Please help me choose a Domke for 40d, grip, lenses

Right now I have a Crumpler 6 mil which is stuffed to the gills and would like to get something similar, but with outside pockets. I am thinking of selling it and switching to Domke canvas shoulder bag but have no idea where to begin. I haven't had much luck determining the model I need to fit all my gear.

It needs to fit:

40d plus grip
24-105
30mm
10-22
70-200 f4
1.4x extender
430ex
Lumiquest 80/20 Promax kit
hoods reversed
rocket blower
charger, batteries, cf cards, filters
and a pocket for keys, cell, etc.

It's o.k. for the cam to have one of the lenses attached. The 25-105 is usually glued to it anyway.

I don't want anything huge, but I would like it all to fit. And good padding is *essential*.

Thanks!!

F-3x is a possibility as is the F-2. The latter will allow a little growth.

Thank you.

I've heard that the bottom of the bags are not padded very well. Is that true for these two models?

Not much padding in Domke's period. Some padding when you add the inserts, but none in the bag - and even with the inserts, VERY little in the bottom. Someone once said to me: When you think Domke, think SHOOTING bag, not storage bag.

If you want good padding you might want to stay away from Domke. Having said that I have two Domke bags that I use daily and have never had a problem with them. You need to think of the bag as just a holding mechanism for your camera and lenses, not something to protect them from bumps and impacts.

That might be a bit overstating it; I've used them for a while for storage and shooting and never had a problem with anything breaking. The canvas and nylon they use are so thick that it doesn't need much else. Really thick stuff... and the bottoms do have lightly padded bases to keep things square.

bluflax11 wrote in post #5908524
And good padding is *essential*.

Why?

If you feel the need for more padding, you could off course add some yourself, but IMO it's not needed.

That being said, I prefer Billingham over Domke, but not because of the slightly more padding.

IMO both brands are (a bit) better to work out of then Crumplers, and far better then anything else out there.

Off course, YMMV.

Have a look at cambags.com

René Damkot wrote in post #5909319
Why?

If you feel the need for more padding, you could off course add some yourself, but IMO it's not needed.

That being said, I prefer Billingham over Domke, but not because of the slightly more padding.

IMO both brands are (a bit) better to work out of then Crumplers, and far better then anything else out there.

Off course, YMMV.

Have a look at cambags.com

Because "clumsy" is my middle name. Cambags is a great source that I have used a lot in the past. I'll have a look at what they have to say about Billingham.

Anyone know for sure if the f-3x will hold the 70-200mm f4 with hood reversed? I think I'm leaning towards that one.

bluflax11 wrote in post #5909421
Anyone know for sure if the f-3x will hold the 70-200mm f4 with hood reversed? I think I'm leaning towards that one.

Yes. It will even hold it mounted to the camera, although it will certainly raise the lid off the bag a bit.

Thank you!! I think I found my first Domke.

bluflax11 wrote in post #5908524
Right now I have a Crumpler 6 mil which is stuffed to the gills and would like to get something similar, but with outside pockets. I am thinking of selling it and switching to Domke canvas shoulder bag but have no idea where to begin. I haven't had much luck determining the model I need to fit all my gear.

It needs to fit:

40d plus grip
24-105
30mm
10-22
70-200 f4
1.4x extender
430ex
Lumiquest 80/20 Promax kit
hoods reversed
rocket blower
charger, batteries, cf cards, filters
and a pocket for keys, cell, etc.

It's o.k. for the cam to have one of the lenses attached. The 25-105 is usually glued to it anyway.

I don't want anything huge, but I would like it all to fit. And good padding is *essential*.

Thanks!!

I can recommend/ also suggest the F-2/J-2 Bag. I personally have a J-2, and it will easily fit everything you have, and allow a little bit of room to grow. I believe the padding on the J-2 is more than sufficient. I have had my J-2 for 5 years, and it still looks like new. Although, I have literally beat the crap out of it.

When I had my J-2 packed, it had the following bodies/lenses packed into it.

5D/Grip
1DMK2/N
17-40/4 + 85/1.8 Stacked
28-70/2.8 Replaced with 24-105/4
70-200/2.8 + Hood Reversed
580EX + Omni Bounce Diffuser & PW Plus II's in End Pocket
F/4 Hoods & Sync Cable in End Pocket
CF cards, batteries, pen, notepaper in flip over pocket
Manuals in other front pocket
Other front pocket is left open for misc. stuff.

The best bags (Domke Billingham Kenisis etc..) have the least padding.

The Tamracs, Lowepros and Tenbas of the world are stuffed with padding and they weigh more empty than they do full because of it....

All that fat is overrated, and most photographers that have been through a lot of bags end up with the lighter ones.
So your on the right track going for the Domke.

I ordered a Domke F-2 yesterday and I'm sure I will not be disappointed. Thanks for all the help!!

Ya done good, then. The base of any Domke provides adequate padding. Anything around the sides is protected by your choice of outside pocket contents. I've been using Domkes about as long as they've been around and wouldn't hesitate to take one anywhere.