Kata W-94 Waist Pack

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've been looking for the ideal way of carrying my 2x3" Technika V around the city, and I think I've found it. I wanted a waist pack, because when I met AP photog Bebeto Mathews, I liked the way he could carry a complete kit in a lumbar pack (Canon D20 and three lenses and PDA with basic photo editing functions and a cellular modem for sending files back to the office).

The Kata W-94 easily holds the camera with ergo grip attached, five lenses including the one on the camera, rollfilm back, groundglass back, rain cover for the pack which reverses to a reflective sun shield, loupe, at least 10 rolls of film, rubber hoods, filters, and small odds and ends, and I can organize it differently without the rollfilm back if I want to use Grafmatics. I could probably fit more if I arranged it without the grip attached, but I like having the camera pretty much ready to shoot, and that's about as much as I want hanging off my hips anyway.

Much to my surprise, it was also $10 cheaper in the store at Calumet NYC, including tax, compared to the online price at all the usual mail order places, including Calumet.

 

[Moopheus]

I was interested in that pack also, as a means to pack some gear along on bike rides. The less vibration-sensitive stuff could go into panniers, but I wouldn't want my camera and lens in there. If the Kata will hold all that stuff, it's probably big enough to hold a Koni-Omega, I'd wager. Probably too much to ask to get a 4x5 Speed Graphic in there, though...I'll have to go down to the local calumet and see if they have one in stock.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't think you'll get a 4x5" Graphic in there. The large compartment is about 6x7x11". It does hook up with other components though, like a knapsack and torso pack, so maybe the knapsack would work for you (personally, I don't like to ride a bike with any kind of backpack). The Kata stuff does seem well cushioned against vibration and being dropped.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

So a few months later, I've decided that while this is really a nice pack, the stuff I'm carrying in it is too heavy for it, and it tends to slip and become uncomfortable when I'm walking around with it fully loaded, like in an airport, though it's okay when I've got the camera out on a strap and my other things in the pack. I've decided to get a Think Tank Urban Disguise #50 bag for my Linhof 2x3" kit, and I'm going to use the Kata waist-pack for my new-to-me Noblex.