Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand)

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

This bag is great for carrying around a small camera kit without it looking like a camera bag. I usually use it for a small MFT kit and a Ricoh GRD IV or a film camera. It has big pockets for film, batteries, etc.

One thing that I don't like it the hook/clip on the front because I often need two hands to open or close it properly.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I am always on the lookout for a good "street" bag that will hold a couple of Leica M's and some lenses. This bag is great in many respects. It will easily hold 3 M bodies with lenses. I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure I could get a few more lenses in as well. The bag is well made and looks very sharp without being flashy and grabbing attention. I plan to use this bag for many years and suspect I will like it even more after it's broken in. Having said that, I gave it 4 stars for a couple of reasons. The clip that holds the flap is not super quick to undue. It's secure which is it's purpose but I think the clip could probably be improved for ease of use without compromising security. It also comes with minimal dividers. Sure you can buy more but I've never purchased a bag that was this sparse on dividers and configuration options. My last criticism is that I wish there were more in the way of pockets and places to keep things (i.e. non-camera items, like keys, wallet, phone, cards, etc.) organized. Anyway, these are minor issues. As I said it's a great bag and I am glad I got it. It's just that my search for the perfect bag hasn't ended.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I use this everyday to and from work. I got it because of the small profile compare to other camera bags.

I don't have much issue with the clamp (as long as you use two hands) to open and close it. It does lack a padding that some people might not like. There only seems to be padding at the side wall and at the bottom but it's not really too much.

The single insert that comes with it is kinda "blah". Has a thin layer of padding that when I did see it I was relived that I didn't get any additional inserts. My D7000 in the bag without any padding seems to move around a lot so I did a quick fix by getting thicker styrofoam and lining the inside of the bag with it using the insert that came with it as a spacer.

Also I wish the bag had a sightly longer strap since I am 6'1 and it does seem a little small. The strap is attached to the bag so unlike the J-803 which can be swap for a different or longer strap. But it does have grippy rubber lining to prevent the bag from moving around.

Definitely a good decision getting this bag if you want something small for a single body with a couple of lens. The next best thing is a Billingham which actually does not have any of the issue I've had with this bag but Billinghams are double the price or more. Overall it's a good bag, I got it because it does not look like a camera bag but now people think I have a laptop bag.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

This is the 2nd Domke F-803 I've purchased from B&H. The first one I bought was the rugged waxwear version. I use that one for my Canon 7D. I use this sand colored one for my Panasonic GH1. The waxwear version is better and only a little bit more expensive, but I didn't want two of the same bag. I've sold my Lowepro holster-style bags because of the F-803. It's slim but fits a lot. It will fit a camera body with at least two lenses, plus a bunch of extras. The bag sits nicely against the body and doesn't get in the way when walking through crowds. There isn't a whole lot of padding but I feel my cameras are well protected. It also has some water resistance. The handle on top is so helpful when getting in out out of cars, buses or planes. The shoulder strap has some rubber lining which stops the bag from sliding off your shoulder. The front pockets are great for filters, batteries or memory cards. The back sleeve is great for thin items like a passport, pack of gum, etc. An iPad fits perfectly in the back sleeve. The two zippered pockets on the flap are very small and tight. Maybe good for business cards or a cleaning cloth. I just keep the little Domke ID tag that comes with the bag in there. One of the best things about this bag is the clip. It's metal and very secure. Can be a little awkward to open and close. You may need two hands to do so, but it's a lot nicer than a plastic clip or magnets which aren't secure at all. If I could add one thing to this bag it would be velcro silencers for the two front pockets, similar to the ThinkTank Retrospective bags. My only knock on this bag is the lack of customization with inserts. There just aren't any inserts made to fit this bag properly. The one provided does fit, but you need to work at it. The velcro strips aren't even within the main compartment. Once you force it, it fits alright. I didn't have this problem with the waxwear version though. The Domke F-803 is still the best camera bag I've owned (why I've bought 2). It's also nice that Domke offers a few different colors to choose from.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I have used an F2 original bag for years, but often I don't need to carry a lot of extra equipment. On my daily rounds, this bag carries all the gear I need for most assignments. I now have two of them (the same for the F2) - one for my work gear and one for my personal gear.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

This is the best shoulder bag for day-to-day use. It is a camera bag, but it can also double as a laptop or document bag, I pretty much use it for everything. Like all Domke bags, it only gets better with age. I use it pretty much every day. Love it!

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I bought the F-803 to carry my Leica gear in a bag not looking like a "camera bag" and having enough storage flexibility and ergonomics.

The shoulder strap does not slip from shoulder, as almost any other brands' do, and the lock system is much better than zip-lock or velcro. The top handle is also a nice feature, which similarly shaped copenting bags lack.

Inside compartments could be improved by Domke, since only a single padded compartment comes with the bag, and it suited only for lens(es).

Some internal padding would also be welcome.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

Just what I needed to replace a bulky back-pack but I might should have picked the slightly larger one. It doesn't look like a bag that would contain expensive camera gear which is what I want. Durable and isn't black!!

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I have several bags (including other Domke products) but this is the one that I use when I want to go light.
Minimal padding keep the size and weight down obviously offers less protection than some other brands.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

I've bought this bag for carrying my DSLR and camcorder when travelling abroad. I carry inside a medium-sized DSLR (Sony A700) with mounted lens 16-105, an ultrawide lens and a camcorder Canon HF100. The ultrawide is in an insert positioned horizontally, the DSLR lays on this insert and the camcorder is in the second insert positioned vertically. I can thus draw either camcorder or DSLR independently. The camcorder can be replaced with a tele lens if needed. To obtain this configuration I had to buy an extra insert FA-280 because quite surprisingly only one is included. Although A700 is little higher than the specified interior width it fits OK.

I like: the bag retains its form under load, protection is a little better than expected, the lock is not hard to operate.

Notes:
1. "Post Office Shoulder Pad" is quite useful with this bag despite a narrower strap.
2. The actual "Sand" color is lighter than on some pictures including the one I saw here when buying - this is a plus.

Comments about Domke F-803 Camera Satchel Shoulder Bag (Sand):

Easy to use and carry with good protection for the equipment.