A shooter’s new best friend

Your DSLR shoots luscious pictures…so why do you dread taking it with you? Blame your camera bag. Chances are, it’s bulky, boxy, and not all that comfortable to carry. That explains why the Domke F-3X won me over so completely when I recently used it to schlep my gear while shooting in the misty hills of Iceland and the rainy streets of Sweden. The bag’s waterproof coating quickly emerged as a priceless feature, but over time, what I dug most is how comfortable it is to wear for prolonged periods, even when loaded to the gills. Its stylish, super-cool looks also just smoke the boxy chunkiness of most other DSLR bags out there.

Domke’s F-3X Super Compact Bag has nine compartments and pockets for storing your equipment, and there’s even an upside-down zipper pouch on the inside flap that’s perfect for a tiny pair of headphones. I took the bag out on daily photo adventures and marveled at how much stuff fit in such a compact bag. Inside, I kept a Canon Rebel XTi fitted with a 50mm lens, plus an extra 28–135mm lens and a Diana Mini with its attachable flash unit and a few rolls of film. The main compartment features a padded partition that can be maneuvered to fit whatever gear you’re carrying -- or removed completely to make one big giant compartment. I even used the bag to carry a picnic lunch one day.

In the outside pockets, I stored a 16-ounce water bottle, an iPod touch plus an external battery pack, and a phone. At the front of the bag, there’s also a slot where I kept a small accessory pouch, a notebook, and a pen. Even loaded with all that gear, my back and my shoulders never ached because the thick, non-slip strap is comfortable for long photo treks. But keep in mind that the leanly constructed F-3X is built more for transport than protection, so proceed with caution when you load up the Domke bag with your lenses.

The bottom line. Heavy-duty shooters might want to look for something with a little more protection for their glass, and Domke makes other bags that have better padding for your equipment if you’re the sort who accidentally drops your gear bag. But for many photographers, the roomy, highly functional, and stylish F-3X is a delight.