What is your favourite DOMKE bag?

[flipfreak]

a brief review of the F6. i bought the bag shortly after buying the J1. the J1 is a fantastic bag as well. ballistic nylon helps to keep rain out really well and it carries so much things that i get a backache at the end of the day. so i got the J6 to carry just a couple of stuff to make it less tiring for days when i am just shooting random stuff. i order the one in canvas because i have not tried it before and everyone was raving about it.

i order it online from BH because cathay doesnt stock this item. it arrived pretty quickly with a handstrap and a luggage tag. both of which i have removed and kept. the bag appears extremely small when i got it. i was worried my gear cannot fit into it at all. i took some shots this morning of my current setup when i go out.

the items that i will put into the bag.

front zipper. good for holding memory cards, batteries, bounce cards, name cards, pens, notepad. it is not too big though and not very deep. so you cannot put very thick items in it.

the top flap compartment. i rarely put anything in there because it is really slim. maybe some paper now and then. nothing big again. note that the zipper is not covered like most other brands to protect the camera from being scratched by it. lucky nothing happened before though. not much protection from it as well. it is just a really thin canvas flap.

the flap when opened.

 

[flipfreak]

the bag comes with a compartment insert. it is different from the one in the J1 that is thicker in padding and the seperating inserts are removeable. it is not removeable in the F6. but it still does what it suppose to do. the gear is loaded into the bag.

the bag closed after loaded up.

i have to say i am pretty happy with the bag so far. it has served me well over the past year. the canvas bits wears well and alot of people like the fact that it does and moulds to your body when you carry it. i have been caught in light rain with it before and my gear has not been wet because of it. having said that, it has always been less than 1 minute of rain thing.

the pics were snapped with my compact so abit blur and stuff. hope the review helps u in deciding whether it is the bag for u or not.

 

[Benji77]

Hey Flipfreak, thank you for the work! You really took the time and gave the bag a good portfolio portrait shoot

You mentioned that the 4 slot lens compartment is non-removable?
This means that I cannot shift it or remove it at all?
The insides of the bag has this nylon mesh too. Am I right? Coz it does not look like canvas.

 

[flipfreak]

Hey Flipfreak, thank you for the work! You really took the time and gave the bag a good portfolio portrait shoot

You mentioned that the 4 slot lens compartment is non-removable?
This means that I cannot shift it or remove it at all?
The insides of the bag has this nylon mesh too. Am I right? Coz it does not look like canvas.

the slots itself is not moveable. the whole insert can be taken out.

the inside is covered with nylon or polyester material. sorry i left it out. the front zipper compartment is ballistic nylon, not canvas as well.

 

[Benji77]

ah hah. i dont really like the idea of the polyester and the wierd combo of the canvas outer shell and the ballastic nylon front pouch.

isnt it all supposed to be canvas all round? interior and exterior? wierd huh?

 

[gazkw]

I had the back-strap but for a very brief period only. While it lightens the load, it is not made to be a backpack strap. Sold it very shortly and modify my Lowepro backpack strap which do a better job. I would not recommend it.

mind sharing how u modified the strap?

 

[Rejoice]

Hi, very much said about the bags, I'm using the F-3x (super compact) for more than 10 years and is serving me well. Now feeling lazy and wanting to go hands free without bags if possible. Does anybody using the DOMKE vest and how usefull and tough? Do you like it and serve your purpose well? Thanks for sharing your opinion.

 

[flipfreak]

ah hah. i dont really like the idea of the polyester and the wierd combo of the canvas outer shell and the ballastic nylon front pouch.

isnt it all supposed to be canvas all round? interior and exterior? wierd huh?

haha. i guess i am not too particular about that.

 

[kkgoxplore]

modify my Lowepro backpack strap which do a better job.

mind sharing how u modified the strap?

Wrong choice of words; I meant Lowepro backpack harness. If you are interested, I will take a pic or two.

 

[kkgoxplore]

I was hooked on the Domke after i bought my J3 a few months back.
QUOTE]

Not surpise. My F2 is 10+ years and still loving it. Juz ordered a F-5XC from B&H (CP does not keep this model).

BTW, B&H has lower shipping cost than Adorama. That is, shipping just this F-5XC.

My F-5XC arrived today. It took 3 days - considering the time difference - for it to arrive. Great bag! It houses my D700 + 17-35mm, 50mm & 105mm VR like a dream.

 

[kemster]

My F-5XC arrived today. It took 3 days - considering the time difference - for it to arrive. Great bag! It houses my D700 + 17-35mm, 50mm & 105mm VR like a dream.

haha good for you! I regret not buying online! I bought f3-x from cathay which is about $255! Its cheaper if you order online even with shipping geez :think:

 

[adamadam]

F3X is now my favourite for when I go out.
My F6 doesn't get used as much - it all depends where I'm going and what gear I'm bringing.

On my holidays, I'd often take the insert out of the F6 to hold my lenses and put it in my other bag

 

[sheiseha]

Hi,

I'll like to check with all the expert domke owners who ordered from overseas sites (Amazon, Adorama and BH Photo).

When they ship the bag, do they flatten it or they ship as per what we see displayed in CP (with all the papers stuff in it to make it look big and nice)?

Please let me know. Thanks.. Btw, I used Borderlinx. Borderlinx is fine and uses DHL so technically it took 4 days to reach me from USA. But because of the way BHP packed my bag (HUGE box), it cost me USD$50+ for something quite light :cry: Thought I can save a little by using Borderlinx.

Can only say lesson learnt.

 

[HelenOster]

Hi,

I'll like to check with all the expert domke owners who ordered from overseas sites (Amazon, Adorama and BH Photo).

When they ship the bag, do they flatten it or they ship as per what we see displayed in CP (with all the papers stuff in it to make it look big and nice)?

Please let me know. Thanks.. Btw, I used Borderlinx. Borderlinx is fine and uses DHL so technically it took 4 days to reach me from USA. But because of the way BHP packed my bag (HUGE box), it cost me USD$50+ for something quite light :cry: Thought I can save a little by using Borderlinx.

Can only say lesson learnt.

Adorama ships them stuffed; we usually state that the packaging cannot be removed prior to shipping because if you change your mind once you receive it, we can't accept it back without the stuffing.
However, if you want to contact me off the board, I will certainly see what I can do to help.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

 

[kkgoxplore]

Hi,

I'll like to check with all the expert domke owners who ordered from overseas sites (Amazon, Adorama and BH Photo).

When they ship the bag, do they flatten it or they ship as per what we see displayed in CP (with all the papers stuff in it to make it look big and nice)?

Please let me know. Thanks.. Btw, I used Borderlinx. Borderlinx is fine and uses DHL so technically it took 4 days to reach me from USA. But because of the way BHP packed my bag (HUGE box), it cost me USD$50+ for something quite light :cry: Thought I can save a little by using Borderlinx.

Can only say lesson learnt.

I received my F-5XC from B&H in original Domke plastic wrapping; no stuffing. They packed the bag with bubble pack which increases the volumetric weight to 8lbs for a bag that weighs only 2.2lbs. In any case, mine was a freight pre-paid order so it does not hurt me. I would suggest that you let them handle the freight as their rate is good (compared to what I would pay DHL if I had my order shipped freight collect).

 

[sheiseha]

I received my F-5XC from B&H in original Domke plastic wrapping; no stuffing. They packed the bag with bubble pack which increases the volumetric weight to 8lbs for a bag that weighs only 2.2lbs. In any case, mine was a freight pre-paid order so it does not hurt me. I would suggest that you let them handle the freight as their rate is good (compared to what I would pay DHL if I had my order shipped freight collect).

Really? That means your bag was relatively flat? My F3X was stuffed with a lot of papers making it hard (and heavy, sigh). I don't understand why cannot take out the stuffing and make the bag flat (easier and cheaper to ship). However I am happy with my bag, no defects.

My bag weighs 2.0lbs (as stated on their website). Along with it I bought a pair of speaker grills (but it is very small so doesn't affect the weight of the entire package). Actual weight of package shipped from BHP is 2.08kg but when I see the box, I want to cry out loud. size of box = 16" x 13" x 11" = 7.5kg. If the stuffing is taken out of the box, together with my speaker grills, I estimate the height of the parcel can be halved.

:cry: $$$$

 

[noob777]

I am thinking of getting the f3xb from either Adorama or B&H.
Anyone keen to buy a domke? We can buy together to share the shipping cost.

 

[A.T.]

Is buying a Domke online way cheaper than buying locally? Saw a couple of camera bags today but didn't like them all. Don't like those with zippers. Or having a hook for no reason. Will continue my search when I have the time.

 

[kemster]

haha good for you! I regret not buying online! I bought f3-x from cathay which is about $255! Its cheaper if you order online even with shipping geez :think:

It is cheaper the domke f3-x is about USD 110 and with shipping it is still cheaper. You end up saving about $45 and if you pool together with others you can spilt the shipping costs and save even more - "way cheaper".

Even better if you can get it in the US :bsmilie:

 

[sheiseha]

It is cheaper the domke f3-x is about USD 110 and with shipping it is still cheaper. You end up saving about $45 and if you pool together with others you can spilt the shipping costs and save even more - "way cheaper".

Even better if you can get it in the US :bsmilie:

What method will be good to ship? Via vpost/borderlinx or direct shipping from the merchant? Cos if they ship with the bags stuffed, let's say you combine orders and ordered 5 bags, I wonder how big the parcel will be :\ cos my 1 Domke bag f3x already was packed in a 16" x 13" x 11" box. I think it will be more economical to ask the merchant to ship directly as you will have a "fixed" amount that you need to pay. If you go through vpost or borderlinx, you may get a heart attack when you see the bill.

Just my 2 cents' worth.