User Tag List

Thanks useful information Thanks useful information:  0
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: BAGS!?! What to choose: Lowepro flipside or kata 3n1?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    07 Jul 2009
    Location
    Kew
    Posts
    133
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    BAGS!?! What to choose: Lowepro flipside or kata 3n1?

    Hey guys,

    I have a dilemma at the moment. My camera gear is starting to grow and so is the weight of the bag. Now, my Crumpler 6 Million dollar bag hurts my shoulders when I'm walking long distances (it's a damn shoulder bag, so stylish but bad for your posture).

    Going on a trip to Otways next month and need to get myself a camera backpack. Narrowed it down to two. Lowepro flipside 400 or the Kata 3n1 30. Understand I don't have enought gear to fill each bag completely *yet.....* BUT my trusty girlfriend will help my by putting in "nessecities"!!

    So what do you guys think, really need some help to decide which to get.
    Price is starting to go into play too, I can get the Kata overseas for about 140AU, but the lowepro here for about 180

    Rog
    NIGH -KON

  2. #2
    Member Cheach's Avatar
    Join Date
    13 Sep 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    61
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Picked up my Lowepro Flipside 400AW last week and loving it. what I love about is that I don't have to take the backpack off to access all my gear.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    06 Jul 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    559
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by rogklee View Post
    I have a dilemma at the moment. My camera gear is starting to grow and so is the weight of the bag. Now, my Crumpler 6 Million dollar bag hurts my shoulders when I'm walking long distances (it's a damn shoulder bag, so stylish but bad for your posture).
    A good tip for your crumpler is to buy one of the shoulder pads that they use on their messanger bags, it has so much more padding than their camera bags.

    I bought one of their messanger style bags for work and the pad was way too big on it so I swapped it with the one on my 7 million dollar home, now each bag is so much better to use. Maybe try it in the store before buying a whole new bag?

  4. #4
    Member
    Threadstarter

    Join Date
    07 Jul 2009
    Location
    Kew
    Posts
    133
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Mikec,

    Yup, thought of that just before I got my bag. My strap has stacks of padding so its good. But its the weight of the bag itself, just too heavy to hold as a side bag.

    Not hurting because it cuts into the shoulder but because it just pulls down on it too much.

    Gonna keep the Crumpler for short trips, but for longer hikes and stuff, gonna need a backpack I think.

    Rog

    PS. Went out and had a look at the Kata today, the side opening mech seems pretty cool and easy to get to, but lacks a tripod holder which sucks. Also much more expensive here in Australia.

  5. #5
    Member
    Threadstarter

    Join Date
    07 Jul 2009
    Location
    Kew
    Posts
    133
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Hey guys,

    Bit the bullet and bought the flipside... JUST THEN. It's a cool bag, just gotta figure out how to set up my gear now....

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    13 Oct 2009
    Location
    Far North Coast
    Posts
    45
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Got here too late to add my input on the Kata (which does have an additional tripod holder now). Hope you enjoy the Lowepro anyway!

    all and any feedback welcome
    http://www.natsky.com.au

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    12 May 2008
    Location
    Rowville, Melbourne
    Posts
    2
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Oh what a pity.. you already went and bought it.

    I was going to say you might want to consider the Kata bag because it has the additional option of inserting a trolley so you wont have to suffer carrying the heavy bag (once you get it fully loaded with a lot of heavy L lenses!). After having a Lowe Pro Rover AW (an even bigger bag pack) and carrying that everywhere overseas, I (my shoulder) appreciate having something that you can just wheel around. The Kata bag has the option to insert/remove the trolley which Lowe Pro doesnt. But if this doesnt bother you, then the Lowe pro you bought is still a very good bag.
    Regards,
    William

  8. #8
    Member kwokask's Avatar
    Join Date
    07 Sep 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    49
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Good choice, love my Flipside 400AW. Ample space, AW cover, tripod holder and design that allows access without putting it down.

  9. #9
    I am older than I look.
    Join Date
    31 Oct 2009
    Location
    Tura Beach, NSW
    Posts
    3,654
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I have the Kata DR-465 which is a small 2 compartment backpack style bag. Initially I was looking at the Lowepro Fastpack 200 and Flipside 100.

    I went with the Kata as I could see my quite small camera (Olympus E-P1) falling out accidently. The Kata is a far more secure option as the bag splits in half and the camera comparment angles down at moderately gental angle. The other reason I went with the Kata was that they were more generous with dividers I have 6 cells to take pretty much anything I need.

    The Kata DR-465 would be too small for a full sized dSLR and several long lenses, but there are two larger models that also include a compartment for a laptop. I thought the Kata was not only better designed than the Lowepro bags, but better value. I have bought Lowepro bags and pouches exclusively for the last 8 years so the change was significant.

    Cheers

    Peter

  10. #10
    Member cruisie123's Avatar
    Join Date
    09 Nov 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW
    Posts
    30
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I bought the flipside 200, but mine is accessable from the back. I like this backpack because no one can be slipping their slippery little fingers in to my bag while standing around the airport or elsewhere!! I looked at the sling version, but find that carrying a bag weighted mainly on one side is no good for my back/neck either...but now, (just for the ease of access issue and the fact that I usually use a backpack handbag) Im thinking of getting a sling bag as well just to use for those quick 'get out around town with my camera' trips...and I guess I will then decide which one is best.

  11. #11
    Member DJT's Avatar
    Join Date
    06 Jul 2009
    Location
    Werrington, NSW
    Posts
    151
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    good choice Roger, i have the flipside 300 which is a great bag & wish I'd have gone the 400 now. the 300 is just big enough, but not big enough if that makes sense & can get a bit uncomfortable after a while when fully loaded. The 400 being a bigger bag looks like it would be more comfortable fully loaded.
    I might look at selling the 300 next year for a bigger bag.

  12. #12
    D750 Shines
    Join Date
    10 Oct 2009
    Location
    Wollongong
    Posts
    801
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I have a lowepro 200 and 300 love em both but glass is expanding and will look at 350 or 400 in the future

    cheers




    Nikon D750,D500,Z6,Coolpix P7700
    Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VR, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, Tokina 100mm f/2.8, Tamron 60mm f/2 , Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 VC Di, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4
    FTZ adapator
    Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art

  13. #13
    Member
    Threadstarter

    Join Date
    07 Jul 2009
    Location
    Kew
    Posts
    133
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Yah,

    Was going to get the 300 but since I also throw stuff like tops and girlfriends make up etc. in there, got the larger 400 flipside. Other factor was the security because you can only open from the back.

    Price was also cheaper too.

  14. #14
    Site Rules Breach - Permanent Ban
    Join Date
    23 Oct 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    8
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    i just ordered a 400 off ebay for $120US... not a bad price i think?

    what are people paying for them?

  15. #15
    Member jasevk's Avatar
    Join Date
    30 Oct 2009
    Location
    Cockatoo
    Posts
    689
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I have the lowepro flipside and just love it!
    Living the dream...

  16. #16
    Member
    Threadstarter

    Join Date
    07 Jul 2009
    Location
    Kew
    Posts
    133
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I got mine Australian for $170 at a camera action but had to do quite a bit of haggling to get that price (called about 5 diff shops to price match)

  17. #17
    Member GhostMerlott's Avatar
    Join Date
    13 Jan 2011
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    1
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Hi, do you guys know which online sites can I get some good deals on Kata bags?

  18. #18
    Member Nicholas Brennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    03 Nov 2009
    Location
    Docklands
    Posts
    8
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by GhostMerlott View Post
    Hi, do you guys know which online sites can I get some good deals on Kata bags?
    * removed - site rules breach - admin *
    Last edited by ricktas; 25-01-2011 at 5:15am.

  19. #19
    Member Nicholas Brennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    03 Nov 2009
    Location
    Docklands
    Posts
    8
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    rogklee, please let us know how you find this as I recently acquired a Kata 3N1-33 and find it a little uncomfortable - I do like the side access though and was not sure how the Lowpro rear access would work.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •