As you may recall, I recently posted a brief review of the Tamrac Velocity 7x. The Velocity is comfy, but too small for anything larger than a Rebel-size camera. Plus, I wanted to carry my MacBook Pro and camera gear all in the same bag.
So, I narrowed my list down to two bags:
The Lowepro Fastpack 250 or the Kata DR-467
Summary
The FastPack is bulkier and holds more photo gear. If you’re looking for a camera bag that just happens to hold a laptop, I’d go with the LowePro. The Kata is smaller, more comfortable and a laptop/general use bag. It holds a smaller amount of photo gear and is ideal for commuters and everyday use.
My Daily Gear
15″ MacBook Pro, Canon 40D, 17-85mm EFS, 50mm EF, old Vivitar flash and misc. gadgets like WD portable HD, eTrex GPS. And usually, a lunch bag.
Size Compared
The Fastpack 250 is much bulkier. If you just look at the numbers, they aren’t significantly different. However, the exterior walls of the Kata 467 are less rigid, so they tend to collapse down if empty (that’s a good thing). The Kata has compression straps to help reduce it’s overall size.
Kata DR-467 vs. LowePro Fastpack 250
Side View
Weight
Again, the numbers are pretty close. But the Kata feels lighter. It’s mainly due to the overall bulkiness factor of the Fastpack.
Comfort
Ok, I realize this is subjective, but after wearing both for a couple of weeks, the Kata 467 just feels better. Both have well padded straps and backing. Both have a top carrying handle, but the Kata strap has more padding.
Laptop Compartment
The 15″ MBP kinda gets swallowed by the LowePro. It can easily handle a larger machine. Also, on the LowePro, both zippered sides touch the laptop when inserting or removing. I don’t see any scratches yet, but I wonder if they may appear over time. I’d rather nothing touched the machine. The Kata is much better… the compartment is smaller (still plenty of room for 15″ MBP) and the zippers don’t touch. An added benefit; the straps connect to the main bag, NOT the laptop compartment. So you can lift the bag with the laptop zippers open without the whole bag tipping forward.
15″ Macbook Pro easily fits in the LowePro Fastpack 250
LowePro Zippers Touch Laptop
15″ Macbook Pro in Kata DR-467
Zippers don’t touch on the Kata
Notice where the back straps are attached
Camera Compartment
The Kata is slightly harder to open than I expected. You need to unzip it each way, almost all the way, otherwise it doesn’t cantilever out. Once unzipped, you need to pull to get the compartment to open up wide enough to insert or remove the camera. In the field, smaller items in the front two side pockets are fairly easy to access. Items in the back row are fairly difficult. Sitting at a desk, it’s much easier. The size/stickiness of the items also plays a role (e.g. lenses with (rubber) hoods are more stubborn). The bright yellow interior really does make it easier to find things in lower light situations. The LowePro is MUCH BETTER for quick access to your camera and mounted lens. However, access to other lens required unbuckling the security flap and more unzipping. It is probably a tad slower than the Kata in that area.
To open the Kata, you need to (almost) completely unzip it.
Top Compartment
One reason I wanted an “all-in-one” bag is so I can just throw everything into one place, sling it over my shoulder and go. For me, that often includes a soft-side lunch bag. As you can see from the photos, both bags can handle a standard size bag just fine.
Kata and normal soft-side lunch bag.
Lunch bag inside Kata.
Lunch bag inside LowePro
Extra Kata Features
The Kata has a really cool feature if you travel. The back has an elastic strap that holds your backpack snug on any standard luggage. I used it this week on a trip to Chicago and it worked great!
Kata bag has excellent strap for luggage handle.
Also, it has a hidden pouch for a water bottle or monopod.
Other Thoughts
Neither have a place for misc paperwork… except in the laptop slot. With the Kata, you can make a “U” longways and it will fit in the top compartment. But most paper remembers the “U” shape after removed.
Top compartment view of Kata DR-467
Top compartment view of LowePro Fastpack 250
Lastly
There is one thing that really bugs me about the LowePro; the waist support belt. I suppose if you are hiking, it is awesome, but for short walks or train/car use, it just gets in the way. The much smaller belt on the Kata is perfect for me. You can zip it tight so it doesn’t get in the way and you don’t even notice it.
Links to Product Info
Kata DR-467
Lowepro Fastpack 250
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Mike W 09.14.08 at 11:43 pm
Great review! Should help me decide, was going with the 250 now I will look at the 467.
Thanks, Mike
nicole 09.15.08 at 6:57 pm
Thanks so much for this interesting comparison. I was desperately looking for pictures like the ones you have posted here to help me decide which one to get. I don’t get why the companies don’t do what you have done here. Your pictures and commentary were really helpful. Sincerely, Nicole
Kristi 10.06.08 at 11:22 am
Thanks for the comprehensive review and photos, you have helped me make my decision.
Jake 10.24.08 at 9:29 pm
Nice comparison. My Kata 467 just arrived and so far I like it. I wanted a top storage compartment and some kind of camera access without taking the pack competely off, plus a raincover. The 467 was around $67 with free shipping. I would have paid a lot more going with another brand that had the rain cover, laptop storage, and quick access compartment. I really like the cantilevered bottom compartment. I slip one strap off my shoulder and sling it around and unzip starting close to far, reach in and pull out the cam, I use a strap so I neck the camera, and have 2 hands to zip it back up. I find pulling the slack out of the zippers top side while zipping it closed back towards me makes it zip up nice and smooth. I practiced like a dork for a while and now I can bust out the camera and get it back on both shoulders without fumbling around at all.
I also like the little features to keep the zipper pulls from clinking around., al though they aren’t covered. The top also has a hole in it for a headphones cable, but I think putting a hole in top is a little weak. No biggie though really. I’d have the cover on in rain anyways. The water bottle/monopod holder is skimpy, it can’t hold a Nalgene, only the little throw away bottles - pretty much the only compromise - that and I wish there was more little pockets in the top compartments. The pen holders aren’t large enough for a lens pen like they were on my old Nova 4. The top compartment holds unused dividers, rain coat, and an extra large Nalgene on it’s side just fine. The 3 front pockets are fairly functional when the pack is full but not entirely. You can also put carabiners (or whatever your attachment method of choice is) on the shoulder strap loops to hold more water bottles etc. The weight from the top compartment does press down into the botton camera area so I tend to only carry 2 lenses, small flash, plus a bod with lens attached, it sitting flat on the bottom. When the D80 is sitting flat the top can’t push down enough to put any weight onto it. Overall the pack seems pretty comfortable - it’s almost more comfy loaded down than empty, which is a good thing