Kata KT PL-PV-410 Pro-V-410 PL Video Backpack - Black

I bought this bag to carry my Canon XF100, along with extra batteries, a widescreen lens, memory cards, my laptop and some external drives, chargers, another couple of smaller cameras, a lavaliere kit, a shotgun mike, a tripod, and a few other tools and accessories I like to carry around with me on a video shoot. I generally shoot by myself, so it's critical that I can carry everything I need with me in a single bag and this does the trick. It's a very sturdy bag, which means I can rely on it to protect my expensive equipment from most contingencies -assuming, that is, that nothing really bad happens like I get hit by a car while I'm wearing it, but in that case my equipment will not be the only thing I'm worried about.

It's very flexible. There's a solid outer casing, with four zippered containers that open both from the inside and the outside, all protecting an inner compartment. There are removable inserts, including another zippered bag that velcroes in along the top, that allow you to create multiple compartments in the large inner compartment, so you can adjust things exactly to your needs. So, for example, you can store a large camcorder like my XF100, along with another smaller camera, like my Canon VIXIA HFS10 or you could store a DSLR and a few extra lenses (it comes with a divider that's perfect for holding a DSLR securely). Up front there's a zipped sleeve that would hold a notebook or a book or even an iPad or Kindle. There's also a heavily padded storage space along the back that fits a 15" laptop, such as my Macbook Pro and its protective sleeve; it has a removable divider in there as well, in case you have a smaller laptop and could use the additional space for something else. Additionally, it comes with a removable pouch for supporting a tripod or monopod that you can also strap along the top with an included strap. There are a several additional hooks where, if you supplied the bungee or the straps, you could secure various other items, such as a shoulder mount or a water bottle, along the outside of the pack.

Everything about this signals attention to detail. The zippers run smooth, the clips are easy to open and close, the various inner linings are easy to remove and adjust and replace there are a number of separate compartments, but each is easily accessible from outside without even opening the bag, and also from inside when the bag is open. Everything can be adjusted for a perfect fit. There are convenient places to attach almost anything you'd need, but they aren't obtrusive. They've achieved a very nice balance here between the simplicity that makes the bag look elegant and makes it easy to use, and the complexity that makes it highly flexible, so that many different users with different needs can adapt it for their specific use.

It's ideal for the traveling photographer or videographer. I took this along with me on a documentary shoot in Canada and it worked just fine as a carry-on and I carried it with me wherever I went, on the subway and buses and out walking on the streets. The shoulder straps are highly adjustable and support the weight quite comfortably, and there are chest and waist straps for additional support. It rained a lot while I was gone, and I was very happy that this also comes with a collapsable rain cover to protect the bag and its contents from showers. It also comes with a canvas mat in case you find yourself in settings where you wouldn't want to lay your bag or its contents directly onto the ground.

The only thing that makes this bag not a one-size-fits-all for everyone kind of item is that it is somewhat bulky as it needs to be to carry the range of different items it's designed to carry. For some uses, though say, when all you need is a camera and a mike it might be more handy to have a simpler bag. In fact, Kata has a perfect companion bag to this one, that's designed just for a medium-sized camera or camcorder like the XF100, and a few smaller accessories. I have the Kata CC-191 as well and it's equally well-designed and rugged, but is lighter and easier to lug around and I bring only that when I only want to carry the XF100 and my mike kit.

About the video: it's just a quick (sped up) look at the bag and all of its compartments, along with a bit of commentary by me. It also shows the rain cover and how that works. The music in the background is from Andrew Bird.

Purchased this for my Panasonic AG-HMC150 camcorder. Gripes: If you look closely at the inside photos and the pictures which show the outside access ports on the sides--you will notice four pouches/pockets (two on each side). I got the impression from looking at these that they were removable/repositionable--they are not. They are sewn in and bulky/inflexible. You can not crush/squeeze them to make more room for your camera or other objects. They flex, but are hard to squeeze/collapse. These four pouches make this case excessively bulky for the HMC150--so I returned it. I found a much nicer more streamline ThinkTank case (StreetWalker Pro). Much more compact/streamlined for the HMC-150. I think if I had tried to walk down an airplane aisle with the Kata I would have gotten wedged between the first two seats. While the StreetWalker Pro is narrower and more "city" friendly--it allows me to slip through narrower/crowded places the Kata would have been a nightmare negotiating. So: Gripe 1: fixed pouches that aren't removable/rearrangeable, Gripe 2: Excessively bulky and inflexible for the HMC150. Overall quality seemed high. But the StreetWalker Pro was cheaper at around $170 and more practical for the HMC-150. Another big Bonus on the StreetWalker Pro: If you don't mind fussing with it a little, and squeezing it down . . . I was able to remove the foam liner from my Pelican 1510 hardcase--which is airline overhead legal and put this backpack into it. So this will be a double bonus on my next airplane trip. I will carry the camera on the plane in the Pelican 1510 hardcase and not have to worry about people bumping the camera in the overhead--even if the camera is 4-5 rows up or back from me, and then once I arrive at my destination, I can use the backpack to carry the camera around. Similar to a cool setup Porta Brace has--but is too big to carry on-board and more expensive :-)

Buy Kata KT PL-PV-410 Pro-V-410 PL Video Backpack - Black Now

Excelent product, material and ergonomic design, I recomended for all photographic equipment, and video cameras. Kata is excelent designer, and your prices is perfect

Read Best Reviews of Kata KT PL-PV-410 Pro-V-410 PL Video Backpack - Black Here