Kata R-103 GDC Rucksack
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Our Price: $499.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $235.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Kata R-103 GDC Rucksack
Digital camera Review: Best of the best
Summary: 5 Stars
Still haven't bought a bag for your camera?
Want a -really- good way to protect your investment?
Get a Kata R-103.
I have it since October 2005. I've travelled through south india for 11 days - in 'sleeper class' train compartments, crowded streets, trekked through the jungle surrounding the periyar lake with the following stuff in this bag -
Canon EOS 350D, a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, a Canon 75-300mm telephoto lens, a Tamron 18-200mm lens, Canon Speedlite 580EX flash, 4 rechargable 2500 milli-amp-hour NiMH AA cells, Nokia cell phone charger, NiMH battery charger, an IBM T42p Thinkpad laptop, laptop charger, my ebook and music library on a spool of 10 DVDs, a charger for the Canon camera NB2LH battery, a Sony portable Discman, an Apple iPod nano 4G (there were 9 more people in our gang, so we needed multiple music playing devices), a portable travelpod for the smaller Kodak DX6490, a larger Hansa tripod for the 350D, Apple earbuds, Shure e3c canalphones, Shure e2c canalphones, a full set of sleeves for the e2c and the e3c, cables for hooking the ipod to the laptop, a 25-in-1 memory card reader, a Nokia 6600 cellphone for continuous bluetooth->GPRS connectivity on my laptop, a kensington laptop cable lock, ethernet cables, a couple of paperbacks and a bunch of other small knickknacks like chewing gum and mints ..... so, the bag although devoid of all the equipment in this snapshot, has much more room than you can see!
The bag is made from military standard nylon that is ACTUALLY dust resistant! I've lugged it through a jungle - and not a speck of dust on it yet. It seems to be very shock resistant - Kata should know this kinda stuff well - they make bulletproof vests and other such equipment for the Israeli army!!!
The ergonomics is superb for a person who is 170-180 cms in height. It has full 5 point adjustment, external straps for lashing up tripods to the backpack shell, a really comfortable shoulder 'wrap' underneath the shoulder straps.
The bag is the most ruggedly built bag I have ever seen - perhaps with the exception of the Lowepro Dryzone (but who needs something that -heavy- unless one is going kayaking with camera equipment and there is a danger of submersion.) The Kata R-103 comes with a all weather raincoat that is reflective on one side for sun protection and is black on the other for the rains.
I managed to lose one half of the waist strap as it came off the sliplock when I took it off - so I wrote them asking about what I should do next. I expected a mail giving the part number and a URL where I could order it online. But guess what - I received an email from them within half an hour asking me for my shipping address and phone number - saying that a replacement waist strap would be on the way immediately the next day. Thank you Bellina Israel - Kata should be proud of people like you!
This is some of the best customer service I have seen yet.
I haven't been paid by anyone to write this. This backpack is just a showcase of very good design and engineering. And if Kata is listed on your local stock exchange - you should go and buy some stock. I would.
Digital camera Review: Could be improve. but good
Summary: 3 Stars
Solid, Rugged, with internal space variable. Problems I had were, main zip was missing a tooth so was difficult to close in this place (quality control), and when jogging with the backpack, it rubbed in the small of my back. Problem was solved by my girl friend sewing a lamb wools pad there. Would expect it to last for years, and will protect the camera gear should I take a tumble (you feel like a turtle with a shell on your back).Digital camera Review: Delivers as promised!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was surprised at the size of the backpack, somehow not thinking it would have the storage space that it does. I fit a large Toshiba laptop, 2 Canon HDV camcorders, a microphone, and some extra gear in it.
It replaced a laptop backpack and a smaller camcorder carrying case. Much more convenient having one bag for both.
One thing I wish it had was a pouch on the outside for easily accessed storage for items like a wallet, keys, etc. The 2 small pouches on the side were just not big enough for something like that.
The bag is well-constructed, sturdy and gives great protection for the gear inside. The dividers are velcro-laden to give you some ability to customize.
It came with a plethora of straps and little baggies, and it was a mystery as to what they were for until I checked them out a bit.
I have yet to travel with it, but plan to in late November, 2008. It will be nice to have a single carry-on and not have to debate checking my laptop or cameras.
If I even need another bag, Kata will be where I start my search.
Highly recommended.
Digital camera Review: Exactly What I Was Looking For
Summary: 5 Stars
I saved for 2 1/2 years to purchase a Nikon D90. It came as part of a package that included, amongst other items, a camera bag. While I'm sure the camera bag was fairly reputatble, it just wasn't working for me - it was over-one-shoulder style. The first day I had the camera, safely secured in the bag, it fell a grand total of 3 inches. To my astonishment and dismay, the housing on the primary lens was broken. It took 6 months for me to get that lens fixed (most of that time I was getting the run around from the extended warrenty company. When I sent it to Nikon, they fixed it and returned it within 10 days). Anyway, this all served to convince me I needed another, better bag.
I already carried my laptop in a backpack. To carry the laptop backpack and the over the shoulder camera bag made me feel like a pack mule and was just crazy. I needed a bag capable of safely carrying both. I started doing the research, and was intrigued by the Kata.
It has lived up to all of the high praise already given here. It's a fabulous bag. I can carry my Macbook Pro, the D90 two lenses - one zoom, assorted power cords, etc., my ipod, various other accessories, etc., with room to spare. As I am also a teacher, I find it won't carry my other books and papers, but then, that's not what it was designed to do.
It's rugged, durable, extremely comfortable, even on my 5'4" frame. And I feel like it really protects what's important to me. They included a free camera neck strap that is wonderful - soft and slightly stretchy, so it "gives" when you move without cutting in to your neck.
Overall, it's a fabulous bag, worth every penny.
Digital camera Review: Exactly what I need for adventuring and touring
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros: Very durable, protects gear from mild to moderate shock, flexible, stays clean, great access to most gear, tons of compartments, reasonably comfortable, yellow interior fabric makes it easy to see items, modular system really is expandable, silver inside of included weatherproof shell really does work as a light reflector.
Cons: Heavier than some less sturdy bags; zippers need to be "broken in" - i.e. hard to open and close at first. And, it's not really a con, but you have to pay attention to find all the compartments - they're all over. It does take up more room than some bags when not on the back, as well.
I held a canon 40d with 16-35L and hood, 75-300 with hood, and 28-135 with hood, a panasonic GS 300, batteries, gorrila tripod, cords and chargers for both, small canned air, instruction manual, personal journal(in the laptop case), pens, maps, 12 mini DV video cassettes, and filters for all the above lenses (polarizing and UV) as well as a Shure SM 58 mic with a cord. It's got great interior room!