Yet another bag thread - Domke F-803 vs. J-803?

[Ken Ford]

My 90mm VF finally sold, so I have a few bucks to get a new bag (and a RFF contribution).

I'm a Domke guy through and through. I've been planning on a F-803, but am wondering how the J-803 is. Does anyone here have any experience with both? The published dimensions show the J is a little larger, but I suspect they're close to identical.

I'll be carrying an M6 with Rapidwinder and lens mounted (either my 40 Cron or 35 Cron ASPH, each with mounted hood), three additional lenses and various smaller accessories.

Thanks!

[je2a3]

AFAIK the J-803 is ballistic nylon not canvas with similar dimensions. Would you consider an F-803 clone? The Saffrotto has been highly rated in this forum and is cheaper. I have one and seems to have better padding with removable dividers. You can search eBay under - 'like Domke' - they have US dealers now.

Joseph

[FrankS]

You remember my Domke 803 review, right Ken? It will be plenty big enough for the gear you carry. If the camera with winder and lens with hood combo don't fit inside the vertical padded divider, it would certainly fit beside it, and the extra lenses would fit inside.

[taffer]

Ken, just wondering, do you know of the very nice Domke clones made by Safrotto ? Some of us here use them and are extremely happy with them at around half the cost.

They have a website on www.safrotto.com, but also I think some ebay sellers have then in stock, maybe look for 'like Domke'.

I have the F-803 clone and from what you mention you'll have enough room for all you want to carry there. Mine takes 2 F2 bodies with two mounted lenses and two spare ones, plus still has a spare compartment to fit a small RF outfit, and that I usually fill with a TLR.

Oscar

Edit : woops, sorry, the 'Safrotto effect' was already mentioned between my writing and submitting...

[Ken Ford]

Do the Saffrottos have a strap that goes completely around the bag?

I'm hesitant to buy a clone bag for a couple of reasons - Domkes have always given me good service, and the whole knock-off business leaves a bad taste in my mouth. However, I'm trying to keep an open mind.

[taffer]

Yep, they have that strap. They also have the two rubber bands on the strap itself, which allows for a very nice non-sliding carrying.

It could be great if you could somehow manage to see and touch a Safrotto, maybe some RFFer with one near you ?

Oscar

[Ken Ford]

Hmmm.

Frank - yes, I remember. I was curious if there was a difference between the canvas model and the nylon. I'm leaning to canvas (old habits die hard), but thought I'd ask.

I'm also seeing a Saffrotto "like 802" bag. That's slightly smaller, right? Also, how decent is the Saffrotto gripper-type strap on these bags?

[Ken Ford]

Ahhh! Posting delays! (#$%@ dialup!)

Makes for surreal threads...

OK, I just looked up the dimensions of the 802 vs. the 803. I think the 803 is the way to go.

Also, I can get an 803 for about the same as a Saffrotto, so I think I'll stay with Domke. Brand loyalty, I guess.

I remember someone suggesting a Domke 803 with a Billingham insert (?) is the cat's butt for RF carry. Anyone else remember this one?

[taffer]

It's good to see that a brand does well And usually the main argument in favor of the safrotto is the price, so...

Domke or Safrotto, yep, I think the 803 will serve you well.

Let us know !

Oscar

[Ken Ford]

Aaarrgh!

I was just reading a little about the Saffrotto bags - I think maybe I need to think this through. Is it true that the stock Saffrotto insert is better than Domke? Also, the implication is that the canvas is thicker - that's the one are with Domke that bothers me. My old F-2 is much thicker than any of my recent Domke bags.

[Rafael]

I have the Safrotto f-803 clone. I admit that I had similar reservations about buying it instead of a Domke but I have been very happy with the Safrotto. The canvas is nice and thick. And I do think the insert is better than that in the Domke (the Safrotto insert has three compartments and fills the bag).

[SolaresLarrave]

I'm following this thread very carefully... I hadn't considered this particular bag for my purposes, but we'll see...

Thanks for starting it, Ken!

[Ken Ford]

Photo1818 on eBay has a bag listed that he says is "like an 804", but the dimensions almost match those for the 803. What's up with that?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canvas-camera-ba...QQcmdZViewItem

[Rafael]

I've seen them mis-label the bags before. Safrotto does make an f-802 clone (and I assume an f-804 clone as well) but that is a picture of the f-803 clone. I bought mine from juniox2005. He doesn't seem to have any up on the site right now.

[Ken Ford]

#$%^@ it. I'll give a Safrotto a try - if I don't like it, I'm sure i can find a new home for it here. The flexibility of the insert is what clinched it for me - I find my M6 with Rapidwinder and 35 Cron ASPH is a very tight fit into a standard Domke insert. The Safrotto can be adjusted to allow for one wider compartment and two narrower ones that are more proportionate to the size of RF lenses.

Photo1818 had one with a slightly lower BIN than the others, so I just did the dirty deed. Francisco, I should have it by the time we finally get together.

Thanks, everyone!

[Rafael]

I hope you like it as much as I like mine.

[peter_n]

Ken just posted this in another thread but the insert in the Safrotto is much better than what you get with the Domke. The Domke canvas was thin but the company seems to have listened to the consumer wails and beefed the canvas up to "old" standards in the newer bags. You won't go wrong with either bag!

[StuartR]

I first bought an F 803, and then a J-803. I much prefer the J803. The advantage is that the nylon does not bleed like the canvas. The black dye that they use rubs off very easily. Also, the J803 is just better designed -- the strap is detachable so you can switch it out with a better one if you have a very heavy load, it has a document pocket that fits regular sized paper, and there is an additional pocket under the flap. The swivels on the strap make it easier to get it positioned correctly. Overall I just think it is a better bag. It has also held up much better than my 803 did. The reason I replaced the 803 was because it began to look faded and ratty within the first year. I have had the J-803 for two years now, and it still looks much better.

I cannot speak to the Safrottos, but I am also a bit leery about supporting something that seems just to be a pirated version of the Domke. It feels like buying stolen property to me.

[peter_n]

But isn't faded and ratty good Stuart?

[back alley]

isn't the j-series a satchel type and the f-series is more a square bag type?

i like satchel myself.

joe

[StuartR]

Peter -- it can be, but not in this case. It was rubbing off on my clothing if I remember correctly. I am all for worn bags, but sometimes you need one that is presentable as well. The J-803 looks more like a standard business satchel, and as such it dresses up a little better.

Joe -- perhaps it is not the F-803, but there are two 803s -- the canvas one and the J-803. I think the J stands for Journalist, and the bag is part of their journalist series. They are both satchels though.

[back alley]

thanks stuart.
i need to check their site and refresh my poor ol' memory.

joe

[RObert Budding]

I use an F-803 and have been very happy with it. I can even squeeze my Bronica RF645 and 3 lenses in. But I handled a Billingham bag this weekend for the first time. Pricey, but really nice. The Billingham Hadley series seems a bit too small for the Bronica, though, because of the thick padding. Perhaps I'll try a Packington.

[Ken Ford]

The Safrotto showed up - very nice!

I'm still working out how I want to set up the interior, but I can report that if you take the two insert dividers and set them up where the Velcro flaps both point to the center of the bag, there's plenty of room for an M6 with RW and 35 Cron in the resulting center compartment and lenses in the ends. I think I'll look for a can cooler sleeve and stack my other two lenses using a back-to-back reap cap and use the other compartment for film and other stuff. I also need to wash the sizing out of the bag and seal it with waterproofing.

Thanks for all the help - this bag looks like a winner!

[jshelly]

Originally Posted by Ken Ford

The Safrotto showed up - very nice!

That is a nice looking bag for the price.

Any updates since you've received it?