Review of Kata DR-467 Laptop/Camera/Other stuff Backpack

[Brainonska511]

So if you had been following this thread at any point in time, I was looking for a bag that could carry my laptop (14") and my Rebel XT equipment for together for when I travel home so that I could consolidate bags and be able to carry a bag of clothing onto the plane due to the 2 carry on limit.

I ended up with the Kata DR-467. I purchased it from Adorama for ~$80.

Space:
More than enough room for my 14" wide-screen laptop. I could probably fit a small book on top of my laptop if I wanted to squeeze more stuff inside. The pocket is padded and is protected from being accidently left open by having the bag's straps connect over the compartment (so if the laptop compartment was left open and you had the bag on your back,, it wouldn't be able to separate and allow for stuff to fall out).

The top compartment for accessories and other stuff that you might want to carry is spacious. Plenty of room for adapters, small to medium sized books, etc.

The camera compartment is also fairly large. I haven't tried moving all my stuff from my Lowepro Slingshot 200AW to it, but it looks like I'll have no trouble carrying my XT + Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 lens, Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4, Speedlite 430EX II, battery chargers, polarizers, and lens hoods. It looks like a 3rd lens would also fit in addition to that stuff I listed.

It also has some 3 smaller pockets for small things, like memory cards and extra batteries (and things as large as a small floppy). Also has a water bottle holder that can be stowed in a zipped compartment (to prevent it from getting caught when not being used.

Other mentionables:
Comes with an all weather cover, which the cheaper Lowepro Compudaypack and the more expensive Tamrac Adventure 9 leave out. Plenty of padding on the bag, so you don't have to worry about bumping things around. The bag also has a chest and waist strap to help distribute weight and makes it more comfortable to wear. The zippers are easy to use and all main compartments have 2 zippers to close them. The only thing lacking is maybe safety clasps to keep the camera portion from falling out if you accidentally leave it unzipped, but it could be a stiff enough structure to keep it from opening on its own.

Previous post:

I decided to get the Kata DR-467. It came out relatively recently (October), so I couldn't find much on it, but looking at pictures and the one or two reviews I could find, I'm going to be going with this one - fits right in my ideal price range at under $100. I'll put up a review when I get it (probably in January as I don't need an extra bag to carry back to school with me - currently on Winter Break).

Original Post:
As some may have seen with an earlier thread I made, I was looking into getting a combo-backpack/camera case for when I travel home or go somewhere where I need my laptop and my camera so I don't have to carry two bags (camera case and backpack for my laptop). It would also have to carry some other stuff too, like a book or two to read.

I've narrowed it down to two choices, but I was wondering if anyone else had any input in the matter (or other bags I should look at). I know that they are somewhat different price ranges, but does anyone have any input on the following:

Tamrac Adventure 9 Laptop/Computer Bag
or
Lowepro CompuDaypack --> leaning towards this one due to it's larger accessory area, unless someone has a better suggestion.

Thanks.

 

[ElFenix]

i've got a lowepro that splits in the middle like that and it's not all that great. it can be difficult to use because the pack tends to bend in half when the zipper is open.

 

[Brainonska511]

Are you referring to that type of bag as your main bag to carry gear? I already have a Slingshot 200 as my main bag (which I like), it's just that when I travel, I don't want to drag an extra bag along if I can combine things together.

 

[soydios]

the Lowepro doesn't look like it could carry very large lenses (70-200mm size). plus, I don't like the thought of all the weight being placed above the camera gear.

 

[Brainonska511]

I have seen that as a problem with the Lowepro since I have thought about getting a 70-200mm lens in the future. My main problem with the Tamrac bag is the extremely small upper area of the bag.

Any thoughts on the Lowepro CompuRover: http://lowepro.com/Products/Ba...era/CompuRover_AW.aspx or can you suggest any other brands besides Tamrac and Lowepro to consider?

I don't see there being too much weight over the camera portion of the bag, as the only thing that falls above it is the accessory pocket (for all 3 bags) - the laptop portion is along the back of the bag.

Edit:
After looking at more and more stuff - I think I'm going to settle on the Kata DR-467 bag

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Are you referring to that type of bag as your main bag to carry gear? I already have a Slingshot 200 as my main bag (which I like), it's just that when I travel, I don't want to drag an extra bag along if I can combine things together.

that's the type of bag i have for traveling and carrying stuff around while exploring. if you just want that for keeping your stuff together while on a plane and then switching to another bag when you get where you're going, i still wouldn't recommend it. the bag bending in half all the time (especially on a cramped airplane) is just so annoying. i guess it wouldn't do that with a notebook computer providing some backbone, however.

the lowepro will hold my 70-210 f/4 just fine.


frankly, the crumpler brazillian dollar home looks like the best bag on the planet, but it doesn't have a compartment for a book and a water bottle, which is something i like when trekking. it also costs $280.

 

[BornStar]

I have a CompuRover and it's a pretty nice bag. I use it pretty much every day. I've noticed some stitching starting to come out at the top of the bag that I just can't explain (there's more stitching behind it but it's still disconcerting) and upper area of the bag isn't very big at all. I put a thin fleece in it one time and that completely filled it. The other complaint I've got is I can't fit my XTi in the bag when it's attached to my 70-300. The 70-300 has to go in the bag by itself and then I put the XTi back on my 17-70. It's not terribly convenient and I would prefer to have either lens on the camera while in the bag.

edit: I have one more complaint about this bag. I wish that it used the opening method that the Tamrac bag uses for accessing camera gear. I usually have to have my wife help me get gear out of the bag or else I have to set everything down.

 

[montanafan]

The CompuRover looks pretty good. There's also this one:

http://www.lowepro.com/Product...puTrekker_Plus_AW.aspx

 

[Brainonska511]

Bump for a short review of my new travel bag.

 

[sygyzy]

Thanks for posting this review. I am looking for a backpack/bag that can carry a small laptop (14" screen max, more like < 10"), my 40D, 1-2 small lenses (no more than 200mm), and some accessories. A very minimal setup. Would you still recommend this bag, 8 months later?

 

[Jawo]

How much volume do you have at the top? I'm really looking for something that I could carry my photo gear, plus lunch, a rain coat, gps, etc for day hikes.

 

[soydios]

Whoa, thread-necro. Well, lemme add my 2 cents:

I purchased a Kata R-103 camera backpack a few months ago. I highly recommend it, as well as any bag from Kata. The R-103 is a camera backpack: it has a laptop compartment and the rest of the backpack is devoted to camera equipment. The R-102 is the same thing but without the laptop compartment. The R-106 is a slightly updated but much more expensive version.

If you need a dedicated camera backpack (it doesn't really have pockets allocated for anything else) for the purpose of transporting camera equipment, then I highly recommend the R-103. If you need quick access to your camera, like in a daypack or on a short hike, look for a different bag than a backpack. You can't go wrong with Kata, Lowepro, or Tenba.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: soydios
Whoa, thread-necro. Well, lemme add my 2 cents:

I purchased a Kata R-103 camera backpack a few months ago. I highly recommend it, as well as any bag from Kata. The R-103 is a camera backpack: it has a laptop compartment and the rest of the backpack is devoted to camera equipment. The R-102 is the same thing but without the laptop compartment. The R-106 is a slightly updated but much more expensive version.

If you need a dedicated camera backpack (it doesn't really have pockets allocated for anything else) for the purpose of transporting camera equipment, then I highly recommend the R-103. If you need quick access to your camera, like in a daypack or on a short hike, look for a different bag than a backpack. You can't go wrong with Kata, Lowepro, or Tenba.

I currently have the Lowepro Slingshot 100, which I love. It fits all of my gear fine, however it won't hold anything else and I can't comfortably carry more than a liter of water at a time. I'm looking for something like the Think Tank Rotation 360, but much cheaper.

 

[sygyzy]

I thought about the R-103 but that holds way too much stuff.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I thought about the R-103 but that holds way too much stuff.

I use it to transport my camera equipment when traveling and such, but not for hiking or all-day use, that's for sure.

 

[sygyzy]

I got both the Lowepro Fastpack 250 and the Kata DR-467. I really wanted to keep the latter but ended up returning it. Tip: Amazon has it for like $65 and it comes with a free Bogen monopod worth about $30. Crazy deal.

Anyway, there is no good way of putting in the camera in the bottom slot of the Kata. The materals also feel kind of cheap. I do like almost every other feature better but the Fastpack's loading system is superior IMO so that's the one I kept.