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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best DSLR Bag, August 28, 2005
I am putting a Nikon D70 in the Kata 102 and while it is snug, I know I can put a larger camera in the section designed for the camera. Kata's product information states that the "R-102 is designed to hold a Digital/SLR body with 80-200/300mm lens attached, extra lenses or a mini DV camcorder and many more additional accessories."
I am not disappointed in the quality of this bag. It has YKK zippers that, for outdoor products, is the gold standard in construction. The stitching and material are top notch.
The R-102 comes with a system to attach a large tripod to the backpack. It consists of a "pouch" to hold 2 of the tripods legs and then a strap to hold the tripod securely at the top. You can still open the bag and all the zippers with the tripod attached. Another feature that is indicative of a well designed backpack is not only is there the "main" zipper that opens the pack in half but there is another zipper in the front of the bag that opens only enough to reveal the camera section and nothing else.
The bag is only one part of the "Kata system." I can attach a waist belt harness and additional "hip" and a shoulder type bag to the front of the waist sling if I wanted. It does not mealy have shoulder straps but a built in section of material that takes much of the weight off the shoulders and transfers some of the weight to the area between the shoulder blades. I have never seen anything like it.
The bag is not gaudy but close inspection of the bag might reveal that it is not a normal backpack. In addition, with the tripod attached it is pretty obvious what is going on. I feel safe in my town but for areas where there is a lot of crime one might consider a less "techkie" look the bag has for a more plain design (of course leaving the tripod at home). If a person put all the extra accessories on the bag you would definitely attract attention.
I like to ride my bike for exercise and fun. I used to use a shoulder bag that was not designed to be worn on a bike although I could do it, but because it was so awkward, I rarely took my camera with me. With the backpack, I have already developed the habit of putting it on before I leave my house. I have my camera and mini-DVD inside. If I know I am specifically going out to get pics I attach the tripod, if I am just going out for an errand or whatever I will still don the pack but leave the tripod at home.
I really like the bag compared to my shoulder bag. I can fit a sandwich in the R-102, attach a water bottle or whatever. In addition, it comes with a strap system and neck strap to hold the camera outside the pack, attached to the pack so the camera is not wrapped around your neck. This is really a great feature. The camera is secure but available for immediate use. This additional harness can be quickly and easily be removed when not in use. I don't like a bag with all kind of extra straps that hang down. In addition, I do not fly but I read that the bag complies with airline regulations concerning carry-on luggage. The K-102 will fit in an overhead compartment or under the front seat of a passenger jet.
The backpack's shoulder straps are thick and padded and is a pleasure to wear. I have been taking my camera everywhere with me and taking a lot more pics as a result. Loaded, it is not too heavy and can carry the right amount of goods. I have looked at other packs and while bigger they also look a lot more heavy.
I am very impressed with this bag.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice bag, just not the best fit for my wants, January 17, 2008
I ordered the Kata R102 and Lowepro Vertex 200 AW at the same time because I didn't know which I wanted. After trying them both for a week, I kept the Lowepro. I'm NOT saying this bag is inferior, it just fits a different need. I could definitely see myself buying the Kata down the road.
I needed a way to transport all my gear for an 8-month trip from the United States to Australia. There just wasn't enough room for "everything" in the Kata. That being said, the Vertex 200 is a much larger bag and is designed to carry more.
I loved loved loved the protective quality of the Kata R102 though. The outer shell is very shock absorbent and I'm confident it could take a kick or punch without damaging anything inside, let alone a shoulder-level fall to the ground. The zippers are very stiff but will loosen considerably after moderate use.
The bag is very comfortable and adjustments are easy to make with the shoulder harness. I can't say the same for the tripod holder. After seeing how easy the Lowepro system was and trying for 5 minutes with the Kata, I just gave up...the contest was over.
My main gripe however was the lack of individual storage compartments. There are mesh bags to toss small gear into, but I like things to be segmented and zippered securely. This is where the Lowepro really outshone the Kata. I may just be OCD for neatness and organization though.
In conclusion, if you just need to carry an SLR + 2-3 spare lenses inside an armor-like vault then the Kata R102 is for you. It's honestly the surest feeling luggage piece I've ever held. For my needs though, the compartmentalized storage and extra space the Lowepro offered was premier.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well made and bigger than expected, March 28, 2007
This bag is slightly bigger and bulkier than I thought it would be. It is about the size of a small carry-on bag. It will easily hold a large SLR with zoom lens attached and 3 or 4 lenses, plus a flash, and perhaps a small bottle of water OR a small SLR body OR pocket camera. If you carry those huge pro lenses, you might only get one or two of those inside and still have room for a flash. But for most of us, you can easily fit an SLR with zoom, 3 or 4 lenses plus a flash. Or maybe 2 or 3 lenses, flash, and a 2nd body. There are 4 pockets. There is a mesh pocket inside, on the underside of the trap door. It can hold memory cards, lens filters, etc. There is a large "horse shoe shaped" zipper pocket inside that encircles the zippered lid. You can fit a lot of small items in this pocket because it's pretty big. There are two zipper pockets on the outside, alongside the trap door. These two pockets are not very big. As an example you could probably put a can of Red Bull in each pocket. But, it would be tight. Biggest faults? There are no pockets on the exterior where you can simply slide a map or magazine. And things can easily fall out of the two exterior zipper pockets when you unzip them. The bag has a multitude of loops for hanging accessories. The shoulder straps are VERY thick and well padded. The best part? Extremely comfortable to wear. The section that rests against your back is, again, well padded. Therefore, you won't have anything poking you in the back as you are walking. The trap door is a great idea. You can access your SLR quickly without opening the entire bag. The good: Thick padding, very protective. Large interior zipper pocket. The interior is yellow, making it easy to see what's inside. Dividers are movable, so you can customize your bag. Handle is sturdy & comfortable. Has a canvas pouch for attaching a tripod. Top notch quality. Has a nice, high-tech, modern look. It holds it's shape and doesn't look crumpled and frumpy. Bag looks classy without screaming "camera".
The bad: Items can easily fall out of the two exterior pockets as you unzip them. Rather pricey, but VERY well made. The section of the straps that go over the top of your shoulders is VERY thick and adds to the overall bulk of the bag. This bag is perfect for people who want to take a day hike and have their camera gear with them in a safe and comfortable package. I am glad I didn't buy the bigger R-103 model. This Kata R-102 is plenty big enough for my needs. I would have given it 5 stars if there were just a couple more places to stash small items on the outside. Otherwise, it's terrific. I am very happy with it.
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