Kata Camera Straps

Craig

Craig

Member
Staff member
I recently bought a Kata Camera Strap. I love it! I previously used the op-tech Pro strap, but I never liked the buckles and replaced them with key rings (http://www.themagicinpixels.com/forum/http://wdw360.com/smf20_convertor/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=54.msg6560#msg6560

The Kata's quick release are better than anything else I have seen. They are more like hooks than buckles. They will not come loose on their own and because of the hook design the camera is always supported by the hook rather than the quick release mechanism.
I am finding the Kata strap more comfortable than the optech because the padded part is longer. This means that no matter how I carry my camera, there is always cushion on my neck or shoulder. The cushioning seems to be the same type of material as the op-tech, and does not feel hot in the sun.
The only thing I question, is the little pockets built in. They are really small, too small to hold a CF card or camera battery. They would probably hold a SD card and AA batteries.
I would prefer no pockets at all, but they never get in the way, so, no real problem!
The strap is also designed to be hooked directly to the shoulder straps of a Kata backpack.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/539587-REG/Kata_KT_A91E_Reflex_E_Camera_Strap.html/BI/1824/KBID/2466
 
Welcome! ; I've been using mine for just about a year now - wouldn't give it up for anything. ; Excellent long term comfort, good stretchability, and I use it alternately as both a neck strap and by coiling it around my wrist, as a hand strap too.

Those pockets are a bit small - you're right, CF is just a bit too big, but anyone using other types of cards like SD, MS, or any of the new mini cards can fit them. ; And it will handle some spare batteries. ; I've been known to keep strange things in there, like individually wrapped star mints for a quick refresher, small lens cleaning cloth for quick on the go wipe downs, or spare change when I don't want it jingling around in a loose pocket.
 
very interesting, i've been long time loyal to op-tech, but i like that longer padded area on the kata, their gear seems well made and is getting a lot of good reviews in the photography net world
i may just end up giving it a try
 
Photo of mine taken last June when I first got it - you can see the quick release buckles and the zippered pouches:

99201839.jpg
 
BTW Craig...Kata sells a kit called the Modi-Vers, which comes in 4 sizes. ; It's a yellow divider material sold in larger sheets, which can be cut with scissors, and it comes with attachable velcro that can then be applied. ; This lets you add or move or customize the interior of your bag into many different shapes and sections. ; It's not exactly the same material as the Yeloop stuff in our R-bags...but it IS compatible with it. ; I bought some last week as I added another lens, and look to be adding one more in the future, so I wanted to make two new 'sections' in my bag. ; Very convenient, as I can now have the big center portion, and divide the side that holds my 50mm currently (as in the shot above...you can see there's only one divider on that side) into pouches for the 50mm, 30mm, and flash unit. ; The other side holds either the 200-500 when not installed, or the 18-250 when not installed (the 18-250 will also fit in the 30mm slot if needed)...and still have room above for one more lens (currently a mostly empty pouch holding my wired remote and charger, both of which will fit in the lid zippered pouches). ; At Disney, the 200-500 usually doesn't come along, which leaves a very large space for a few bottles of water or snacks.
 
good to know that more dividers are available. I seem to be one short. I used dividers at the bottom of the bag on each side to help cushion my lenses and make absolutely sure they wont slide out when the bag is open.
When we were in Disney, the big middle section worked perfectly to hold our PB&J and bananas since the camera was on me. And our bottles of seltzer fit on the side just like lenses! They even stayed cool since there is so much padding.
 
Gary I got the Optech based on your recommendation a couple years back. I think you would like the Kata Strap just as much. The quick release buckles really closed the deal for me.
 
That is an impressive looking strap, considering I am still using the one that comes with the camera. ; I have a tendency to throw the camera over one shoulder. ; How is this strap for that compared to the generic one? ; Is it anymore comfortable, or prevent slipping better?
 
Absolutely it is better for throwing over a shoulder, because of the grippy material that the thing is made of. ; It is a pourous, stretchable, grippy type soft material - something between spandex and wetsuit material, but lighter. ; So it will grip pretty well on your shoulder, unlike the hard weave types that come with the camera. ; Also, the strap portion that attaches to the camera can be adjusted to huge lengths - so you can custom fit the length of the strap from chest height to knee height! ; I snipped away some of the excess once I adjusted the camera to the longest length I find comfortable, so I didn't have too much excess hanging down. ; And when you want to quick-release the strap from the camera strips, like Craig said those buckles are stout yet super-easy to manipulate open when you want to...and they have built in swivels so the strap never gets tangled. ; You can then attach the camera to the backpack (assuming you have a backpack with camera loops on front, which the Kata bag does) for when you are walking around and don't want the camera's weight around your neck but still want it out of the bag for use.
 
I'm in the market for a new strap, this looks like a nice one. ; That bag doesn't look to shabby either! What is the model of the bag?

Right now I'm using a freebie strap that SmugMug was giving away free which is nicely padded, but does not have the nice clips nor the swivels.
 
The bag is the Kata R102 backpack...wonderful bag - super tough, nicely featured, excellent comfort in the straps and balance on the back, great ideas like the flap-inside-the-flap for getting to the camera only without opening the whole bag, and I love the bright yellow softly padded interior. ; Had mine a bit less than a year, and it's been many places - still looks new. ; Craig just picked one up himself a month or so ago.
 
Thanks for starting this thread Craig. As I get ready to buy my 70-200 2.8 lens, I was beginning to think about needing a comfortable neck strap to accomodate the added weight. Also, I was considering a new bag as my number of lens increases. I am currently using the Sling Pro pack which is a great little bag for my camera & one or two lenses with a few accessories. However, I am going to need something bigger & was beginning to scout around for a bag that would be part of a versatile system. This Bag & Strap seems to be exactly what I am looking for. After reading your & Justin's comments here, I think I may order the bag & strap along with the lens from B & H. Looks like I can't go wrong with this purchase.
 
i took a pic of my kata r-103 ready for the parks. it holds the 16oz seltzers perfectly and bananas and lunch in the main compartment. In the laptop compartment I have two ponchos stuffed in. I havent figured out umbrellas yet.
Also, if it really rains, all the food is getting thrown into a shopping bag and the camera will get put in the backpack safe.

The strap worked awesome! the longer length allowed me to throw the camera across my chest more comfortablly than ever before. I also carried it on on my shoulder with no slippage at all.

[attachment deleted by admin]
 
Craig...the umbrellas would fit nicely in the tripod holder kit, if that's not being used. ; Otherwise, my bag came with a myriad of extra straps and hooks for fastening things to the outside of the bag - and as you know there are loops literally all over the entire bag where things can be hooked, hung, tied, and strapped to the bag. ; You could probably rig an easy strap on the cover, or side, where you could strap an umbrella to the bag even with the tripod in use.
 
Great points Justin. Thus far, I have found this bag / Strap combo to be far superior to anything else I have seen in the stores or online. Lovin it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top