Comments on: Review: Billingham 550 / 307 / 107 Bags

By: Areez

Areez — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:46:32 +0000

Hi all,
Quite convinced I “need” one of these.
However, I only need to fit a 7D + 24-105…maybe a 50 1.4 or 10-22.
Would the 107 be suitable? I really don’t want a large bag. Can’t really find anything online regarding the 207.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:59:03 +0000

Hi,

I enjoyed reading this,

i myself suffered with the Billingham lust for the best part of 10 years, but by now i have owned a Billingham Hadley and a 335 which i still use.

I agree their gorgeous bags, the protection level is second to none, but i find the 335 impossible when fully loaded for a day out shooting, with canon eos 1ds digitals, my eos 1s or my bronica SQ, they all fit, but being a non driver their completely impossible for more than 1 mile, i sometimes walk 5-10.

My lovely 335 has been relegated to home storage, whilst i look for something like the 207 or the 307-not sure yet

But i dont know if you all agree with me on this, but i have found that just one bag is not suitable for all photography, i have a CCS rucksack, 4 lowepro bags of varying sizes and my 335, but i regularly find my bags unsuitable, and have been known to spend half an hour trying to choose a bag to fit the cameras i need.

Maybe its about time i learned to drive haha

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 05:50:04 +0000

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the wonderful review.

Just wondering if a camera body (gripped) attached to a 70-200mm 2.8 hood reversed would fit in the 107 or 307 (well I’m planning to get the 207 but it seems the height/depth are the same) vertically along with another lens say a 24-70mm 2.8?

Cheers,
Tim

By: Hendrasti Danti

Hendrasti Danti — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:59:43 +0000

Hi Gary! thanks a lot for the useful review on Billingham wonderful bags. A couple of questions though…. I wonder if the Delta pouchbag can be attached to the 107 or 207… and would I be able to fit a Canon 7D with 24-105 attached plus 2 small lens (50 f/1.4 & 10-22mm) plus a flash in 107? Would you be able to tell me how substantial different in size between the 107 and 207?
Many thanks!
(Danti)

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:09:50 +0000

Gary,

Good advice as always. Like most I have been in search of the perfect bag for some time and clearly it is a matter of a selection of bags appropriate to different uses. The search continues. I will certainly try out the Billingham range.
Many thanks
Paul

By: Gary Rogers

Gary Rogers — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:26:25 +0000

Hello Paul. I know I’m in danger of sounding like a Billingham salesman, but a year later I still love my 307; it suits my requirements perfectly. Of course, I did have the luxury of being able to borrow four different bags at the same time for a couple of months in order to review them, before I purchased.

The 307 will definitely NOT be the right bag for you – there is no way you could carry a D3 plus six lenses (unless they are all very small and you don’t mind them rubbing against each other!). I carry two (fairly large) lenses and I would not want to attempt a third.

If you follow one of the links in the article to JP Distribution, they have quite a bit of info of what you can fit in each bag. I would advise caution – they show what you CAN fit, but that is not necessarily in a way that would make it convenient for you.

The best advice (as suggested by the distributor) is to find your nearest dealer, take all your kit there and work out which one works best for you.

Billingham bags, as great as I think they are, are not cheap so you really need to be sure you are getting the right one!

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:28:38 +0000

Hi Gary,

A year on I would be interested to hear how the Billingham 307 is working out for you. I have been using Lowepro for years and have three configurations but, like in your review, I now have a tendency to leave kit at home to use a smaller bag. I always end up needing something I didn’t bring!! I have three international trips coming up soon and I need most of my stuff with me. Can you recommend the 307 for a Nikon D3 plus 6 lenses and tripod travelling by air and public transport?

Thanks

Paul (Dublin)

By: Francisca

Francisca — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:01:09 +0000

Thanks Gary for your follow-up. Your input is much appreciated!

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:15:11 +0000

Francisca, I don’t have hands-on experience of the 335. However, my kit is similar to yours (50D + 24-70 + 70-200 + 430EXII) and it fits in the 307 well. With the 70-200 mounted it is a very tight fit and you will need to carefully arrange the inserts (in mine, the front of the 70-200 sits on top of the insert at an angle). Also, I put the lens hoods in the bag on top of the camera, which is a pain if you need to quickly take the camera out of the bag and start shooting. The 307 has enough room, it’s a matter of how you arrange it and whether you can compromise a little if you need to.

By: Francisca

Francisca — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:23:21 +0000

I’m also facing dilemma trying to decide which one I’m getting. I’m narrowing them down either the 307 or 335. They seem to have similar specs. I’m planning to bring 50D+15-85+70-200 f4 IS (preferably mounted)+580EXII. Would love to hear your input. Thanks Gary.