Customer Reviews

Kata SB-904 Medium GDC Reporter Shoulder Case for 2 DSLR system.

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Purchased this bag a returned it the same day. I have 2 other Kata bags, the R103 backpack and the OC-82 case and they are great. But this bag was lacking in some important areas and I did not feel it would work out.

The top flap and the 2 side flaps are first problem. They do not adequately cover the main compartment and side pockets. Even if you cinch the top flap down the main compartments interior is still exposed and items could fall out, say if you had the bag in the trunk and were driving to an photo shoot, or if the bag was knocked off a table. Of if someone wanted to reach in and grab something. Plus, the main compartment is exposed to dust and moisture. Kata does provide a weather cover, but the basic flaps should cover the pockets and they do not. Some photographers may like the quick access the flaps and lack of zippers provide, but the covers need to be wider to cover the contents. There should be both flaps and zippers.

Issue #2 was the lack of padding in the side pockets. Kata promotes their TST technology and it is used on the 2 front pockets (which are also protected by the top flap, so they have double padding) but the side pockets had shaped thin cardboard as the padding. The cardboard is exposed in the interior and once it gets wet, it will be useless. If the cardboard is removed, there is no padding for these two side pockets, including the bottom of the pockets, which is senseless. These should have had the TSP padding built in.

Lastly, my 2007/2008 Kata Catalog says that there is an included waist belt, which can allow the bag to be used with a trolley. This was one of two mains reason I wanted this bag, as the combination of a waist belt and comfortable shoulder strap makes the load that much easier to carry. (the other was that a Nikor 70-200 f2.8VR lens would fit, which it did) The waist belt is no longer included and thus it is not as comfortable to carry and there is no way to secure it to a pop up handle of rolling luggage.

This bag is built well and appears to be really durable but the one major thing I don't like about it is the fact that it doesn't have a zipper around the top of the bag. It does have zippers around the top quick opening flap but not the buckled part of the bag so I use a 13 gal trash bag placed between the top of the inside of the bag to act as a buffer for the outside environment. Other than that nice bag...

I purchased the SB 904 about six months ago from Amazon and had my usual rapid and uneventful Amazon experience, for which I'm completely grateful.

I live in Alaska and this bag gets subjected to some extreme environments, the material and fastener quality is excellent and it's well-padded and fully customizable interior inhales my Canon gear with comfort and form-fitting capability. The bag has worn and carried well in most all situations.

I do agree with other posters regarding the lack of protection of the top-flap cover which can allow dust (fine silt in AK) and in very extreme driving rain conditions, some moisture to reach contents. However, I also know that KATA R&D is working on this and I expect there will be a fix soon. I hope it will be retro to our existing bags. A velcro containment insert with a draw-string top would do a lot to solve this issue.

My bag came with a semi-rigid carry handle. I don't know if this was an early production feature. Though I never abused the bag or overweighted it, the handle broke in the middle. It didn't pierce the matierial just rendered the handle-carry mostly uncomfortable and unweildy. I contacted KATA through their website and almost immediately received an email back from a service rep named Katia (yeah, I know ! What a coincidence !). She made a few intelligent inquiries about the handle and asked for a picture or two; I was only too glad to oblige. She was so cheerful and obliging, it was unfortunately a very rare service experience. At their cost, a replacemnt handle was sent to me (courier service, no less) within a week of my first contact. Seriously, this has been about the best service experience I've ever had. KATA seems to be a really down-to-earth, no BS, customer service oriented organization.

I also mentioned in passing that I wished I could get the shoulder strap and the bag to hang a little better on my light-framed shoulder; that I had some problems with the strap slipping down the synthetic material we often wear in layers here in AK. Katia mentioned they had developed the new GECKO shoulder strap and after a few considerations on my part a GECKO strap was shipped to me (courier again). The other strap that comes traditionally with this bag is a great strap and has cool ergonomics that let it form fit to the shoulder. It is very comfortable and works especially well as an over-the-head opposite should carry position, I just had trouble with it slipping while carrying it straight down-shoulder at my side. The new GECKO strap is fantastic, I believe it actually might stick to glass LOL. Seriously, it has adjustability the standard strap doesn't have, by letting you adjust the pad along the strap in the position you need for the carry angle you want(it seems to be a high-flexibility ergonomically sculpted all rubber ridged and raised-suction dot design). It has hung in there (pun completely intended) regardless of the outer jacket material and lower layer of fleece I normally wear. Once again the service from KATA and expecially from Katia, was stellar, with a cheerfulness all to rare.

This is my first KATA product and is a very good bag. They've clinched my attention with their dedication and customer service. I think their bags are first rate and they are definately after the R&D improvements to make their products as useful and protective as possible. I have two friends who have bought this model on their own observtions and from my experience and are both really happy with their purchases. Amazon's price for this bag is about what I paid in the early 90's for my first high-grade Tamrac bag. I'll be working with KATA stuff again, I'm sure.

this kata bag is well-designed and it offers a lot of room inside. I use it to carry my two dslr pentax k10d bodies, lenses, two flashes, and there is still room to carry some other accessories. you would have to rearrange the dividers to make it work for you.

This bag is very well made and easily accomodates a Nikon D700 body (without attached lens), Nikon 70-200/2.8, 14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8, Sigma 50/1.4 and (two) SB-900s along with hoods, batterries, diffusers, etc. The bright interior is a welcome change that makes it easier to find small items. The included shoulder strap is very comfortable and does not slip.