Billingham Hadley Large/Pro

Just bought a used Hadley Large for when I don't want to carry everything. Arrived in great condition, but it's missing all the dividers so useless as a camera bag. I've contacted the seller, but does anyone who has one of these use Superflex inserts with these bags?

I can't find the dividers separately to buy anywhere, just the whole insert at around £44 delivered. At that price I may as well have bought a new bag, almost.

Assuming I get this sorted out and keep the bag, what's the best way of creating more compartments in these bags in addition to the inserts supplied (or not)

Thanks

[IMG]http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/johnriley1uk/036-Hadley-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/johnriley1uk/037-Hadley-2.jpg[/IMG]
That's the Hadley Pro, but the priciple will be the same. The added insert means a camera/lens can be stored lens down and it's instantly accessible. The second extra compartment holds a lens hood.

These bags are not cheap, but they will last, so I'd bite the bullet and buy the proper insert, plus an extra as shown.

Thanks John

I'm happy with the bag, just doesn't have any dividers. I can return it to the seller for a refund, but just wanted to see if there was an alternative. I have the green insert, just nothing to divide the equipment. If I buy a new complete insert I won't be far off the price of a new bag anyway. I can't find anywhere that sells the dividers on their own, just the whole thing.

How many dividers came with the Hadley Pro? Have you got more equipment under the visible stuff? The Hadley Large is pretty deep, though the Pro seems more or less the same. If I put a camera in face down with most lenses it would be halfway down the bag. I was hoping I could have two layers of equipment, if that makes sense.

In the bag you see there is camera body, I think with 16-45mm on it, plus lenshood for same. There is probably some accessory under the lenshood. The sides have small hinged flaps that are part of the kit, so two lenses can be stored each side, providing they are not too long. So a 12-24mm could be on top of a 50mm, for example. A 60-250mm or 300mm would fill theside space on its own.

I use the areas between the green insert and the bag itself to hold docements, notebooks, maps, etc.

The front pockets are used for batteries, cards, paracetamol, torch, compass, sometimes a spare compact camera, and still there is space. Sue's Kindle also finds a place when needed!

There is a padded flap that goes over the top of the insert, but I use it folded back to give me faster access.

Why not give Billingham a ring ansd they'll help you more specifically. They are usually at the NEC as well, so come March you could have a look at all the appropriate bits.

Thanks again John

The second photo helps. It looks like one of the Superflex inserts in the bottom so I know they will fit. I've just rung Billingham and they are ringing back shortly to see if they can supply the dividers only. They said the whole replacement insert has 2 vertical and 2 horizontal dividers - is that what you had originally? Are the vertical ones the full height of the insert?

Yes, there are two vertical full height dividers plus two horizontal flaps. It works very well.

I like this design because the bag is quite narrow and compact to the body, so it's not too obtrusive, and access is secure but also brilliantly fast.

Thanks. Billingham have just rung back and are able to do a set of dividers for me. It makes the bag a bit more expensive than I hoped, but still o.k. Appreciate you taking the trouble to help.

No problem, glad to help.

Just to explain if anyone wondered: The reason I store the camera lens down is partly to let any dust fall out of rather than into the shutter/sensor area. Also it makes access faster. The superflex insert is necessary as it stops the weight of the camera plus lens resting on the lens, potentially causing pressure on the lens barrel. The end of the lens is in free space.

Thanks again. That's helpful too as I'm moving from a Think Tank holster which held the camera face down and prefer that for ease of access.

Billingham Hadley sounds like a Tory MP

Then Billingham Hadley Large must be an overweight Tory MP

...The less said about Billingham Hadley Pro the better.

On a more serious note, when I was looking for a larger camera bag recently I had a look at some of the Billingham bags in a local camera shop. Nice, but exensive. Really expensive.

I ended up getting a Snapper Duo which seems very similar to the Billinghams and their ilk for a very small fraction of the price. It holds a mammoth amount of gear, too. Currently carring my K-5, 5 lenses, large Metz flash and tons of accessories (spare batteries, memory cards, cable release, P-TTL flash cable, wireless flash triggers, flash diffusers, gel kit, filters, Cleaning kit, etc. etc.)...

All that and I still have space left over for a second body, no problem. In addition to a second body I could also fit in a couple more small lenses, or alternatively swap out a couple of the smaller lenses I have for much larger ones. Oh yeah, and a smallish laptop as I don't even use the laptop pouch at the moment.

Looks a nice bag. I wanted something a bit thinner and less bulky, but that would still hold a body and a few lenses so the Hadley Large/PRO fitted the bill nicely. I wouldn't have paid full price either, but picked up a mint one for 55 pounds, plus 16 pounds for the missing dividers so not too bad.

Had the dividers today and (almost) filled the bag up. I know John has often recommended the Hadley Pro/Large, but I'm amazed how much kit can fit into such a small seeming bag.

Just thought it might be useful for anyone else considering one of these what I would manage to get in, comfortably.

I don't have all these lenses any more, but based on previous experience it would fit a K-30 with Pentax 18-250mm attached face down in the centre, Sigma 10-20mm and Vivitar macro teleconverter on the one side and Pentax 55-300mm, DA 40mm Ltd and M 50mm 1.7 on the other (with an additional padded divider). USB and power cables, charger, 3 lithium batteries, AA battery holder and 12 boxed Eneloops in one front pocket and a rocket blower, swabs, cleaning fluid, cloths and polarising filter in the other, with room left.

Even with all this it doesn't feel heavy or bulky. Very impressed.