Anybody own a Domke f-803?

[Joooorsh]

Looking for a new satchel that is actually capable of safely storing my cameras when out shooting for a day.

Just wondering how much gear you can fit in one?

I'm usually shooting with my x700 or F3 or r3a which will all fit but would like to be able to plonk my 5d Ii w/ 35 1.4 in there with a bit of other crap. So basically if anyone has one and can tell me how much they fit in it I'd be greatly appreciative.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I can't say that I have experience with this specific Domke, but I may add that Domke bags are the best I have ever seen. They are crafted to last!

 

[Joooorsh]

Yeah that's why I'm forking out for one, just want to make sure I get the right model!

 

[jordanstarr]

I dunno if that bag is for you. I had two Leicas with lenses and a lens in the middle in mine and it barely fit. I remember having a contax rts with 35mm f1.4 and one other lens in there and thought it was a little much. I love the bag, 'cause it fits all my stuff, but it's definitely a rangefinder bag, not an SLR unless you're planning to use just one body and 2 lenses. Have a look at the dimensions though and measure your stuff. I could be wrong.

I also have the domke f-1 bag and it's my personal preference. It would fit an SLR much nicer and be more accessible. The thing I didn't like about the f 803 is how deep it was and I had to fish in the bottom for a tiny Leica lens.

 

[Joooorsh]

Just saw a video where a guy had a d700 w/ lens around the same size as my 35 and a big zoom in there snug as a bug in a rug.

So I still don't know but I'll investigate. No stores in Sydney stock them tho.

 

[bdial]

I have a Domke F-2 bag, not sure how it compares with the f-803, but it easily takes a Hasselblad with a prism finder, 3 lenses, meter, backs, film.... With plenty of room left over.
2 35's with lenses wouldn't be a problem depending on the inserts used, and 3 would be feasible.

 

[canuhead]

If you're thinking of cameras with lenses attached, I'm going to suggest another bag. It's a slim bag and even an M6 with a 35 cron was snug if you used padded dividers. I now use the 802 instead, much more room.

I suggest taking a look at the ThinkTankPhoto Retrospective 30 bag. I'm close to buying one as it will work well for RF and slr cameras. The footprint is a bit bigger than the Domke's but it has many more useful features.

or look at the Domke F3x series bags. Smaller brother to the F2 but very good bag to work from.

 

[CGW]

Satchel and courier-style bags don't "park" well and tend to flop over. I find the Domke F2 to be near-perfect for a moderate amount of gear but not so roomy to encourage overloading. I also have an F1X but tend to stuff it with too much tonnage. If you go with an F2, get it in the bomb-proof ballistic nylon and buy their USPS-style shoulder pad, too.

 

[Besk]

I have had a J-803 (the Nylon version) for years and and have stuffed all kinds of stuff in there from time to time. Leica M-6, Leica IIIf, Rolleiflex, Mamiya Universal Flattop etc. Not counting the bread, water bottle, blocks of cheese, sandwiches etc. So if I can get it in there I can carry it.

The secret is to get proper inserts and modify them if necessary to fit whatever you wish to carry. In fact my Leica's are carried in short inserts and the lenses are in homemade inserts and don't ride in the bottom of the bag.

That said - there may be better choices for digital SLRs as others have mentioned above.

 

[pgomena]

I owned the F2 and used to carry two Canon F1 bodies, 4 or 5 lenses, meter, film, flash. Eventually wore a hole in it and replaced it with the F1, in which I now carry a Hasselblad body, 3 lenses, 2 backs, meter, film, flash, etc. First bag lasted me 9 years, second one has lasted me 20 and it's still going strong. Perfect for my system. It is easy to overload the F1 and make it really heavy.

Peter Gomena

 

[semi-ambivalent]

Looking for a new satchel that is actually capable of safely storing my cameras when out shooting for a day.

Just wondering how much gear you can fit in one?

I'm usually shooting with my x700 or F3 or r3a which will all fit but would like to be able to plonk my 5d Ii w/ 35 1.4 in there with a bit of other crap. So basically if anyone has one and can tell me how much they fit in it I'd be greatly appreciative.

Joooorsh,

I have a tan one I use as a briefcase ('man-purse' for the honest folks here.) I have a 1x1 Domke insert at one end. In that I usually have a 50mm f/2 and a 105mm f/2.5, mounted mount to mount with two rear caps glued together. In the rest of the main compartment I drop an f with a 28mm f/2 and a bottle of water, maybe a sandwich. It works OK but only OK. A bit too thin front to back and without the insert it's a bit to short end to end to quickly slide in a magazine or folded paper. I also have the bigger satchel (802?) and that's just too big for daily carry; when I leave work I leave it, and don't want to carry my office home with me. That's why I downsized to the 803. As has been mentioned, they fall over. A lot. Sometimes I think they're just a PIA. My son has an F-2 and he thinks it's too big. I'm thinking of getting him an F-3X for Christmas. That way if he doesn't like it I can claim it.

Somewhere on youtube there's some film of Winogrand working out of what looks like an F3-X. If you can find that you could get a better idea of it's size and if it's what you need. I can't recommend a satchel if it's going to be your only bag.

hth

s-a

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I have a Domke F-803 that i've had for many years. It is too small for a large digital SLR, too thin front to back. Works well for Leicas, and small to medium size 35mm SLRs. I've used mine with Olympus OM and a Nikon F3 system and for those it is fine. My Nikon F4, which is about the size of your Canon is just too big for the bag.

 

[O|||||||O]

It is too small for a large digital SLR, too thin front to back.

Maybe if you insist on having a lens attached.

You've got about 3-4 inches of 'thickness' that it can accommodate.

I guess it depends on what you plan on stuffing into it. I have a Fuji GF670, L358, film, and some other accessories in mine. I have plenty of room to spare. If anything, the bag is a little too large.

I could also fit my 1N RS, a flash, and 3-4 lenses in it comfortably instead of what's in it now.. If a 1N RS can fit in it, I don't see how a large DSLR couldn't...

 

[Paul VanAudenhove]

As far as size goes, the 803 main compartment is about 13x4x9 (LxWxD). It looks like the Domke satchels that has the most working distance front to back are about 6.5 inches.

I use the F-6 (12x6x7) which is a bag, not a satchel. It's also a little roomier at 504 cubic inches vs 468 for the F-803. I can comfortably fit an Nikon F5 with lens attached, plus four more lenses in the main compartment. I find it easy to work out of, even if I am keeping the camera in the bag between shots.