Domke Camera Bags

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve used a few generics, and one Lowepro backpack (now a laptop storage bag) and with all things considered, the past fourteen years with Domke has been good ones. I like how they do not over pad things so and how much flexibility there is in arranging the padded inserts to be mission specific. These bags are built or so goes the claim with the highest quality of canvas and nylon, though I have found small holes forming at the seems of my F2 original, and threads unraveling on my F6 bag. The Velcro on my Photogs vest on one of the pockets have fallen apart.This sucks since the F2 and Photogs vest have had minimal use up until three years ago when the problems started. With all things considered wit this being the only complaints I have had with the brand in fifteen years, I’m doing pretty good. Still, I wished these issues did not exist. My history with Domke is still better than Lowepro. I have a single backpack of theirs and it is too small to hold my gear, with exception to the S2. Here’s a brief run down of my current Domke lineup. Look, ok, I’m light on material this week, and a bit worn out from Coast Guard stuff, so I needed filler material.

F1 Larger Shooter Bag: I brought this olive barrel bag into service early in 2008 to hold both my D1h and recently converted D1i in. Currently it holds my D1i and S2 and is used for studio work. I like this bag the most second to the F2 that is, but it resembles a barrel, and hence the nickname.F2 Original Shooter’s Bag: This was the very first bag I ever owned. I use it daily today as it holds all my gear fine. Best bag I ever owned. However, it does not hold my glass all too well if I include a long 80-200 or 70-200 f/2.8 to it. I use this bag currently for most of my weekend railroad photography. F3x Super Compact Bag: I bought black bag this for daily fast attack use, in 2007 but found it too small to hold my D1H and all three lenses, but  later I did get a Fuji S2 Pro, and had dedicated this bag for that camera with its mated 24-70 f/2.8. However today it is used to hold my D1H. It’s mated 18-200 lens that I carry around in daily TASC service.
F4AF Professional AF Bag: I use this bag for Coast Guard Photo Corps work only. It however does not hold my gear assembled as well as hoped. As, I will be not being much Coast Guard photography in the future, I plan to withdraw this bag from service as it does not meet any other mission-specific uses.
F6 Little Bit Smaller Bag: My travel bag I use when traveling abroad, and locally some days. It is too small for daily use anymore, and is a tight fit. This was the second bag I ever bought, back in 2000, and shows the most signs of wear. It was also my first black Domke, which I regret now, as it has faded incredibly.
F803 Camera Satchel: No longer used as my D1/D1H are too big to fit, this was my urban bag. I may use it to store a small laptop in the future. It too is black and was bought in 2001, but despite the light usage it too shows heavy wear and fading. I think there are spare Domke inserts populated the bag at the moment.F804 Super Satchel: I replaced my F803 with this black bag, in early 2007, though I seldom use it. The problem with this satchel is that I can not fit a mounted camera in it very well, yet it is nearly twice the size as my F2 bag. It’s almost too big for street use. I may use it as a storage bag.
Photogs Vest: I bought this in the spring of 93, and have not worn it very much. I also have a black ranger vest with a hood that I like more, that cost half as much. My tan Photogs Vest started to show signs of wear and the Velcro started coming off shortly after I bought it. I honestly spend more time searching the pockets for lens caps than anything else.

This entry was posted on 18. May 2008 at 02:14 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.