The small strap is a hand-holder for off-shoulder carrying. I have an original 1979-vintage Domke F-2, it still is in use although I wore through some of the canvas panels! And the dark chocolate faded to milk chocolate coloration. It's been with me on presidential shoots, the first space shuttle launch (and some others)... sand, tropical heat, blizzards, you name it... it stood up to them all. The soft side conforms to your hip and provides stability that more ridged bags don't. Viva Domke!
I've had my F2 bag since 1992. It's really all you need. Apart from the rubber grippers shedding from the strap, it's held up perfectly. I think it actually gets better with age.
The small strap is just a 'grab/carrying handle', it attaches to the plastic 'D rings' where the shoulder strap joins together. It should sit over the outside of the top flap/lid, for ease of picking up the bag.
The fabric and fasteners remind me of a canvas WWII gas mask bag. My only suggestion for the small strap that you hooked to the back is that it might go around your leg. That way, when you jump out of an airplane the bag won't fly up and hit you in the head!
I saw this review yesterday evening, and like Reginald I to was impressed. Sitting right now with my second-hand Domke F2 in black that I got for a bargain! I think I'm in love... :-) Still I would also like to know: What was your first choice ?!!
Considering that a camera bag is made for carrying, surprisingly few reviewers actually put it on. 99% of bag reviews consist of a guy handling the bag on a table in a studio. But what's it like to actually use out and about?? Show us how it handles on the go. Is it easy to access with one hand? How does it sit on your hip? Are there annoying clacking sounds when you walk? All that stuff that show up when you take it out in a real world setting. I wish reviewers would follow these simple suggestions, in all humbleness :-) This is not aimed at this particular review - you are all guilty! :-)
This bag was designed for a photojournalist who will be working out of the bag literally on the run. That's why it's devoid of clever compartments and connectors. I have always usually transported equipment to a venue in a hard case and staged equipment for that job into this bag for active shooting. The softness of the bag allows it to hug your hip and move more easily through crowds and doorways. When using this bag, I'll generally be wearing two cameras (long zoom, short zoom) with two or three other lenses in the bag. That means there is always an empty lens compartment. While walking (even while jogging), and can remove a lens from a camera, drop it into the empty pocket, remove another lens from the pocket and put it on the camera. I can carry an on-camera flash in one side pocket and loads of other working equipment in the other pockets.
I know that I have 4 F2's, and 2 F1X, and 3 Satchels from Domke, that they are built well, and I get alittle emotional when I see the US Flag as it saids MADE IN THE USA. Thank you Jim Domke... As it is a hand carrying handle, and do not place it on the rings Ok, those rings connect with the Satchel as I have the F-801 old Domke model, and the F-803 Satchel, as they both can hold a MAC Book Pro 13" inch model, or tablet or Both, more rolls of film, or Media Cards, etc... Very Handy, and Clever that Jim has design..Your bag looks alittle smaller than mine, as I bought my first bag in 1976, and again in 1978, and 2 more at 1984, and 1992. So if you said that they shipped the wrong bag so what was the day that you order? I think that Domke Bags are better built, and chosen by the White House Press Photographers Association.
anybody have compared domke F2/ think tank Retrospective with lowepro's Classified series bags? IMO Lowepro - safety of gear + quality; Think tank - versatility in use + quality; and Domke ... + quality? Domke are not so comfortable in use as TT is and Think Tank hasn't so much safety for your gear as Lowepro has. So what's your thaughts on these 3 shoulder bags?
I bought a TT Retrospective 30 version 1 years ago, bad buy. Unbalanced bag, tends to fall forward. Too many pockets and compartments where it's easy to forget you've put things in. Domke was designed for its ease of use, adaptability, load capacity, easy access to equipment and also not to look too much like a camera bag, like TT or a LowePro trunk. I owned that bag for services around Europe for 10 years before it showed signs of abating.
The small strap is a hand-holder for off-shoulder carrying. I have an original 1979-vintage Domke F-2, it still is in use although I wore through some of the canvas panels! And the dark chocolate faded to milk chocolate coloration. It's been with me on presidential shoots, the first space shuttle launch (and some others)... sand, tropical heat, blizzards, you name it... it stood up to them all. The soft side conforms to your hip and provides stability that more ridged bags don't. Viva Domke!
I've had my F2 bag since 1992. It's really all you need. Apart from the rubber grippers shedding from the strap, it's held up perfectly. I think it actually gets better with age.
The small strap is just a 'grab/carrying handle', it attaches to the plastic 'D rings' where the shoulder strap joins together. It should sit over the outside of the top flap/lid, for ease of picking up the bag.
Saw your review today 5-24-13. Went out and purchased it in black for myself. Great review.
One of the best bags out there. I have 3 of them and well as 2 F3X bags. Well designed and made.
Another great feature of this khaki bag, as I recall, is that it can also double as a grey card for metering, as it's very close to 18%.
The fabric and fasteners remind me of a canvas WWII gas mask bag. My only suggestion for the small strap that you hooked to the back is that it might go around your leg. That way, when you jump out of an airplane the bag won't fly up and hit you in the head!
Great review, really thinking of getting one for when I'm looking to travel a little lighter. Out of interest, what did you order initially?
Nice review. It seems like the order mistake went well then!
I saw this review yesterday evening, and like Reginald I to was impressed. Sitting right now with my second-hand Domke F2 in black that I got for a bargain! I think I'm in love... :-) Still I would also like to know: What was your first choice ?!!
Excellent review. It helped me to buy one. Thanks.
I still have my beat up (badges of houour), battle tested F-2 that I bought in '85', you can not kill these bags.
Considering that a camera bag is made for carrying, surprisingly few reviewers actually put it on. 99% of bag reviews consist of a guy handling the bag on a table in a studio.
But what's it like to actually use out and about?? Show us how it handles on the go. Is it easy to access with one hand? How does it sit on your hip? Are there annoying clacking sounds when you walk? All that stuff that show up when you take it out in a real world setting. I wish reviewers would follow these simple suggestions, in all humbleness :-)
This is not aimed at this particular review - you are all guilty! :-)
This bag was designed for a photojournalist who will be working out of the bag literally on the run. That's why it's devoid of clever compartments and connectors. I have always usually transported equipment to a venue in a hard case and staged equipment for that job into this bag for active shooting. The softness of the bag allows it to hug your hip and move more easily through crowds and doorways. When using this bag, I'll generally be wearing two cameras (long zoom, short zoom) with two or three other lenses in the bag. That means there is always an empty lens compartment. While walking (even while jogging), and can remove a lens from a camera, drop it into the empty pocket, remove another lens from the pocket and put it on the camera. I can carry an on-camera flash in one side pocket and loads of other working equipment in the other pockets.
I know that I have 4 F2's, and 2 F1X, and 3 Satchels from Domke, that they are built well, and I get alittle emotional when I see the US Flag as it saids MADE IN THE USA. Thank you Jim Domke... As it is a hand carrying handle, and do not place it on the rings Ok, those rings connect with the Satchel as I have the F-801 old Domke model, and the F-803 Satchel, as they both can hold a MAC Book Pro 13" inch model, or tablet or Both, more rolls of film, or Media Cards, etc... Very Handy, and Clever that Jim has design..Your bag looks alittle smaller than mine, as I bought my first bag in 1976, and again in 1978, and 2 more at 1984, and 1992. So if you said that they shipped the wrong bag so what was the day that you order? I think that Domke Bags are better built, and chosen by the White House Press Photographers Association.
anybody have compared domke F2/ think tank Retrospective with lowepro's Classified series bags? IMO Lowepro - safety of gear + quality; Think tank - versatility in use + quality; and Domke ... + quality? Domke are not so comfortable in use as TT is and Think Tank hasn't so much safety for your gear as Lowepro has. So what's your thaughts on these 3 shoulder bags?
I bought a TT Retrospective 30 version 1 years ago, bad buy. Unbalanced bag, tends to fall forward. Too many pockets and compartments where it's easy to forget you've put things in. Domke was designed for its ease of use, adaptability, load capacity, easy access to equipment and also not to look too much like a camera bag, like TT or a LowePro trunk.
I owned that bag for services around Europe for 10 years before it showed signs of abating.
Its not the camera bag you order but nice surprise