Pilot Dane
6th of August 2009 (Thu), 11:57
Lowepro Primus-AW vs KATA 3 in 1 #30
I am looking for an all purpose travel backpack. It will be used as my travel carry-on when flying somewhere but once there will be my walk through the jungle pack. When traveling commercial it must carry and protect a basic amount of camera gear as well as "gotta have" items (toiletries, some clothes, water bottle, ticktets, magazine...) as a carry-on when my other bag must be checked (and might get lost).
My requirements:
cary-on size hopefully to fit under seat
backpack style
waterproof to protect when wearing long periods in heavy rain
allow camera to be accesed while wearing pack for quick shots
want to carry:
50D w/ neck strap and 100-400 mounted
24-105
monopod
magazines
tickets & passport
small packet of toiletries
swetshirt
raincoat
misc. clothing
Empty Weights:
Kata 3.8 pounds
Lowepro 4.6 pounds
In all the photos I have the 100-400 mounted on a 50D body with my 24-105 loose in the pack.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/Front.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/side.jpg
Since my misc. items like clothes are easy to stuff in I focused on the difficult tast of fitting the 50D with 100-400 into the case.
First the Kata:
What I Like:
The camera easily fits inside and will fit with the body vertical or horizontal.
The side access flap allows quick and easy access even with this big lens with the hood mounted (reversed).
The side access is large enough to allow access to other camera gear if needed. Not perfect but you could do it.
Nice clean exterior appearance with minimal straps and bits dangling to catch on X-ray conveyors.
The straps tuck neatly out of the way when not in use.
The rain cover is not attached so it can be spread out in the hotel room to dry (and the pack can still be used).
Loop on back pad to slip over handle of rolling suitcase.
Price. About $100 right now with $25 rebate.What I do not like:
There is no provision for a tripod or monopod and there are no attachment points on the outside to work with.
There is no place to carry a water bottle.
Above the camera there is a good deal of room to carry more camera gear but you must remove the lower gear and pull the bag open to squeeze by the partitions. While there is a zip open padded flap in the upper compartment that allows access to the lower area, the flap is also what the lower dividers attach to so you cannot open it without disconnecting the camera gear dividers. I would much rather have this space as part of the upper compartment.
The upper compartment is padded which adds bulk and weight.
The side pockets are usefull for memory cards and batteries but are too small for much else.http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/KataInterior.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/KataSideCamera.jpg
Now the Lowpro:
What I Like:
Offers a better carrying capacity of other non-camera items.
Built in system to carry mono/tripod.
Side mesh pocket for a water bottle.
Many strap/harness adjustments.
Rain cover attached to prevent loss.
Upper area is not padded, reducing weight & bulk and allows it more flexibility to carry other odd shaped items. Better for stuffing.
Big open sided, open toped comparment could carry a winter coat and adjustable straps with quick release buckles.What I Do Not Like:
Side access flap is too small. The 50D with 100-400 will fit in/out only if the lens hood is removed. It is a very tight fit and not fast. There is a fair bit of wiggling and pulling involved.
The top of the side flap's opening covers the camera area which catches the camera when trying to remove/insert. Simply making the opening an inch taller and squaring the corners a bit would help a lot.
The padded photo gear area is small.
The padded photo gear has an odd rounded shape further limiting it's volume.
Heavy. Especially important when facing a 25lb baggage limit.
The big open sided open toped compartment would be perfect if closed in just like a traditonal backpack. It's very open design makes it easy for items to be stolen/lost and it offers no protection from rain. When I set the bag on the floor as I would on an airplane the "bottom" of this compartment slopes downward. Magazines & books and other loose items just slide down and out.
Price. About $200.http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproInterior.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproSideCamera.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproInteriorSide.jpg
Here you can see the odd padding that wastes a fair bit of space. The inserts can not be adjusted to get this curl of insert to lie flat. You can shove it down but it springs back up making it hard to insert a large lens.
Conclusions:
I don't know what I will do. Neither bag fits my needs. I with think about it for a few days but I think the small side opening is a deal breaker for the Lowepro which is a shame because it offers great flexibility and I love the bag. It just misses in the camera carrying department. I will spend some time looking at the Kata to see if I can sew on attachment points to carry my monopod and somehow add a pocket/pouch to carry a water bottle.
I am open to suggestions if anyone knows a bag I should try.
I am looking for an all purpose travel backpack. It will be used as my travel carry-on when flying somewhere but once there will be my walk through the jungle pack. When traveling commercial it must carry and protect a basic amount of camera gear as well as "gotta have" items (toiletries, some clothes, water bottle, ticktets, magazine...) as a carry-on when my other bag must be checked (and might get lost).
My requirements:
cary-on size hopefully to fit under seat
backpack style
waterproof to protect when wearing long periods in heavy rain
allow camera to be accesed while wearing pack for quick shots
want to carry:
50D w/ neck strap and 100-400 mounted
24-105
monopod
magazines
tickets & passport
small packet of toiletries
swetshirt
raincoat
misc. clothing
Empty Weights:
Kata 3.8 pounds
Lowepro 4.6 pounds
In all the photos I have the 100-400 mounted on a 50D body with my 24-105 loose in the pack.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/Front.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/side.jpg
Since my misc. items like clothes are easy to stuff in I focused on the difficult tast of fitting the 50D with 100-400 into the case.
First the Kata:
What I Like:
The camera easily fits inside and will fit with the body vertical or horizontal.
The side access flap allows quick and easy access even with this big lens with the hood mounted (reversed).
The side access is large enough to allow access to other camera gear if needed. Not perfect but you could do it.
Nice clean exterior appearance with minimal straps and bits dangling to catch on X-ray conveyors.
The straps tuck neatly out of the way when not in use.
The rain cover is not attached so it can be spread out in the hotel room to dry (and the pack can still be used).
Loop on back pad to slip over handle of rolling suitcase.
Price. About $100 right now with $25 rebate.What I do not like:
There is no provision for a tripod or monopod and there are no attachment points on the outside to work with.
There is no place to carry a water bottle.
Above the camera there is a good deal of room to carry more camera gear but you must remove the lower gear and pull the bag open to squeeze by the partitions. While there is a zip open padded flap in the upper compartment that allows access to the lower area, the flap is also what the lower dividers attach to so you cannot open it without disconnecting the camera gear dividers. I would much rather have this space as part of the upper compartment.
The upper compartment is padded which adds bulk and weight.
The side pockets are usefull for memory cards and batteries but are too small for much else.http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/KataInterior.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/KataSideCamera.jpg
Now the Lowpro:
What I Like:
Offers a better carrying capacity of other non-camera items.
Built in system to carry mono/tripod.
Side mesh pocket for a water bottle.
Many strap/harness adjustments.
Rain cover attached to prevent loss.
Upper area is not padded, reducing weight & bulk and allows it more flexibility to carry other odd shaped items. Better for stuffing.
Big open sided, open toped comparment could carry a winter coat and adjustable straps with quick release buckles.What I Do Not Like:
Side access flap is too small. The 50D with 100-400 will fit in/out only if the lens hood is removed. It is a very tight fit and not fast. There is a fair bit of wiggling and pulling involved.
The top of the side flap's opening covers the camera area which catches the camera when trying to remove/insert. Simply making the opening an inch taller and squaring the corners a bit would help a lot.
The padded photo gear area is small.
The padded photo gear has an odd rounded shape further limiting it's volume.
Heavy. Especially important when facing a 25lb baggage limit.
The big open sided open toped compartment would be perfect if closed in just like a traditonal backpack. It's very open design makes it easy for items to be stolen/lost and it offers no protection from rain. When I set the bag on the floor as I would on an airplane the "bottom" of this compartment slopes downward. Magazines & books and other loose items just slide down and out.
Price. About $200.http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproInterior.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproSideCamera.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/2009/Camera%20Backpacks/LoweproInteriorSide.jpg
Here you can see the odd padding that wastes a fair bit of space. The inserts can not be adjusted to get this curl of insert to lie flat. You can shove it down but it springs back up making it hard to insert a large lens.
Conclusions:
I don't know what I will do. Neither bag fits my needs. I with think about it for a few days but I think the small side opening is a deal breaker for the Lowepro which is a shame because it offers great flexibility and I love the bag. It just misses in the camera carrying department. I will spend some time looking at the Kata to see if I can sew on attachment points to carry my monopod and somehow add a pocket/pouch to carry a water bottle.
I am open to suggestions if anyone knows a bag I should try.