If photographers were to agree on two things, they would have to be the following, although not necessarily in this order: A) You can never have enough camera bags; B) There’s no such thing as the “perfect” camera bag.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit I own too many camera bags, although, if brought before a jury of my peers I could justify each of these purchases, even if I’ve only used some of them maybe a half-dozen times. As for the so-called perfect bag, I’ve yet to find one, but if one bag has come close, it would have to be the black Domke F-3X Shoulder Bag that I purchased about 25 years ago. (Full disclosure—for the record, I also own a smaller Domke F-8 Small Shoulder Bag and a Domke F-802 Reporter’s Satchel Shoulder Bag, which I take to work almost daily. Yes… I really like Domke bags!).
Domke was founded by a photojournalist, i.e., somebody who understands what the form, feel, and functionality of a camera bag should be, based on experience. Domke bags are made of the finest, toughest water-resistant cotton canvas, and are held together with enough stitching to guarantee decades of service (and I can vouch for that). Even the shoulder strap reaches clear around the bottom of the bag for added support and structural integrity.
The first cameras and lenses I carried in my Domke were film-based Nikon F3s and a selection of manual-focus Nikkors. Since that time, my Domke F-3X has hosted Canon DSLRs, a Nikon DSLR, Hasselblads, Leicas, Fujifilm mirrorless, and Sony mirrorless cameras and lenses.
One of the things I appreciate about this bag is its size—it’s not too big and not too small. Having long lost the need to pack every camera and lens I own “just in case,” these days I typically limit myself to a single camera and two, maybe three lenses, tops. Granted, I might miss a shot because I didn’t pack a 15mm or 500mm lens, but there’s something to be said for not needing a chiropractor after an otherwise wonderful day spent taking pictures.
After a quarter century of use, my Domke F-3X isn’t quite as black as it used to be, although it’s aged better than the last half-dozen pairs of black Levi’s I’ve owned. The corners of the bag are frayed and the strap—while it’s as secure as it’s ever been—has seen better days. Regardless, I still use it regularly and, if it lasts another decade, I promise to write a follow-up report. Stay tuned.
The “Things We Love” series articles are written by B&H Photo Video Pro Audio staff to talk about products and items that we love. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the writers and do not represent product endorsements from B&H Photo Video Pro Audio.
