Digital Photography Equipment Review—The Kata 3N1-30 Camera Rucksack
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The more you pursue your interest in digital photography, the more equipment and accessories you’ll accumulate and carry with you for various kinds of shoots. This will inevitably lead to acquiring a photography equipment bag; and the Kata 3N1-30 Camera Rucksack is one of your best choices. Not only does it look good, but also it’s designed for the hobbyists as well as the professional. There are many features of this product to like, and many are detailed below, but what makes the Kata 3N1-30 so versatile is the configuration of the straps. They allow you to carry it as a shoulder bag or a rucksack/backpack, and then switch between the two options quickly and still easily access your equipment.
Read real customer reviews of the Kata 3N1-30 Camera Rucksack here.
Kata has a reputation for superior manufacturing and this quality is clearly evident with the 3N1-30. The exterior portion is highly durably, shower-proof black cordura nylon. The inner lining is a supple, bright yellow nylon against which small pieces and parts that may accumulate at the bottom of the bag can be easily seen. A closed-cell foam product provides exceptional padding while an uncommonly firm, internal-ribbed construction does a great job of protecting your photography equipment. Built with inclement weather in mind, the Kata 3N1-30 Camera Rucksack also includes a rain cover that serves as another barrier between moisture and your camera, lenses, etc.
Nikon D600 | Nikon D7100 | Nikon D800 | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon EOS-Rebel T4i
All the other features of this bag are also meticulously designed and manufactured.
The strong plastic snap-clips and zippers are double-stitched for long life and safety.
The arrangement of the internal dividers can be customized and they contain more than ample cushioning material.
The primary section is 11.6 x 6.3 x 11.8 inches (29.5 x 16 x 30cm), which will accommodate a full-frame DSLR with a battery pack and telephoto lens, plus a number of other lenses and/or accessories.
Memory cards are stored in a small, detachable case, so you can carry it on your person.
Another large section at the top of the bag has room for your lunch, rain gear and a bottle of water.
There are additional pockets and small openings for your mobile phone, business cards, pens, etc.
The Kata 3N1-30 was certainly designed for travel. It’s within airline carry-on baggage size requirements (12.6 x 7.5 x 17.7 inches or 32 x 19 x 45cm), and can be stored in the overhead locker; however, it won’t fit under an airline seat. To secure the shoulder straps from entanglements with baggage personnel or equipment, simply slip them under the external back padding. Then, when it comes your way on the baggage carousel, it’s easy to grab the large padded grip on the top of the bag.
Although the Kata bag is very lightweight (3.7 lbs. or 1.7Kgs), it may be more than you will want to carry through an enormous busy airport or to a shoot. Kata offers an optional folding trolley system that attaches to the bag via the loop on the back.
When carried across a shoulder on one strap, you can easily shift the bag to the front of your body and immediately find and retrieve any piece of equipment. The Kata 3N1-30 was designed specifically with the zippered pockets and main section positioned in this manner. Re-connect the second strap and a shoulder bag becomes a rucksack/backpack. With a strap over each shoulder and crossing the chest, you can carry a bag filled with heavy equipment through an airport or into the mountains.
The only flaw in the design of the Kata 3N1-30 is that the company failed to consider the need to carry a tripod. That may be offset by another benefit of the design of this bag: It doesn’t look like a camera bag, so it’s less likely to become the target of a robbery or theft.
Although it does come at a higher price point than many photography equipment bags ($100 to $120), the Kata 3N1-30 Camera Rucksack is worth every penny. It is more than most photographers would expect from a bag and just about everything other photographers require.
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