Which Domke??? help please

Looking for some help from Jon and all the Domke fans out there...

I've convinced myself that I need a new bag, and that it will be a Domke. The hard part is which one. This will be my mid-sized day trip sort of bag. Max I expect to use it for is 60D + 55-250IS + Sig 17-70 OS + 85/1.8 + Speedlite. No big zooms; no grip; -- pretty straight forward. I prefer to configure my gear as pictured below, rather than the more prevalent lens down/back of camera facing up position. The camera can also be turned 90 degrees and the Canon lens moved up to the upper left corner of bag - that doesn't matter to me - I just like the camera on it's side. With the 55-250 mounted it needs about 7".

http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1308345​831&sr=8-3

F-5XC is what I would use. It will give you a little wiggle room.

Is that layout as seen from the top or from the side/front? I assume from the front, because if it's from the top, you're looking at a backpack and it won't be the top when you carry it. If you're not wedded to that exact layout, the F6 might do, but I'm not sure what insert would work with it since that takes its own special ones. The F3x would work if you were willing to be more conventional and stand the camera on its lens. For optimum flexibility, I'd seriously consider the F2. That way you have room for a grip, extra batteries, filters, and the like as well as room to grow your lens collection.

SuzyView wrote in post #12611426
http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1308345​831&sr=8-3

F-5XC is what I would use. It will give you a little wiggle room.

Appreciate the recommendation, but I definitely don't want that shallow messenger bag style.

Jon wrote in post #12611579
Is that layout as seen from the top or from the side/front? I assume from the front, because if it's from the top, you're looking at a backpack and it won't be the top when you carry it. If you're not wedded to that exact layout, the F6 might do, but I'm not sure what insert would work with it since that takes its own special ones. The F3x would work if you were willing to be more conventional and stand the camera on its lens. For optimum flexibility, I'd seriously consider the F2. That way you have room for a grip, extra batteries, filters, and the like as well as room to grow your lens collection.

That is top view. I'm pretty sure the F3X will work, but I was thinking it might be too big. Guess not. I have a larger bag, that holds just about everything (another few lenses and accessories), but the goal with this bag is for when I want just 2 - 3 lenses.

Thanks.

Oh, you wanted something that was wider than thinner. Jon should know which one would work best. I don't have many large Domkes due to not being able to walk with one on my shoulder.

If that's a top view, with that particular layout, forget it. You'd be carrying around a pie basket. Try moving things around into a longer, narrower version and maybe the F6 or definitely the F2 would accommodate you. But I don't see why you'd prefer to have the camera on its side. I do that with my longer lenses in my shallow bags, but I prefer to have the body/lens combo vertical as it puts less off-angle stress on the lens mount should the bag be dropped.

It's safer to carry your gear lens down rather than the way you have it. It's also space saving. I have a black F-3x I haven't used in months since I bought an F-2. I like the F-3 more than the F-6 due to external pockets and wider strap. PM me if you're interested.

Thanks for the comments. I had a couple of different bags previously and did the lens down thing, but never really embraced it I guess. Suppose I'll have to try harder.

Staszek, thanks for the offer, but I have an F3X lined up already.

Good choice!
I love my f3x.

I carry the same number of items in it (although they are bigger) and it's a perfect fit.

1 lens one each side (internal dividers) camera with another lens pointed down, and a 430EX in one side pocket. The other side pocket holds spare AA's and a Garmin GPS unit.

Misc cables/cards, etc in the flap zipper pocket or front pocket.

Been living with my new (used) F3X for a day now. First off, I really love the unassuming look of the bag. Even better in person than in photos.

Now to the important part - how it holds stuff. I'm not sure I quite get this bag just yet. When I configure as cloose lays out above my camera is very unstable. Rocking back and forth; sliding down in the bag. It seems like this bag needs to really be stuffed full to work, with the gear itself providing the structure to hold the other gear in place. I need to try and adjust the little divider piece to keep the camera more secure.

If I go back to my original thought, with camera on it's side, it seems to work better. I've wedged some acoustic foam in to the bottom to support the lens, which I think will minimize any off-angle stress. The weight is slightly on the side of the camera.

It does seem to "look right" in the lens-down config, plus it allows a flash to be stored in the spare room. I just need to get everything a little more tight. Not sure this bag allows for that, but we'll see.

Here are some photos, just for the heck of it:

I use my Domke F3X the same way...camera on its side so it's easy to grab. It's such a good bag I can hardly tell it is there. The gripper strap works well too. When I have a Domke Postal Pad on it I feel even better about it.
I even have a D Postal Pad on my new Billingham!

Best