Domke F-803 is awesome

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Just got this--wow, what a great little bag. Got mine last week and it comfortably holds a smallish DSLR with lens attached, plus an extra lens, plus a film rangefinder. I highly recommend the FA-210 insert...this, plus the insert that the bag ships with, completely fills the bag, creating two totally padded compartments, one small and one large. Thanks to the people here who recommended it.

 

[pfoto]

The 803 and the clone from China that's sold on eBay are excellent small kit satchels. Personally I prefer the clone but the original has it's charms too.

 

[besk]

I have the black Nylon model and love it. Seven years on it is still going strong.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

The dude selling the clone on eBay was asking for something like $38 shipping from across the US...I just went with B&H, shipped cheap and came in a couple of days...

I got the black too...super nice!

 

[swoop]

Ditto. Love mine. Carries my M7 with a lens attached, a second lens in the pad pocket. Plenty of film and a spare of batteries. My moleskine, a pen, a flashlight, iphone, my nintendo DS with games. And there's room to spare. But that's all I need. If I'm headed on the subway I'll bring a book to put in the rear pocket. This bag is perfect. And it looks like any old regular messenger bag.

 

[sanmich]

I love the f-802
Kind of large student bag.
you can through lots of things there plus water, wallet, papers, you name it...

 

[DriesI]

Hi,

I am looking for a bag to carry an M with lens, some paperwork, keys, wallet, film and a small laptop computer (macbook air actually).

Would all that fit in a F803? or would I need a F802?
I do like the simple no nonsense design of those Domke satchels.

kr,
Dries

 

[f/stopblues]

I've been looking for something bigger than my Crumpler lately. There seems like there would be plenty of space for a couple RF's and a book maybe, no? What about my beast, the Bronica GS-1?

Is there just one maker of the Domke copy? Where do I find them? Sorry, I'm not very versed with camera bags! I tend to buy one and stick with it for a while.

Thanks!

 

[kuvvy]

Chris, the names to look out for are Mekko and Safrotto. They do the Domke clones. I have the Safrotto and it's a good bag. Being canvas means it is tough, though it can feel a tiny bit heavier than some. Makes a very nice day bag. There's a number of users here. I paid £15 ($30) for mine plus the same again for shipping. It was still a bargain when you see the Domke prices here in the UK.
Just search on the forum for Safrotto and you'll find plenty of info including pix.

 

[35mmdelux]

the F-803 is one of the best RF camera bags out there. I have two -- a sand color from 15 years ago that is still going strong after several washes and an OD green that I use today. I can carry two Leica M's, a few lenses, cell phone, maps in side pocket. Carrying enough film has never been an issue.

Most important, as oft said, it does not shout camera bag.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Is $130 a good price for this bag new?

 

[pfoto]

No. That's a very high price but now I see that they're up to US $105.00 at B&H! 😱 The Safrotto is IMO a better bag - US $70.00 on eBay and that includes shipping. See the link below. This is my bag and I had a bad fall about a year ago with cam + lenses in the bag. Everything was fine except me. The reason? The Safrotto insert. Check it out in the eBay ad. I have no connection to the seller.

http://tinyurl.com/6fjw28

 

[sevres_babylone]

I have both the Domke 803 (3 of them actually) and the Safrotto clone. I am not sure what phtomoof is talking about; I have not had these problems with my Safrotto. The Safrotto has a zipper pocket inside the flap (which they must have cloned from pictures of Domkes where I had seen them, although I have never had that feature in my Domkes.) It is a nice feature. Also whereas the Domke 803 has separate zipper pockets on the front of the flap, which I like because with SD cards, I use one side for unused ones, the other for used ones), the Safrotto, while it has two zippers, they lead to one pocket. The Safrotto is also slightly bigger than the canvass 803. When I had a 12" powerbook, it slipped easily into the back pocket. The macbook will not fit in the 803; I don't know about the Safrotto.

I bought the 802, because I needed something for the macbook pro I bought to replace by dead powerbook. I was hoping it would fit in the back flap, but it doesn't. As a camera bag, I much prefer the smaller 803 to the 802.

 

[f/stopblues]

I wanted to rehash this thead again to ask a question, 'cause I think I'm about to pull the trigger on the Safrotto version of the 803.

Here's the ebay listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/Safrotto-Canvas-camera-bag-NEW-FREE-INSERT_W0QQitemZ290189065254QQihZ019QQcategoryZ64335QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247#ebayphotohosting

So with that insert in there, is there another spot where I can stick a book or notepad that maybe I can't see? $25 for shipping kind of stinks.. is there another seller that maybe I should wait for to pop up?

Thanks!

 

[back alley]

i'd buy the real thing and pay less for the shipping to boot!

another seller is photocan, on ebay. they sell domke and shipping is like 10 bucks.

 

[jasoncohen]

I have the 803 (can't speak of the clones) and it has been an outstanding bag for me also... I will put my headphones, m8, several lenses, macbook pro, business cards, magazine, etc. with no problem... Only thing is that it gets a bit heavy 🙂

 

[kxl]

As already mentioned, Mekko is another "no-name" option.

http://mekko.net/

 

[ampguy]

I like my J803 for transport, but not for carrying around to shoot, it's too big, too deep, and has the slow clip for flap attachment. Right now it has an SLR with 80-200 lens, with 28/2.8 and 43-86 zoom lens in the pockets, film, filters, and a P&S.

I think it's much too big for RF's unless you're carrying about 5 of them, and it doesn't have lens keepers, so you need to wrap your lenses up individually.

 

[RObert Budding]

I use Timbuk2 messenger bags myself.

 

[pfoto]

I wanted to rehash this thead again to ask a question, 'cause I think I'm about to pull the trigger on the Safrotto version of the 803.

So with that insert in there, is there another spot where I can stick a book or notepad that maybe I can't see? $25 for shipping kind of stinks.. is there another seller that maybe I should wait for to pop up?

Yes there is another spot. Hidden by the top flap is a back-pocket that is the width of the bag for a manilla folder, book, pad, whatever. Don't complain about the shipping, $70 shipped is a good price for this bag (as I said above) and I don't think you'll get a better deal. As to the respective merits of the Domke F-803 and the Safrotto CF-700 all I can say is that as a massive Domke fan (I have an F-1x, F-2, F-6 and F-803) this bag completely wipes the floor with the Domke original. The Safrotto has a better (much wider) strap, softer canvas, better stitching, and a hugely better and more protective insert. If I'd been using the Domke instead of the Safrotto the day I had the accident my camera would have been damaged I'm sure of that.

My current Safrotto bag is my second. I used another one for a year, sold it and bought a "real" F-803. Big mistake. I very quickly realized that it is uncomfortable to wear all day. Why? It has some kind of a plastic stiffener that runs the whole length of the top of the bag under the handle. Really annoying against your hip and if you're carrying a couple of brass Leicas and two or three old lenses that thin strap starts to bite into your shoulder after a few hours too. So I got me another Safrotto and I haven't looked back. 🙂 Just my experience with these two bags. YMMV.