Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag Review

Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag Review:

The Eventer has been in the Billingham line of bags for years and years but recently, a smaller, Mini Eventer was released (review here).  In addition to the change in size, new features were also introduced, so it only makes sense that sooner or later, Billingham was going to introduced a new version of the larger Eventer with the latest features from its smaller sibling.  Well, the Eventer MKII has been announced today (March 31st 2022), and thanks to Billingham, I was able to get a review sample to test beforehand.  Here’s my full review of it.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned here, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you!

Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag Build Quality:

If you’re a frequent visitor of my site, then you probably know that I am a huge Billingham fan.  I’ve reviewed nearly every single bag that they make but in addition to testing them, I also own quite a few.  In fact, I’ve been using their bags for several decades.  One of the main reasons I am such a fan is because of the quality of their bags, and it’s clear that the new Eventer MKII is every bit as good as the rest of the Billingham collection.

↑ Here’s the Billingham Eventer MKII next to the Leica M11.

Everything here is what you would expect from an ultra high end bag.  For instance, only the best raw materials are used, such as solid brass fittings and full grain leather, which can be found throughout the entire bag.  Little details like the stitch work are perfect.  Even the press studs are imprinted with Billingham on them.  There are no loose threads or materials that are not properly cut.  In addition, you can get the Billingham Eventer MKII in several different color combinations and main outer materials, such as, Khaki Canvas/Tan Leather, Navy Canvas/Chocolate Leather, Sage FibreNyte/Chocolate Leather, Khaki FibreNyte/Chocolate Leather, and what you see here, Black FibreNyte/Black Leather.

↑ Here’s the front of the Eventer MKII.

↑ It’s all about the little details with this bag.

Speaking of main outer materials, your choices, as you can see, are traditional canvas, and Billingham’s own synthetic material, FibreNyte.  For those who don’t know, FibreNyte looks, and has a very similar feel to traditional canvas but with certain added benefits like being more durable, and even a bit lighter.  It’s also more fade resistant.  Both materials have served me well over the years, so you really can’t go wrong with either choice.  Both will hold up quite well over time, and both will offer long lasting protection.  With that said, I do prefer the FibreNyte, and it’s what I always choose now, when I am in the market for a new Billingham bag.  I like the extra features of FybreNyte, and I don’t feel it really loses much when compared to the traditional canvas.

↑ Here’s one side of the Eventer MKII.

No matter which outer material you decide on, both outer materials will not change the rough weather effectiveness of the Eventer MKII.  The way Billingham bags perform when the weather isn’t ideal or it’s downright terrible is another reason why I am a huge fan.  I’m assuming like many others, I want to know that when my gear is inside my bag, I don’t need to worry about things like any of it getting wet, for example.  I need to know my stuff is safe in there.  The Eventer MKII has Stormblock fabric, which is 3-layer waterproofing that includes a butyl rubber core making it impermeable to water.  The waterproofing effectiveness never changes.  There is also an invisible mildly hydrophobic coating on the the fabric’s surface that helps to reduce stains.  Moreover, one of the new features of the Eventer MKII are the weatherproof zips, which have replaced normal zips from the previous Eventer for the main compartment, and rear pocket.  While I did not experience any major rain storms during my time with the Eventer MKII, I do know from personal experience that Billingham’s waterproofing design is one of the best out there.  I’ve been in tropical rain storms where literally puddles formed on top of my main flap on my own bags like my Hadley and M Combination bag.  Not one time did any water ever soak through.  Not even a little bit.

↑ Here’s the back of the bag.

Of course, having excellent protection from what Mother Nature can dish out is only one part of the equation; you also need to have adequate protection against impact, for example.  I try my best to protect my gear but at the same time, I am definitely a user, and not a collector.  When you use your stuff, things can happen.  While my main camera , the Leica SL2, is built like a tank, I don’t want to have to prove it :), so the point is, having great padding is something I want, and require from a bag.  I’m happy to say that what you find in the Billingham Eventer MKII is some of the best I’ve seen from any bag.  The padding in the Eventer MKII, from the main insert to the dividers, is a perfect combination of thickness, softness, and pliability.

Furthermore, another great benefit is that the main insert, which is held in by heavy duty press studs, is completely removable.  So, if you wanted to, you can turn the Eventer MKII into a casual bag, which only adds to its versatility.  I actually use a few of my other Billingham bags with this feature all the time as casual bags.  The other benefit of a removable insert is it will increased the bag’s life.  When the insert gets old, you can simply replace it instead of having to replace the entire bag.  I’ve already done this once with my original Hadley, which also has a removable insert.  So far, my Hadley has been in constant use for over two decades.

As for dividers, there are two vertical, and two small hinged horizontal ones.  All are padded just like the main insert.  The dividers can pretty much go anywhere inside the removable insert, thanks to their sticky velcro.  I use the longer ones to divide the camera from the lenses, and I use the hinged ones to stack lenses when I need to carry a bit more.  Of course, depending on what your gear is, an how you prefer to do things, your usage may vary from mine.

↑ The Billingham Eventer MKII comes with a removable padded insert, and four dividers.

Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag Capacity:

Now that we’ve discuss the overall build, and quality of the new Billingham Eventer MKII, let’s take a closer look at what it will actually fit.  The last Billingham bag that I reviewed was the Mini Eventer, and after testing it, I found it to be one of my absolute favorites.  However, it was a little small for my needs, so I was quite excited to hear that a mark II version of the Eventer was being released.

In terms of gear, the Eventer MKII can fit a larger DSLR, and lenses.  It can also be used with two bodies and lenses depending on how large the cameras are.  There are two huge dump pockets in the front for miscellaneous gear like chargers, batteries, and filters.   In the back of the removable insert in the main compartment, there is also a padded area for a 14 inch Macbook Pro (or similar device).  Lastly, there is a back pocket with a weather-proof zip for documents.

Below are a few photos with a mix of gear to give you an idea of what will fit in the Eventer MKII.  I used my own Leica SL2 and Leica M11 kit.  If you want something for a smaller system like just an M system or a Fuji X Series system, the Mini Eventer is another great alternative that you might want to consider.  I have reviewed that bag as well (review here).

↑ This is how I have the Eventer MKII set up.  From left to right: Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f2.8-4 ASPH, Leica M11 with a Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH Black Chrome, and my Leica SL2 with Summilux-SL 50mm f1.4 ASPH attached.  Notice there’s a slot for a 14 inch Macbook Pro as well.

↑ From left to right: Leica 75m Summilux f1.4, Leica M11 with a Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH Black Chrome, and my Leica SL2 with Summilux-SL 50mm f1.4 ASPH attached.  Notice there’s a slot for a 14 inch Macbook Pro as well.

↑ From left to right: Leica 75mm Summilux f1.4 on the bottom with a Summicron-M 35mm f2 ASPH on top thanks to the horizontal divider, Leica M11 with a Summilux-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH Black Chrome, and my Leica SL2 with Summilux-SL 50mm f1.4 ASPH attached.  Notice there’s a slot for a 14 inch Macbook Pro as well.

↑ The dump pockets also employ the Quick Release System.

↑ The dump pockets are huge.  They feel larger than the ones on my Billingham 307.

↑ There is also a back pocket for documents.

Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag in Use:

I am happy to report that The Billingham Eventer MKII feels quite comfortable to use in the field as well.  Keep in mind that this is a larger bag, so don’t expect it to feel like a Hadley Small Pro, for example, but with that said, Billingham has gone to great lengths to make it as easy to use as possible, I feel.

I’ve used nearly the entire line of their bags not just to review but for my own personal use as well, and I feel they all have a certain signature feel.  Like nearly all their bags, the Eventer MKII has enough flexibility where I don’t feel like I’m carrying a rectangular box around with me but at the same time, it can still hold its shape pretty well.  For instance, the lower quarter of the Eventer is covered in beautiful, soft leather, which not only is pleasing to the eye, and offer a bit of protection, it also seems to help add just a hint of structure.  Furthermore since the Eventer MKII is made primarily out of canvas, it doesn’t have that heavy, dragging feel at the end of the day that you might feel from a full leather bag.  Billingham bags are generally ones that you can really use for times when you might even be shooting all day, and the Eventer MKII is clearly no exception to this rule.  It’s designed to be comfortable with that comfort only getting better as it breaks in over time.

↑ The bottom portion of the bag is covered in beautiful leather.

To further add to the user experience, there are some key features that I want to mention.  For one, the top handle has been further improved over the previous Eventer.  It has been simplified, and designed to look sleeker.  Leather has also been added underneath the handle for more comfort.  Additionally, a luggage trolley strap has been added to the rear of the Eventer MKII, which makes it much more convenient for travelers.  Lastly, the SP50 Shoulder Pad is included, which is one of best shoulder pads that I’ve ever had the pleasure of using.  I have this same shoulder pad on some of my bags, and I’m still surprised at how well it’s made, and the support that it offers.  Of course, it is also removable, if you don’t want it.

As for gaining access to your gear, it’s pretty quick, and easy with this bag.  The main flap is secured with what Billingham calls their Quick Release System.  To operate it, you simply slide the top of the leather straps off the brass Clogballs to access the bag.  I’ve always been a big fan of this system for several reasons.  Besides being silent in operation, it’s very secure.  I would not suggest anyone do this but you can flip the bag upside down, and the flap will still remain closed.  Moreover, it’s plain out easy to operate.  As the leather wears a bit, you can use just one hand to open the bag all while walking as well.

↑ The Quick Release System up close.

Once you open the main flap, you have to unzip (weather-proof zip) the main compartment.  It is a bit slower than say the Billingham Hadley, which has no zipper for its main compartment.  However, some people may prefer the added protection of a design with a zippered compartment.  It really doesn’t take that much longer to operate, and since the Eventer MKII has Billingham’s TukTop design, the zips of the main compartment are tucked neatly behind the walls of the padded insert, keeping them safely out of the way while taking gear in, and out of the bag

↑ It’s worth noting that the flap opens completely making it very easy to access your gear.

↑ There is a weather-proof zipper covering the main compartment.

↑ This bag features the Tuktop design.

As for appearance, this is one great looking bag.  Like other Billingham bags, the Eventer MKII is what I would like to describe as understated elegance.  Details like the leather bottom add a nice touch.  The stitch work as I mentioned earlier is beautiful.  However, there is nothing super flashy about it.  For instance, the only part that even says Billingham is a small little tag on one of its sides.

So, this is the kind of bag that you can really take anywhere with you.  For instance, this is a bag you can definitely take with you for when you want to do some no-nonsense, serious shooting.  It operates quickly like a photographer’s bag should while also providing superior protection for gear, and it’s discreet enough, especially when it breaks in after use, where most will not even know you’re carrying camera gear.  With all that said, this bag is also something that you wouldn’t have a problem taking with you to a gallery opening or a nice dinner.  That’s what I particularly love about Billingham bags.  They really strike a nice balance between beauty and functionality, at least to me.

Specifications:

External dimensions (W x D x H)

400mm x 180mm x 350mm (inc. top handle)

Internal dimensions (W x D x H)

340mm x 120mm x 260mm

Weight (inc Shoulder Pad and Padded Insert)

1.83kg

Main compartment capacity

9 litres

Front pockets (x2) capacity

1.5 litres per pocket

Included accessories

• SP50 Shoulder Pad
• Removable, padded insert featuring a laptop slip compartment
• Divider set (2x horizontal 2x vertical)
• Eventer MKII Front Straps

Optional accessories

Leather luggage tally

Billingham Eventer MKII Camera Bag Verdict:

I know I write very positive reviews when it comes to Billingham gear but I really do feel that these are some of the best bags out there, and this new Eventer MKII is no exception.  It is a beautifully made bag that has become one of my absolute favorites.  After reviewing the Mini Eventer (review here), I fell in love with it but it was just a tad small for my needs.  I am so happy Billingham has introduced this new version of their Eventer with the features we see in the Mini Eventer, and latest Hadley bags.

↑ One more photo of the Billingham Eventer MKII.

I just love the Eventer MKII but I will say it doesn’t come cheap.  The suggested retail price is £466 excluding British VAT (£560 including British VAT, and $695 US).  However, sometimes you really have to pay more if you want quality, and unlike a lot of bags out there, you won’t have to replace this one anytime soon because it will last what feels like forever.  The quality is just second to none here, so in the long run, I really feel like you’re saving money.  I have Billingham bags that I’ve used, and abused for over two decades that are still seeing regular use.  It’s also worth noting that the designs don’t change as much, so they don’t look as dated as some other bags over time.

In addition to the quality, the bag is designed for actual photographers.  For example, you have some of the best protection for your gear with the Eventer MKII.  Furthermore, it is comfortable, and easy to use.  It has a lot of different features that make it easier for a photographer yet it doesn’t include all of the unnecessary stuff that I feel is sometimes just for marketing purposes.  In other words, it’s a no-nonsense camera bag.  Lastly, it’s a great looking bag that at the same time, is understated enough that it won’t attract any unwanted attention.

Bottom line is I’ve used many different bags, and at the end of the day, I feel it’s hard to beat a good Billingham like the Eventer MKII.  They’ve been in business since 1973, and it’s clear they’ve used all these years to master the the process of crafting these wonderful bags.  The Eventer MKII is seriously one of their best yet.

If you want more info, you can find it on Billingham’s website.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned here, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thanks for your support!