Canvas bag like the original Domke

[tomrit]

Hum...? Not much according to the search engine.

I am looking for a canvas camera bag with no padding like the original Domke, only smaller. Back in the day I had a nylon Domke knockoff (Coaststar, I think) that I wish I still had. Like the original Domke bag it had no padding, not even on the inserts. I have done a google search and have found canvas Domke knock offs, but the all, including the current Domke bags have lots of bulky padding.

What I want is an unpadded working shoulder bag for my DSLR w lens + tele-zoom + shoe mount strobe + light meter + a few filters. It does not have to fit in a laptop as my old Thinkpad has its own shoulder bag. I am currently carrying that stuff in an old Pentax bag that happens to fit 4x5 film holders very well, so I want to dedicate that for the film holders, and get something for the DSLR kit. Only I do not want to spend a lot of money on it, hopefully under $50 shipped.

Any suggestions? Or am I going to have to sew something up myself?

[cyclohexane]

You can remove the padding from many of the Domke inserts, making them almost as thin as the old ones. I have a bunch of them lying around; I am traveling this week, but when I get back I could probably find time take some snapshots, or if you like I can maybe even send you one to look at so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about.

My "old" F-2 is from sometime in the last decade (an "anniversary model"), and I usually didn't use the padded insert at all, though I left the stiff bottom board in. I carried pretty much exactly what you described more or less loose in the main compartment. The tele lens and strobe were usually in their own little pouches so I could toss them on my belt if I needed to, but eventually I gave up and just threw everything in and let everything rub the paint off of nearby items.

The current F-2's can be be rendered completely unpadded in a few seconds by removing the included divider insert and the bottom board; you can even take the padding out of the dividers and put it back in if you want to use it.

Domke doesn't sell for anywhere near $50 any more, and their overall quality has gone down majorly in the last few years with the new suppliers, so I'm hesitant to even recommend their bags. The canvas is much thinner than before, and the bags just don't feel that tough, and they may have moved the manufacturing to China (but can't confirm at the moment). Ironically, the stitching is somewhat better than before, but when the canvas is no good, it doesn't really help.

The closest thing to what you describing is probably ThinkTank's Retrospective bag (comes in different sizes). The padded bottom is easily removed, and there is minimal padding in the rest of the bag. The bags are not cheap, however, running four times your budget, but if you get a chance you might as well look at them and see if you get some ideas for making your own bag.

I think your best option is either a lightly used old-style Domke bag (I often see them on sale on the big auction site, Craigslist, etc.) or making something yourself.

I do have an older, beaten Domke F-6 that I bought used I don't use too much these days that I may eventually put up for sale, but I think it'd be too small for your kit.

[tomrit]

I see a Mekko bag that I kind of like the looks of, but I do not know if the dividers can be stripped of their padding. It shows that they can be used without the over all padding. Anyone know anything about Mekko bags, other than they are made in China?

[cyclohexane]

I believe Mekko/Safrotto is a Taiwanese company making heavily-padded Domke knock-offs.

The stitching and materials used is actually purported to be better than Domke but they look to feature much more padding along the lines of Tamrac or Lowepro.

[tomrit]

Ah, thanks, Michael. I guess that is not the one for me. I was looking at an A-150 http://www.mekko.net/photobag/a150.html on the web. The inserts did look very thick, like they had soft foam in them, but I thought the were removable. Now, looking again, it does not look like they are.

I see that their "Reporter" series is the Domke knock off, and the inserts in them are removable. But I do not see anyone selling the F-3x http://www.mekko.net/photobag/f03x.html which is the smallest of them and a bit bigger and more expensive than I really want.

My 35mm kit is in an old Tamrack bag (706, IIRC) which is exactly what I do not want, heavily padded all around. I also do not want a big bag, as I can not carry all that junk any more. Ah, the days when I carried 2 motor drive cameras, 6 lenses, 2 strobes, a large light meter, and 20 rolls of film. Probably why I have a bad back in my old age.

[Mr Mikey]

I had a few Domkes but did not like the lack of zipper closure option to keep dust out. I have a mekko and the padding is just a bit thicker that the domke inserts but the insert does remove.
I think the Mekko is actually better made than the Domke, I prefer the canvas although I do scotch guard it first thing. I started out with a smaller Domke but grew into the larger Mekko. I do like the full zipper closure, heavy duty zippers. I still use the domke shoulder bag for day use but it has no padding at all, 1 body, lens, flash and batteries and not much more.

[tomrit]

From what I can see, the Mekko F2 is a Domke bag designed by the same people who design digital cameras. Lots and lots and lots of extra features to get in your way.

That said, I found a rather good deal on one, but will have to wait a bit before I can get it. Still wondering what to do about a smaller bag.

[SpeedGraphicMan]

How about this one?

Domke F-8 Small Canvas Shoulder Bag (Sand) 700-80S B&H Photo

[tomrit]

Originally Posted by SpeedGraphicMan

How about this one?

Domke F-8 Small Canvas Shoulder Bag (Sand) 700-80S B&H Photo

That looks like a lot of money for not much bag. I think that one is too small.

[cnichols]

As ridiculous as this may sound, a possible solution could be found at an army surplus store. I have a canvas shoulder bag I got many years ago that sounds as if it's what you're looking for. If memory serves me correctly its original purpose was to carry a gas mask. I don't even know if such a thing is still available, but if it is it would certainly be much less expensive than what's been mentioned so far.