Discount Kata KT DC-445 Digital Case (Black)

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I needed a case for my new Nikon D3200 with a 18-55 MM and 55-300 MM lenses, Metz 50 AF-1 flash, flash diffuser, Nikon battery charger and extra battery, AA photo batteries, FotoSharp 20" Rain Cover, Giotto air blaster, another small Kodak D55 camera,and incidental stuff. All of these fit into this Kata KT DC-445 Digital Case (Black) with room to spare, but not too much. The case is smaller than I expected, based on the picture but ample. Well constructed and the placement of interior dividers are convenient, but not as flexible as I expected. The yellow interior is excellent and things are easy to see. Cover closes well and double zippers prevents items from falling out when open, while permitting easy access while carrying the case. Side pockets have full size section risers to also prevent items from falling out when the zippers are open. Zippers are well-made and stitching sturdy. Carry strap fits well and stays in place on shoulder. The case is VERY light, although the newer model is even lighter, but doesn't have the zippered side pockets. That's why I selected the DC-445. The warranty for Kata bags is excellent and they happen to be from the same corporation that makes the Metz flash unit products. If you want a sturdy case for one DSLR, lenses and items you need, this is a good choice. It does not have tripod carrying straps, but I don't need that feature anyway.

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This review is about Kata KT DC-445 Digital Case (Black) .

My intention was to find a bag for short trips with limited amount and minimal weight of equipment.

For these trips I need camera, flash and two zoom lenses. Very important detail: My camera and I agreed that we'll never leave home without battery grip attached so bag must be wide enough to accomodate Nikon D700 + Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack.

My choice of lenses was Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 and Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR. Of course, I wanted to keep at least Tamron 28-75 mm attached and still have some space for Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash. I'm glad to report that DC-445 satisfied almost all my needs: Camera sits with attached Tamron looking down, flash and 70-300mm are very snug into their quarters.

Some spare space under camera is used for Black Rapid Straps RS4. That's it, problem solved.

However, some cons are still there: DC-445 is not tall enough to store D700 with Nikon 70-300 mm attached. Actually, I can squeeze this assembly at a price of keeping the lid zip fastener partially open. Also, I personally don't like the two-side zipper, too much fuss to open. I prefer some secure buckle to be able to unfasten it quickly in case of need.

Bottom line: Nice bag for configuration I described, light-weighted, has soft and convenient shoulder strap and last but not least: Looks neat and well shaped.

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This is a very well made and well thought out bag. It holds a great deal more gear than it looks. My only recommendation is to have a quick release catch on the top so you can keep it closed without using the zipper.

Honest reviews on Kata KT DC-445 Digital Case (Black)

This is a very nice camera bag for the price.

The build quality is outstanding and the compartments are soft and have a nice feel to them.

My only complaint, and it's not really a big one is that the zippers can get stuck and need to be jiggled once in a while.

A little smoother action would have been nice, but again, not a big deal.

Great product overall!!

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I first bought a Kata Bug-203 back pack on Amazon and loved the function and appearance of the bag and its high quality. But it was large and, when filled with equipment, heavy. It would be great for a wildlife expedition to carry lots of equipment including a long telephoto lens. So I decided that a large backpack was impractical for every-day carrying around and organizing equipment. Enter the Kata 445 bag . . .

I could not tell by looking at the online information how much equipment the 445 bag (or most other bags) really held. So I went to a local camera store that carries lots of Kata models in order to see for myself. I was pleased with the 445 and even more pleased after I brought it home and loaded my camera equipment into it. So far, with room to spare (it would hold two more lenses, my BlackRapid Sport camera strap, and odds and ends), here is what I have inside the bag: Nikon D800 camera body with 28-300mm zoom lens attached; 28-105 zoom lens; 28mm prime lens; 85mm prime lens; Op-Tech camera strap; cleaning cloth and bottle of cleaning fluid; spare battery; battery charger and power cord; memory card reader and cables; extra USB cable; Nikon pocket-sized camera guide;two large polarizing filters in their plastic cases; camera body and lens caps; memory cards and containers. Thus . . . camera with telephoto lens attached, plus three other lenses, plus room to spare.

I love that Kata has the same sense of quality, materials, appearance and design as Apple does with computers and devices such as the iPad and iPhone. The materials, handle, and strap are all high quality. All Kata bags have a bright yellow interior so you can quickly find your things. In the 445, the side pockets are so hidden in the exterior view that one would not realize they are there. Yet, they hold a lot of fairly flat things (they would easily hold filters and batteries).

So how do we get this room in a small package? Well, you might do it differently, because the interior dividers can be moved into different configurations depending on your equipment and sense of convenience. Here's what I did and what's in the bag before anything is inserted: There are six two-story pockets formed by the dividers. One of the center pockets does not have a "middle floor", so that the camera can lay lens-down into that space. This leaves five other "lower floor" pockets that hold my three lenses (with large lens hoods attached), plus my battery charger, memory card reader, and cables in the remaining two pockets (although they could have been moved to the outside side pockets if I had needed space for more lenses or flash units). The flaps between the "first and second floors" are such that all of the the six pockets will have a padded flap covering the lower level, except for the space filled by a lens attached to the camera body. The camera then lies face down in the "second floor". There would be room around even my D800 easily to hold a mounted battery grip, or one or two additional lenses.

And what about the inside of the top of the bag, and the sides? The top contains two flap-covered pockets (with stretch web interior pockets) that would hold many memory cards. Also inside the top, immediately below these two pockets, is a large see-through zippered pocket that holds, for example, lens and camera body caps and memory card holders. Inside one of the zippered outside edge pockets is space for documents (even a 300-page camera manual if you want) and two more stretchable mesh web pockets. I have my camera battery on one of them with lots of room to spare just in that one mesh interior pocket. The opposite edge of the camera bag has a similar zippered pocket with three interior pockets, but they are fabric pockets rather than mesh. This main zippered pocket is where I keep my two large polarizing filters (77mm and 67mm in their cases plus a bottle of cleaning fluid. I have a cleaning cloth in one of the three pockets inside this zippered compartment, and still I have two small pockets unused).

The bag is light yet sturdy (with large aluminum rings on each side for attaching the removable shoulder strap). Even with all my equipment in it, the bag does not feel heavy (much lighter-feeling that when the same equipment is in a back pack). Besides looking good, the practical benefits are that (1) my equipment is safely organized and stored (although I would not want to drop the bag on the floor--the equipment would be safer in my Bug-203 Kata backpack), and (2) the bag is so compact and light that I am much more apt to have my camera and lenses with me when picture-taking opportunities arise.

I hope this helps. I had procrastinated for a month in buying the Kata 445 because--although I liked its looks and compact size-I did not believe how much it would hold until I actually saw it. This bag goes right along side my cars and my iMac and my iPad and my iPhone as quality things that I am happy to have.