My Billingham bags: the Hadley Pro and the Leica M Combination Bag
Canvas, leather and brass, made in England since the 1970s. I carry two Billinghams: the Hadley Pro for a fuller kit, and the small Leica M Combination Bag for a rangefinder or compact. Here's what each does well and who it suits.
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Why Billingham
A Billingham doesn't look like photo gear. It looks like a well-made canvas bag with leather trims, the kind you'd carry to a gallery or a long lunch. Open it and there's a fully padded interior with movable dividers, so the camera is properly protected.
They're also very little fuss. The fabric is waterproof, the front straps release quickly, and the bags are built to be repaired rather than replaced.
Who makes them
Billingham is a family-run British company that has made bags in England since 1973. The Hadley range takes its shape from traditional fishing bags, and the design has changed very little in decades. Billingham has also made bags for Leica, including the Combination Bag for the Leica M system.
What both bags share
- Waterproof three-layer fabric: canvas or FibreNyte bonded to a middle layer of butyl rubber.
- A sculpted top flap that sits over the main compartment, so rain runs off rather than in.
- Quick-release front straps. Push the leather straps up off the brass studs to open the bag quietly with one hand.
- Padded dividers that attach anywhere inside, so you can arrange the bag for your kit.
- Full-grain leather trims, solid brass fittings and a five-year manufacturer's guarantee.
The Hadley Pro: for a body and three or four lenses
The Hadley Pro is my Billingham for days when I want options. It takes a mirrorless body with a lens attached plus two to four more lenses, including a 70–200 mm stored off the camera. Two expanding front pockets hold batteries, cards and a phone, and a full-width zipped pocket on the back keeps documents flat. A strap on the back slides over a suitcase handle for travel days.
The padded insert lifts out, which turns the bag into a roomy everyday satchel. The current version is the Hadley Pro 2020; the specs below are for that model.
The Leica M Combination Bag: small, and made for rangefinders
Billingham made this bag exclusively for Leica, sized around the M system. It holds two Leica M bodies with lenses attached, or one body with three lenses, and a front zip pocket takes film, a small flash or spare batteries. It's padded on all six sides, comes with a leather shoulder pad, and weighs just 0.7 kg.
It suits any small camera, not just a Leica: a fixed-lens compact like a Leica Q or Fujifilm X100, or a small mirrorless body with a compact prime. It's the bag I'd choose for a light day on foot.
Specifications
| Hadley Pro 2020 | Leica M Combination Bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Outside size | 41 × 16 × 28 cm | 26.5 × 14.5 × 21 cm |
| Weight (empty) | 1.23 kg | 0.7 kg |
| Capacity | 8.5 L | 4 L |
| Camera space | Body + lens + 2–4 lenses | 2 M bodies with lenses, or 1 body + 3 lenses |
| Pockets | 2 expanding front pockets, full-width zipped rear pocket | Front zip pocket, internal back pocket |
| Shoulder pad | Optional extra on most colours | Included |
| Suitcase strap | Yes | No |
| Colours | Black, khaki, sage, burgundy, navy and more | Black/black leather or khaki/tan leather |
| Price | About £272 on Billingham's international site (before UK VAT) | About US$325 new at Leica stores |
What to know before you buy
The Leica bag is discontinued
Billingham no longer makes the Leica M Combination Bag, and it was only ever sold through Leica stores. New stock is still around at some Leica stores, and secondhand ones come up often, usually in good condition because these bags last.
The Hadley Pro is a bag for shorter walks
At 1.23 kg empty, a full Hadley Pro is heavy for eight hours on foot. It's at its best on travel days, city days with stops, and shoots where you want every lens with you. Add Billingham's leather shoulder pad if you'll carry it for long.
The canvas is stiff at first
A new Billingham feels rigid. That structure is what protects your camera, and the canvas softens with use.
Check the fit for big lenses
The Hadley Pro's insert is slim front to back, which keeps the bag close to your body but means a camera with a grip or a bulky lens may not fit. Check Billingham's "what does it fit" list for your camera.
Which one suits you
- Hadley Pro if you carry a mirrorless body and several lenses, or want one satchel for travel days and shoots.
- Leica M Combination Bag if you shoot a rangefinder or a compact and want something light and small.
- Either if you want a bag that looks like a classic satchel, keeps the rain out and lasts for decades.
If you want something more like a handbag, compare the AEST Studios Capture Large Shoulder Bag. For more room at less weight, look at the Wotancraft Pilot 7L.
Where to buy
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
A weatherproof canvas satchel for a body and up to four lenses.
See it at Billingham ↗Leica M Combination Bag by Billingham
A small, fully padded Billingham made for Leica M cameras. Discontinued, so look for new stock at Leica stores or a secondhand one.
See it at Leica Store Miami ↗Comparing bags? See all the bags I carry side by side.