And I took the plunge and got the Billie.

Bags. Camera bags. Messenger bags. School bags.

I've had the Crumpler Western Lawn Messenger bag for two years now and it has served me really well in the past 2 years. It's amazing how much I can stuff into this small-looking bag. I've also bought the Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home when I bought my first DSLR (Canon 550D with 18-55mm kit). So far so good, bright green colour, but I've recently realised I was getting a little too old to be carrying Crumplers around. And that's when I stumbled upon the Billingham brand.

I began looking through their catalogue and thought their designs were really traditional-looking. Many users have commented that the bags were of superior quality and had the looks as well. They seemed a little too pricey for me at first. But after Chinese New Year, things rapidly changed.

Barely 2 days after the last day of CNY, I took the plunge (albeit having done lots of research and checking out the best prices in town). I got a friend to bring in the Hadley Pro.

It came in this really cool bag.

And here it is. The Billingham Hadley Pro in Khaki-tan trim. I chose the canvas one instead of the fibrenyte because I'd love the bag to age gracefully on canvas, rather than fibrenyte.


The bag came with a nice leather tag as well!

The front features the quick release leather straps and accompanying brass fittings.

Here's how it looks when you open the front flap up.
Also present are the twin flappy pockets.

The carrying handle feels absolutely solid. No worries about carrying it on the handle when the weight is too much for my shoulders.

Leather on canvas.

Leather and brass.

The Billingham tab.

This bag is actually a camera bag, as suggested by the padded insert compartment.

In the compartment, I can fit in (from left to right)
a Canon 50mm f1.8, a 1L Nike water bottle and another 24-105 f4 lens.

Here's how they look, standing against the bag.
The bottle can fit in the bag nicely, for the bag to be closed comfortably.

24-105 f4 / 18-55 kit lens / 550D

Nike bottle / 550D with 50mm f1.8 mounted / 18-55 kit lens
All three items fit in nicely, without any tight spaces at all.

Behind the insert, I can even slide in my 13" MacBook Pro.
And the MBP would fit in all the way, enabling the bag to close properly.

The insert can be removed too! And the bag becomes a nice messenger bag. Good for school.

2 textbooks, a foolscap pad and my MBP can all fit in there.

How about the pencil case? No worries there, I can even fit a calculator, wallet and iPhone in the twin flappy pockets in front, which can be made even bigger by unbuttoning them.


There is a zippered pocket at the back as well.
Capable of slotting some documents like passports or small notes.


The size of the pocket seems to suggest it may accomodate A4-sized documents, but the entry point wasn't generous enough. I couldn't fit my A4 pad in, unless I really tried to squeeze and cramp it in, which defeats the purpose.

Overall, the feel, looks and capabilities of the bag have sort of neutralize the pain of the cost of the bag. It certainly looks nothing like a Crumpler, but I believe with its build-quality, it can endure years and years of handling my current and future photographic gear, schooldays and the frequent photo outings in future. Now all it lacks is a film camera, which will be fulfilled when my grandfather's Nikon FG returns from the repair shop.