Kata Pro-Light Bug-203 PL Quick Access Backpack for Pro DSLR Upto 300mm Lens Attached, 4-5 Lenses, Camera Body, Flash and Accessories + 15.4" Laptop

2013-10-14T21:00:00

I am female and of small frame so I am always looking for ways to carry a fair amount of gear with minimal bulk. I bought this bag to replace a Tenba backpack that was just too bulky, square, and awkward. It's a given that camera equipment is heavy, and the more you want to take with you (especially the good glass) the worse it is to carry it on your back. However, the design of this bag is just awesome, and allows for very efficient use of space. For my first outing with the bag, I took on a cross country, multi stop trip. I loaded it with my D700 with battery grip attached and the following Nikon lenses: 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8, 14-24/2.8 zooms, and 18mm and 85mm primes. I also had all of the usual accessories...battery charger, cables, lens cleaning supplies, strap, memory cards. While out and about I was also able to fit my wallet, compact, and chap stick in the side pockets. The laptop sleeve on the back held my 15" Macbook Pro perfectly. I was able to put the bag in the overhead of an Embraer 145 regional jet, but not on a slightly smaller Canadair regional jet. However, it did fit under the seat in front of me on that flight. So if you are traveling on a plane, just don't sit in a front or bulkhead seat that doesn't have a seat in front of it and you should be fine. Of course on larger aircraft such as a 737 storage is no problem. Fully loaded, the bag weighed in at about 22 lbs. My main purpose here was to transport my equipment safely from point A to point B. I personally would not have wanted to carry this much gear on my back all day. If I had needed to do that I would have lightened the load by narrowing my choice of lenses. However, the weight of the bag was bearable, and didn't have the awkward feel on my back of my previous bag. The design and padding on the backside help it to contour to the body better and the padding on the straps helps to reduce the fatigue on the shoulders. There is a waist strap that also helps to distribute the load better, although I didn't use it all the time. I love that the inside of the bag is yellow rather than the usual black...it really does make a difference when you are looking for something. If I had one complaint so far I would say it is the positioning of the chest strap. For me it lands in a less than ideal position, even after I moved it to the highest position. Guys would have no problem with this. I will be taking this bag on a trip all around Switzerland in a few weeks and will update this review if I discover anything else!

KIMBERLY H.

2013-03-23T21:00:00

I upgraded from the Kata 467i after a friend suggested this bag. My first thought was why had I not made the switch sooner. This bag comfortably and compactly stores the essentials for any modest photographic outing. I've currently got a D600 with grip that can fit perfectly with either my 24-70mm or 70-200mm attached. There's still plenty of room for my SB-600 flash and 50mm, as well as the rain/sun cover and an extra body as the product description claims. I've also been able to lay my ThinkTank Hydrophobia rain cover on top of the aforementioned gear and zip up the bag without any problems should I ever need to do so in the future. The material feels solid as you'd expect from a Kata bag, despite what one of the other reviews says. Maybe that one was a lemon; it happens. The only thing I'm worried about is the zipper pullers (is that what they're called?). They seem a bit fragile. There's also a lot more extra storage for accessories than I expected. The tripod carrier pouch is well-made and looks very sturdy. I've yet to test it out as I'm in between tripods, but I have no doubt it'll do the job once I get a new one.

RYAN J.

2011-11-14T19:00:00

Use for storage and can just grab and go with all equipment needed

LEO G.

2011-10-25T21:00:00

First, let's talk about the advantages to this bag: It's extremely comfortable, your gear is easily accessible, and anything you put inside it will be well protected. However, none of this really matters if the bag is falling apart. I purchased this bag for a three-day photo/video shoot where I would be traveling across the US with my Canon 5D Mark II and some minimal support gear. Prior to this trip, I engaged in several photo walks - none of which required me to pack out this bag completely -- but apparently, even extremely light can cause the seams to rip. One of the internal compartments has a roughly 1" hole thanks to this seam rip, and one of the exterior seams looks like it's about to pop open too. I'll be returning this bag, and doubt I'll purchase another Kata again.

NICHOLAS Y.