A Very Clever Camera Bag from Kata.
This is one of those indispensable pieces of kit that I have been looking for for some time. For the past couple of years I have been using a standard regulation carry on case to take my cameras overseas. This means breaking down full size cameras removing the lens and viewfinder to get it to fit in the case. This has worked well, but once you get on location the case is no longer useful as you don’t have a bag to put the reassembled camera in, so very often the camera just ends up sitting on the back seat of the car unprotected and the case rolls around in the car boot taking up valuable space.
At the London BVE show I was discussing this problem on the Kata stand and as if by magic I am shown the Kata TCCT Turtle Camera Case – With Trolley.
OK, so what the hell is a Turtle Camera Case? We’ll it’s a regulation airline carry-on size shoulder bag with a removable trolly. But that’s not all it is, because this is an extremely clever bag that in just a few quick moves converts into a full size camera bag that will hold a camera that’s set up in full ready to shoot configuration, it’s the “Transformer” of camera bags.
Kata TCCT bag in colapsed, carry-on mode.
So how does it work? Well for aircraft carry on you remove the lightweight, collapsable trolly leaving you with a very light, but tough looking shoulder bag with a spacious central compartment. Smaller shoulder mount camera/lens combos will fit directly in here once you have removed the camera viewfinder. The new Sony PMW-350K will go in the bag with the kit lens fitted like this.
PMW-350K with VF removed inside the carry-on sized TCCT bag.
The viewfinder then goes in a padded pouch supplied with the bag and sits in the bag above the camera body. For larger camera and lens combos the lens would be removed from the camera, a second pouch is provided for the lens as well as a padded liner band that wraps around the camera body. With the camera body in the rear of the bag, the lens in it’s pouch will stand up in the other end and the viewfinder sits on top in it’s cosy bag.
TCCT Lens and Viewfinder Pouches.
Once you get to your destination the bag converts into a full size camera bag. Unzipping a side flap allows the bag to expand sideways opening up a large pocket in the side of the main bag for the cameras viewfinder. This also reveals a pocket large enough to take a battery or two. A further zip at the end of the bag is undone and the whole end of the bag expands outwards making it long enough to take the majority of assembled camera and lens combos. There is plenty of room for a PDW-700 or HPX3700 with typical broadcast lens and a big battery on the back of the camera. The padded band used to protect the camera body in transit slots into this expanded end section giving it strength and rigidity. I didn’t fit this when I took the picture so the end looks a bit floppy, with the band in place its very ridged.
Kata TCCT in expanded working mode (I had not put in the stiffener for the pic)
The expanded interior showing the VF pocket and good space.
This is a really clever bag, well thought out and made of tough hi-tech materials. In its travel mode it looks much like any other large shoulder bag so isn’t going to draw attention to itself. In working mode it is a spacious, practical quick draw camera bag with additional side pockets for odds and ends.
The only small downside is the need to remove the trolley for carry-on, but that’s just me being lazy. If your baggage allowance is good enough the trolley can always go with your hold equipment. I’ve been using Kata products for many years and they have always been well made and lasted very well, I’m sure this bag won’t dissapoint.
Click Here for more info from Kata.
It’s not the cheapest bag on the planet, but how much is your camera worth and what happens if you arrive at your destination with a broken camera? The peace of mind that your bag meets airline regulations combined with the practicality of having a grab and go type camera bag on location make this a truly useful piece of kit.
Highly recommended 9/10 (Would be 10/10 if you could carry it on with the wheels)
It’s only really the upper part of the bag around the view finder that expands.