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If you were me... what would you buy? I have a set of Leicas M and lenses + flash unit and a gitzo 1126 for travelling services. Now I have an opprtunity to buy a Billingham bag (335) for only 180 €uro. You know the bag! But I was keen on buying a Domke. What can you suggest me? Many thanks for your simpathy. Joe.

-- Joe Pelizza Salusso di Volpedo (breglumasi@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002

Answers

Joe, I wish you were in the states...I would sell you my Billingham 335 for a lot less. I never use it. Instead, I have three Domke bags of various sizes which I feel are a lot more convenient. Geting into a Billingham is a nuisance although they are beautifully made. All the best...

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

Joe, you mention "travelling". Domke bags except the F5XB (which might work for your kit, and might not, depending on how many bodies and lenses)do not have zippered main compartments and only minimal padding. They are great for working out of but lousy for transporting through airports and stowing on trains and airplanes. Dust and dirt gets inside; pickpockets gan get their hands inside easily; they transmit most vibration through to the equipment; and in overhead bins if another passenger shoves a hard case against it, or your bag gets pulled out and falls to the floor, you've got trouble.

I suggest buying a nicely-padded bag or backpack from LowePro and a Domke bag. You will pay about the same as for one Billingham alone. Pack all your gear in the LowePro, and either use the Domke for a carryon for odds-n-ends, or stuff it with underwear and socks in your checked luggage. When you get to your destination, use the Domke for walking around. I suggest also to replace the original strap with an Op-Tech SOS "Saves On Shoulders" strap. This wonderful accessory stretches so as the bag bounces up and down as you walk you don't feel it digging into your shoulder.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 03, 2002.


If you are want to use your Leica - get either the Domke, the Lowe Pro Street and Field or one of the new Classic M bags (a copy of the old Leitz soft bag from the 50's). If you just want to look the part of the stylish Leica photographer get the Billingham. I've owned Billinghams and agree with what was said earlier, they are beautifully made but a pain to work out of. In really harsh conditions (lots of rain, blowing sand, etc) they are probably worth their weight in gold, but for normal use they are just too slow.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

I tried diff bags and keep coming back to my 3 Domkes -- including the F2 -- which must be 20+ years old now when Jim first started making them...Domkes are very easy to wrk out of..only downside in Tropic enviroment they arent as good as as Tamrac which are more water resistent in afternoon showers

-- David Natho (david.natho@wcom.com), March 03, 2002.

Another vote for the Domke(s) -- They just work right.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), March 03, 2002.



Since my only concern is to look the stylish Leica photographer - you know, concerned, but a dope smoker, bald with goatee and tiny tiny round glasses - I use the Billingham Hadley which is waterproof, rugged and quick and silent to work out of. I would not recommend the boxy 225, 335 and so on - pretty but not practical, IMO.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), March 04, 2002.

I'll stick to my Lowepro Mini Orion belt pack. Really well padded and arrangeable however you want. Domkes seem to be famous but they're much too expensive here. Never looked at them.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 04, 2002.

See also "M6 case":
http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=008G3C

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 04, 2002.

un-underlined

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 04, 2002.

I truly appreciate the responses...don't have a clue where this website is located as I just did a search on google for Domke and found this discussion.

I've owned a number of bags, cases, boxes...etc. like probably the rest of you have. I typically do some still work, but mainly videography. Generally we've been using Portabrace cases and bags, which are configured for the specific gear in question.

Currently I'm on the road a good bit and switching to a small mini dv cam, one or two still bodies, etc. I'm going to purchase my first Domke, a ballistic J-1, as this seems to be the best size for the cameras, etc. (one camera alone is 14 inches long...etc.)

I can appreciate the aspect of carrying the Domke in the suitcase. I purchased a Lowe backpack Photo Trekker AW, which will carry some of the stuff. I also continually use Pelican cases which are waterproof (you can actually submerge them, etc.) as they are airline resistant to gear damage...generally. My plan was to carry the main camera in the Domke under the seat in front of me and the rest of the stuff in the Lowe backpack and the Pelicans. Thanks to you folks, I'm going to stuff clothes in the Domke and put it in the suitcase. All of the gear is going in the Lowe or the Pelican.

Don't expect to work out of the Pelican, unless you have a stationary shoot...such as we do with interviews... But for a real no nonsense highly protective and weight conscious case, you can't beat the Pelicans for protection. Simply configure the gear in the moveable divider system (or foam if you prefer) lock the case and off you go!

Thanks again for the insightful comments!

Marty Cooke

-- J. Martin Cooke (MrGadget777@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.



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