Domke F-5XB - is zipper metal or plastic?

Ken Ford

Ken Ford

Refuses to suffer fools
Local time
12:00 AM
Joined
Feb 18, 2006
Messages
3,390
Location
Central TX, USA
View My Gallery
I'm looking for yet another bag, this time for my M3 with mounted lens, an additional lens, film and a few accessories. I'm a big Domke fan and have been one for years.

What material is the zipper in the F-5XB? I'm concerned about ripping my hand on a metal zipper, or scratching up the gear needlessly.

Thanks!
 
Mine's at home right now so I can't be 100% certain. However, I'm fairly certain it's just heavy gauge plastic. Which also means it's not likely to scratch either your gear or your hand. Personally, I love mine and have never noticed any problem with the zipper.

-Randy
 
Perfect! Thanks, all!

I've resisted getting one of these because of the "murse" factor. I'll have to practice my hetero pissed-off scowl if I get one.
 
These are great bags

These are great bags

Ever since seeing Randy's (vrgard), it's been my favorite. You may want to pay a few extra bucks to get the non-tamron flapped one, or you'll have some floating cut marks, if you look closely, it looks ghetto 😉

Also, while the zipper may be plastic, it's a big zipper, and your gear will normally contact it pulling it out. The mini-messenger flap is great with velcro, so you can consider keeping it open with tape over the portion of zipper that you would pull the camera from. I've gotten rather adept at using one hand to spread the zipper open while pulling the camera out and putting it back in.

Ken Ford said:
Perfect! Thanks, all!

I've resisted getting one of these because of the "murse" factor. I'll have to practice my hetero pissed-off scowl if I get one.
Click to expand...
 
ampguy said:
You may want to pay a few extra bucks to get the non-tamron flapped one, or you'll have some floating cut marks, if you look closely, it looks ghetto 😉
Click to expand...

Huh? Do you mean the tape that runs across the side of the flap, or something else?

I actualy ordered a Domke version three or four years ago but returned it. That one had the "Domke" tape in red. I'll probably buy a Tamron/Domke this time.
 
side of the flap

side of the flap

not a big deal, but you'll probably want to cut it off so it doesn't catch or look funky. to cut it, there's no easy way I've found other than to get as close as you can with some scissors leaving 1/8" or so in the stitching on the horiz and vert sides of the flap, not noticeable unless you look real close.

Ken Ford said:
Huh? Do you mean the tape that runs across the side of the flap, or something else?

I actualy ordered a Domke version three or four years ago but returned it. That one had the "Domke" tape in red. I'll probably buy a Tamron/Domke this time.
Click to expand...
 
I've cut those tapes off a few bags - I get in tight with an Xacto or a single edged razor blade. A pair of suture scissors works well, too - you can clip in toward the individual stitches.

My point was that the Domke version I briefly owned had the tapes, too.
 
I love my Domke bag. It hasn't damaged the gear or my hand in the time I've had it. If something were to happen to it I'd buy another tomorrow.

If joe hasn't damaged anything that means something as he has four or five of the bags! 😀
 
If joe hasn't damaged anything that means something as he has four or five of the bags!

no no no, i had 3 of them but my buddy wanted one so i gave him one of mine when i couldn't find a used one for him.
so now i only have 2 but am still on the lookout for another good used one.

i also have the mclassic bag, great bag and a used domke 803 on the way. and an old and tattered (slightly) tamrac traveller bag that the contax lla sleeps in.
i need to find something for the nikon s2 to sleep in now.

joe
 
Followup - the bag arrived while I was traveling, but I have it set up now. I have to use one of the inner compartments for film cans, but it still fits my M3 kit well - M3, collapsible Cron, 40 Cron, 90 Elmar-C plus a small light meter. (I stack two lenses.) I wish the front pocket had some kind of closure, though.

The tag came right off, but it still looks like a murse. I'd like to wash out some of the sizing, but it appears to have a bottom board sewn in that may or may not be a paper product.

Has anyone here successfully machine washed their F-5XB?
 
Last edited:
Hi Ken,

I, too, carry a Domke F-5XB and really like it. And yeah, I did not wash mine (unlike the larger Domke bag I also have) for fear of ruining that sewn in bottom board, whatever it is. So, sorry, but I cannot answer your question. However, I thought I might share a little "use tip" that I've found works well for me with this case. You see, I too carry a couple of extra lenses tucked into one of the three openings. And rather than stack them since I don't have one of those double-ended rear lens caps, I use those skinny neoprene-based cozies. Lens slips right in and is immediately surrounded by a protective layer of neoprene. And I find that there's plenty of room to place two of these side-by-side in one of the three openings. Note that I'm not talking about the thicker foam-rubber cozies, but rather, the neoprene-based version which is much skinnier. Anyway, works well for me and thought you might find that it works for you, too.

Best,
Randy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom