Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack - for Medium to Small Compact DV such as; Canon XL-1, XL-2, Panasonic AG- DVX100 and Sony PD-170 with Laptop and Accessories

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

I purchased this bag for my Sony Z7U HDV Camcorder. It's a great fit! I'm going to Yellowstone National Park in January, 2011 and wanted something that would allow lots of camera protection in low temps and ease of use. So far, I'm not disappointed. This bag is a bear! I'll add more comments after we get back. It may be too big for most airline carry-on baggage size restrictions.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

This is a great item for use with my FX1[...]. Will keep for use with FX1. Another problem is it is just enough over airline carry on limits and may not fit in carrier overheads.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

I recently bought this to carry my Panasonic HVX gear to & around Peru for a 10 day, outdoor video shoot. It was really intimidating at first, but once I grew some extra back muscles I was soooo stoked on it. This thing just never seemed to run out of pockets, and helped me keep everything clean & organized. Plus it actually fits in the overhead on 747, 757 and 767s! The airline made me gate check it on the way home (it stunk holding my camera on my lap), but hey, its still an amazing bag!

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

Recently used this bag on a feature shoot with my EX3 and this bag performed like a champ.
It held everything I needed and kept it all safe and dry.
The only thing I would do to make this bag perfect is to colour code the Zipper pulls. I was always grabbing the wrong ones for the main compartment as they are located so close together.
A minor minor quibble though!

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

I use the backpack every day. Highly recommended!

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

This porduct enables me to pull a cart seperately in the busy N.Y. streets without the added weight of the camera and it components weighing me down.

I would like to see an opening to hold a legal size notebook added to this procuct.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

This bag is huge! I mean that in a good way. The space for gear is huge and has sufficient depth for putting substantial gear. It has flaps on the inside that help hold everything together which is nice too.

BUT, the bad thing about this bag is that the adjustments for the shoulder straps come from the waist strap, so when you tighten them up, the waist strap comes up. It is a major design flaw in my opinion because you can't put the weight on your hips like with a real hiking bag, unless you fit the bag perfect and don't need to adjust. But it was worth it to me to have the extra space other bags don't offer. I would say this bag is good for transporting gear, but would not be good for a long backpacking trip.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

This pack has lots of great space but the shoulder and waist straps are really bad! The waist strap is not low enough to sit on an average persons waist and instead cinches around your stomach, totally defeating the purpose of distributing some weight off of your back and shoulders. The shoulder straps also have little room for adjustment and lack and don't do a good job pulling weight off you back to the shoulders.

The shoulder and waist strap zip up and tuck away nice and neatly so the whole pack won't have any straps hanging off of it but I would rather have straps that fit really well like on traditional backpacking packs.

This pack would not be comfortable on a mellow day hike let alone anything moderate or difficult.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

I have a Sony PMW-EX3 with a non detachable viewfinder. This was the only backpack found to securely hold the camcorder. I just returned from a trip to France where I walked over 20 miles in a week with 40 pounds of equipment (including bag weight) on my back. I would be lying if I said I wasn't tired, but without dual straps on my back I would have been in horrible pain. I also carried a digital camera and 3 lenses a laptop and chargers for all equipment. The bag was more than enough without being overkill but small enough to fit in overhead compartment of airplane. The shoulder straps are wide and don't dig into skin and the bag sits high on your back to stop lower back strain. The bad thing is its big, real big and not practical for anything other than hauling equipment. (But thats why i bought it)

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

I only have a Sony V1 and this bag is larger than is needed. But I went with the larger bag because at times I need to have a laptop and hard drive in addition to the standard kit.

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

Good thermo-sgield material; Good easy approach to camera th. the oval window.

Cons::- 1. The ACTUAL inner space is LESS THAN KATA adverise....

2. You have to spend money again to buy modi vers dividers.... the supplied dividers are loose, NOT useful at all... NOVA's dividrs are best.

I don't recommend this product for Canon XLH1 or similar owner

Comments about Kata BP-502 Camcorder Backpack:

Wife ordered this for me without me knowing, so I had to be convinced. Never used a backpack style bag for my camera's, mostly Porta Brace, Pelican. It holds the camera snug square in the middle, with a nice amount of room for accessories, mics, batteries etc, on each side.

The camera is also easily accessed through a unique large zippered oval padded flap. Also has straps outiside with small pouches that work great for monopods, small tripods. Have not used the backpack feature, but do recommend the Kata wheel kit that works great.

Another great feature is unlike my Pelican case, this is a little more low-profile, and doesn't scream production equipment. Very impressed, great quality, and design.