Recently, my bag of choice was my medium-large sized backpack-style camera bag. Its large enough to hold everything I need for a days shooting, yet small enough to tuck into the overhead on a flight. While a backpack camera bag is perfect for hiking and rigorous outdoor activity, it isn’t convenient as a bag for daily use. Unless your camera is out of the bag and around your neck when a photo presents itself, you must stop, remove the backpack, set it on the ground, unzip it carefully so that all its contents don’t spill out, take out your camera, zip it back up, put it back on, and then and only then are you able to use your camera..
There’s a reason photojournalists use shoulder (satchel) styled camera bags. Shoulder bags offer near-instant access to your camera and gear, and are very comfortable to wear over the shoulder for extended periods of time. So at Christmas, I bought myself a present. I decided on the Domke F-7. Large enough for 2 pro camera bodies and several lenses for each, and all my other gear. I’ve used Domke bags in the past, and they are wonderful, durable pieces of equipment, but I just didn’t want to spend so much - $170 bucks!? Yikes!
So, I started doing a little research and found the Safrotto CF-300. It’s a Domke clone - for MUCH cheaper. From what I read, they are supposed to be as good as the Domke, some say even better. So, I took my chances, and ordered one. $70 including shipping.
First impression - very nice and well made. Made of very heavy duty canvas, like the Domke its modeled after, it’s very durable and seems to be very high quality. It has 7 large pockets, and a large main compartment. One thing I noticed right away was the padded insert. In my opinion its much better than the Domke insert. The insert is a very light gray which makes finding small objects, such as my IR remote, much easier.
Using the bag - I love it! The bag is large enough to hold 5-6 lenses including an attached 300mm f2.8, an additional body, plus have plenty of room for teleconverters, flash units, lightmeter, and all your other photo gear. Its capacity actually exceeds that of my backpack, and is much easier to shoot out of. After 3 months of daily use, I haven’t had a single problem with it, and absolutely love using this bag.
Side notes - One thing I really like about the Safrotto is that while traveling, it doesn’t scream “expensive camera gear inside - steal me!”. To the average person, it just doesn’t look like the typical camera bag, and therefore isn’t as much of a target to thieves.
I am VERY pleased with this bag, and unless I’m going on a long hike, I use this bag for everything. Excellent “bang for your buck”.
There is an Update to this article HERE.
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16 responses so far ↓
Waspgoddess // Mar 23, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I’m sorry to read about Remington. The photo you posted of him was beautiful.
Claire // Mar 23, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I would of never guessed that was a camera bag at all from the first photo, just looks like a nice overnighter.
The question i want to know is , what are your tips for taking photos when out hiking?
As i don’t think i could wear a camera round my neck , i have a tendency of falling over!
Never heard the expression ” Bang for your buck” before.
annb // Mar 23, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Congratulations on making Blog of the Day! I have visited your site before - your wordless Wednesday posting with the beautiful Cityscape photograph!
I love taking pictures and take them quite often, but I’m afraid I’m not great at it! I have looked back at some of your other photos and they are so great!
I also read about your dog and I am sorry. I love my China and don’t know what I’ll do when it comes time for her to leave me.
Jen // Mar 23, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Hi, saw that you made blog of the day and plan on bookmarking you to come back for Thursday 13 and to see your photos.
Ryan // Mar 23, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Blog of the Day?? What am I missing????
Claire // Mar 23, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Do they mean Happy 100 post?lol! Don’t kill me!
helena // Mar 23, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I could never pack lightly,,,I would have to use both of them,,lol. Ryan, I like the photo of you on the blog–deep in thought. Did you shoot it,,or did some one take it when you weren’t looking?
TerryG // Mar 23, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Oh what a great site. Camera bags are a little hard to set up but once done it makes life all that much easier. I love your site.
yoshi // Mar 24, 2007 at 1:08 am
congratulations for blog of the day…from whereever that was from.
I’ve heard nothing but great about safrotto. I have a friend that swears by domke, but he still loves his safrotto bags.
I myself use lowepro, but I’m always up for cheaper alternatives. I have a photo trekker mainly because I wanted a backpack that could hold all my equipment in one pack.
For hiking purposes, I like to use my Orion beltpack. It fits just like a fanny pack (except a bit bigger) and it fits 2 lenses and 1 camera. Usually works great for me with my 35-80mm lens.
I’ll have to keep my eye out for safrotto’s, since I think I’d like to get a mid size camera bag. Oy, I’m just a camera junkie.
Ryan // Mar 24, 2007 at 2:24 am
Claire, I have NO IDEA what they are referring to as “blog of the day”… :}
Hey there Helena - I actually DID take that myself. Set up the tripod, pushed the timer, and stood there.. I was actually thinking what expression I was going to make, and while I thought about it, the picture took..
Thank you very much TerryG. And welcome!!
Ryan // Mar 24, 2007 at 2:27 am
Hey Yoshi!
Yes, Domke is good stuff, never had any problems with it, except for the price. Just too high for what you are getting in my opinion.
I also have a couple Lowepro bags, as well as Tamrac and Promaster, and have been very pleased with them. As far as size and ease of use, this Safrotto bag, regardless of price, is without doubt my absolute favorite.
And I too suffer from camera junkieism…
Amy // Mar 24, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Amy @ amychristopher.blogspot.com named you blog of the day. She’s letting us fellow bloggers in on her favorite sites and you are one of them! It’s just another way for us to meet new friends. Good idea, huh?
I am sorry about Remington. We had to put our dog down last year and it was a rough decision to make. He was one of the family. We have an english bulldog too and pray we never have to make the same decision with her.
Your site is beautiful and I’ll be back to check out your pictures!
Gail // Mar 25, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Came over from Amy’s, where she made you blog of the day! Great photos!
Sorry about your loss with that beautiful lab.
Rebecca // Apr 1, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Fab bag - I go for the shoulder bag too (only mine is more of a sling style, and smaller - which I’m very close to outgrowing). All that gear is so delicious, isn’t it?
(Wait a second, I just saw “Grand Rapids, MI” - did I miss that last time I was here? The world is too small.)
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