Domke701-83A F-803 Camera Satchel Bag -Brown

I have avoided real "Camera bag"s like the plague... they are usually bulky, and scream "steal me." Instead, I used an old WWI vintage US Army Surplus gas-mask bag... It served me well but the canvas started to wear out and my lens collection started to grow. I looked at other messenger bags, but they didn't seem like they would hold my camera securely enough. I was intrigued by the Naneu Pro Sahara 115º but it seemed way too big with the camera insert. The Domke bags seemed to match the aesthetics of my old surplus bag, but they were all way too wide for my tastes.. eventually I found this.There is a minimal amount of padding, but it is all you really need if you are carrying this on your person... it is not a storage/shipping container. Most camera bags seem to be built for travel and storage, rather than on the fly daily use.I have the 1-partition insert positioned about a half-inch from the side-wall, and wedge my Rode VideoMic Pro down in there (A speedlight would also wedge in nice). It fits perfect and now there is no excuse for me not to have good sound. In the insert I throw my Nikon 18-105VR down at the bottom (I rarely use it, but it can be a lifesaver where my AI glass won't work) Then I throw my 50mm 1.8 AI-s with HN-7 screw-in hood directly on top of it (the flexible plastic cap I use provides enough cushion between the two). In the rest of the compartment I slide my D7000 with 24 2.8 and HN-3 hood... it rests sideways on the bottom with plenty of space to spare, you could put a zoom lens on the bottom in a lens-wrap and still have plenty of room for the SLR, or wrap a small prime and fit the camera in lens down. (in my setup, the camera fits with the 18-105 mounted sideways with the hood reversed, or lens down with the hood straight)In the front compartment I have a small filtercase in one with a swiss army knife, and lens cleaning supplies/usb cable/flash diffuser in the other. They use velcro, so are definitely not quiet open if that bothers you, but you can put some tape over the velcro then let the weight of the main flap hold them closed, but they won't be as secure. They are large enough to fit my Nikon FE comfortably without a lens mounted, to give you an idea of their size. They should be more than generous enough for a speedlight or charger, etcI still don't even use the zipper pouches, but you could easily use them for flash media, info booklets, or other slim-profile stuff.The strap is really heavy duty, and the slip-resist rubber banding is non-descript, but highly effective. A Hufa Holder just BARELY fits on the strap.the clips on the side seem just decorative, but I found them great for holding knife/multi-tool belt cases... you can slide the clip through the belt loop and clip it in place. With a Gerber or Leatherman you now have a small toolcase at your disposal... just don't forget to take it off when going out into populated public places (public transit and other downtown institutions are typically not fond of knives), but it can be a lifesaver on private shoots. Anything with a belt loop should hook on pretty well.The flap is heavy and there is no need to keep hooking/unhooking it if you are taking your camera out very often... when you hook it you can know it is secure. But even with practice it takes a second hand (only a finger or two, though) to guide the loop.I have had absolutely no problem with the waxwear finish... I love it, it seems slightly more water resistant than normal canvas and looks much more rugged... It really matched the aesthetics of my old surplus bag. I can tell it is getting slowly worn off, but I have slid Moleskines down in the back pouch with no transfer, in the time I used front pouches for my Rode VMP I never got any transfer, and I have yet to see any on my filter case.

I like this bag. I really, really like it. I mean, I almost love it. Almost. But I have one gripe that's preventing me from giving it a solid five stars. I'll explain in a bit, but first, let's get everything else out of the way.Pros:I have the brown waxed Rugged version. I was initially skeptical about the purchase, as about half of the reviewers I saw said that the wax finish could ruin your equipment and was a little too thick, while the other half said they had no issues at all. I can happily report that I am in the latter half. The first thing I checked when I got my package was whether the bag had a very waxy finish. It did not. In fact, if I didn't know any better I'd say there's no wax on the bag at all. Some people say that if you put a tablet with a rubber case into the back pocket of the bag, the wax will ruin the case. Though I don't own a tablet with a rubber case personally, I wouldn't think twice about stuffing it in there. The bag also comes with a small container for you to apply wax yourself (which I did not get around to yet).The bag is perfectly sized for me. I wanted a messenger style bag that wasn't too big and didn't look like I was carrying a giant box on a sling. This is perfect. It's thin but can carry a surprising amount inside. I can fit my Fuji X100s, X-T1 w/ 35mm 1.4 lens attached, my 18-55mm f2.8-4, and my 12mm f/2 all inside comfortably with a little room to spare. Plus the extra pockets can hold my Polaroid Zip printer, extra batteries, memory cards, a small wallet, etc. I was surprised how much I could stuff in this bag considering it's slim form factor.It's a handsome bag. Especially the waxwear version. I wanted something that looked a little more classic and this delivered. Definitely not as utilitarian as my Lowepro or a lot of other brands out there. Plus it doesn't really look like a camera bag. My girlfriend thought it was just a regular messenger bag when she first saw it.Now the one con keeping me from giving this bag a full 5 stars:The clip and ring on the front of the bag is made of metal. It's something I appreciate and makes the bag seem a bit more premium. BUT the strap is held in place on the sides of the bag by plastic rings (they're not really rings, more rectangular-ish. I'm not sure what this hardware is specifically called). Also, the adjustment clasps on the strap is made of plastic. You can't even remove the strap to replace it with an aftermarket one without cutting it. Very disappointing! The description on Amazon says that it has metal hardware but half of it is plastic! Considering the ONA Bowery bag is just about $20 more and has leather and ALL metal hardware with a removeable strap, it's quite disappointing to see plastic on this bag. It definitely detracts from the feel of the bag. It makes what looks like a premium bag feel a little less premium.Still, it's a bag I like and enjoy. Despite the plastic I still think it looks great overall and fits everything I need it to fit with ease. Despite my one (admittedly, rather minor) gripe, I would still recommend this bag.