_valerian

Domke F3 camera bag

A camera bag is a bag that holds your camera. You knew this.
This is the one I like best:

The Domke F3 does not look like one of those kind of bags that holler out “Camera Bag” with all their zippers and mesh and X-TREME nylon cube looks. Truth is when I leave the house I only take one camera and one lens. And a little point and shoot.. And a 2mp digital camera. And film. But they all fit in here with room to spare. I never have understood the fellows (and ladies during Sakura season) who go out with a backpack full of lenses and spare bodies that are not Photo Journalists. The Domke F3 then is for me more of a sturdy all-around kind of bag than a specialty photographic related device. Shoulder bags work for me and lots of other people. I don’t know who enforces the rule but after you have been in Japan long enough you trade your Eastpack for some slick Porter number.
(BONUS LINK–>Nikon & Porter)

I wear my bag so that my right side is free. Here is a view looking down to my left:

There are two side pockets on the F3. They help make for a very convenient film shooting setup.

In the front pocket you can fit about 20 rolls of film.

Normally I have 10-15 when I leave the house. Not that I shoot all of them every time but it is always better to have more film than you might need on you just in case.

In the large middle pocket I can keep my camera:

99% of the time it is on my wrist or over my shoulder or around my neck. Quite difficult to actually take pictures from inside of a canvas bag. What usually happens is that this main pocket holds books or photos or stuff I bought or when it is cooler out, a jacket. You can fit a lot more in there than you might think. In fact, even when this bag is all fleshed out with all kinds of crap that you think you need, you can always fit some more in. Not actual Crap, but things like an indie moleskine or a super indie mini maglite, the one with the camo paint job. Thank you Tokyu Hands. Yes I spelled it right- man, everyone calls it “Tokyo Hands”…
The main flap of the bag is held down by a metal clasp and ring that probably has some special name that I don’t know. What I do know is that this is better than those several square inches of velcro that a lot of other camera bags have. It is a lot quieter to open in say the subway or any place where being quiet is paramount. Like in lecture halls or museums. I also wrap the clasp and ring in black tape, this cuts down on the clinky sound they make when I walk.

In the back pocket I put spent rolls of film:

The flaps are held down by velcro, but for an added measure of defense against the odd roll from falling out, a handkerchief or tenugui kept near the opening does wonders. I have never lost a roll from this bag.

This also is the bag that I take when I am shooting with my Pentax 67- the body and lens fit in the middle pocket just right. It holds Nikon SLRs just fine too.

This bag in the pictures was a graduation gift, but if you were to go to one of the larger Bic Camera or Yodobashi stores you can find one. I know that Shinjuku’s Yodobashi has probably the best selection of Domke bags, but Gin Ichi, one of the last true Pro-Camera shops in Tokyo has them too. Mine was $99.99 at Harman’s Camera in Lincoln which is now out of business. Thanks Wal-Mart. No, seriously. I heard they got the Lincoln Police Deptartment’s film developing account from one of my hometown’s 2 last locally owned camera stores… Now only Rockbrook remains.
The F3 in Tokyo is around 21,000 yen. That is a lot of money for a bag that does not say PORTER down on the lower right hand corner of it, but tons less than if it had “LV” plastered all over the inside and outside.

Domke F3 Good Points
–> Holds things.
–> Looks real good. Matches black Chuck Taylors AND has no problem fitting in invitation only parties held in hip furniture stores 4 floors above Omotesando street. Man, that night was weird. I do not fit into parties with the hip young and rich of Tokyo. I am only just barely somewhat young. There were all these guys who were like, “I Am So Totally A Graphic Designer” and they said this by either the frames of their glasses or how they matched $5000 suit jackets with $700 custom “stressed” jeans.
–> Looks even better as you use it. “WHOA MAN HERE COMES NATIONAL GEORAPHIC” the people might be thinking as you strut down the street.
–> Can hold amazing amounts of stuff. And then some more.
–> The pockets facilitate a smooth method of handling fresh and spent rolls of film. Love those pockets.
–> The shoulder strap has rubber on the inside to keep it from slipping off your shoulder, but this usually and awkwardly shifts the collar of my t-shirt and hair that people don’t want (or need!) to see is seen.
–> A bag made for shooting. I prefer it for going out and about to both my Domke F2 and big honkin’ F7 bags. Those are the ones I use as carry-on bags when flying. The F3 goes (very, very nicely) in the suitcase until I get back to Nebraska.

Domke F3 Not so good Points
–> EXPENSIVE in Japan.
–> Not terribly padded. Be careful when setting it down, and don’t check your Leica in at the airport in this.
–> Not the bag’s fault, but there is a message sent when you have one of these over your shoudler (at least in Tokyo)… I am not thinking of anyone I know in particular but I have met some people here who take themselves and their photography far too seriously. This is probably the bag that they have. You can call me out on this one FOR REAL, if you can’t get the tounge in cheek part.
In a place like Nebraska, where you don’t see many people walking with cameras and camera bags, it looks like a purse. “HEY FAGGGGG” is something I have heard many a time walking the streets of my hometown. But since I don’t particularly care what 17 year old high school boys driving by in 1997 Chevy Corsicas think of me, who cares. Actually, you don’t even need to have a Domke bag for car loads of sweaty teen-age boys jammed together in a 700 dollar vehicle to question your sexuality. All you need to do is actually walk somewhere. A guy who lacks a car seems to disturb them sexually more than not much else. Believe me, I know. I did not get my driver’s license until my senior year and people thought something was wrong with me, and maybe deep down inside, wrong with them.
One more gay-themed anecdote: During a photo crit in college one of the guys said he was walking with his camera and some guy out of a pickup truck hollered “FUhTAGRUPHYS FuR FAGS!”. Yeah it is funny but then we got to thinking, how does that guy know? Had he ever heard of Edward Weston and all his ladies? What is so gay about carrying a camera? That it is not a football? This was discussed for a few minutes.

But yeah, the Domke F3. Awsome.

Elsewhere:

–>Ian Lind’s Mini Review with pictures. His is the F3X-B that is made from Nylon instead of Canvas. I bet that this holds up a little bettter than the standard canvas one. It probably keeps things drier too.

–>Another review with lots more pictures, but I would rather have that sweet little FE than the D-100 or D-70 that is talked about. Does not matter though, since this bag is great for everything.

–> Gin Ichi’s F-3 page is wonderful.