550 Camera Bag - Khaki Canvas / Tan Leather Reviews

5 Rating 13 Reviews

About Billingham:

Billingham are a family owned company, manufacturing camera bags for the world’s photographers since 1973 alongside a range of leisure and laptop bags. All bags are made in the West Midlands area of England, a region famous for manufacturing. A core reason for Billingham’s longevity is the fact that from the start, the Billingham family were determined that their products would always be made to the very highest standards from the best available materials to provide high levels of protection for their valued contents.

A notable feature of Billingham camera bags is that they are made from a distincive 3-layer waterpoof canvas that never needs reproofing. They also feature genuine top grain leather and solid brass details.

Like any premium product, the quality of materials, design and craftsmanship that goes into creating a Billingham means that it represents a significant investment. It’s important that they don’t just look beautiful, but that they do their job of protecting equipment wherever they are and whatever they’re being used for – year in and year out.

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Phone:

1384412700

Email:

help@billingham.co.uk

Location:

Unit 4, City Estate, Corngreaves Road
Cradley Heath
B64 7EP

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How would you rate the build quality of the bag/product?

Did you buy the product from Billingham.co.uk? no

“Well I’ve used one of these for the last 30+ years. Gone all over the world and got rather battered and more than a little shabby. But, overall, I think this shabbiness looks right. I only wear shabby old clothes when travelling anyway, usually an ancient Belstaff tan canvas safari jacket, cargo trousers and my most disreputable hat so you see, this bag blends in. Over the years the gear it’s carried has changed from Nikon F through Nikon F2 bodies and 35-200mm to Leicaflex SL bodies and 35mm- 180mm lenses. Add lightmeters, films, filters, a Filofax Deskfax organiser and other notebooks etc. I prefer to keep my bag with me on the plane so don’t use the end pockets. There’s a way of holding the bag by the strap rather than the handles that enables it to slide into the metal frame to check if it’s within the limits to be carried on board. These are mostly used in U.K. airports. It helps if you don’t put anything in the front dump pockets. I pop stuff in my jacket pockets until I’m on board. Someone was advertising one of these on ebayuk a few years ago for £250. “ this bag makes you a traveler not a tourist”. Would someone fall for that marketing ploy? Well it didn’t sell.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

How would you rate the build quality of the bag/product?

Did you buy the product from Billingham.co.uk? no

“Absolutely the best. Had mine for almost twenty years and it’s been to more countries than I can remember. When I began working as an International Photojournalist I used Canon F1. Then I used Nikon F3 before switching back to an all manual camera, the Leicaflex SL as the lenses were far sharper than the Canon & Nikon. Two bodies carried with 3-4 lenses plus films, meters etc. Heavy stuff. This bag coped with everything that it was subjected to. It can be taken onboard planes if you take the end pockets off. I’ve not used the pockets anyway. U.K. airports have a metal frame that you can pop your bag into to see if it’s within regulation size. Provided you hold the bag by the handles, not the shoulder strap, it’ll go in providing you haven’t packed it too full. I wear safari-type coats with five pockets and I often put things in before inspections, loading the bag up later. So far they haven’t weighed my bag or I’d be over. I really recommend this bag, it’s British made and buying them keeps someone in a job. Ditto Barbour clothes - 85% of my clothes are Barbour for summer and winter alike.”

3 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

How would you rate the build quality of the bag/product?

Did you buy the product from Billingham.co.uk? no

“Bought this Billingham 550 in about 2013 in usa it's not only useful it's a beautiful looking and constructief bag. Use it for photographing and travel. Expensive but lifetime bag.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

How would you rate the build quality of the bag/product?

Did you buy the product from Billingham.co.uk? yes

“The 550 is a beautiful, extremely well-made bag. I bought the "classic" because I liked that it has real, functional buckles instead of just ornamental buckles and studs. However, there is a clear trade off in terms of form over function, because the buckles definitely do make it a bit more of a hassle to get into the bag quickly--for example, when needing to take out your electronics at airport security. Also, if you do use it as a carry on bag like I do, you may not be able to get away with adding the end pouches (which make the bag quite long). However, the zippered pockets behind the side pockets are probably sufficient to hold what you might have wanted to put in the end pockets. You could also fill the end pockets, put them inside the bag to sort your stuff, and then re-attach when you land. The nice thing is that they attach securely and don't flop around as much as you might expect. All-in-all, a great bag that I bet will last for the next 20 years.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“I work outdoors on film sets in some of the worst weather conditions and for hours/days at a time. And for over twenty years and counting, my 550 bag has kept my equipment secure and dry. Also, importantly, it is an easy bag to work from. There have been times when I have wished I was small to climb inside my bag to get away from it all. The 550 bag is the best camera bag ever made.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

Dear Nick, Thank you for your great review. We're so glad your bag has performed how it should in the bad weather conditions and that you find it easy to work from! Kind regards Billingham Team

Posted 5 years ago