What, according to you, is a perfect camera bag? A bag large enough to carry all the equipment this world has to offer? A bag slim enough to not really get noticed and perhaps carry one camera body and a prime lens attached to it, for easy access and picture taking? Or perhaps a sling back which looks stylish and performs just as well? When I started my market research for that “perfect” camera back-pack, I had my requirements crystal clear: Since I already had a large back in the shape of the Lowepro 350AW to carry most of my equipment with me, if there is any need for it, I wanted a much smaller back-pack, which would easily hold a couple of camera bodies with 2-3 additional lenses (prime/ small zooms), a Speedlite, remotes, filters, memory carsds, and if possible, my 15-inch laptop/ Apple iPad.
I was really impressed with the range of products that Kata manufacturers and since I’ve heard only good things about the company, I decided to give it a try. And they seem to have just such a backpack which fit my needs perfectly; the Kata DR-466-DL. It is a really compact (for a camera bag), sleek, stylish, spacious bag which satisfies all my needs perfectly. And after travelling with the bag for over a week out of town, and on a photo-assignment, I am satisfied that I made the right choice. Now, I will not really delve into the technical side of it, as to how much it weighs, or how much it sized at, but I’d love to give you an actual hands-on experience of the beautiful bag.
Size-wise, it is similar to a normal laptop backpack, and weights in a LOT lighter than my Lowepro 350AW. Weight is one of my major concerns, when I was looking out for a camera backpack, since I usually need to carry my backpack on my back/ shoulder for quite some-time while I am shooting, and the 350AW just didn’t let me do it, without hurting my back only after 30 minutes of constant carrying. But, with the DR-466 on my back, I hardly noticed it being there; this thing is just so light! Â It is really easy to carry and store as well, because of its compactness.
But, please don’t think that if a bag is compact and light, it is not spacious or durable. The KT-266DL is both spacious and durable too! As you can see from the pictures below, there is a main camera carrying compartment at the lowest area of the bag which is big enough to carry two camera bodies of moderate size, and three prime lenses/ one zoom, two prime setup. In the picture below, the compartment easily fits a 5D Classic, 50mm, 85mm, and a 35mm lens along with a 400D body which is not clearly visible in the picture. It also fits in a 7D and a 24-70 2.8L lens comfortably, if I remove one prime lens from the setup. Yes, I probably cannot carry a 70-200 2.8 along with all that, but then again, for carrying my much heavier equipment, I have the 350 AW (Lowepro). This bag is solely meant to carry limited equipment, and travel light and comfortably.
Next, the two small pockets on the middle of the bag can be used to store anything, from remote flash releases to your business cards, to a note, pen, etc. while the top two compartments are big enough to hold a wallet, your cell phone, and other accessories. There is then the laptop compartment which easily fits my HCL 15-inch laptop, along with my iPad, as well as a host of filters, a Speedlite and other nitty-gritties. What has impressed me more than the space is the fact that the weight is distributed so evenly on the shoulders even after filling the bag to the brim, that I can hardly feel a thing! I am impressed!
Quality wise, there is absolutely nothing to complain. It is made of solid stuff, the zips are of high quality, and what’s more, it also comes with a all-weather cover built in right inside the bag. So, you don’t really need to take care of the cover or be apprehensive about losing it.
It’s been about 2 weeks that I have been regularly using the Kata bag, and I have only been completely satisfied. I, now use the Lowepro 350AW to store the equipment in my home and use the Kata completely, to carry my equipment on shoots. Priced at just over Rs.7,000/- (New Delhi), it is pretty steeply priced, but then again, like they say, “Quality hardly comes cheap, if ever…”
Note: Thanks to Writex India and its Product Manager, Mr.Jasmeet Chopra who personally helped me making a decision on the kind of bag that best suited me. It is their dedicated team of professionals, who really helped me in showing different bag models from manufacturers like Kata, Manfrott, National Geographic, etc. and helped me making a wise decision. Thanks, Writex! 🙂
...in search of that perfect world. 