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: Great bag, came with a camera strap.
Summary: 5 Stars
I wont go into detail about this bag, just read the other reviews. I wanted to comment that I got mine with a free Reflex-E camera strap. You can check it out a kata-bags.com, here is a link, http://kata-bags.com/product.asp?p_Id=406&Version=Photo So far I am very happy with the bag and strap, the strap is much better then the supplied Nikon strap. The relex-E is soft and stretches just enough to absorb some of the shock of wearing a camera and walking. The card that came with the strap said for a limited time while supplies last, so if you looking to get this bag go for it and hopefully you will get a free strap also.Digital camera Review: Great camera backpack!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic camera backpack for someone who has 1-2 SLR camera bodies and about 3 lenses. It built extremely well with high quality material. One day after receiving, I was walking around New York City for three whole days with this backpack but I hardly felt any strain on my back. I highly recommend this serious photo enthusiasts or professionals.Digital camera Review: Great pack for a citywalk
Summary: 5 Stars
1)QUALITY IS EXCELLENT. I don't know WHAT the guy is talking about in his review below about cheap quality zippers, because absolutely everything about this pack screams quality. Zippers are very heavy duty and a bit stiff at first, perhaps some don't like that? I love it as it means a little added security. There are better bags out there to "shoot out of". But this is a backpack not a shooting bag. As a backpack/rucksack/knapsack...whatever...it's one of the easiest ones to get to your camera with.
2)IT IS VERY COMFORTABLE to wear. It rides in a high position so I hardly notice it and does not make my back sweat like most backpacks. With a lot of gear it gets heavy but not uncomfortable.The bag itself is lightweight yet very strong and holds shape even when fully loaded.
3)PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL PROTECTION. Which does decrease the interior size slightly as it has thick padding. (that's a good thing imo) and the harder protector over the camera "quick access pocket" itself is very confidence inspiring. I cannot say that about my Mountainsmith backpack and gadgetbag. I feel more at ease with the Kata's protection.
4)QUICK ACCESS COMPARTMENT is great and the Kata comes with optional camera straps that attach from the top of the bag with clips (while mounted on your back) to the camera so that if hiking and want the camera immediately "there", it is, just like your regular strap would be but without the neck chaffing/pressure of a camera strap since the Kata strap is attached directly TO THE BAG over your L and R shoulders. genius.
5)UNASSUMING LOOK. Fortunately the yellow is only on the inside, outside it's fairly plain which makes the bag very unassuming and doesn't scream "STEAL ME, I'M A CAMERA BAG" by having a Canon or Nikon etc logo emblazoned upon it. Of course if you mount the tripod holster it's a different story.
6)GOOD SPACE. I carry more gear than I usually ever need. 2 Bodies, 3 lenses (10-22mm ef-s, 50mm, 135mm), 2 flash units, small filter pouch, 2 spare batteries, charger, 2 extra cards, cable release, laptop and there is still more room for a few smaller items and a tripod holster attaches to the outside.
Only negative is that after all the gear is in, there's no room for lunch or water etc. That's why I say it's the "great pack for a citywalk" or small hike. You'd have to carry a secondary fanny/waist pack for food/water if day hiking.
Digital camera Review: I love this bag
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had mine for a little over 3 years now, and I absolutely love this bag. As others have said, it's very good at protecting equipment inside, and is well-made and tough. It is pretty rigid, which is great for protecting its contents but it does prevent it from being compressible to fit into tight spaces. For a photo backpack, I think this is a trade-off worth making. It is sized perfectly for sliding under an airline seat in coach. It fills up the space but with just enough room to be able to access the contents with only minimal hassle.
The laptop compartment holds my 15" MacBook Pro (non-unibody) fine, and before that it used to carry a 15" PowerBook. The MacBook Pro is at the upper end of what the laptop compartment can hold, though. This is my "on-the-go" bag, so I swap gear in and out of it as I expect to use it when I travel. It works well for my Nikon DSLR kit (with zoom lens), my Canon Optura Xi video kit, and occasionally both.
Others have noted that the exterior dimensions are large for the volume inside it, somewhat due to the protective padding, but also because of its unusual design. However, I have found that this bag holds more than it seems at first. I have been amazed at how much I can load into it. Under the central access flap is a pocket of space that really adds to the bag's capacity. Even with camera gear filling up the main divider space, I can still fit a large textbook in it, although it doesn't seem like it until you try.
With the dividers removed it could be used as a general-purpose backpack (albeit an extremely well-padded one), but its unconventional shape is definitely optimized for photo gear. Although the dividers can be removed, the outer padding cannot and will always take up some volume.
As others have noted, the two side pockets on the outside are a bit small and limited. They do work for holding car keys, memory cards, remotes, and tripod mounting plates. They can also hold sunglasses, but it's a tight fit and I worry about the lenses getting scratched, so the sunglasses usually go in the main compartment.
I rarely carry the rain cover and have found the bag protects from a light rain pretty well on its own. The two velcro mesh bags that come with it have been useful for keeping small items organized together. The bag's material is very resistant to dirt and stains, and mine still looks like new after three years of active use.
I also have the Kata W-92 waist pack, which is my primary video gear bag. The two bags are designed to latch together, and form a single larger backpack. This works pretty well, although I don't use them this way very often. I'm not a tall person (5'9"), and the combined bag is a little long for my torso.
I see that Kata now offers a slightly larger model, the R-104. If I were shopping for a bag now I would seriously consider that one to get more usable side pockets, but I'd want to make sure it also fits under an airline seat first. According to Kata's web site, the R-104 is 3-1/2" thicker than the R-103.
Digital camera Review: Kata R-103
Summary: 5 Stars
The manufacturer of these bags also make bullet proof vests. If you want/need a bag that is as close to bullet proof as you will find this side of the Israeli Army, this is the bag for you! Materials,zippers and ergonomics are all state-of-the-art, the toughest bag I have seen in 30 years of searchig for the perfect bag.