Billingham 335 MKII Camera Bag First Impressions:
I’m sure many of you have heard by now that Billingham has released updated versions of their 5 Series bags. Thanks to Billingham, I was able to get my hands on the new 335 MKII bag, which I’m quite happy about since it is similar in size to my daily bag for my Leica SL3, which is the Billingham 307. So, I’ve been using the 335 MKII instead of my 307 for the past couple of weeks, and while I will post a full review in the near future, I thought for now, I would share my first impressions of it.
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The 5 Series in general consists of larger bags that have more space, and compartments for larger gear. There are currently four sizes, which are the 225 MKII, the 335 MKII, the 445 MKII, and the 555 MKII. As you can see, the Billingham 335 MKII is right in the middle of the pack, which means it can carry two DSLR or mirrorless cameras with small to medium lenses attached or one camera with a selection of lenses. There are a total of 10 pockets, including a full length front pocket that can hold a 14” laptop, tablet or accessories. What is also included is an SP20 Shoulder Pad, a 9-15 SuperFlex Partition, a 10-18 SuperFlex Partition, a V-Bridge 15, and a SuperFlex Flap.
↑ The Billingham 335 MKII.
↑ The back of the bag.
Right now, I’m carrying my Leica SL3 with Summilux-SL50mm f1.4 ASPH attached, a Summicron-SL 90mm, a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm, and a 75mm Summilux. I’m also carrying my charger, and an extra battery along with a bunch of memory cards. The 335 MKII has been great so far. The main compartment is very similar in size to the one in my 307, so there’s not adjustment on my part that’s needed. In other words, the 335 MKII works great with my overall workflow.
↑ There’s plenty of storage space in the main compartment. My Leica SL3 is in the center.
↑ Here’s a photo of the main compartment without the dividers.
↑ The front zippered pocket is huge.
↑ There are also two smaller pockts in the front.
↑There’s a handle even when the flap is off for quickness.
Build wise, the 335 MKII is every bit of what one would expect from Billingham. The quality of the materials, and craftsmanship are second to none. There’s full grain leather trim, waterproof zips, and solid brass fixings throughout the bag. The 335 MKII retails for $507, which isn’t cheap but trust me when I say it is worth every penny. It’s absolutely beautifully made. There’s also a choice of either a 3-layer waterproof canvas or a 3-layer waterproof FibreNyte (the one in this review is made of FibreNyte, which is what I usually prefer). There are also several colors to choose from, such as, Khaki Canvas/Tan leather, Sage FibreNyte/Chocolate Leather, Navy Canvas/Chocolate Leather, and the Black FibreNyte/Black Leather that you see here.
↑ Here’s the size of the bag vs. the SL3.
As I said earlier, I will be using this bag quite a bit as it’s basically replacing my trusty 307 until my testing is done. So, expect an extensive review of it along with maybe a 307 and 335 MKII comparison write up afterwards. I’ve used the 307 as my main bag for my SL system for years, and I’m the type to stick with something that really works well for me but I’d be interested to see if the new 335 MKII can potentially replace the former for me :). Thanks as always for stopping by, and expect my full Billingham 335 MKII review to come soon.
For those who are interested, you can find more info on Billingham’s site.
