Camera Bags

[Imagestreet]

OK I don't have a Safrotto but I'm not sure that you are being realistic here with the Domke comparison. A cheaper (very cheap until you factor in the absurdly high postage) bag may be OK for occasional use. As you have inserts supplied they may indeed provide better protection in the event of a fall although your experience is unlikely to constitute a statistically valid test of bag protection- personally I removed my Domke inserts to maximise carrying capacity. I haven't noticed any slip in Domke quality so not sure where you heard this or you maybe received a bad Domke sample. In short with the Safrotto I'm pretty sure that the canvas won't be the same grade, the plastics won't be military specification, and the stitching will be of a lower quality. A prospective buyer will have to take a chance that they get a "good copy" for the sake of saving (after postage) about £25 ($40). Doesn't sound like a bargain to me - especially for the investment that most people make in their cameras and lenses.

 

[amateriat]

Unless something happened in the last two years or so, I haven't noticed a drop in QC with Domke. My 803 looks quite "worn in" from the outside from extremely frequent use (making it all the more inconspicuous), but it's holding up just fine. Since I've never seen or examined a Safrotto I obviously have no basis to judge one way or t'other. But you know what they say about imitation...


- Barrett

 

[ruben]

Hi everyone:

Question for the group. I want to purchase a new camera bag that doesn't scream camera bag and is fairly low key. I've seen samples from Artist and Artisan at Photo Village and they look pretty nice. If anyone has one of these I would love to hear what the verdict is. Also, reccomendations on other bags would be greatly appreciated. I'm really interested in a bag that would hold one body and a maximum of four lenses.

If you could please include make and model that would also be great.... I can't believe how many different models there are to choose from. :bang:

Thanks,

Scott

After buying along the years more than 2 dozen camera bags, I wish you good luck.

 

[peter_n]

Imagestreet my experience is a sample of one - a personal anecdote, nowhere did I suggest statistical significance. 🙂 I've now used my clone bag daily for 9 months and I'm considering a user report on it here with photos. My perception of poor quality from Domke is first hand with the sample size being in double figures. 😉 (I live in a large metro area with access to a lot of camera stores.) Domke has been bought by another company (not sure who) and the quality has definitely slipped over the last year/18 months. I have a 16 year old F-2 and there is no comparison between the quality of the canvas in that bag and the current F-2. There is no comparison between an FX-3 I bought 3 years ago (original Domke quality) and the current bag. If you do a search on other forums like photo.net or the German Leica forum you will see similar comments from members there. Their descriptions of current Domke offerings is a lot more impolite than mine, believe me.

I bought the Safrotto because I love the Domke designs and the Chinese product is simply a much better version of it. You can now buy them on eBay out of California and Ohio, BTW. The ones out of Ohio are marked Mekko. Same bag though.

 

[JeffGreene]

MClassics Bag

MClassics Bag

MClassics makes a great rangefinder bag, although their brown leather version is a bit over the top. I have the all black bag , which is inconspicuous and has served me well. It holds three rangefinders and two lenses with no problem! If you like padded bags though, it's not the one for you.

 

[back alley]

my money goes to mclassics also.
well made but more important easy to use on the street and on the go.

 

[kmack]

I use a canvas bag like this that I picked up for $10 at a local flea market and I added a Domke FA-230 insert. Its all I need.

I also have a microfiber "Healthy Back Bag" that used to be my wife's before it got too "worn" for her to use. It doesn't have a lot of padding but it's great for all the junk that I carry on a day trip and it's size and shape make it easy to carry all day without getting in the way.

 

[swoop]

I highly recommend a Domke F-803 or one of its clones, it will carry what you need I think.

I bought myself a Domke F-5XB today and was looking at the F-803. I was torn between the two. Both are nice and small. But the F-5XB is a bare essentials bag and would probably get more use out of me. But I'm seriously considering the F-803 as well someday or maybe a clone. It is a very well designed bag. The only gripe I have is the sample bag of the F-5XB at B&H was different from th actual bag. The canvas wasn't as stiff and the front pocket had a pen holder. Hopefully the canvas will have some play as I start using it more often.

 

[billwheeler]

Does anyone have experience with the Domke F-5XB bag? While I have seen pictures of the bag, I have never handled one. In particular, is it easy to access equipment through the zippered opening of the main compartment, or do the flap and zippered opening get in the way? My others bags, which are either larger or even smaller than the F-5XB, are open on the top, without zippers, and provide easy access to equipment. Sounds like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, doesn't it: too large, too small, just right.

 

[back alley]

francisco has one, i think.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

I have both the F-5XB and the F-803. For me, they each serve different purposes.

My usual rig is a body with 35-50-90 for lenses and 4 rolls of film if I bring my 21mm lens or a small flash, 8 rolls, if I don't. This equipment fits into a F-5XB nicely but with little room to spare. It's about the size of toiletries bag and its strap is nice and grippy so the bag will stay on my back if I put it there. The F-5XB is my usual grab-and-go bag.

The zipper on the F-5XB is a heavy duty YKK affair whose teeth are plastic. I don't find that it impedes my access, nor do I worry about it biting either me or my gear. The flap is velcro and pretty secure but somewhat noisy. If I'm in an out of the bag, like for a quick lens swap, I'll fold the flap back against my body.

The F-803 will hold all this equipment simultaneous in the bag with the insert that comes with the bag, plus a spare body, with room left over. 24 rolls of film will fit in the front pockets if there are no boxes involved. This is the bag I take when I'm not going to be going home at the end of the day to reload. It's sized like a laptop case also with a grippy strap.

I have the 3 pocket insert for the F-803 as well. However, I find this item crowds out the interior too much. The single slot insert with the bag works best for me plopped in the middle.

The F-5XB is nicely rangefinder sized and satisfies my needs most of the time. On a trip, I'd break out the F-803.

 

[lubitel]

I just a bought a small eastpak photo bag (called TAPE). looks like a normal bag, but is padded and big enough for 2 cameras or 1 camera and a lens. exactly the size I was looking for.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Another F-5XB fan here

Another F-5XB fan here

I prefer to carry and use a minimal amount of gear;
usually a camera body with lens, another lens,
a couple filters and some film.

I have pored over all the small bags on display at B&H,
but I keep coming back to the Domke F-5XB
as the ideal small "essentials" bag.

I have purchased three now - I gave my original black one to my wife
when I bought green and blue F-5XB's for my 35mm RF and SLR kits.
Color coding avoids confusion! 😉

The F-5XB does seem a little more rigid and well-padded
than other Domke models, but not objectionably so.
Age and use will soften it up a bit...

"Excelsior, you fathead!'
-Chris-

 

[Trius]

I agree with Chris regarding the F-5XB. In addition, the interior separators are moveable so you can configure to your needs. I can fit in 3 fixed-lens rangefinders, though if I'm using hoods it's a tight squeeze. The sound of the velcro is the only issue, but yeah, keep the flap folded back for those situations.

 

[bennybo]

I guess I would add to the list of desirables...

Doesn't look like a purse.

Isn't there SOMETHING out there?

I think the "buy at a flea market and put in padded inserts" may be the way to go.

 

[Poptart]

Here's the perfect camera bag in easy-to-clean vinyl. Brand new and available for a limited time on the eBay. Rip Taylor-approved. (Shoulder strap included inside.) I thank you for looking.

 

[amateriat]

I guess I would add to the list of desirables...

Doesn't look like a purse.

Isn't there SOMETHING out there?

IMO, none of the Domkes have much of the typical "man purse" look, for whatever that's worth.

I think the "buy at a flea market and put in padded inserts" may be the way to go.

Not necessarily a bad idea - good possibilites are as close as your local Army/Navy store as well.


- Barrett

 

[Poptart]

. . . Ah-hem!

 

[jonasv]

I bought a shoulderbag for $3 at Salvation Army, looks good but it also looks rather worn, not suspicious at all. Going to make inserts for it.. Probably fixed, non-moveable - so I just need to decide how to divide the space. Apart from padded inserts I might also make an extra protection layer fully covering the whole inside of the bag. For a small and insuspicious street shooter's bag, I think this is pretty much unbeatable, and it'll cost less than $20 (plus some time..).

 

[Trius]

I have a couple of canvas bags from military surplus, but haven't fitted them with inserts yet. (I tried my hand at sewing compartments for one.... uh, I'm not a tailor.) One will be for a small OM kit; I'm thinking of stencilling the exterior flap with a witty phrase that would only be understood by Olympus cognescenti. But I won't post that here, as it might be considered blasphemous by some. :angel: