Cambags

This is a terrific low-profile sling bag that can haul some large equipment.

The 14-24mm is FAT.
The 70-200mm is LONG.
The 50mm can fit into anything.
The D700 is chunkier than my first DSLR, the D200, and sometimes I forget this.


In general, the pro line of Nikon lenses are much larger and weightier than their DX cousins.

My new kit, above, also includes:
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR micro
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S
and soon I'll be adding two other lenses. The Domke bag here cannot hold all of that, but will hold a sensible amount of gear for most folks on any given day. A wide zoom, a fast mid-range fixed and a tele zoom pretty much can get it all. There is no place for a tripod and no place really for much else in this extremely reserved and unassuming Domke sling.

At first I didn't like it--I felt it did not lay close enough to my torso, and I wished it had a stabilizing strap to hold it closer to me. Also I felt like the strap was rough and would make my shoulder and neck chafe.


The 70-200 is recent acquisition, however, and none of my existing bags would fit the D700 with the 70-200mm attached. These bags include a Think Tank Speed Demon--which is really FAR too small for ANY of my new equipment--it barely holds the D700 with the 50mm mounted. Up until I got the tele zoom, I was using the Domke F-4AF Pro bag. I like Domke bags--there is something about the fabric that makes them a little clingy.

In the F-4AF Pro I could easily fit:
D700 with 14-24 mounted--that was the only way I could get the 14-24 in. The lens slots in this bag are too skinny for this fat lens. I also shoved in the 50mm, the 24-70mm and the 105mm but it was all getting heavy and really weighing me down. It was at this point that I started looking for a sling bag and found this Quick Shot version from Domke. For a bit I carried the 14-24, 24-70 and the 105 in it. I liked that the bag was thinner and didn't stick out much--it was easier with this sling to move through a crowd or other tight or awkward spaces.

Then I got the 70-200 and really wanted that lens mounted most of the time, since if I was on the road, and saw something, I would want the longest lens on the camera (bird, deer, accident, what have you... chances are if you're in your car, you will be too far away from any of it to get anything without a tele zoom.)

D700 and 70-200 together don't fit in the F-4AF Pro. That bag isn't tall enough. I looked at the sling, and then dropped the camera and lens into it and was truly shocked to see that this MUCH smaller bag actually fits that D700 and 70-200mm combo!

It's a tight squeeze for sure--the sling really hugs this package--nothing moves. And considering the zipper is riding on the top of the end of the 70-200, I would not want to bang this loaded sling into anything, nor would I be sure of safe equipment if I dropped it.

Another drawback is that the sling has to lay on its back when not on you. This is due to its teardrop shape. And there's no room for anything else--not even an iPhone.

I am still looking for the perfect bag. I ordered and received the Kata 3N1 30 and have put my stuff into it a few times and tried it on, but it's just too big for me. So I'm returning it. I put my stuff back in the sling and fell in love with it anew.

But then I just ordered the Crumpler 8 Million Dollar Home bag based on reviews here, and that's likely to be the winner, since it will hold the D700 and 70-200mm vertically and looks like it will be easy to quickly draw the camera and lens out for some action.

On the Quick Shot--it all fits, but I am not comfortable wrestling the camera and zoom out through the top zipper--it's all squeezed in so tight, I tend to lay it down and unzip the whole front and lift the camera out by the lens barrel. Also, it's so tight that getting my Domke camera strap situated so as not to cause any damage is tricky. I think the Crumpler will take on my purse sundries as well: wallet, iPhone, even my iPad will probably fit, and the camera gear will have a little more breathing room.

To summarize, I do like this unassuming little sling from Domke, but it's not perfect--I feel like my gear needs to hold in its belly while I zip it up. But if you want minimalist, this bag does it elegantly!