me that lowepro have a new range of bags due any time now which is a mix of the classified style and the slingshot quick access, so best of both worlds.
The moral of this very badly worded story is don't trust the internet for a bag. Go and feel some up in a shop!
I was thinking exactly the same, except having decided on my choice I'd return to the internet to find the best deal, often ending up making my purchase on eBay.......this applies to almost everything I purchase these days, including home appliances.The moral of this very badly worded story is don't trust the internet for a bag. Go and feel some up in a shop!
Slothario said:
I don't want no man-bag type stuff, nor a rucksack.
Top quality..... with maybe some leather.
I'd be interested to know why you won't consider rucksacks & why you would prefer some leather in your choice of bag?Top quality..... with maybe some leather.
Also an ex-pro, I kept all my Billingham bags & fully agree with your sintiments re; quality, more recently purchasing a 'Heritage' with similar leather trimmings - however there are a good few 'purpose designed' quality rucksacks available that in my opinion allow easier transport of equipment, especially when out trecking.
chris.mapey said:
Just buy anthoher Billingham 
I love mine and was using it only yesterday for a trip to London with the family - took a load of camera gear out, and put all the family rubbish in
You know what Chris ? Thats exactly what I'm going to do. 15 years in the business during the 80's/90's and I regret parting with much of my gear, none moreso than the Billinghams....I love mine and was using it only yesterday for a trip to London with the family - took a load of camera gear out, and put all the family rubbish in
The thing is I don't want to appear as brand new as my freshly unpackaged 335 so I'm looking for a used one. Can anyone here spare me the horrors of ebay and sell me a used bag ?
jon- said:
Slothario said:
The thing is I don't want to appear as brand new as my freshly unpackaged 335 so I'm looking for a used one. Can anyone here spare me the horrors of ebay and sell me a used bag ?
Could we have just discovered a new market? The new "used looking" bags 
- Reminds me of my first commission. I was advised by a fellow photographer to add a Billingham to my shopping list, he explained how rubust they are but more importantly as the pro's choice, I'd be taken more seriously.He went on to add "whatever you do don't buy a f
kin new one, you don't want to look like a complete tt"Hmm, there could be a new market here... I can see myself taking a line of 100 shiny new camera bags for a ten mile 'scrape' down the A12, then boil them in bleach and let the local kids play football with them.
Then sell them for 100% profit
Probably wouldn't work for cameras/lenses though. Perhaps just a light sandpapering?
Then sell them for 100% profit
Probably wouldn't work for cameras/lenses though. Perhaps just a light sandpapering?
Slothario said:
The thing is I don't want to appear as brand new as my freshly unpackaged 335 so I'm looking for a used one. Can anyone here spare me the horrors of ebay and sell me a used bag ?
I remember turning up at my 1st event and one of the other togs had a brand new billingham, clearly its 1st outing, and he got some serious pee taking from the other pros, looked down at my seriously battered one that I'd grabbed off of fleabay for £20 and breathed a huge sigh of relief And I like your idea John, I could run a Oxford branch of the business dragging them up and down the A34
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