Domke 700-52A F-5XB Shoulder and Belt RuggedWear Bag-BROWN

Product Information

Domke is among the most famous names in the pantheon of camera bag makers, and for good reason. The company makes some of the toughest and most practical bags on the market. Traditionally aimed at photojournalists, Domke's bags are usually tough, somewhat on the heavy side, very accessible, and capable of accommodating a surprising amount of gear. I've been using an F-6 for about three years now, and it's accompanied me on trips all over the world. This is my long-term test. Key Features: Then I went travelling with 2x Sony A6000s and associated lenses, and suddenly appreciated this bag for what it is: flexible, customisable, well thought-out and hard-wearing. It gave me a new appreciation for the simple, rugged design.

The F-6's main compartment is surprisingly roomy, and can comfortably fit a 2-camera, 3-lens outfit, along with extras like an iPad, and a flash or two. Lenses – Should have no marks on the elements andoptically clear. There may be light dust present that will not effect theimagery. I have 2, 5Xb's; 1, J803; 1, F803; 1, F6, 1, J-X3b, 1, F-X3, 1, F-X3b, 1, F-1. The original F-3 I bought in the 1970's, the j-803 has been around the world a few times. The others on who knows how many outings, airline flights, trips, events, etc. I've never had a piece of gear damaged in a Domke bag, I've never had a water bottle leak inside a Domke bag and while I like the two ThinkTankPhoto bags quite a lot, I find nothing quite as secure as when I grab a handful of canvas when I'm in a hurry. One other slight annoyance is that the ring to attach the main clasp at the front of the bag seems to be under the bag rather than on the front. The clasps themselves tend to get a bad right-up, but I don’t find them to be a problem and I can easily undo the one on my F-3x one-handed while the bag is on my shoulder. This is an instance where it would have been nice to see the velcro 'silencers' used on some of Domke’s newer bags. Or, even better, the 'silent' velcro that Tenba uses on some of its bags.

Condition guide

Short photgraphy sessions: It works great for outtings where you know you won’t need access to more than 2 lens, a flash, or tripod. If you are doing a large photoshoot, you probably already have a larger bag for that. This is for a walk through Central Park or taking portraits for a friend’s wedding. Or, food pictures during lunch or dinner. Ideal For: Cameras, lenses, cell phone, MP3 player and accessories. Great for business and travel necessities. Weather-resistant RuggedWear canvas Street tough hardware Padded divider Protective weather flap on the front Zipper and touch fastener closure The clips are easy to undo by feel, meaning you don't need to take your eyes off the action to reach down and pull out a camera.

Anyone looking for all-day comfort or highly customizable organizational options will be disappointed Other robust features include an adjustable non-slip grip, cotton webbing strap, bottom stiffener which is removable and provides extra padding. The removable hand carrying strap provides versatility with carrying options and YKK zippers and steel snap hooks finish off classic designs. Would love to see it come with just one divider tab for the main compartment. Also some more color choices (muted orange, navy, charcoal, etc) would really be nice.

Radio & Communications

Ever since I coined the phrase, “I’ve been taking pictures so long that I’ve nearly worn out my first Domke bag,” people ask me to name my favorite Domke overall. Although I use the F-5XB often (including the leather-trimmed Fujifilm version I received as a gift at a Fujifilm press event), and the Domke F-2 Original is indispensible when I need to lug a ton of gear, neither is my honest-to-goodness everyday favorite model. The largest original F-2 model is capable of transporting 2-3 bodies together with 4-6 lenses depending on configuration, which is ample for any level of photographer. Are Domke Bags Durable? I wasn’t keen on the setup of the F-3x main compartment as it had very little protection for my gear. Two very thin canvas loops (designed for lenses and a single piece of padding to keep two bodies apart is just not enough (for me at least). Smaller lenses can get under those bottomless canvas loops and go on a tour of the bag, visiting the rest of the gear inside with nasty results. So in my review, I used two different inserts. The Billingham Hadley Small is narrow, doesn’t really utilise the space of the F-3x that well, but is a good insert for the bag and provides a great amount of protection for the equipment inside. The Koolertron (seen in my review), although a great insert with good protection, didn’t really make use of the amount of space it took up, which was all of the main compartment. It also made the F-3x very boxy due to its tight fit and is the full height of the bag. Domke dividers didn’t give me the sizes I was looking for. This is a negative point I’m afraid, but not a deal-breaker. The velcro on the main lid of the bag should have been twice the height that it is because unless the bag is stuffed full, the two pieces of velcro can miss each-other completely and be useless at holding the bag shut. This is a problem because Domke users tend to only fasten the metal clamps when in transit but rely on the velcro while working out of the bag. While the two bags aren’t exactly similar, I will say that the F-803 is the clear winner here for me as far as a small bag for a mirrorless system. This is not surprising when you consider the fact that I’ve owned and used an F-803 for the better part of two decades now. While the F-5XB was handier than I thought it would be, I can’t say that it fits my needs as well and I find its design in need of some updating. That said, it is a quite popular bag and I’m likely to hear about how wrong I am in the comments. So, read both sets of opinions and come to your own conclusion based on what your requirements are. F-803