Kata GDC Series R-101 Small Rucksack with TST Protection for a D/SLR Camera Body or Mini DV Camcorder and a 12" Notebook.

Amazon Customer Reviews

(5 out of 5)

Made of good stuff

Beware of reviews on bags--it's a very subjective decision.

I work part-time as a travel photographer so I've been through a number of bags. Like most of us, I'd love to fit 10lbs of camera equipment into a 5lb bag, but this isn't going to happen. The stuff is heavy and bulky, and usually starts to hurt by the end of the day. I've love to have my whole kit with me at all times but this isn't going to happen either, so you need to find the right size, weight, and features that fit your shooting style.

I started looking for a new bag because my sling-type shoulder bag was somewhat cumbersome to 'dive into' each time I needed to make a lens change. It also started to weigh down on my shoulder a lot and was also becoming too small, so I felt it was time to change to the backpack-style.

The first thing I love about the Kata is that it is just tough. The outside feels as if you could scrape it against concrete without a thought. The inside padding is thick and sturdy, no worries of bumps from the inside or out. Some of the other packs I looked at had more room but this was at the expense of thinner padding that seems barely able to absorb an impact. I'm really careful with my equipment but any 24 hour trip on an airline results in bumps, drops, etc. Finally the zippers are thick and don't feel like the kind that will ever break.

The real selling point for me is the quick open cover on the front. I find myself in a lot of situations where I either have to whip out the camera quickly, and other times put it away quickly. The front allows one to access the main camera seat without opening the rest of the bag.

When I first received the R-101, I was a bit worried that it was too small, but I looked at the next larger model at a store and this was just too big to be 'stealthy' in my opinion. And after some rearranging, I'm able to comfortably get everything I need into the bag, with easy access to everything. Specifically, I carry a Canon 5D, 70-200 2.8/IS, 24-105, 17-40, 50 mm prime, and flash. I can put the camera in the bag with the 70-200 attached which is important to me. There's enough room for all the other little gadgets like batteries, charger, memory cards, etc.

The last and final feature I'd like to mention is the rain cover. It is a detached cover that comes in a mesh bag. I at first thought this to be a bit inconvenient, another thing to lose, but Kata seems to have thought this through. The point of it being detached is so that after it rains and when it is wet you can remove it, put it in its mesh bag, and attach it to the outside of the bag to prevent the water from getting on your components or soaking the bag. Nice touch.

(4 out of 5)

Not the answer for travel

Here's what I was looking for: a well constructed, light weight, comfortable bag to carry on any size plane that would carry a DSLR (Nikon D200 or D70) with an 18-200 VR attached, 12-24 and 70-300 lenses, a 12 inch screen laptop, PLUS all the must-have accessories, cables, PDA, cell phone, tickets, documents, passport, reading material, prescriptions that I don't want to put in checked luggage, noise canceling headphones, etc., etc., etc.

This is a great bag if your needs stop before the "plus." This bag does not have the spaces, places and configuration for real world travel gear. If you don't need that--5 stars. If you do need that, try something else.

When I travel, I also stuff a flattened Domke J-803 into my carry-on luggage to use as a walking around bag. No backpack that I have found is really functional as a shooting bag.

I was really tempted to keep the bag because it does so well at what it sets out to do. It is also well made and very cool. But on second thought, I realized that the only time I would use it would be for travel, and then I wouldn't use it. So it ended up going back.

(5 out of 5)

Kata 101 - Great bag

I recently purchased this bag for my Nikon D70. It is very well made and gives my camera a lot of protection. The laptop compartment is very small but I use it for my photography guides. It holds more than I thought it would. Right now I have a Nikon D70, 18-70 dx lens, 70-300 vr lens, sb600 flash, battery charger, omnibounce for flash, and a few books in it. With a little rearranging I could easliy fit 1 or 2 more lenses.

This is a great bag and if I ever outgrow it then I would definitely buy another Kata bag.

(5 out of 5)

perfect for me

This is just right for my needs, I carry my nikon D40, 1 extra lens, flash unit, chargers, cables/cords, extra battery and my macbook ( it say it fits most 12", but I can sqeeze my new 13.3" in there). The pack is very durable. I like the easy access flap on the front. I shopped all other camera backpacks before deciding on this brand, my decision was based mostly on the reputation of the company. I debated on the larger one but it would have too bulky for me to carry comfortably ( I'm a medium built 5'6 tall chick)and I would have stuffed it full of extra junk. I do use it for airplane travel where you might need extra junk, just family vacations usually camping trip, river trips, family outings, kids sporting events. Everything is in one place and I can just grab the backpack and go.