Domke 4-4AF Mini Review

[Pete]

Just thought I'd share a little about this really nice bag. For a small bag, it really does carry a a surprising amount of equipment safely, and really easily to get at while you're wearing it.

Here it is, containing a 5D/25-105, 100-400, remote in the main compartment. 50mm, extension tubes, TC in the side pockets, and a flashgun and car reader in the front compartment.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/peteghia/DSC00352.jpg

As you can see, it's tidyly compact and everything's easy to get to. It will even carry the 100-400 mounted without any problem at all. The internal compartment is well padded, but the outers are not, but things are fine if you pack well and look where you're swinging it.

The fittings are all metal - no plastic bits to snap off, and the straps are all very sturdy - the shoulder strap has rubber lines on the inside to keep it from slipping off your shoulder. The hand strap can be mounted in the top position or behind the bag (where it can be mounted securely on a wheely suitcase).

In all well worth it for practicality and durability.

[SoundsGood]

Pete, do you like having the pockets on the outside of the bag? Or would you prefer more room for stuff on the inside?

[Jon]

Can't speak for Pete, but I like being able to reach things without having to open the whole bag up. My end pockets tend to catch things like sunglasses, card caddies, batteries, notepads, filters and the like that I reach for a lot.

[SoundsGood]

Can't speak for Pete, but I like being able to reach things without having to open the whole bag up. My end pockets tend to catch things like sunglasses, card caddies, batteries, notepads, filters and the like that I reach for a lot.
Yeah, I see how that could be handy. The problem I foresee with the outside pockets is that it creates a smaller area for the camera/lens, yet a larger overall bag.

[Jon]

Well, unless you don't use the inside pockets you're still going to get smaller usable contiguous area than the overall dimensions would indicate.

[SoundsGood]

Well, unless you don't use the inside pockets you're still going to get smaller usable contiguous area than the overall dimensions would indicate.
Ya know, the exterior dimensions of the Domke F-3X are really perfect for me -- but the side pockets make the interior dimensions not quite big enough (again, for me).

Domke F-3X
Exterior Dimensions 12.5 x 7.25 x 9.6" (LxWxD)
Interior Dimensions 8.5 x 5.5 x 9.0"

Bummer. :(

[Pete]

Outside pockets make perfect sense to me. As stated, they're easier to get to for smaller items. I just use the inside compartment for the larger items. Also means that sandwiches/snack bars don't get crushed by lenses.

[SoundsGood]

Outside pockets make perfect sense to me. As stated, they're easier to get to for smaller items.
Yeah, I can see the advantage of having outside pockets.

I just really wish the F-3X had a slightly larger interior... the exterior dimensions are perfection! ;)

[Medic85]

I just bought this bag and got it early in the week. I like it but the problem I've encountered is that with the included inserts, my 70-200 f/4 with the hood reversed is a very tight fit in the dual insert. I can't fit my 85 with the hood in the other side of the insert. I've thought about buying the padded side inserts to go in the outside side compartments but I don't know if they will fit. According to the Domke site, the side inserts are for J series bags. I've never seen a J series bag before so I don't know if it will fit or not. Do you guys know about the side pocket inserts fitting on this bag? I like the bag so far but I've just had some issues fitting all my gear in there the way I want to. That being said though, I haven't really played around with it too much yet but I wanted to throw that out there for any suggestions. Oh yeah, I also noticed that if I ever put a grip on my 30D, I'll have to take out the main insert....at least it looks that way to me. Any thoughts?

[Bumgardnern]

My simple advise is cram your stuff in. Its a Domke bag. If you wanted a super padded bag you should have got one. I have a Domke F6 that last night I stuffed a 70-200 2.8IS, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, Nikon 18-35mm with adapter, Lensbaby 2.0, and a Mark III on the inside, I kept my note book, filters, card reader, usb cable, cf cards, batteries, pocket knife, and biz cards in the outside pockets. I also put my 70-200 case on the strap secured it with a beaner.(the 70-200 will fit on the inside but when I'm shooting fast i find the 70-200 case convient for random crap). I have another beaner on the strap for my watter bottle and usually a few more in the pockets for other stuff.

Medic, I personally see no need for the padding in the outside pockets it just seems like it would take up space. Just my op. My thoughts about the battery grip on the 30D is to just squeeze it all in. I have noticed the longer you have these bags the more they seem to be able to fit.

To me the outside pockets rock it allows me fast access to what I need while doing my job. I like the outside pockets on my F-6 bag more then the ones on the F1-X but they both work great.

[SoundsGood]

cram your stuff in.
:lol:

[Jon]

My simple advise is cram your stuff in. Its a Domke bag. If you wanted a super padded bag you should have got one. I have a Domke F6 that last night I stuffed a 70-200 2.8IS, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, Nikon 18-35mm with adapter, Lensbaby 2.0, and a Mark III on the inside, I kept my note book, filters, card reader, usb cable, cf cards, batteries, pocket knife, and biz cards in the outside pockets. I also put my 70-200 case on the strap secured it with a beaner.(the 70-200 will fit on the inside but when I'm shooting fast i find the 70-200 case convient for random crap). I have another beaner on the strap for my watter bottle and usually a few more in the pockets for other stuff.

Medic, I personally see no need for the padding in the outside pockets it just seems like it would take up space. Just my op. My thoughts about the battery grip on the 30D is to just squeeze it all in. I have noticed the longer you have these bags the more they seem to be able to fit.

To me the outside pockets rock it allows me fast access to what I need while doing my job. I like the outside pockets on my F-6 bag more then the ones on the F1-X but they both work great.I totally agree. Only way anything in my Domke outside pockets gets padded is that the flashes go in in their pouches. Most of the other stuff doesn't need padding. I didn't even pad for the 2 teleconverters and the 35 in the F-802 when we went to Greece or Italy.

[Medic85]

My simple advise is cram your stuff in. Its a Domke bag. If you wanted a super padded bag you should have got one. I have a Domke F6 that last night I stuffed a 70-200 2.8IS, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, Nikon 18-35mm with adapter, Lensbaby 2.0, and a Mark III on the inside, I kept my note book, filters, card reader, usb cable, cf cards, batteries, pocket knife, and biz cards in the outside pockets. I also put my 70-200 case on the strap secured it with a beaner.(the 70-200 will fit on the inside but when I'm shooting fast i find the 70-200 case convient for random crap). I have another beaner on the strap for my watter bottle and usually a few more in the pockets for other stuff.

Medic, I personally see no need for the padding in the outside pockets it just seems like it would take up space. Just my op. My thoughts about the battery grip on the 30D is to just squeeze it all in. I have noticed the longer you have these bags the more they seem to be able to fit.

To me the outside pockets rock it allows me fast access to what I need while doing my job. I like the outside pockets on my F-6 bag more then the ones on the F1-X but they both work great.

I never said I was looking for a super padded bag. I've never owned a Domke and wasn't aware of the fact that it will wear in a good way with time. Thank you for your advice.

I totally agree. Only way anything in my Domke outside pockets gets padded is that the flashes go in in their pouches. Most of the other stuff doesn't need padding. I didn't even pad for the 2 teleconverters and the 35 in the F-802 when we went to Greece or Italy.

Thanks, Jon. You always give great advice on these bags. Thanks again for the recommendation. I'll give these suggestions a try later tonight.

[Medic85]

Ok, cramming the gear in seems to work...for now. I guess I'll give it a few days in the bag to hopefully stretch out a bit. Maybe then it won't be so difficult to get stuff in and out of the bag.

[GizmoGarage]

I've thought about buying the padded side inserts to go in the outside side compartments but I don't know if they will fit. According to the Domke site, the side inserts are for J series bags. I've never seen a J series bag before so I don't know if it will fit or not. Do you guys know about the side pocket inserts fitting on this bag?
I have a J-1 and a F-4. The end pocket inserts for the J-1 are too big to fit into the end pockets of the F-4. As others have already said, the end pockets on a F-4 don't seem to need any extra padding. For my J-1, I usually remove the inserts and just leave the end pockets unpadded.

[Medic85]

Sounds good Gizmo. Thanks for the input. I think I've got it all worked out right now. I ended up turning the 70-200 the other way, front side up w/hood reversed and the 85 fits on top of its own hood in the next pouch. So far, it's working better than what I had on there earlier.

[according to jim]

Pete and Jon-

Thanks for your reviews on the Domke Bags. I have the F-1 and love it. But would like a smaller profile bag. For 1dMarkII and with 100-400 and 24-105 or 24-70. Would this work it looks a bit tight. Unfortunately there is not a place to physically see one around here

Your input would be apreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

[Jon]

My initial thought was for my favorite small Domke, the F-3x, but the camera + 100-400's just that hair long to be comfortable in it with much else. Then I tried it in the F-7, which is the same vertically as the F-4. Still snug over the top. Usually when I have the 100-400, either the camera's out or I have a big bag and lie the camera/lens combo on its side. The 100-400 when not mounted on a camera fits nicely vertically in any Domke I have.

[Pete]

Update:

Here's the bag with the current contents of my gear list

http://www.the-aperture.com/EE/photos/normal/20081015_IMG_0293.jpg

1D Mk II N (with 24-70L mounted)
100-400L (snug fit)
135L in side pocket
100 Macro/remote/spare battery in side pocket
Sigma flash/spare battery in front pocket.
CF cards in little pocket in the main flap

As you can see, there's plenty of room for more stuff.

No room for lens hoods though.

[ALaS]

Hmm, can we get a pic of it on your shoulder? I'd like to see how it looks on a human.

[deirdrec]

How padded is this with the inserts? I like a padded bag like the Lowepros and Crumplers but prefer the canvas Domke look.

[krb]

Domke bags are definitely not as padded as others. Having said that, the protection they offer is adequate and since it is less bulky you can fit more stuff in a Domke then other bags of the same size.

I use the F4AF and love it.

[jcothron]

Take the plunge.. .I avoided Domke for years for worry of padding even though I liked the way they look a lot. Once you'll try it you'll see that you don't need so much padding. Finally found a shoulder bag I really like...now I own both the F-3x and the F-2 Ruggedwear.