Kata 3n1-30 thoughts?

[ImRaptor]

After a couple of new purchases and upgrades the past few months I realized it was high time for a bag upgrade.
It started by looking at my wifes bag, which is currently just a tiny little Lowepro Nova2, and can't even properly hold her gripped Xt, figured that would be the bag to upgrade. At first we were looking at the Lowepro Slingshot 200, but didn't like the prospects of getting her camera with the 70-200 F2.8 attached inside with ease, and she didn't want something as big as the Slingshot 300. Eventually, we'd ended up deciding on getting her a Lowepro Specialist 85, which incidentally is the bag I have.
At this point we decided to give her my bag and to up size my bag instead. So I started looking...and looking... and looking... Finally, I had decided on the Slingshot 300.
So I started going through POTN looking at some reviews and the classifieds and had my mind changed by this thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=637536&highlight=slingshot

Now I've decided on the 3n1-30, but at the same time I can't find much around for people actually using this bag. I'd like to get an idea on what can get in to the bag from a couple of sources, but seem to come up short.
A search for a 3n1 yields very few results which does get me wondering as to why there is so little about this bag.

Any users of the bag that would like to share some comments or pictures of the pack? Anyone have a recommendation of a different bag altogether?

[tigerotor77w]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=637536

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=641294

were two threads that had pretty good info -- don't know if you had seen those yet.

I've got the -20 and think it's awesome for my "all camera gear" bag. I wouldn't use it to shoot out of (at, say, a wedding), but to bring all my gear with me to a wedding, for instance, it'd work beautifully.

[brian-socal]

Has anyone found any shots of this bag being worn?

[jacobsen1]

go to youtube and search for it there, there's at least 3 videos with people not only wearing it, but slinging it and showing you how it works. ;)

[brian-socal]

Excellent. I hadn't thought of youtube.

[ImRaptor]

Funny youtube was mentioned.
I just watched a video on there from a bloke in the UK showing the bag. After seeing the video I'm fairly convinced that it is the bag I want.

So I ordered it.

[BobbyM]

I have the Kata 3n1-30, and I am pretty happy with it.. Before this bag I had the crumpler 6MDH.

After nrrowing down my backpack type bag to the Kata and ThinkTank, I also watched the videos on youtube and they helped my decision to go with this bag.

The size is nice. I also like how you can wear it using one strap or two, and when you use one strap the other strap stows away inside a slot; same with the waist belt, it stores into a slot..

I've been wanting a backpack style bag for a while, then I seen this bag and bought it, plus at the time they were offering instant rebates. I ordered mine through B&H and they threw in a tripod holder; which is just a pouch to rest the bottom of the legs in, and a strap to fasten the tripod to the handle.


The top of the bag fits quite a bit of stuff, I still have yet to come up with a perfect layout of the dividers in the camera compartment..

in the camera compartment I've taken out 3 dividers for my setup.. I have in my bag:
50D with grip attached + 70-200 2.8 IS.< this is always mounted on the body when in the bag, because the length of the two combined with Hood reversed it just about the width of the bag (about 2" or so to spare)
in another compartment above the camera I have my 580EXII and sekonic l-358. Below the camera I have in 3 compartments, 17-55 2.8, 10-22, and the 1.4 teleconvert.

I only have a couple small thinkgs I wish were better about the bag.
1. when not wearing the bag, and opening the camera compartment fully
the zippers do not allow you to open the flap to reveal 100% of theat compartment, a little of the top compartments are covered still, so in there I just put my flash and light meter ... This problem I may be able to overcome by trying out different layouts with the deviders.

2. the zipper travel on the camera area of the bag dose not travel 100% around the path.. it stops under the fastening clips, I see why they do this though, to allow either right or left access to the side opening. so my only real complaint abou that is they leave about a 1/2 opening under the clip.



my complaints aren't meant to discourage...

I am happy with this bag.

[brian-socal]

Yeah, those youtube vids are helpful. This'll probably be my next bag.

[jacobsen1]

I just watched a video on there from a bloke in the UK showing the bag.

that's the one that sold me too. :)

youtube is my new go to for bag reviews... if something is on there I'll know if the bag is right or not right off the bat, but if it's not there typically I don't like it once I see it IRL when it arrives. :confused: