Domke 803 satchel review

FrankS · 03-11-2006

I received this bag just yesterday from Kim in the UK and have gone for a couple of walks around town with it trying it out.

My first impression is that it is perfect for my needs. I put 2 cameras in it, and a few extra lenses, and accessories. With all this stuff it became a bit heavy near the end of the walk, but this demonstrates to me that it is as big a bag as I would ever need for walking about. I went out again later with just one camera and fewer extra lenses and accessories, and it was very comfortable to wear. The gripper strap has rubber embedded in one side so it will not slide down your shoulder. I also wore it bandito style with the strap over my shoulder and neck.

My only quibble with it is that it wants to tip forwards when I put it down. I wish it would stay upright, or tip backwards instead.

The bag basically has 3 compartments created by a removable padded insert that I have in the middle. One could carry 3 cameras, one in each compartment with room left over in each compartment for extras. There are 2 front pockets covered with velcro'ed flaps where I put filters, light meter, lens hood, and film. On the back of the bag there is an uncovered thin compartment perfect for a notebook or maps. There are 2 small zippered compartments on the main flap for small items.

Check out the pics.

I am very pleased with this bag. (Thank you Kim!)

FrankS · 03-11-2006

With everything shown in it, the strap did begin to cause discomfort after a kilometer or so. I wanted to test it out with as much stuff as possible. I went out later with just 1 camera and a few lenses and it was much better. The bag holds as much as I could want in a walk-around bag.

Ken Ford · 03-11-2006

Frank, thanks for the pics. I've been using Domke bags for many years, but have never seen this model in the flesh (canvas).

Question: in your estimation, would an M body with Rapidwinder/Leicavit and a typical lens mounted fit comfortably into the padded center compartment?

(Also, your M3's lens cap is on upside down!)

FrankS · 03-11-2006

Question: in your estimation, would an M body with Rapidwinder/Leicavit and a typical lens mounted fit comfortably into the padded center compartment?

It would be tight with both, but I think it would. Especially if the lens was compact with no hood.

BrianShaw · 03-11-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

... I also wore it bandito style ...

Ever wonder what happend to the Frito-bandito? He was removed from advertizing (or 'advertising') because it (apparently) cast negative aspersions on those of Mexican heritage. FrankS... in the future, please be more sensitive.

Ken Ford · 03-11-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

It would be tight with both, but I think it would. Especially if the lens was compact with no hood.

Eeek. That may be a problem for me, then - I would probably need to get a triple insert and remove one interior partition. I'm not looking to carry much - an M6 with RW and hooded 35/2 ASPH plus two or three small additional lenses, film and meter.

FrankS · 03-11-2006

Ken, you could simply place your camera in the space beside the padded insert. It would be protected enough.

vha · 03-11-2006

Thanks for the review, and now i can afford to read it too ..
A friend of mine is in NY at the moment and promised to drop by B & H. .. hopefully she does that as well. Also ordered the 3 room padding and the“Post Office-Style” Shoulder Pad, have one of these on my F-805 (which is mostly usable for storage, if you load it you cant carry it . .)

The photo made me miss my seikonic light-meter even thou it killed my swatch because of the magnet.

4 weeks to go , and hopefully I have the camerabag I´v been looking for for a long time.

vha

dcsang · 03-11-2006

Yet another thing for me to "want to buy"...

Sincerely,
The Imelda Marcos Of Camera Bags
Dave

Ken Ford · 03-11-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

Ken, you could simply place your camera in the space beside the padded insert. It would be protected enough.

I've been doing that now in a Domke F-6, but would prefer a little more protection. I'm a klutz!

amateriat · 03-11-2006

I've had a black 803 for about four years – possibly as close to a perfect camera bag as I've ever used. Since it carries everytihing I coulde possibly imagine needing for a serious shoot (pair of Hexar RF bodies in end pouches with 28 and 50 lenses mounted, 90mm sitting above HX-18 flash in center pouch, Nikon SB-20 flash sitting under one HRF at pouch bottom, film, pocket tripod, lens cloth, PDA, spare batteries, Wein slave flash module, pens, notepad and paperback in assorted other pockets). it's always packed and set to grab and go...just add the required quantity of film, and I'm set. Stows under any airline seat – even those teensy regional jets – in no time flat.

Frank, be prepared to get a crazy-lot of use out of that thing.

- Barrett

peter_n · 03-12-2006

I have the Safrotto version of this bag and have used it on a daily basis for almost a year now. I use it as briefcase/camera bag and it has stood up quite well to the wear and tear. The design is perfect for a small camera kit.

One thing I would add is that I waterproofed both my Safrotto 803 and my Domke F-2 with Nikwax TX.Direct spray-on. This product really does an excellent job of waterproofing natural materials like canvas. Can be bought from most good outdoors stores.

back alley · 03-12-2006

are the domke bags waterproof?

FrankS · 03-12-2006

Good morning guys.

This Domke bag feels like it is waterproofed. The canvas is somewhat stiff.

peter_n · 03-12-2006

AFAIK they are not waterproofed. My F-2 (16 years old) is definitely not waterproofed. I would have thought that the bag would be identified as waterproofed on the label but I haven't seen anything on the current labels to that effect.

Frank that bag is a really nice color. I didn't know that Domke were still making the olive colored ones.

Kim Coxon · 03-12-2006

You could always try the waterproofing they sell for treating tent canvas. Works well on many things. It wouls at least make it "showerproof"

Kim

sbug · 03-12-2006

Than you very much for the bag info Frank. I've been looking for an appropriate bag forever and it's nice to see some photos of the bag with camera and accessories loaded in it. I have a hard time judging the actual size by bag dimension only. This is most helpful.
BTW, that is a great looking bag.

dostacos · 03-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Ford

Eeek. That may be a problem for me, then - I would probably need to get a triple insert and remove one interior partition. I'm not looking to carry much - an M6 with RW and hooded 35/2 ASPH plus two or three small additional lenses, film and meter.

there are several types of inserts that will fit, check out B&H their on line catalog gives a good description of the various pouches I use several domkes, the 6 is my favorite that I added an additional insert from what came with it.

peter_n · 03-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Coxon

You could always try the waterproofing they sell for treating tent canvas. Works well on many things. It wouls at least make it "showerproof"

Kim

Kim the Nikwax TX.Direct spray-on is also designed for such an application and is sold in outdoors retailers for that purpose.

I would just like to pipe up on the Safrotto for a moment. The bag comes with a hefty insert already installed in it. I had a nasty fall during the winter when I and the camera bag went crashing onto hard pavement. The bag took a humongous hit but my M7/35 Lux ASPH inside was unharmed. The bag has a built-in padded base and the inserts are much more substantial than the Domke ones. I've since bought another one (they are now sold on eBay out of CA and OH for around $35) after thinking that had I been carrying the F-2 at the time my camera probably would have been damaged.

I think the quality of the Domke canvas is better than the Safrotto but I don't really care for the Domke inserts. I think the Safrotto inserts are slightly too high to fit inside the Domke bags but I could be wrong. Anyone tried it?

jonasv · 03-12-2006

Semi-off-topic here, but does anyone have an idea of where I could buy cheap padded bag inserts? I'm making my own camera bag from an old military bag I found somewhere. I could make inserts myself, but it would save me some time if I could buy them cheap.

FrankS · 03-12-2006

Jonas, camera stores/sites that sell camera bags like Domke, usually also sell inserts separately.

peter_n · 03-12-2006

Oops I forgot to post a pic of the F-803 clone that shows the insert you get with it and the separate padded base of the bag (the insert has its own padded base as well). In the lower left quadrant of the 4 below...

jonasv · 03-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

Jonas, camera stores/sites that sell camera bags like Domke, usually also sell inserts separately.

Thanks Frank! Never seen that here, but I'll check some stores and ask for it, maybe I just overlooked these.

Thanks!

Michiel Fokkema · 03-12-2006

Hi,

I use a Billingham insert in my 803. It's the insert with places for 2 enses. But because the M lenses are small I can put two lenses in each hole. Antoher lens on one camera aside of the insert. One camera without lens in the front pocket. If nesceccary i can stuf in a Canon G6 or something else.
Just a great little big bag. Mine is black and looks even smaller.

Cheers,

Michiel