The Perfect Street Bag
Domke F2 by Domke
By Ray Pempengco
16 December 2007
This is probably the best bag I've ever spent my money on. I've owned several different types of bags that either slung over my shoulder, wrapped around my waist, and oversized backpacks that carry everything but the kitchen sink. However, one thing always bothered me - it was always difficult to get to my gear. Conventional camera bags have either zippers or plastic clips that made it difficult to grab your gear in a hurry. Even though the Domke F2 has metal clips, which takes some finger muscle to open, I never really use it. I find the Velcro on the flap is sufficient enough to hold my gear securely. The bag is top loaded so my camera gear stays put without me worrying about it falling off.
What I like about the Domke F2 is that it is inconspicuous. It doesn't say, "Hey, I'm carrying thousands of dollars of camera equipment.... come mug me!" I've always wanted to carry as much equipment as possible to make sure that I don't miss out on that special shot. After several years of photography, I've realized that the majority of my photos were sufficiently taken with lenses within the 28mm to 50mm range. Unfortunately, you can only modify the internal dividers to a point. It does come with a fixed four-compartment divider. I ended up cutting one of the dividers to accommodate another camera instead more lenses. What I carry in my Domke is a Nikon D80 with an 18-55mm lens and a collapsible Mamiya 6 with a 75mm lens. So now, I can carry two more lenses if I want or other gear such as external meter, memory cards, or whatever else I need on a particular day. Of course, don't expect to carry a prime zoom lens like an 80-200mm or larger. This is strictly a street bag. If you need to carry bigger equipment then a backpack is better suited for your needs.
I have the black canvas type bag & it comfortably conforms against my hip while slung on my shoulder. I believe Domke also makes a waterproof ballistic material but I've never tried it. Of course, I wouldn't take this bag out on heavy rain since it's not waterproof. Even without external padding like most camera bags, I do not feel the bulk of my gear against me. I find that external padding on other bags adds bulk & makes the bag "inflexible". The bag actually conforms according to what you put inside so your gear is always snug. There are also two compartments on each end of the bag to carry extra batteries, chargers, or filters. Again, a flap with Velcro easily accesses these compartments. There are two rectangular pouches on the front of the bag where I put my reading glasses & (ahem) my PSP. Ok, there are moments where I have time to kill & I need something to keep me occupied. I use the open pouch at the back as a dumping ground for other knick-knacks, such as a cellphone, maps, coins, etc. Lastly, I like the zippered compartment under the flap. I keep important things in there such as money, checkbooks, or passports. I carry this bag everyday just about anywhere I go.
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