System 3 Camera Bag Reviews

5 Rating 3 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

“Have owned a System 3 bag since it came out. Keep my Haselblad in it and today like new. Great bag excellent longevity. The only thing needed is to clean the brass fixings from time to time. Also own a System 1 and System 2 bag, all still look like new.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

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

“This review has been a long, long time coming. My father was a photographer for most of his life, and one thing I know he aspired to was a Billingham camera bag. Situated "just down the road" from us (actually in Lye at that time, about 5 miles away) he regarded Billingham as being at the pinacle of camera bag manufacturing. So, sometime in the early '80s (and probably unbeknown to my mother) he bought one, and I can well remember him carrying it around, filled with either his beloved Olympus OM1 or OM2 cameras, or his Mamiya medium format kit. Dad died in 2011 at the ripe old age of 91, and one of the things I inherited from him was his Billingham bag. Unfortunately, at some point, the internal dividers and base for the bag had been removed and it was just that, an empty bag. Although a keen photographer myself, I had plenty of other camera bags that were all complete with internal dividers, so the Billingham was put to one side. I did use it a couple of times as a fly fishing bag, which is appropriate because the Billingham Company first began as manufacturers of fishing bags. However, for a while the bag lay unused; until the first Coronovirus lockdown in March last year. With the Covid-19 restrictions keeping me indoors I began sorting out some old photography equipment, and once again came across my Dad's Billingham bag. I decided I must bring it back into use as a working camera bag, so I measured the bag carefully inside and out and studied the technical specifications of the various bags on Billingham's website, including those in the online bag museum. Eventually I began an emailed conversation with Mike Banahan at Billingham's, and we finally esablished that the bag was a System 3, manufactured between 1979 and 1983. Although the original Systemflex divider system (which involves a wooden base and customizable foam partitions) is still available for the bag (even after 40 years!) I was more interested in the possibility of using a padded insert with velcoed dividers. Mike agreed that the insert and dividers for the Hadley Pro would probably fit, so I ordered a set, and they fitted almost perfectly! There is a bit of extra space within the depth of the bag, but that actually makes room for some expansion. I now had a Billingham bag with the padded capacity of a Hadley Pro, but with a large extra compartment (with its own internal pockets), and two large dump pockets at the front. For a bag that's at least 38 years old and maybe over 40, it's in remarkably good condition; a few scuffs and some minimal wear on the leather trim, but otherwise it's really excellent, and the bag holds a lot of stuff. It'll fit my two mirrorless camera bodies with zoom lenses attached, plus an additional zoom, or a couple of small lenses in the main padded compartment. The large front section has no padding, but I can fit a couple of lenses in lens pouches in its internal pockets and there's room for other accessories as well. The front dump pockets will take any remaining bits and pieces, although I also find them very useful as lens changing pockets. So there it is, my Dad's Billingham bag brought back to life. It's testament to the superb design, materials and workmanship of Billingham products that with around four decades already under its belt, I can well see this bag being around for plenty more years to come.”

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

“I just did a review on my bag which I thought was a 335 which I bought in the early 80’s. I found this bag in the museum and realised that this is the bag I have. What I put in my review holds true for this bag. Thank you to Billingham team for such a great bag. A true classic.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Thank you for your kind words! Really appreciate the kind words! Email us at help@billingham.co.uk if you need any advice with the dividers :) The original review for the benefit of other readers: A true five star product in every respect. I bought my Billingham 335 cordura bag back in the early 80’s and it is still going strong after years of use. The bag has hardly any signs of wear on other than what you would expect of 40 years of use from such a well made bag. The only thing I have misplaced are the foam dividers that I took out when I used the bag as a travel bag on a trip. It could be time to get some of the new super flex system for my bag. Thank you To the Billingham team for making such well made bag.and trusty travel companion.

Posted 4 years ago