Does anyone use a Domke F2?

xtolsniffer · May 16, 2014

Well, I succumbed and ordered one, it arrived yesterday. It can fit all of my kit quite happily, and I have to say that it actually feels easier to carry than a small backpack, feels lighter somehow which I know doesn't make sense. I love the way it moulds to your body. I might have to swap the 2x2 dividers for a 1x2 divider if I want to keep some of the lenses mounted, but I'll see how I get on with it. I know I've missed shots in the past because I couldn't be bothered to take the backpack off, so with this I might be more productive! I love the canvas material and metal clips. It's funny, modern materials are amazing, but the older I get the more I appreciate things made of canvas, leather and metal, perhaps it's aesthetics rather than practicality?

benjiboy · May 16, 2014

xtolsniffer said:
Well, I succumbed and ordered one, it arrived yesterday. It can fit all of my kit quite happily, and I have to say that it actually feels easier to carry than a small backpack, feels lighter somehow which I know doesn't make sense. I love the way it moulds to your body. I might have to swap the 2x2 dividers for a 1x2 divider if I want to keep some of the lenses mounted, but I'll see how I get on with it. I know I've missed shots in the past because I couldn't be bothered to take the backpack off, so with this I might be more productive! I love the canvas material and metal clips. It's funny, modern materials are amazing, but the older I get the more I appreciate things made of canvas, leather and metal, perhaps it's aesthetics rather than practicality?

The heavy grade water resistant cotton canvas they are made out of is breathable and doesn't encourage mould like many other materials camera bags are made out of and it's machine washable. I highly recommend you buy the Domke U.S.P.S. shoulder pad
it makes it feel even lighter and more comfortable to carry.

Vilk · May 16, 2014

xtolsniffer said:
Well, I succumbed and ordered one, it arrived yesterday. It can fit all of my kit quite happily, and I have to say that it actually feels easier to carry than a small backpack, feels lighter somehow which I know doesn't make sense. I love the way it moulds to your body. I might have to swap the 2x2 dividers for a 1x2 divider if I want to keep some of the lenses mounted, but I'll see how I get on with it. I know I've missed shots in the past because I couldn't be bothered to take the backpack off, so with this I might be more productive! I love the canvas material and metal clips. It's funny, modern materials are amazing, but the older I get the more I appreciate things made of canvas, leather and metal, perhaps it's aesthetics rather than practicality?

yay! three cheers for xtolsniffer!

want even lighter and even more hip-hugging? toss out that silly plywood plank from the bottom and replace it with a piece of a foam yoga mat from the dollar store... or carry the plank around for a bit--just long enough to laugh in relief when you finally toss it out

benjiboy · May 16, 2014

Vilk said:
yay! three cheers for xtolsniffer!

want even lighter and even more hip-hugging? toss out that silly plywood plank from the bottom and replace it with a piece of a foam yoga mat from the dollar store... or carry the plank around for a bit--just long enough to laugh in relief when you finally toss it out

The "plank" at the bottom gives the bag dimensional stability I've found and stop it distorting while over your shoulder so when you get stuff out of it you can easily put it back in without struggling.

Vilk · May 16, 2014

benjiboy said:
The "plank" at the bottom gives the bag dimensional stability I've found and stop it distorting while over your shoulder so when you get stuff out of it you can easily put it back in without struggling.

sigh... one man's hip-huggin' is another's distorting i guess

benjiboy · May 16, 2014

Vilk said:
sigh... one man's hip-huggin' is another's distorting i guess

I've tried it both ways, and I find if I remove the base I can't get the stuff back in it.

Vilk · May 16, 2014

benjiboy said:
I've tried it both ways, and I find if I remove the base I can't get the stuff back in it.

the yoga foam is the key

Mainecoonmaniac · May 16, 2014

Here's a budget Domke-ish bag on a budget.

http://petapixel.com/2012/12/31/diy-make-a-waxed-canvas-camera-bag-on-the-cheap/

Peter Simpson · May 16, 2014

benjiboy said:
"Plastic" is an over simplification, they are Duraflex http://www.duraflexgroup.com/default.aspx which is a special plastic material which is very stromg and almost indistructable even if you hit it with a hammer.

It's not that I don't trust them to be good, well made and well designed, it's that I got my F2 used, and I don't know how much UV they have been exposed to. I know they are probably safe, I just thought a couple of paracord loops was real cheap insurance for my gear. I have an old khaki canvas F2 and it feels as comfortable as a pair of old jeans. Well made and looks good, too.

Mine has no plywood in the bottom...it's canvas, the insert has a foam bottom, though. I've used two things in place of plywood: high density foam (salvaged from shipping materials) or coroplast (salvaged from roadside advertising signs). Both are far lighter and seem to do the job just as well.

benjiboy · May 16, 2014

The bases of the current Domke F2' s aren't plywood but some sort of rigid foam styrene material that's covered with a plastic sheet material that's much lighter than plywood.

Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk

miha · May 17, 2014

benjiboy said:
The bases of the current Domke F2' s aren't plywood but some sort of rigid foam styrene material that's covered with a plastic sheet material that's much lighter than plywood.

Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk

Interesting. I find the plywood base too heavy (a weak point in the F2 design in fact) and have therefore often used the bag without it.

benjiboy · May 17, 2014

miha said:
Interesting. I find the plywood base too heavy (a weak point in the F2 design in fact) and have therefore often used the bag without it.

This is the current base board supplied with F2's http://www.amazon.co.uk/Domke-Delux...1_109?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1400331084&sr=1-109

miha · May 17, 2014

benjiboy said:
This is the current base board supplied with F2's http://www.amazon.co.uk/Domke-Delux...1_109?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1400331084&sr=1-109

Do you know when did the change occur? Mine, purchased around 15 years ago, looks exactly the same on the outside with the embossed KOREA markings on the rubbery side of the base.

benjiboy · May 17, 2014

miha said:
Do you know when did the change occur? Mine, purchased around 15 years ago, looks exactly the same on the outside with the embossed KOREA markings on the rubbery side of the base.

No mine doesn't and it was bought about 2 years ago, are you sure your F2 isn't a fake?, because there are a lot of counterfeit ones made in the Far East, Domke bags are wholly made in the U.S.A, if it's genuine it should have Y.K.K zips and 2 white labels 1 with washing instructions on and made in U.S.A the other should have two numbers on with the prefix TF and another label with an American flag on it in colour.

miha · May 17, 2014

benjiboy said:
No mine doesn't and it was bought about 2 years ago, are you sure your F2 isn't a fake?, because there are a lot of counterfeit ones made in the Far East, Domke bags are wholly made in the U.S.A, if it's genuine it should have Y.K.K zips and 2 white labels 1 with washing instructions on and made in U.S.A the other should have two numbers on with the prefix TF and another label with an American flag on it in colour.

Yes, I'm sure it isn't fake: YKK zippers, 2 labels, American flag, "original F-2", etc, purchased trough an authorised dealer/store. Maybe things have changed a bit in the last decade.

J Oney · May 17, 2014

My f 2 dates back to the mid 80's. It's held a varity of Nikons throughout the U.S. and Central America. Now holds a Hassy, 3 backs, 3 lenses, light meter and other goodies. These bags hold up and will last forever.

benjiboy · May 18, 2014

To me the main claim to fame of the Domke F2 is that it was designed by Jim Domke a working photo journalist at the time on the Philadelphia Enquirer not an industrial designer someone with practical user experience who knew the bag must be light, not excessively padded, easy to work out of and not slip of your shoulder when in use.

GarageBoy · Aug 22, 2014

I'm probably the only one who preferred the old Tenba ProPak layouts over the Domke F2- the materials, the rapid buckles, the durability

Does anyone use a Domke F2?

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