Domke F-5xb for my M9? Some questions

[Fotomiguel]

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I think I'm going to buy this bag for my M9. Since I have the M9 I like to use very light bags with the less equipment possible. I know some of you have this bag and I would like to ask you some questions.

Is this bag a bit water resistant for light rain?

Is the front pocket safe to put accesories? In the pictures looks a bit loose and may be easy to loose something.

Any of you use the belt option? is it comfortable?

Any other coment about this bag and the M9 will be very helpfull.

Thank you in advance.

Miguel

[man:men]

Hello Miguel,

first of all: This bag is one of the very best bags I ever used!!

Especially with the belt I always had my cam with me by skiing.

It's amazing!

Also if you are climbing a little, running, riding with your bike etc.

 

And in the rain it's water resistant in that way, you will be first of you both who stop staying out in the falling rain

The front pockets are very small but also closely. I never lost anything out of them.

In the meanwhile I have two of them (and some other bags too).

Others are much more beautiful. But this one is the most practically bag for small M-equipment I can imagine!! Big enough for two bodies with lenses.

But you should complete the configuration by your own with some foam material at the bottom.

 

greetings

manfred

[timd.]

You're right, the F-5xb is a great small bag. AFAIK there are two versions, the canvas (there may be even a waxed brown 'old school version' available) and the cordura. While to my mind the canvas is nicer, 'more domke', and quite durable, the cordura one will withstand rain even better. Since there is a zipper and a flap to close it you can select the amount of security you want to give to your m.

The small pocket in the front is quite nice and safe enough for filters, but putting in lots of film costs space inside the big pocket - since you're using an m9 i think that's not too big an issue.

I've never tested the belt option. Maybe i'm not the belt person but i fell even the F-5xb is too bulky for that.

[smkoush]

I used the F-5XB for a while, it can fit a Leica M with a lens, and still have space for a passport, cell phone, few rolls of film (if still using film), etc.

 

It is very nice except that there is a zipper on top, and I found that each time I move the camera in or out, there is a danger to scratch it with the zipper. Others may not be concerned with this, but eventually I retired the F-5XB and replaced it with a Kata DC-435, which is another single camera + lens + minimal other things camera bag.

 

Savvas

[Fotomiguel]

Thank you for the nice info! It's been very helpful and my new Domke f-5xb is on it's way. Probably I'll get it this week. It's really great to read that the belt option works so good. I do a lot of trekking and It can be fit in the belt of the trekking bagpack. I will use the front pocket for batteries, a viewfinder, a viewfinder magnifier and some microfiber lens cleaner cloth. I hope will be fine and safe.

Thank you very much.

[Fotomiguel]

Just recieved my Domke F-5xb. Really nice. Beautiful made and very practical.

After playing a bit a can set my camera with the 50 cron and my 18mm superelmar, my 28mm elmarit and my 75mm cron. All very compact and confortable.

It will be attach to the belt of my bagpack when trekking. When normal walk just with the strap.

Thank you again.

[3rdtrick]

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I keep my M9 in the middle pocked and added dividers to the two outside pockets. This holds the Leica lenses and gives pockets for the charger and batteries. I would not put much valuables in the front pocket as I often do not close the flap but the inside front pocket is good for cable release and micro-fiber cloths.

Pete

[The_hog]

Been using this bag for a while. Perfect size, lovely finish, great for the M9 and 2 or 4 lenses. BUT it has OVERZISE velcro for securing the outer flap. And this has been giving me the creeps trying to access the bag in sensitive places, - like openings etc. So I got the beautiful Billingham Hadley Pro. Not entirely as a substitute, - it's 50% bigger. But it has this beautiful locking devise, - NO VELCRO and now I can reach for anything without disturbing anyone. Bless you - Billingham.

[Fotomiguel]

After using the bag one day, I can say that is perfect for me. The VELCRO ir really big, strong and noisy, but is not a major problem because you can use just a part of it. If you close the flap a little more stretched, you'll use just the final part ot the VELCRO, making open/close very easy and not noisy.

[eon]

The oversized velcro could also be considered a safety feature as you would both hear it and feel it if a thief tries to open your bag in a crowded and noisy environment.

 

Erik

[bocaburger]

I have 4 of these bags. My original black canvas, another with the White House Press Photographers Association patch sewn on it (these were giveaways at their annual dinner, I still have it in the cellophane wrapper), a green one that was used and very cheap but like-new and I couldn't resist, and finally recently the J5XB which is the ballistic nylon model. I have a few tips/possible suggestions.

 

First, as others have said, the bag is more useful by adding a couple more partitions to the main compartment. I also have the double-rear lenscaps which let me easily carry 4 lenses, plus one on the camera (or 2 camera bodies).

 

If the velcro is undesirable, just remove the fuzzy side from the bag. Clip a stitch and unravel it, it comes off easily. I did this on my green one. I then added 2 snaps, one on either end of the flap (male halves attached through the outer pocket with fender washers around them on the inside to prevent them tearing through). A magnetic catch would work too, but I don't like the idea of strong magnets around digital equipment and memory cards...however if you shoot film it shouldn't be a problem.

 

I replaced the OEM shoulder straps with the OPTECH "SOS Mini" strap. Those have stretchable pads that act like shock absorbers. Have them on all my bags and luggage, they're really great.

 

I do have a Domke web belt, but frankly it's overkill. A canvas or nylon military-spec belt is more to my liking. I typically use both the shoulder strap and the belt, for double security against snatch-and-grab thievery.

 

I also have a Billingham Alice/A2 and used to have the Leica-M Billingham and a FOGG. The Domke wins, IMO.

 

If I was just now buying into the series, I would get the J5XB. It feels lighter, I think it will hold up better over the years, and I think it's more water resistant.

 

BTW, I have never scratched anything on the zipper, as my hand tends to be what rubs against it while inserting/removing contents.

[Fotomiguel]

The oversized velcro could also be considered a safety feature as you would both hear it and feel it if a thief tries to open your bag in a crowded and noisy environment.

 

Erik

Agree

[Fotomiguel]

I have 4 of these bags. My original black canvas, another with the White House Press Photographers Association patch sewn on it (these were giveaways at their annual dinner, I still have it in the cellophane wrapper), a green one that was used and very cheap but like-new and I couldn't resist, and finally recently the J5XB which is the ballistic nylon model. I have a few tips/possible suggestions.

 

First, as others have said, the bag is more useful by adding a couple more partitions to the main compartment. I also have the double-rear lenscaps which let me easily carry 4 lenses, plus one on the camera (or 2 camera bodies).

 

If the velcro is undesirable, just remove the fuzzy side from the bag. Clip a stitch and unravel it, it comes off easily. I did this on my green one. I then added 2 snaps, one on either end of the flap (male halves attached through the outer pocket with fender washers around them on the inside to prevent them tearing through). A magnetic catch would work too, but I don't like the idea of strong magnets around digital equipment and memory cards...however if you shoot film it shouldn't be a problem.

 

I replaced the OEM shoulder straps with the OPTECH "SOS Mini" strap. Those have stretchable pads that act like shock absorbers. Have them on all my bags and luggage, they're really great.

 

I do have a Domke web belt, but frankly it's overkill. A canvas or nylon military-spec belt is more to my liking. I typically use both the shoulder strap and the belt, for double security against snatch-and-grab thievery.

 

I also have a Billingham Alice/A2 and used to have the Leica-M Billingham and a FOGG. The Domke wins, IMO.

 

If I was just now buying into the series, I would get the J5XB. It feels lighter, I think it will hold up better over the years, and I think it's more water resistant.

 

BTW, I have never scratched anything on the zipper, as my hand tends to be what rubs against it while inserting/removing contents.

Thank you for your tips!