The Classic Messenger Bag

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With three days left for free expedited shipping at B&H prior to Christmas, they're offering a great price on the updated version of the all-time classic messenger bag. The Domke F-842 (currently less than half price at $64.99) is a Domke F-802 but with a padded slot added for a 13" laptop and a panel added for securing the bag to the handle of a rolling cart.

If you want the laptop too you can get an Apple 13.3" MacBook Pro for $120 off or a mid-2014 Apple 13.3" MacBook Pro laptop with Retina Display for $150 off.

My Domke F-802 was a freebie from Kodak in the '90s and is now delightfully shabby, looking like it came from about the Spanish-American War. Really deserves a heavily brassed Leica to go with it....

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Other deals include a return of the Black Friday price for the Fuji X100S at $849 ($450 off plus $31.40 in free accessories), a Nikon D810 for $300 off with nearly $100 of free accessories—and perhaps a Sigma 50mm ƒ/1.4 EX DG HSM in Nikon F mount to go with it for $100 off. Or how about an outstanding deal on a Canon 5D Mark III and a Canon printer that saves $687.30.

For less scratch, how about a waterproof beach camera for $169 or an easy-to-use Nikon 1—with lens—for only $149? Can't beat that with a stick.

(I will now accept wagers as to which of those links I got wrong. Sigh.)

Mike

Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Stephen Scharf: "I think it's really tough to beat Think Tank at this game. My Retrospective 5, in my experience, is the perfect camera bag and the best-designed bag I've ever used. I keep two Fuji X bodies and three lenses in mine, and the entire kit weighs less than a Canon 1D and 70-200mm ƒ/2.8."

Mike replies: True, but it's tough to beat $64.99 with $144.75, too.

Rob L: "I love Domke bags (and straps)—my favorite has been mine since 1991, and was two years old when I flat out stole it from my father. I'll likely have to watch my kids or they'll grab it someday.  :-)  "

Kenneth Tanaka: "Like many photographers I have collected far too many bags over the years. (See David Alan Harvey's uncomfortably hilarious video on his 'bagology' philosophy.) I have to largely agree with Stephen Scharf's remarks about ThinkTank's Retrospectives. I have the 5 and 7 which are both excellent, although my favorite bag for the past year or two has actually been the excellent (non-photo) PacSafe Metrosafe sling bags [like this one —Ed.].

"Speaking of Domke I must admit to being a hater of Domke bags! Heavy, non-weatherproof canvas, clunky metal hardware, lack of sustained structure, inflexible compartments...what's to love? I know that many old-time photographers think Domkes are the ultimate camera bag, and seem to whiff into dreamy memories of their youth as they testify as much. But Domkes remind me of canvas-wall tents. I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough. Ugh."

Comments

[Ed Hawco]

I love my old Domke F2, but I haven't used it in over a decade. I drop my OMD-ME5 and a pile of lenses in there and it's like parking a Volkswagen in an airplane hangar. Yay for small cameras!

These days I don't even use a "camera bag." I just drop an insert into my regular shoulder bag. When I use a different bag (yes, I have one bag for weekdays and a couple of different bags for weekends) it's just a matter of moving the insert from one bag to the other and I'm covered, with lots of room leftover for my other stuff.

[Bill Mitchell]

The only perfect camera bags I've ever seen were made by Smith (tent makers in Chicago) to whom Domke first contracted out his bags. Domke changed his design (bigger and heavier), but Smith didn't -- it's all sewed in with nothing movable or removable!
I got mine at Ken Hanson in NYC, but lost one of three to a burglary. Still have the New Yorker Junior, which must be the world's only perfect camera bag. I don't know what I'll do when it goes the way of all flesh (before I do?).

[paul logins]

I've had many different bags over the years, but the only two current
bags I use, the Ego and the Super Ego, by Tom Bihn are the best. The
company is 100% American owned and all bags are made in Seattle.

[Stephen Scharf]

"Mike replies: True, but it's tough to beat $64.99 with $144.75, too."

Well, yeah, you've got a point, there.

Love the Butters/camera bag photo...just wonderful.

[Sarge]

Really deserves a heavily brassed Leica to go with it....

How about this one, Mike?

M2 Black Paint Rangefinder. Photo credit: 9days.hk

Brassing is classier than gold, unless it's antique gold. My well used magnesium clad
mirrorless only aluminizes. Sigh.

[Lorenzo C.]

Yes, more Butters! Less bokeh!

[Jack Martin]

Is that not the 803 in the picture (Kodak logo)? Domke had a strange numbering system; the 802 was the larger bag.
(Sorry if I posted this twice; got bounced back at the verification stage.)

[Earl Dunbar]

@ Ken Tanaka:

"I know that many old-time photographers think Domkes are the ultimate camera bag"

Because they are. :D

[Earl Dunbar]

Jack is right -- the Kodak bag is the 803. I know, because I bought an 802 from Jack ("Olive is the new black!") and use it every day to this day.

Thanks again for the great deal, Jack!

[Gordon Lewis]

I used to think that Kenneth Tanaka was a gentleman of consummate taste, but now that he has confessed to a blasphemous distaste for Domke bags, I'm not so sure. Perhaps he was suffering from a bout of indigestion when he wrote his "comment."

[Brian Thomas]

Mike,

I appreciated your link to the Pacsafe CamSafe-- I didn't even know PacSafe made a camera bag. However, that's not the "(non-photo) PacSafe Metrosafe sling bags" that Kenneth Tanaka referred to. There are a couple of models he might mean, they are both about half the price of the one you linked to. I would appreciate if he would reply to tell us which model he uses and how much gear he can store in it. The look very small.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Mike,

That PacSafe bag you linked in my post is NOT what I use. It would be way too clunky for me! Not,I really use the PacSafe Metrosafe bags. [Fixed now. —MJ] They can be carried either across or over your shoulder, are FLAT, don't look like camera bags, very well designed as urban travel bags, and can easily carry a Leica or mirrorless cameras with wrapped lenses. The larger model can also easily fit an iPad.

[Dean Johnston]

Hiya!

That's a good price. Here in Japan one of these bags clocks in at around US$170. The f-802 is around US$130. So, if I wanted the F-832 (which I think is the correct name), even with international shipping, I'd be ahead around US$70.

I kinda agree with Ken too. In addition, they wear out quite fast, so you can get some attractive, well worn photo dog cred pretty quickly. I suspect that in part accounts for their popularity (in certain quarters). My F-803 is maybe 13 or so years old, and quite rough now.

I have to admit, the laptop feature does tempt me. However, a year or so ago I purchased a Billingham Hadley Pro, so I doubt I can justify it. Incidentally, my wife refers to the Billingham as an oyaji bag. If anyone cares to Google search / translate that, they will see how put upon I feel :-)

[Rick Neibel]

My first (employer-provided, 35+ years ago) was a Domke-something.

I'm with KenT. Nostalgia is swell, and all, but: "ughX2."

[Chuck Albertson]

Prince Harry seems to like the Fuji X-100S, and he's not half bad with it:

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-12-18/prince-harry-shares-kenya-images-after-turning-photographer-on-charity-trip/

[John Camp]

I'm with Ken. I had a number of Domkes, and they had their day with PJs back in the 80s and 90s when the newspapers were paying for the equipment, and everybody was dragging around three big zooms and a fat/fast 85 for portraits, plus a flash and extra batteries, and you wanted a light bag and didn't worry too much about protection...

My current "bag" is an Eagle Creek "travel organizer" of a type I don't think Eagle Creek makes any more, having "improved" them. Mine is roughly 10" x 7" x 2 1/2", coated fabric of some kind, with light padding. Inside I can put a Panasonic GX7 wearing a 14-45, plus a 35-100, the Leica/Panasonic 45 elmarit (for portraits) a battery charger with a battery in it, and a third battery. It all fits neatly in a regular day pack along with a Mac Air and all the other crap I carry around. Downside is that you can't get the camera out in a big hurry; but that's not a problem for me anyway, although it might be for some. (We're talking about 15 seconds as opposed to 5 seconds.)

[D. Hufford.]

I am evil. I just buy appropriately-sized canvas bags from L.L.Bean for normal carry of a camera, esp m/43 or Fuji x100. I hate bags of all types, but the unlined, relatively inexpensive stuff for Beans works well for those times I am forced to carry a bag with me about town.

Never had much need for 3 pounds of foam lining. If the big one hits, I'll have more important things to worry about than my camera. For waterproofing, I carry a garbage bag. Works as well as any of the supposedly waterproof camera bags I have ever used.

[FK]

I carry my GF1 with the 20mm on it in an abandoned Canon lens pouch.