Need help choosing Domke

I had a whole long post written out, but I think it's probably best to be concise. My current bag line-up hasn't been cutting it since I purchased a 1D3 last year, and I'd like to get something new. I am sold on Domke, but I'm not sure which bag is most appropriate for the gear I want to hold. I prefer their ballistic nylon bags, so I've been trying to decide between the J-1 and J-2.

I'd like to hold a 1D mark III with 16-35 II mounted, 50/1.4, 100/2.8 macro, the option of a 70-200/2.8 IS or 100-400, and perhaps some assorted crap like flashes, filters, etc. I don't want the bag to be stuffed full, but I also don't want it to have a lot of free space to move around. The inserts on my J-803 won't hold a 70-200 with the tripod ring or (reversed) hood attached. Is the J-series insert any better in this respect? It is quite a pain to have to remove these components -- especially the hood.

Unfortunately, there is nowhere local that even carries Domke products, so I am stuck buying blind on the internet. I'd really appreciate any thoughts from other Domke J-series owners.

I don't have any J bags, but your gear list would fit in an F-2 fine. The end and front pockets will take the flash, filters, etc. The 3-compartment insert, with the wall stiffeners cut down so you only use 2 of them, will take a 70-200 2.8 IS OK in one compartment, or mounted on the camera, lying down the open side of the bag.

I've been looking at what reviews are available with photos, and I'm a bit concerned the J-2 will be stuffed rather tight with what I want to hold. The J-series bags aren't as wide as the F-series, but they are taller. Here are a couple of photos to illustrate:

J-1

Any thoughts from other Domke users?

One last bump. I'll probably just order the J-1 this afternoon and hope for the best.

i have a J1 and it works well. i too have the same equipment as you. the bag is tall enough to have the 1DIII mounted with 70-200 2.8IS. i put the divider on one half of the bag with 16-35, 50L, 85 1.8 with no hoods and its a tight fit.
on the cover i have odds and ends (memory cards, Lee filter adapters)
one side pocket with light metre and flash with bracket/ remote on other side.

I actually ended up ordering both the J-1 and J-2. I don't have anywhere to see them in person, and I was getting sick of trying to make up my mind. I figure I am also looking for a bag to hold all the stuff I mentioned without the 70-200, and either the J-2 will be big enough for all my stuff, or it can be a smaller bag. Either that or there will be a J-1 or J-2 for sale at a very nice price soon

Bob_McBob wrote in post #7627521
I had a whole long post written out, but I think it's probably best to be concise. My current bag line-up hasn't been cutting it since I purchased a 1D3 last year, and I'd like to get something new. I am sold on Domke, but I'm not sure which bag is most appropriate for the gear I want to hold. I prefer their ballistic nylon bags, so I've been trying to decide between the J-1 and J-2.

I'd like to hold a 1D mark III with 16-35 II mounted, 50/1.4, 100/2.8 macro, the option of a 70-200/2.8 IS or 100-400, and perhaps some assorted crap like flashes, filters, etc. I don't want the bag to be stuffed full, but I also don't want it to have a lot of free space to move around. The inserts on my J-803 won't hold a 70-200 with the tripod ring or (reversed) hood attached. Is the J-series insert any better in this respect? It is quite a pain to have to remove these components -- especially the hood.

Unfortunately, there is nowhere local that even carries Domke products, so I am stuck buying blind on the internet. I'd really appreciate any thoughts from other Domke J-series owners.

I have a J-1, in I fit:
1D MkIII w/24-70 (standing up, body down, lens hood reversed.

In the adjustable square insert I have:
1D mkIIn body, no lens
70-200L (non-IS), lens down, hood reversed.
Sigma 15mm fisheye
Canon 1.4 extender (fisheye and extender live in the same compartment, stacked.)
One end pocket holds my 17-40 w/ lens hood and a small rocket blower. Underneath it is a case with 8 AA Enloop batteries (spare sets for the Speedlites)
The other end pocket holds a 580EX and a 420EX Speedlite, both with Stofen diffusers.
One front pocket holds a spare battery for each camera.
The other front pocket holds a 77mm star filter and polarizer filter, and small 2 CF wallets, each with a capacity of 6 cards.
A Joe Demb flash bracket lives in the rear slip pouch, a couple of folded up small garbage bags (emergency rain covers) live in the top flap zipper pouch. There are two small pen/pencil compartments next to the front pouches, one of the holds a pen (!) and a mini-flashlight, the other a mini-tabletop tripod

Yes, it's pretty well filled to the brim and it's heavy. It's going on 4 years old now and the shoulder strap is just starting to show some signs of wear but the bag itself is as sound as the day I bought it.

Bob_McBob wrote in post #7632724
I've been looking at what reviews are available with photos, and I'm a bit concerned the J-2 will be stuffed rather tight with what I want to hold. The J-series bags aren't as wide as the F-series, but they are taller. Here are a couple of photos to illustrate:

J-1

J-2

Seeing the camera sitting on the lens like that makes me nervous. I much prefer to put it body down with the lens sticking up. I guess I figure better the much lighter weight of the lens resting on the camera body than the heavy camera bouncing up and down on the lens.

Just one man's opinion.........

DennisW1 wrote in post #7746212
I guess I figure better the much lighter weight of the lens resting on the camera body than the heavy camera bouncing up and down on the lens.

You're assuming that the lens is lighter than the body and forgetting that the foam dividers help to support the weight of body.

DennisW1 wrote in post #7746212
Seeing the camera sitting on the lens like that makes me nervous. I much prefer to put it body down with the lens sticking up. I guess I figure better the much lighter weight of the lens resting on the camera body than the heavy camera bouncing up and down on the lens.

Just one man's opinion.........

The idea is to wedge it in there so it's fairly tight. The weight is distributed more than you might think, either way. It's not like the front of the lens is smashing down on a hard surface with the weight of the body on top with every step you take.

Here's an interesting modification I saw posted on photo.net: