Domke advice please!

[chiarashine]

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a smaller Domke bag for traveling to house my T1i and 3 lenses. I'm looking for something that doesn't scream "rob me please" and doesn't look too big on a skinny 5ft tall girl... More points if there's room to spare for accessories and other trinkets.

Right now I'm looking at the Domke F-3x and the F-4af. Which do you recommend? Any other suggestions? Thanks!:p

[Jon]

What 3 lenses? Personally, I'm a fan of the F3x, but depending on the lenses you may need something a little bigger if you want the lenses all in the main compartment. The side pockets are plenty big enough to hold another lens, though I prefer to keep things like a flash or water bottle there. Have you looked at the F-803 Camera Satchel?

[rklepper]

I have an F-4AF and right now I have a 40D with the 17-40 attached. A 70-200 f/4 IS L and a 24-105 f/4 ISL are in the other compartments. The 580 EXII is in the side compartment. The other side compartment and the front compartment hold spare batteries, CF cards, etc... I cannot say enough good about this bag. Holds all that and is still fairly compact. The only other Domke I have is the F-2 so I cannot say anything about the F3x.

[lkorell]

check out the F6. It is a nice size, not too big, not too small.

[chiarashine]

Thanks for your help guys!

Jon: I have a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens, a Sigma 10-20, the 50mm 1.8, and a 430ex Speedlite. Looks like I should have plenty of space in either.

I have looked at a few reviews of the F-803, but it's a little on the large side for I think :]


rklepper: Wow, looks like you can fit a lot in there! Do they fit pretty snugly?


Which is larger, the F-3x or the F-4af? Does anyone have a picture wearing these bags?

[ed rader]

check out the F6. It is a nice size, not too big, not too small.


but not tall enough for lenses like the 70-200L f4 or longer lenses.

ed rader

[advaitin]

f-803 or, better the f-802 reporters satchel looks like an overnight bag. My wife uses one that matches mine when we travel. She is 5'4" tall and slender. Mine can hold a Rebel-size camera and three lenses, including a 70-200 or 300, plus other stuff, like a computer in the back pocket--hers carries toiletries and kleenex. Used as carryon, mine took all my camera gear, including flash and laptop, plus meds and extra underwear in case the checked bags were delayed.

[Duncan Frenz]

but not tall enough for lenses like the 70-200L f4 or longer lenses.

ed rader

What about the F-3x or F-4af? Trying to fit a 50D+Grip and 70-200 f/4L IS and 17-55 OR 5DMKII+grip 24-105L and 70-200 f/4L IS. I'd like it to be my small bag but AT LEAST fit one of these combinations with maybe enough room for one additional lens. My apologies if this is a thread hi-jack, thought we could kill two birds with one ed or jon.:D

[ed rader]

f-803 or, better the f-802 reporters satchel looks like an overnight bag. My wife uses one that matches mine when we travel. She is 5'4" tall and slender. Mine can hold a Rebel-size camera and three lenses, including a 70-200 or 300, plus other stuff, like a computer in the back pocket--hers carries toiletries and kleenex. Used as carryon, mine took all my camera gear, including flash and laptop, plus meds and extra underwear in case the checked bags were delayed.


i use the f-802. what i like about it is it can hold a lot or a little and it's pretty compact. also, i like working out of bags that won't easily dump your gear. mine doubles as a laptop and personal effects bag when i'm travelling.

ed rader

[krb]

What about the F-3x or F-4af? Trying to fit a 50D+Grip and 70-200 f/4L IS and 17-55 OR 5DMKII+grip 24-105L and 70-200 f/4L IS. I'd like it to be my small bag but AT LEAST fit one of these combinations with maybe enough room for one additional lens. My apologies if this is a thread hi-jack, thought we could kill two birds with one ed or jon.:D
In my F4AF I'm carrying a gripped 40D w/ 100-400 attached along with a 100mm macro and a 17-40. I've used this bag to carry the 40D w/ the 300 f/4 attached and it was doable but felt a little awkward. I also have a J3 which is about the same size as the F4AF and I've installed the same inserts as come in the F4. When I'm using that bag I'm carrying a 24-105, 200 f/2.8 (about the same size as your 70-200 f/4) and 50 f/1.4. In either bag there's a rocket blower, speedlight and related items in one of the side pockets, a 20" reflector in the flat front pocket and the other side pocket is left empty so I can fill it with what I need on a given day.

[SuzyView]

F-802. It's wonderful. Not small, but flat, at least, and tall enough.

[chiarashine]

f-803 or, better the f-802 reporters satchel looks like an overnight bag. My wife uses one that matches mine when we travel. She is 5'4" tall and slender. Mine can hold a Rebel-size camera and three lenses, including a 70-200 or 300, plus other stuff, like a computer in the back pocket--hers carries toiletries and kleenex. Used as carryon, mine took all my camera gear, including flash and laptop, plus meds and extra underwear in case the checked bags were delayed.

What sized laptop does it hold? Would it hold a Macbook with it's neoprene case on?

I originally wasn't too fond of the f802, but now the more I look at it, the more I like it :P

[advaitin]

What sized laptop does it hold? Would it hold a Macbook with it's neoprene case on?

I originally wasn't too fond of the f802, but now the more I look at it, the more I like it :P

Mine is 12.25"x9". I couldn't put in the outside pocket with a neoprene cover on it, but I could carry it in the inside sleeve as long as I made sure that the lenses and camera were padded or arranged so nothing poked the laptop. You could put a neoprene cover on if you keep the laptop in the main compartment, but you lose some useful space doing that.

There are two other options to consider with the 802. Domke makes a strap set that clicks onto all their bags' D-rings, converting them into backpack carries. I put my rain gear or light jacket in the outer pocket, which cushioned the bag against my back and kicked around Europe for four months. Domke also sells a Postmans' shoulder strap accessory, which provides great soft support on your shoulder and keeps it from slipping off easily

[advaitin]

In fact, here's me in Northern Ireland with my typical day carry. you can see the postman's shoulder pad hanging out the rear of the bag.

[SuzyView]

I have the same pad on mine. Works great.

[Jon]

Thanks for your help guys!

Jon: I have a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens, a Sigma 10-20, the 50mm 1.8, and a 430ex Speedlite. Looks like I should have plenty of space in either.

I have looked at a few reviews of the F-803, but it's a little on the large side for I think :]


rklepper: Wow, looks like you can fit a lot in there! Do they fit pretty snugly?


Which is larger, the F-3x or the F-4af? Does anyone have a picture wearing these bags?Yes, you would . .

The F803 is marginally higher, slightly shorter, and much slimmer than the F3x. The F4 is the same length as the F803, but a little taller and much thicker. I'd say that the F3X and F4AF are about the same volume, just slightly different dimensions.

check out the F6. It is a nice size, not too big, not too small.For OP's lenses, yes, it'd do quite well.

What about the F-3x or F-4af? Trying to fit a 50D+Grip and 70-200 f/4L IS and 17-55 OR 5DMKII+grip 24-105L and 70-200 f/4L IS. I'd like it to be my small bag but AT LEAST fit one of these combinations with maybe enough room for one additional lens. My apologies if this is a thread hi-jack, thought we could kill two birds with one ed or jon.:DI put a 1D3 with mounted 70-200 2.8 IS and 24-70 in my F3x. You could put a smaller prime in the main compartment as well; I've tossed a Powershot A series in mine. That's not even counting the two side pockets. I keep a flash (in its case) in one and a water bottle/guidebook/whatever in the other.

What sized laptop does it hold? Would it hold a Macbook with it's neoprene case on?

I originally wasn't too fond of the f802, but now the more I look at it, the more I like it :PThe F802? I've put my 14" Toshiba Portege M205 in mine; there's sort of room for it along with a camera and lens; if you had a slim notebook, you could use a neoprene sleeve on it. Mostly, though, I carry my Toshiba Libretto (netbook size, but more powerful) in it if I have a computer along - including the detachable DVD burner it fits in one of the front pockets. Other 7-9" netbooks will also fit there.

[SuzyView]

My 10 inch ASUS fits in there without any problems.

[Familiaphoto]

Another vote for the F3-x here. This is my utility bag which I go to for my grab and go bag. I can fit quite a bit of stuff in there finding myself ready for almost any situation.

[anti42]

I have the F-3x in canvas and it's fantastic. Plenty of room for what I am carrying. A great thing is the sides of the bag kind of collapses or folds together so its not so bulky, it molds to your body. I like that it looks like an average bag, not a case full of expensive digital equipment. The shoulder strap is nice and wide with no shoulder pad over it that slips up and down (like many shoulder straps have). It also has a shorter, thinner strap that is for carrying the bag without putting it over your shoulder, this you might not notice in the pictures of it.

The main compartment has a small piece of velcro and a metal clasp, you can use one or both. When I'm actively using the bag I don't use the metal clasp, I just flop the cover open get what I need and flop the cover back closed. It's so easy to get in and out of.

Here is what I currently put in the bag: Rebel 300D, 18-55, 55-250, 100macro, 420EXII flash, JVC camcorder, cleaning supplies. In the outer pockets I can put water bottles, keys, phone, snacks, they are actually roomy pockets.

Hope any of this info helps you.
-Z