Kata bag experiences

[tommyg]

I'm looking at a bag for overseas travel and looking at a couple of Kata bags.

The HB-207 and BP-502 that online look interesting, unfortunately I haven't been able to find anywhere in Adelaide (or Melbourne as I'm over here at til tomorrow) that carries much of a range to actually see and try them.

So, any good / bad experiences with either of these .. any suggestions etc?

Looking at carrying a laptop, D700, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 and 300 f4 with a couple of other bits and pieces. And maybe a smaller day-style bag for general use.

Cheers
Tom

[aim54x]

Camera Action (Melbourne) and most Ted's should carry Kata. It is a brand brought in by Adeal (based out of Melbourne I believe). They have some nice stuff, but I am not too familiar with their range unforunately. Your kit screams VERTEX to me!!!

good luck in tracking down those Kata's

[Hudo]

Tom,

Our bags (soft) have been LowePro, Petrol and Kata for both video and photography use. Kata aand Petrol not unlike the like the Portabrace brand tend to be more expensive. However like they say you get what you pay for. We have a Kata backpack now for 4~5 years and is in very good condition. Our bags usually come from the videoguys in melbourne. www.videoguys.com.au

Hudo

[NeoTiger]

Vanbar Imagingin Melbourne definitely carries some of the Kata bags range.

I haven't seen the 2 models that you mentioned, but I do have 2 Kata bags myself and enjoy the quality and design.

[tntman]

I'm torn apart from either a Kata HB-207 or a Lowepro Vertex 300 bag!

I've had a play with the Vertex already and i'm pretty happy with it, but no store in the entire Sydney sells the Kata HB-207!

Closest bag ive seen so far is the R104 bag... different to the HB-207... I wasnt particularly impressed with the R104.

Anyone else had any luck or experiences with the Kata?

[aim54x]

I'm torn apart from either a Kata HB-207 or a Lowepro Vertex 300 bag!

I've had a play with the Vertex already and i'm pretty happy with it, but no store in the entire Sydney sells the Kata HB-207!

Closest bag ive seen so far is the R104 bag... different to the HB-207... I wasnt particularly impressed with the R104.

Anyone else had any luck or experiences with the Kata?

Have a look here, they may be able to show you one at their Sydney CBD store, but with that sort of price tag I am not certain.
http://www.camera-warehouse.com.au/p/kata-hb-207

I have not used them, but I do sell a lot of them through my work at camera house, they seem well built enough, but often they lack the harnesses that will take weight (probably why you didnt like the R104). I still prefer the Lowepro. I do think the Vertex 300 will fit more than the HB-207 from those pictures.

[tntman]

A 3rd bag has come into the picture now!

Tamrac Expedition 8...

It looks so familiar to the Vertex... any thoughts on this bag?

[gummi]

Tom I was in a similar boat to you. Just scored myself the Vertex 300 - it is DARN big! i don't have enough equipment (unless I include the 30 or so year old yashica that was passed onto me) to fill it up at the moment. Another excuse to buy more equipment I guess!

It's really well made, the front pockets i really like as it's easy access for the little things like memory cards that we're always reaching for. My only criticism would be the actual weight when empty, but it's a small price to pay for properly protecting all our gear.

The Kata HB-207 looked really good - esp the yellow lining which makes it a whole lot easier to find things. I only saw it online as well but it really just didn't look like it could fit all that many things in it. Also the price made me shudder even more than the vertex for what we were getting.

Have a look at this review Tom : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evo1MT1u2Yg
That's the one that made me want to get the vertex. It reviews the 200 but it's the same as the 300 only smaller. I think the vertex 200 and 300 are awesome for travel as they fit so much (including a notebook). As a daypack and with your list of equipment I'd suggest/prefer the size of the HB-207. I also have a Lowepro microtrekker for when I can be more selective with which of my gear i want to bring.

Failing the above, have a look at the Tamrac expedition 7 & 8 or The Naneupro U120. All the bags mentioned are the ones I looked at with a friend in comparing them.

[tommyg]

Haven't looked too closely at the Expedition range, but there's a store in town that has them, so might get in there tomorrow and check them out.

I do like the Vertex range, although as you say they are quite heavy. They seem to be almost 100% camera, which would be great for when doing day shoots etc, but not sure for travelling. What interested me with the Kata was that it looks like they might be more configurable.

We're looking for something predominantly for travelling Europe for 2 months soon. We've done a little breakdown on what we think we might be taking with us...

The worst thing I've found so far withthe bags I've seen is they are either all camera, or only enough camera for a body and a couple of small lenses - where's the middle ground bags?!

Myself:

D700
14-24 f2.8
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8
TC 1.4, 1.7, 2.0
laptop - 15.4"

Chica:

D90
50 1.4
24-120
700-300 VR
SB900

Currently Chica has the Lowepro Flipside 300 AW as her bag, but that might change to something different as well.

Missed the cut:

105 VR f2.8 Micro
300 f4

We know bringing all of the Teleconverters is a little over the top, but we're planning on seeing a number of Zoos, so it was either them or taking the 300

And, it's going to be slightly annoying switching lenses instead of simply taking something like 18-200 on DX, and 24-120 on mine, but then we'll just be sitting there annoyed having these great lenses at home

[tntman]

Tom,

You've just made me drool all over my keyboard having read your item list to take to Europe!

I agree, on the net and having watched the videos on Kata's website, it appears the HB207 is more of a travel bag. I've played with the R104 and it is definetely lighter than the Lowepro or Tamrac equivalents. Only thing that worries me is that due to the softness, im afraid that the Kata isnt strong enough to hold all that equipment and protect it properly.

Sigh.. is buying a bag really this hard?

[Hudo]

Hi,

Tamrac Expedition 8... Have one, been good so far (2 years old) and still going strong.... Well priced as comapred to Kata

Hudo

[tommyg]

Finally got to see some of the Kata bags today - BP-502, HB-207, R-103 and R-104, so thought I'd give my thoughts on all of these..

Firstly the BP-502 ... forget it unless you have one hell of a massive video camera .. or maybe 600 2.8! it is a massive bag! Didn't even end up trying it out - it is so much larger than it looks on their site, and is about twice the size you could carry on a plane.

HB-207 - The first thing I noticed was he size, and again was worried about carry on .. the second was a big surprise - the weight - it was light - around 2kgs. It fitted everything in it very nicely. Also, the harness system being configurable was a bonus and the waist belt was probably the best of any bag I've tried. Also, it didn't scream camera like some of the others. I would have bought it then and there except I thought I'd better check the airline sizes .. and no good - it's about 20 cms in total too large. But I might still get for around Adelaide. I tried the vertex 200 and 300 in copmaprison, and it feels a lot more comfortable and lighter than these - but they are both airline carry on compliant

Finally the R-series of their bags. At first glance there wasn't too much about them, but they fitted pretty well everything we needed, with the r-103 also able to carry a laptop (this is the only difference between these 2 bags). Chica would have also bought then and there except this time there was no waist support at all - so they fell off the list.

But, the R series of bags has 2 more versions, the R-104 and R-106, these do have a waist belt that looks quite good, are pretty well the same size as the 2 above, except a little wider to fit pro bodies - so it looks like one of these will be the bag we get.

Although... now we've seen the thinktank range online as well..... a

[fozzie]

Tom,

What are you shocked at, the range or the price.

Big V and myself have their belt system and number of lens holders, and the quality is excellent. I also have the 'Glass Taxi' for my D3 + Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8 EDII attached. Surprisingly enough the product range is 'Made in Vietnam' and not 'China'.

Although... now we've seen the thinktank range online as well..... a

[tommyg]

oops, that was meant to finish 'ah well' ...

Just saying there are even more choices of bags out there I haven't looked at yet .. unfortunately the Think Tank ones aren't available anywhere in Australia to look at.

[aim54x]

oops, that was meant to finish 'ah well' ...

Just saying there are even more choices of bags out there I haven't looked at yet .. unfortunately the Think Tank ones aren't available anywhere in Australia to look at.

I know, I emailed them recently and they kinda told me they were in discussion with an australian distributor, but shop online (through their website) is the best thing to do atm.

[fozzie]

Tom,

I buy mine on-line at NatureScapes.Net:

http://www.naturescapes.net/store/home.php?cat=69

They provide internal & external dimensions for each line of product.

Shipment time = 6 calendar days...woohoo

[fozzie]

Tom,

Another option would be Crumpler.

They have a backpack called 'Whickey and Cox' that opens at the back instead of the front, providing better security:

https://www.crumpler.com.au/flash/flash ... wc03a.html

Also have a look at the Million Dollar range:

https://www.crumpler.com.au/flash/flash ... ducts.html

Within the next month they will be releasing the 8 million dollar bag in Australia. This is a camera bag, that does not look like a camera bag. Could only find it on the USA site:

https://www.crumplerbags.com/flash/flas ... 0810a.html

Crumpler Design are located at 10 Gawler Place, Adelaide (T: 8232 82720

[drop]

Hey guys n girls,

Kinda

Yes this is my first post here.If you still have not decided id just like to say although it does not hold a laptop i recently brought a kata 3n1-20 for my last trip to japan. It was simply a great bag and i highly suggest it to anyone that doesnt plan to carry a laptop with them for the day. Anyway the point i wanted to pass on was that the kata range appears to have very little to no product tags on them, making them look like everyday daypacks and not bags ripe for the picking loaded with gear.

I would imagine that all their range is as well made and comfortable as the 3n1 i have.

Hope this helps.

[aim54x]

I have to admit that I have considered the Kata 3 in 1 series bags, the idea is wonderful and I love the ambidextrous set up but I felt that the straps looked to be too narrow to be comfortable with a decent load.

I will have to put a loaded one on one day if I get a chance just to see how comfortable it really is.