The Domke F2 camera bag is the ultimate choice for photojournalists for many years already. Any photographer who needs a bag that can be opened, while walking or even running, to grab a lens or a flash and put another item back in it, a bag that is really water-resistant, and can hold more items than any other bag with similar measures. A bag that fits your hip instead of hanging like a stiff board against your hip and swinging forth and back. A bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag! The bag that doesn’t slip from your shoulder.
I’ve spend a lot of money on many different camera bags. Small, big, shoulder and backpacks. But none of them even came close to the Domke F2 which I bought three years ago. I thought it was time to test if all that was said (Like I’m saying above) was true. And all I can say is this:
I could have saved a lot of money if I listened to these stories of other photographers. Even a good friend of me told me so. I think the main reason was the price tag for this bag. And I didn’t want to spend that amount of money on a bag. But looking back now I can assure you that it would have been a bargain considering the lost money on all those other bags.
Don’t be fooled by manufacturers who make you believe that their overly thick padded nylon bags are water-resisant and protect your gear. Ask yourself why some of them deliver a plastic protection overlay for the bag? The Domke bags are made of canvas and not one drop of water gets through! They aren’t overly thick padded. Instead there is almost no padding. Only the inlay is padded. It’s almost unbelievable what you can put into this little bag! I’m carrying two SLR Nikon Camera body’s with two or three lenses (17-55/2,8, 80-200/2,8 and sometimes 50mm/1.8) a SB-600 flash, extra battery’s just in the inside of the main compartment. So there is still room in the side compartments! When my camera’s are out of the bag I can put my jacket and/or trouser in the bag. The side compartment are big enough to hold an extra camera body or lens.
There is just one little problem with this bag. They all look a like. Photographers unintended switch their bags in the heat of the moment:-)