Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought a Domke F-2 several months ago to use as my main bag, and it's great. I'm totally sold on Domke's quality. No other bags I've seen (including the five or six others that I own, and the dozens I've looked at in stores) come close. The F-2, however, is a fairly large bag. It holds almost all of my stuff, which includes a Canon 40D and several lenses, a couple of them being pretty large. That's great when I want to bring all my stuff, but most of the time I just want something easy to grab and carry with me.
For several years I've been using a Crumpler 4 Million Dollar Home when I wanted to bring just my camera and one or two lenses. I bought that when I was using a Rebel XT, a much smaller camera, and did not have any large lenses. I've been getting by with it for the past year since I upgraded to the 40D, but have been on the lookout for a replacement the whole time. Now that I bought the 24-105L the crumpler is really not sufficient anymore (it fits but with no additional room) and I fell upon this as the best replacement.
This bag will fit a great travel kit, which in my case is the 40D with a Canon 24-105L, Sigma 10-20mm, and Sigma 30mm f/1.4 for low-light. Yet, it is small enough to just grab and go if you're just going somewhere around town and aren't sure if you'll be taking photos or not. Looks and feels like a small messenger bag.
The design is great, and customizable with the included inserts. I have it set up so at the top is one single compartment which holds the camera and whichever lens is attached. On the bottom, accessible from the zipper opening on the front of the bag, is where the other lenses go. This way you're not fumbling with the other lenses, or risking dropping them out or otherwise damaging them, while going for the camera. You could also set it up the more traditional camera bag way, to have slots accessible from the top that go all the way to the bottom. A lot of options here, which is nice.
Here are my nit-picks, though. First and most obviously is the ridiculous amount of velcro employed here. I would have preferred a different attachment mechanism, perhaps the clasps as used on many Domke bags including the F-2. Like another reviewer noted, I covered most of it up with a 2-inch velcro strip (stuck onto some thin plastic.)
Second, pockets are lacking. There are two small pockets on the front, but they are not deep enough for a pen. Batteries and stuff like that fit fine in there, but I don't feel like they're the most secure. The back pocket, a well-known Domke feature, is of course great. You can't shove all your stuff in there, though, because it goes directly against your side with no padding, so its use is ultimately limited (but still very useful.) What's glaringly missing is a pocket in the top flap. This is actually a feature of the F-2 that I don't use often, but I would have really liked to use a flap pocket here on the F-5. That would be the perfect place to store all the little accessories you don't need right at hand but would still like to bring with you. Could probably squeeze some small pockets on the side, as well, at least a tiny one to hold pens and the like.
Third, I wish there was a carrying handle for when you want to grab the bag quickly and go. This, again, is a feature of the F-2, and it's very useful. There's one on the Crumpler I mentioned as well. I may just transfer the carrying strap from the F-2, though it'd be way too long.
Finally for my nit-picks, the price. It is great quality that will last and it is made in the US, but it's undeniably a little overpriced (as all camera bags are, but still.) It's especially noticeable with this model, because unlike with the F-2, it feels as though this hasn't had as much thought. It could use a few revisions before being perfect, in which case the high price would be entirely justified.
Size - it is a little bigger than you might think. Take out a ruler and measure it out. If you want something smaller - say, to hold just the camera and not additional lenses, or to use with a smaller camera, the F-5XB is identical except being about half as tall. I found an F-5XB in a local camera store and I liked it, except that it was too small, which made me feel comfortable ordering the F-5XC (which I couldn't find in local stores) online.
Color - if you're attracted to the army surplus look so it doesn't stand out as a camera bag, I'd go for the sand color. This olive color doesn't really seem like army surplus olive drab. It's a slightly richer green than is in the picture here. I expect that it will fade nicely over the years, of course, but new it's too nice and rich of a green to pass off as surplus. Maybe I'm just saying this because I regret not getting the sand color - it was hard to decide :)
Finally, I really wish Domke didn't put that big diagonal logo on the front - it does look cool, but I imagine most everyone is just going to cut it off. Though most probably wouldn't recognize it as a camera bag company, it makes the bags stand out as clearly not just a surplus messenger bag.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Domke 700-53D F-5XC Large Shoulder Bag - Olive
Light weight, versatile and inconspicuous camera bag that allows for easy access. This canvas, padded bag is designed for comfort and protection. Additional features include an adjustable and removable non-slip Gripperâ„¢ Strap, YKK zipper and is Made in the USA.
Click here for more information about Domke 700-53D F-5XC Large Shoulder Bag - Olive
