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: Excellent Protection
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently purchased this to store my D80, 70-200mm 2.8VR lens, SB600 flash, 105mm2.8 and the 18-135mm kit lens....
I am very happy and satisfied with the purchase, the bag is solid and well padded. Protects the contents well. One of the neat things about the bag is the ability to customize the interior space by modifying the dividers and a cool feature to mount the camera to the bag as opposed to hanging from ones neck...which gets pretty tiring when you have the 70-200mmVR lens attached to the camera
Drawbacks include: Weight, the bag is heavy once all the contents are in. The zippers are a little tough to do and undo, although I am hoping that once the bag is "broken in" this should get better.
All in all...an excellent buy...and amazon's service was excellent...
Digital camera Review: Excellent choice for SLR gear and laptop
Summary: 5 Stars
I settled on the Kata R-103 after looking at the Lowepro Computrekker and Tamrac Cyber 6 and also considering Crumpler "Whickey & Cox" and the Tenba PB-15C. Having a backpack with room for both laptop and camera gear is great for taking a business trip with a rolling suitcase without also dragging a third piece of luggage for the camera, a load that puts you at risk for having to check your luggage
I have a DSLR, 3 lenses, flash, tripod and the usual assortment of cables, plus a Dell D-600 laptop, charger and cords. The Dell is 15" wide (long?). That assortment would fit any of the five backpacks noted above. If you have more gear than that, you need a bigger backpack, and all of the above makers have bigger models.
The Kata R-103 has several unusual features that give it an edge, but most important, it has a very comfortable harness that can be adjusted to fit both short and tall people. Another reviewer said it fits people 170-180cm tall (5'7" - 5'11"). I'm 167 cm tall (5'6') and it fits very well indeed - a lot better than the Tumi laptop "business" backpack I use when I'm not taking camera gear around.
Kata Features: (1) The zippers for the main (camera) compartment go around the outside edge and down under the bag, allowing it to open compeletely for easy access. (2) There's a smaller zippered flap on the main compartment that gives you easy access to just the camera and lens without the risk that any other gear will fall out. That flap is also zippered all the way down both sides to the bottom. (3) The laptop is accessible from the side, which seems better than access from the top if you want to get at it on a plane (although the zipper could be an inch or two longer). (4) It fits a full-sized 15" laptop. (But get Kata's next size - Model HB-207 -- if you have a 17" laptop!) (5) It has a sternum strap, which makes the bag more comfortable to carry and secures it so you can bend or lean over without the load shifting. (6) It comes with a unique set of straps that replace your regular camera strap so you can carry the camera around your neck, as usual, or hang it from the straps of the backpack. That reduces strain on your neck. It makes you look irremediably geeky, but hey, if you travel with a pile of lenses and a laptop, you are a geek, so why not look like one? (7) It comes with a clip-on waist strap and a strap-on tripod carrier that's much easier to use and less ungainly than the one on the Lowepro Comptrekker. (8) There's a fairly large pair of zippered pockets hidden under the main flap - ideal for cables and small items. (9) And finally, it's not as deep from back to front as the Lowepro Computrekker or the Tamrac Cyber 6, which makes it better balanced everywhere you go and easier to maneuver in tight spots like airplanes and subways.
When new, the zippers feel stiff and so does the harness, but once the zippers have been used a few times and you've walked a couple of miles, the bag loosens up just enough -- kind of like breaking in a good pair of hiking boots. The materials and construction appear to be first rate -- tougher fabric and beefier zippers than the Lowepro bags of the same class. And before buying, I asked Kata a question via their web site and got an immediate and comprehensive response, which is a good sign.
Digital camera Review: Fantastic bag!
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted a backpack with excellent protection, good size and flexibility and one that hopefully didn't scream "Steal me, I have camera equipment"! The Kata R-103 fills those needs perfectly.
1) The protection is unparalleled. Being made by a company dedicated to body armor, this isn't that surprising. Your camera would have to be solidly hit by an almost deliberate hit to do any damage.
2) I fit my XT, four lenses, a flash, my Jobo Giga2 20gb portable HD plus tons of little stuff in this thing. I still have room for a laptop!
3) Nothing on it, unless I have my tripod in the included holder, says camera. It's almost incognito.
I've had Tamrac and Lowepro - simply no comparison.
Digital camera Review: Fits LOTS of stuff in here
Summary: 4 Stars
This thing fits all my gear and fells very comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time.
I have a 28-80, 70-300, 50, a Kiron lens roughly the same size as the 70-300, a 40d, lens hoods, battery charger, straps, filters, cleaning supplies, etc in this. I usually keep the 70-300 on the camera in the center. In and out without issue.
One complaint is the tripod holder. It doesn't seem "right". They list two methods to mount the tripod (on the side and on the front of the pack, right over the quick in/out). It seems like it will work, but the strap they provide seems to be the wrong strap. It doesn't hold tight and instead slowly releases. I imagine contacting the manufacturer would quickly resolve this, however I haven't done so yet. I've used a small bungee cord to hold it tight and it works great.
Besides that minor complaint, this is the best constructed bag I've ever seen. I was hesitant to order as I'd never heard of the line, but alas, it's worked far better than expected.
Digital camera Review: Ginormous - but great quality
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start off with the fact that I am a newbie to the (D)SLR world. Initially I bought a small camera bag for my Pentax K10D, but I quickly realized I would need something bigger and better to protect my every expanding hobby.
After pouring over reviews, I decided on the Kata R-103 GDC Rucksack. Mainly because I wanted something comfortable that would be very good at protecting my equiptment (I tend to bang things around.) I had read several women who were, shall we say "blessed in the front", complain about other bags. There were a few that recommended this one and since I am short and equally blessed, I decided to go for it.
I am happy to report that there is no odd strain on the girls when wearing this backpack around the house. Will post an update after I take a test run on a day hike. Additionally, I am estactic to learn that my large 17" Toshiba fits nicely in the back. Initially I didn't even consider that my laptop would be an option to transport given its larger size.
Oddly enough the protection factor that drew me to this bag, also shocked me with its size. The thing is GINORMOUS. Okay, maybe the fact that I'm a little girl that has never worn a really big backpack has something to do with it - but wow. The bulk of this backpack seem to be tons of padding, shock absorbers, et al. Hopefully I will get used to the size, but I am definately going to need to consider buying a small model for quick morning hikes. Again, I will take a test hike with this beast this weekend and update the review accordingly. Currently my wanderlust dreams of international travel with my gear is quickly being depleted with the realization that I won't be able to fit anything else with my backpack. Oh well, at least I will have a built in pillow.
But in all seriousness - this is what I have stuffed in this beast with tons of room to spare. My Pentax K10D, an additional add-on flash, kit lens, telephoto lens, a 50mm fixed lens, my 17" laptop, the large free padded camera strap that KATA gives you free with this purchase, a small handheld camcorder, and a bunch of other small and tiny things. Oh yeah, and some straps and a tripod carrier that attached to the back when you are carrying a tripod. I could easily fit another lens or two. If I slip and fall, there is so much padding in this monster, I am fairly certain that the only thing that will get hurt is my arse. And that's only if I am unlucky enough to not fall on the backpack.