Domke F-802 Review

I love my Domke F-6, but as I've been expanding my kit and preparing to offer my services as a photographer, I've recognized that it's not going to be the best solution for bringing a large kit to a shoot. I don't think it would fit two bodies, a 70-200mm zoom and another medium-sized lens or two, plus lighting gear. Additionally, while I personally like the Ruggedwear finish, I wanted something a bit more business casual, so to speak. I'm still completely happy with my F-6 and wanted to stick with Domke, so I ended up getting the Domke F-802 Reporter's Satchel, a large satchel-style bag, in the normal Sand finish. (Because I'm carrying so much in this bag, I also picked up the Domke Shoulder Pad, which helps keep the weight from getting painful -- highly recommended, and you'll see it in the pictures, but it doesn't come with the bag.)

Domke calls the F-802 a "Reporter's Satchel", but it works quite well as a camera bag. Like all their F-series bags, it's made of a durable but flexible cotton canvas. I was tempted to get one of the J-series satchels, which are made of black ballistic nylon, but there's no J-802 that I can find, and I wanted the larger size more than the different material. I was also considering the F-811 or F-812, which are designed to carry a laptop and a DSLR system, but I couldn't find many reviews of them, and they're about twice as expensive -- I don't plan on needing to transport my laptop to shoots very often, so I ruled them out.

I also could have gotten an F-2, or even an F-1X, but I decided that I wanted a satchel instead of a duffel bag. For one thing, it's less conspicuous: the F-802 could be any large messenger bag. Living and working around Boston, carrying an obvious camera bag would also potentially make me look like a tourist or a student, and thieves are more likely to see them as a target. A satchel might suggest a laptop, but every bag's obviously going to carry something, and I think "maybe a laptop?" is a better risk than "definitely a camera". Not that the F-2 looks a lot like a camera bag, of course.

The slimmer profile of the satchels is also a draw. It keeps more of the gear closer to my body, so there's less a risk of carelessly smacking into something (or someone) because it's sticking out. It does make the F-802 harder to work out of, since the bag is deeper, but I suspect it's just a matter of getting used to a deep space instead of a broad one. On the other hand, I do a lot of shooting bending or even laying down, and I'd be worried about things falling out if it tipped over on the ground with the flap open -- something a duffel wouldn't do.

The bag is built really well. There are no loose threads anywhere, and all the materials are high quality. The strap runs down along the sides and is sewn to the bottom of the bag, so the weight is distributed over the entire bag, and not just on a few square inches at the top. It also has a rubber tread sewn into it, which keeps it secure on your shoulder. The top flap has a handle on it, made of the same thick cotton material as the strap, with a metal reinforcement underneath. I've actually heard of this support wearing through the bag after a few years, but I have no idea if the problem is widespread or not. The clip that secures the flap is very strong, and takes some work to open; I expect it'll ease up in time, but frankly I like that it's not going to pop open too easily.

On the outside, there's a large but thin pocket on the back, which I stick lens caps into while I'm shooting. There are also two zippered front pockets (heavy YKK zippers), large enough for business cards, small notepads, and other small-ish items you want easy access to.

Inside is a lot of storage space. There are two velcroed front pockets, each large enough to carry a Super Clamp and umbrella adapter. Or, though it's a little tight, a 40D with battery grip (and no lens, of course). The velcro patches on these pockets are very large, about the size of a business card, so it's easy to shut them securely. Also, the Domke logo is on the flap of one of these, meaning it's not visible when the main flap is closed -- another way the F-802 avoids standing out as a camera bag. (Though let's be honest: any thief who'd know Domke is a camera bag maker could probably recognize the F-802.)

There's a second thin pocket inside, which could hold a binder or large notepad; I keep some sample 4"x6" prints in here, and would use it for any shoot-related paperwork. Between this and the four pockets, you're probably going to have room for all the cables, filters, spare batteries and other miscellaneous accessories you need for whatever system you're carrying.

The main compartment is sized for a pretty good work system. Its dimension are 14.5"x12"x3", which doesn't account for the natural flex of the fabric. That's the big advantage of Domke bags: they expand or collapse around what they're carrying, so it keeps its balance and comfort whether its packed full or is half empty. The bottom and sides are lightly padded, just enough for the bag to keep its shape empty. It's not enough to protect the contents in case of a serious accident, but if you're getting a Domke, this shouldn't come as a surprise: they're flexible, fast bags that are easy to use, but ultimately you are its best protection from accidents.

One nice detail: the interior padding is olive green, and the unpadded surfaces are of the same material as the exterior (really, they are the exterior), so unless you have a black bag, it's easy to see exactly what's at the bottom of the bag.

Since the F-802 is marketed as a reporter's satchel, it doesn't include any inserts to keep the main compartment organized. I use the Domke FA-230 3 Compartment Insert. With this setup, I can carry the 40D with 70-200mm f/4L IS attached (hood reversed) in one compartment, the old EOS A2 (I haven't gotten a second digital body yet, but wanted to see how one will fit) with 17-40mm f/4L on the other end, and the 100mm f/2.8 Macro in the middle. The 100mm Macro is about as large as will fit between the two main lenses. There's still room on either end of the insert for a flash; I was able to fit the 430EX II and a Vivitar 285HV in, barely, but the Viv is much bulkier than most modern flashes. With these two bodies, three mid-sized lenses, and two flashes, I was still able to fit a 24' TTL cord from FlashZebra in the main compartment. I can also fit the cameras in with their grips attached, though it's a tight fit -- though the A2 is a film camera with a small vertical grip, not a bulkier motor drive or battery grip, and I don't know if a second one of those would fit.

The bodies, with or without grip, are pressed right next to each other like this. I took the side padding out of the FA-230, and will probably reuse it as a divider to keep them from rubbing. Everything else is secure. On that note, I can feel the contents of the bag against my side as I'm carrying it, and I'll probably add a bit of that padding between the insert and the back of the bag for comfort.

With all this gear packed, the main flap still shuts easily, since the clasp comes up between the front two cargo pockets. The sides of the compartment are completely covered, so I'm not worried about rain or snow getting in, like I was with the F-6. The canvas finish is probably less water-resistant than the Ruggedwear, but canvas is pretty good at keeping the contents dry, and there's multiple layers of it around the electronic stuff in the main compartment.

All in all, I'm as happy with the F-802 as I am with the F-6. I'm still using the F-6 when I'm out on a photo walk, especially doing macro work with bugs, where I don't need to carry my entire work kit with me. For carrying everything though, I'm very happy with the F-802. If in the future I ever have more gear than this bag can carry, I don't think I would be using a single bag for it.

By the way: Purchases made through the links provided here support this site and my photography. Please be sure that I stand by my recommendations, and only ever suggest items that I would spend my own money on.

Domke F-6 Ruggedwear review

I don't have a huge camera kit, so when I came to the conclusion recently that I needed a better way of transporting my gear than an old messenger bag with a widening hole in one of the seams, I opted for the modestly-sized Domke F-6 Little Bit Smaller Ruggedwear Bag. The practical design caught my eye, and so did the simple, unassuming appearance -- it's nice to look at, but it doesn't draw attention to itself. The "I am not a camera bag" bags may not look like neoprene lunchboxes with $4000 worth of gear in them, but people are still going to notice them. I guess you could say the F-6 is more classy than stylish.

Now, I have to admit, I can compare the Ruggedwear model to the regular Domke F-6 Little Bit Smaller Bag because I was a bit dumb when I bought it. I ordered the plain F-6 (black, since olive was out of stock) to help me schlep my stuff back home from New York, where I was visiting family for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I had the bag shipped to my home in Boston, where it was not going to do me much good, and in the half-hour it took me to realize this, Amazon had already prepared it for shipping. So I had to order a second bag, and thought again about spending the extra money on the Ruggedwear model. The two bags are identical, except for the color and finish, so most of this review applies to both.

The "Ruggedwear" material is a cotton canvas treated with paraffin wax for water resistance. It's the same as their "Waxwear" treated bags, which I believe were only offered as a limited run. It's a dark brown color, and looks in photos like it would have a soft, suede-like feel to it, but it's a tough, flexible fabric to the touch. Not that it's abrasive at all; it's quite smooth, and there's no oily smell or residue. The logo is a subtle tan color on the front; the black canvas F-6 has a bright red logo, which frankly I don't like at all.

I've heard that normal canvas bags tend to shed small fibers as they age, which can get on DSLR sensors. The waxwear bags are so new, I don't know if they've been around long enough to tell whether they suffer from this problem or not.

Water beads on the surface, but it's not watertight -- the sides near the strap rings are a bit exposed, and I would expect some water to get in if you're caught in a driving rain. Folding the sides of the top down after you close it will nearly eliminate the gap, but it won't quite do this on its own. I'm not sure how much water the bag will wick off of the gear its carrying, but probably less than a normal canvas Domke. From what I hear, even the normal Domkes are at least a little water resistant as well. I hope you'll forgive me for not doing an exhaustive test comparing the two, but I think if absolute waterproofing is a high priority for you, you're looking at a whole different class of bags anyway.

The F-6 is built well, and feels like a heavy-duty camera bag. There's no padding, except for the bottom and the insert, so the lenses are pretty well protected, and they're the most fragile bits anyway. The insert has four sections, and the Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM macro lens (non-L) with reversed hood fits exactly in one to give you an idea of the size. There's a zippered pocket on the underside of the top, and on the front. The clips that close the bag are amazingly strong, and take some effort to open, which I like. The strap has a pair of rubber treads along the underside, for traction on your shoulder, and adjusts easily to a comfortable length. It also has a removable hand strap.

I can fit a lot of stuff in this bag: a 40D with battery grip, the 100mm macro, the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5, a Helios 44-2, an old K-mount 135mm f/2.8, Vivitar flash, short off-camera cord, Cactus radio triggers, battery and charger, circular polarizer filter, a baggy with flash gels, some spare batteries, lens pen, the 40D's battery and charger, a case of business cards, and a mini-tripod. With this load, the bag is still very comfortable to carry. It's perfectly balanced, and doesn't tip forwards or backwards when you pick it up. It's incredibly easy to access the gear you're carrying; the balance is not affected by whether the top is closed or open, and it's simple to just grab what you want. There's no need to unsling the bag and unpack everything just to get a different lens or filter.

This is a great bag for carrying around a modest kit. If I had more big gear to haul, it wouldn't be able to carry everything, but it's not meant for the role of "whole studio on your back" anyway. I'm a big fan of carrying minimal amounts of stuff, and this is an ideal walkaround bag, or even storage bag for medium-sized kits. There's not much room for me to grow into this bag, but I'll definitely pick up a Domke 700-02A F-2 Bag (Brown Waxwear Finish) once I have the need.

As for the Ruggedwear vs. normal canvas, I'm glad I spent the extra money. I think I'd like the olive or sand color better than the black, but I do really love the weathered brown color of the waxed canvas. And I shoot in damp and drippy environments often enough that the extra touch of protection is probably going to be useful.

Update: One month later, I still love the bag, and I'm no longer concerned about the possibility of gaps along the side of the lid.  This weekend I brought my gear with me to work, in a commute that involved, I kid you not, a ~1 mile walk through blizzard conditions each way.  Despite the cakes of snow I had to brush off the lid before I could get to my camera once I got indoors, everything in the bag was perfectly dry.

Update 2: I've found that removing the padding from the sides of the insert lets the bag collapse in a bit better when it's partially empty.

By the way: Purchases made through the links provided here support this site and my photography. Please be sure that I stand by my recommendations, and only ever suggest items that I would spend my own money on.

Domke F-6 Little Bit Smaller Ruggedwear Bag
Domke F-6 Little Bit Smaller Bag (Olive)
Domke 700-02A F-2 Bag (Brown Waxwear Finish)