Insert for a Domke F-5XB?

[Ken Ford]

I’ve had a bog standard black canvas F-5XB for decades, but to be honest I’ve never bonded with it. I’m tempted to see how it works as a home for my Sigma BF kit - the body with a lens mounted and two or three more lenses plus various accessories. Two lens “silos” are enough, I do back to back rear caps.

I decided I’m going to remove the front flap Velcro and add magnetic snaps to the flap and front compartment as described on this page: My Perfected Domke F-5xb bag – Jonathan Hrovath Photography Next I want to get the interior more organized, I only have one of the original dividers. One thing I’ve never liked about this bag is how the ends are unpadded.

I’m of two minds - either add more dividers or find an insert. Dividers are easy, I found some on Amazon that can be rolled into a cylinder and Velcroed to each end of the interior. If that doesn’t work I’ll just find three more dividers and put one at each end plus two more creating lens slots.

Oddly enough I can’t immediately find any aftermarket padded inserts that are sized for the F-5XB. I was hoping Ape Case did one, but no such luck.

Has anyone seen one piece drop in inserts that will fit a F-5XB?

 

[Godfrey]

I dunno: I've been using a bone-stock F5XB for thirty years, it's been one of my best and most useful bags for all kinds of different kits (Nikon FM2n, Leica M, Hasselblad SWC, many different digitals, you name it..). The interior is organized nicely with a front separate pocket; the most I did was unstitch the little pockets under the over-flap. If I'm putting a number of items in (like a body and three-four lenses), I just use lens pouches to keep the lenses from banging into one another—I leave them open so I can just pull a lens and drop another back in easily.

I only stopped using the F5XB when I started carrying an iPad Mini around with me and needed a bit more space for that. I've gotten over that fetish; the F5XB is now home for my Plaubel Makina 67 kit (camera, filters, lens hood, spare film, tripod attachment, phone, etc ...) and carries it beautifully. 😉

I've never used them in the F5XB, but i do have a camera insert set that I got from Artisan & Artist that has dropped into several different un-padded bags of about this size and made them work well. Shouldn't be too hard to find that kind of thing from BH or A&A's own website.

G

 

[Rob-F]

I seem to have misplaced one of my F-5XB inserts. Wish I knew where it was.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The main compartment of the Domke F-5XB is only 4.5 inches wide.
Wouldn't adding an insert result in an almost unusable narrow space?

Chris

 

[Ken Ford]

The main compartment of the Domke F-5XB is only 4.5 inches wide.
Wouldn't adding an insert result in an almost unusable narrow space?

Chris

Not unless it’s overly padded. I picked up a long padded divider and rolled it into a cylinder, it allows plenty of space for the body and lenses I’m trying to carry. This is probably the best I can do.