Kata 3n1-30 Review

[Mathias927]

Well, I have had my Kata 3n1-30 for a couple of days now, and walking around, I feel I have a good enough opinion to type up a review. This is probably the first review I have ever done on anything, so if I am missing anything, please ask and I will add it.

I first bought the 3n1-20, after hearing that the 10 was too small, and the 30 was too big. When I got the 20, I found it was a little too small to hold my camera, with 70-200F4L attached. It zipped up fine, but was too tight for me to be comfortable keeping it like that. The bag itself is plenty wide enough to store the lens comfortable when not attached. If you are considering this bag in the 20 or 30 size, the main factor to look at in my opinion is whether you plan on keeping a 70-200 or larger lens, attached a majority of the time.

My first impressions of the bag are good. Being my first photo bag, I did not know what I should expect. The bag has plenty of padding inside, and the dividers are easy to change if you feel the need. The straps can be sort of overwhelming at first though, but after a couple minutes, you will get used to them and easily be able to switch from backpack, X, or left/right sling, as well as being able to tuck the unused straps into the back portion.

I find crossing the straps in the X setup is the most comfortable. When doing this, the bag feels the most secure. I have not done much with the sling style setup, but I have not have any problems.

While some may say the bag is big, I do not find it too big that I have heard rumors of. I think this size feels more comfortable and more natural compared to the 20.

Some of the common complaints I hear are about the shoulder straps, and them not being thick enough. They are fine for me, and do just what they should, keep the bag on my back. However, in the normal backpack setup, I do feel that the straps sit too wide on my shoulders, giving me the feeling they might slide off, but I know it wont. Probably just because I am used to where my Jansport backpack sits on my shoulders.

Another problem with the bag, it is sort of difficult to get into the upper compartments to store lenses or other items. The bag doesnt zipper that high up, so I found the easiest way instead of folding the zipper portion up to reach it, is to lay it flat, and push the middle portion up. That gives enough room to grab what you need and pull it out. I would suggest leaving those items you dont use very often in there, since you might find it annoying to keep grabbing things from those areas.

I would not reccomend this bag to anybody that goes into alot of dusty areas, since because of the buckles on the outside, the zippers do not fully close, which can let dust/dirt/etc. through.

The bag has alot of room. More so than I will probably use, but I always tell myself that saying, "..it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." Right now all I have is an XT with a 70-200 attached, and a 50mm, so there is plenty of room for more stuff.

I also hear a lot about this bag not having a special area for a laptop. A great thing about the bag is that the dividers can be cut and put how you want. A solution I found, as long as your laptop isnt bigger than the buttom portion of the bag, is cutting the dividers however needed to creat an area for your laptop to sit in above your lenses, keeping it in place and giving it protection.

The upper portion has alot of space for pretty much anything, however I would avoid putting liquids, or anything that can drip into the bottom section, since it is only seperated by a zipper and isnt completly sealed, so liquids can still get through. There are a couple pockets, which are nice for storing a cell phone, pens, or just about anything.

Again, this is one of my first reviews I have ever done, so if you would like me to add something, please ask.

[Mathias927]

Camera and lenses shown are an XT, 70-200F4L, and 50 1.8.

Front:


Side/back:


Side w/ quick draw open:


Divider system:

As you can see, I put an unused divider across two horizontal dividers, to give my lens a nice pocket to slide in to. This way the lens and camera cannot move forward/backward like it would without the divider there.

Divider lifted up, so you can see the lens:


Upper portion of the divider system:

This is the section that I said is somewhat hard to get to.

Zipper/buckle issue:

Notice the zippers do not zip up all the way, due to the buckle. Like I said in the review, I can only see this becoming a problem if I go to any very dusty environments.

Top portion.

[thaking]

can't wait for the pics!

[mocha384]

Hi Mathias927 ..

I have a dilemma over 3IN1 30 or 3IN1 20, which one to prefer to. I have two lenses Tamron 17-50 and Canon 55-250mm. How about hood mounted on the lens? Does it properly fit or we have to stuff it?

One more thing regarding the dust, you said the zippers party remain open and the dust can go inside. Is it the problem with the design or zipper gets loose?

Thanks

~Roxy

[YP5 Toronto]

i have my 24-105L with the hood reversed and attached to my 50D with the 3IN1-20

[dan j]

Yeah, I don't think you'll need the 30 with those lenses. I fit my 70-300 or 24-70L mounted with hood reversed without a problem in my 30, and could probably do it with a 20 though I'd loose the storage space on the opposite side.

dan

[dan j]

Regarding the dust, the zippers don't close all the way. This is because the 3n1 has the quick release - if the zippers got too close they might bind. I guess if you lived in a really dusty area you could be in trouble.

dan

[SMP_Homer]

This bag is on my shortlist... I have a slingshot 200, it does great, but I'm looking for another bag to use when I need to carry a bit more. I'm hoping you can post a pic of the 70-200 f4 in one of the lens slots (not the main one when attached to the body) to show how well it would fit/not fit in that position (up vs laying flat, etc..).
I'm also thinking about the Fastpack 350 because of the laptop slot, as it would be a bonus to have that space available too...

[_aravena]

30 too big for what I want or ever care to carry, but I'm curious about how it looks.

[morpheus6d9]

this is my 30 i have alot of room left

[tigerotor77w]

Originally Posted by mocha384

Hi Mathias927 ..

I have a dilemma over 3IN1 30 or 3IN1 20, which one to prefer to. I have two lenses Tamron 17-50 and Canon 55-250mm. How about hood mounted on the lens? Does it properly fit or we have to stuff it?

One more thing regarding the dust, you said the zippers party remain open and the dust can go inside. Is it the problem with the design or zipper gets loose?

Thanks

~Roxy

As you have the 17-50 and 55-250, I don't think you'll have a problem with the -20. I have the -20 and can carry my XSi, 17-55 (which is bigger than your 17-50), my 70-200 f4 IS (bigger than your 55-250), and a 50/1.8 with some room to spare.

I can carry the 17-55 mounted with hood reversed. The 70-200 will also fit with hood reversed, but I cannot get it to fit (in *my* divider setup!) with its hood the "right" way.

Dust has been explained previously -- you can kind of "tuck" the zippers under the quick attach plastic bracket, but I don't know how big of a deal it will be as I have not yet been in any dusty environments.

Bag not with me to show pics, but I'll see if I can snag some later this week.

[ccookdo]

Always get the larger bag. Everyone will buy more equipment, and the price is only ~$20 more for the bigger bag. Even the largest 3N1 is not too large to be easily carried.

[morpheus6d9]

Originally Posted by ccookdo

Always get the larger bag. Everyone will buy more equipment, and the price is only ~$20 more for the bigger bag. Even the largest 3N1 is not too large to be easily carried.

so true and dont forget about the rebate

[Mathias927]

Originally Posted by dan j

Regarding the dust, the zippers don't close all the way. This is because the 3n1 has the quick release - if the zippers got too close they might bind. I guess if you lived in a really dusty area you could be in trouble.

dan

Yeah, just what he said. When I finally get around to taking pics, should be tomorrow, I'll get a closeup of what it is like.

Originally Posted by SMP_Homer

This bag is on my shortlist... I have a slingshot 200, it does great, but I'm looking for another bag to use when I need to carry a bit more. I'm hoping you can post a pic of the 70-200 f4 in one of the lens slots (not the main one when attached to the body) to show how well it would fit/not fit in that position (up vs laying flat, etc..).
I'm also thinking about the Fastpack 350 because of the laptop slot, as it would be a bonus to have that space available too...

I will do that.

Originally Posted by ccookdo

Always get the larger bag. Everyone will buy more equipment, and the price is only ~$20 more for the bigger bag. Even the largest 3N1 is not too large to be easily carried.

Yeah, this bag is probably too big for me now, since I do not have much stuff, but once I get more I will be glad I got this one, and not the 20.

[morpheus6d9]

http://picasaweb.google.com/drzeller/Kata3N130#