Domke F804 Super Satchel Messenger Bag Review

[airbutchie]

Hi all,

First and foremost, could a mod please add this to the camera bag review sticky?! Thanks a bunch...

I recently purchased the Domke F-804 Super Sachel Messenger Bag for my camera gear, laptop, and accessories... Here is a link to the specs of this bag:

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct...temnum=701-84B

I purchased this super satchel messenger bag from a local camera store here in SoCal; Samy's Camera... I paid $99 for it... No tax since they had a "no tax" sale going on that week...

This thing is quite large... It can hold my 17" Gateway laptop, Canon XTi w/battery grip and 70-200 f/2.8L IS attached, a few other lenses, Canon 430EX Flash, and many accessories... It does get quite heavy, though, when packed with alot of gear... It's made out of ballistic canvas which gives it some moisture protection... It didn't come with any dividers, so I purchased a 3-compartment divider plus a "beefy-padded" shoulder support strap to ease the weight when it's over my shoulder blade...

Below is an example of what this baby can hold... And don't mind the Nike baseball cap attached to it...

All this equipment and clothing will be placed inside this bag



I could list them down, but there's too many things to list... I'll let your eyes ponder what's on there... If you need to know, you can PM me and I'll give you the equipment details... Continuing...

These items are placed inside the two large compartments inside the satchel:


These items are placed in the two outside zipper compartments of the satchel:


In the rear of the satchel is where I will put my pair of weatherproof pants and turtleneck sweater:



Continued on the next post...

[airbutchie]

Continuing...

All these items will go inside the main compartment of the satchel:



This is what it finally looks like with all the equipment and clothing inside:

FRONT VIEW:


BACK VIEW:


So here is the BEFORE and AFTER shots:

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Total weight of all this stuff was about 22lbs... If you have any questions, comments, or inquiries, please post on this thread or PM... I hope this information helps in our quest for "the perfect camera bag!"

- airbutchie

[CBRfanatic0429]

Playgear Pocket Rocks!
Its like tank armor for my psp.
I have the same headphones and splitter
And i have the same covers for my UMD's
that all equals- Your a cool dude/chick/both.....

Anywho, nice bag, is that more expensive then my 7 million dollar bag? (Crumpler)

[airbutchie]

I don't know CBR... Retail for this bag is $170... I got it for $99... The Crumpler 7 Million Dollar bag runs about $130 or so... But I think my bag is a little bit bigger than the Crumpler 7 Mil...

Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Bag dimensions:
14.96 x 11.02 x 7.09 (L X W X H in inches)

Domke F-804 Super Satchel Bag dimensions:
16 x 7.4 x 13 (L X W X H in inches)

I guess the Crumpler is wider on the width end, while the Domke is longer and taller...

- airbutchie

[airbutchie]

Okay... Here's a breakdown of items on the picture above...



- airbutchie

PS. Thanks Mod for putting this review in the camera bag "sticky" thread!!!

[sonnyc]

Darn, that's a lot of stuffs to fit into that bag. You did a great job arranging them.

I'm surprise you don't have an Xterra cap

[Lightstream]

Wow I thought my F-802 was overstuffed!

Is the F-804 bigger? From some angles it doesn't look like, but the size of the outside flap gives it away.

[Jon]

The 804's twice the width of the F-802 (think 2 x F-802 together); it's about the size of the F-7 Double AF only without the end pockets.

[airbutchie]

Originally Posted by 4x4rock

I'm surprise you don't have an Xterra cap

Hhahahhaa... Someone must've came from XOC with that comment!!! Hehheehehhe...

- airbutchie

[evorgsumaf]

I don't see the kitchen sink in the bag!?!

[Jon]

That's because you don't need one. The bag is the kitchen sink, if so needed.

[Lightstream]

Originally Posted by Jon

That's because you don't need one. The bag is the kitchen sink, if so needed.

oooooooh...so I can develop film in it if I need to? Now if only it came with a supply of 20degC running water.

[_aravena]

Dang...but I guess you get what you pay for. For that much money I better be able to take pics and go camping.

[Docsknotinn]

This is the bag I have been looking at so the review is greatly appreciated. Can you tell us which additional insert you purchased and if the inside of the main compartment is velcro compatible?

[airbutchie]

Originally Posted by Docsknotinn

This is the bag I have been looking at so the review is greatly appreciated. Can you tell us which additional insert you purchased and if the inside of the main compartment is velcro compatible?

Unfortunately the bag didn't come with any inserts, Docsknottinn... I purchased a 3-column insert from Amazon.com... I also bought a padded support strap for the shoulder (it helps alot when carrying all that stuff)... Here are the links from Amazon...

3 Column Padded Insert
http://www.amazon.com/Domke-FA-230-3...9458507&sr=8-9

Extra padded support strap for shoulder
http://www.amazon.com/The-Tiffen-Com...458618&sr=8-10

Inside the 3 column padded inserts included:

- Insert slot 1: Tokina 12-24 & Tamron 28-75 (stacked on top of each other)
- Insert slot 2: Sony MiniDV Camcorder
- Insert slot 3: AA Battery Charger & Canon 430EX Flash

Let me know if you have any more questions...

- airbutchie