Reviews for Nikon D1 / D2 / D3
Review #1
Equipment list in bag :
1. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6D HSM with lens hood reversed & Nikon lens cap
2. Optech Neck Strap
3. Kirk Photo L bracket BLD70
4. Nikon D70
5. Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S with lens hood reversed
6. Nexto Di 2525 CF Ultra Portable Hard Disc with extra battery
7. Kirk Photo BH3 ballhead with Novoflex MiniConnect Quick Release
8. Nikon SB-600 Flash with set of spare batteries
9. Think Tank Photo Rain Cover
10. Giottos Rocket Air Blower
11. Nikon 200-400mm VR f/4 AFS with lens hood reversed
12. Wimberly AP533 replacement foot with Novoflex Quick Connect Connector
13. Nikon padding support for 200-400 taken from the Nikon CL-L2 lens case
14. Nikon 1.4x TC
15. Nikon D2Hs
16. Optech Neck Strap
17. Front flap lower pocket containing: a) Canon 500D 77mm closeup lens; b) Singh-Ray thin mount Vari ND 77 mm filter; c) Singh-Ray Thin mount ColorCombo Polariser 77mm ; Upper pocket (not in picture) contains a) Better beamer flash extender b) Gepe Compact Flash Holder for 4 cards
18. Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8 wt lens hood reversed
19. Upstrap SLR QR Pro Pack Neck Strap attached to 200-400 lens
20. Nikon foot with Novoflex Mini Connect Connector
21. Nikon 1.7x TC
22. Nikon Spare Li-ion batteries EN-EL4a + EN-EL3e
Price paid: 177 US$ (inc shipping)
Review text:
I was looking for the smallest and lightest camera bag that would take a Nikon D2Hs with a 200-400 lens and hopefully a 1.4 TC. The three manufacturers I zeroed in after considerable research were Kata (HB 207); Think Tank Photo (Airport Ultralight vs. antidote) & Moose Peterson (MP-3). I already had two Kata products (R-101 & T-214). They are very well made and I am quite happy with their performance. However I find the padding to be a bit much and the amount of gear that actually goes in is quite limited. In addition, the HB-205 & HB 207 are huge backpacks and will definitely not fit into the overhead compartments of smaller jets. The Moose Peterson bag is quite pricey and in my opinion under padded.
That left my choices limited to Think Tank Photo's Antidote and Ultralight. These were the two bags that fit into the overhead compartment of smaller jets. I selected the ultralight as it was longer (Internal height=46 cm) versus the antidote (40 cm). This allowed me to fit in the D2Hs with the 200-400 & 1.4TC. If this feature is not important, the antidote may be a better option as it comes with a removable laptop case; has a pocket for the shoulder harness, removable waist belt, a pocket on the side and a side attachment for monopods and tripods. The antidote is also 30US $ costlier.
The fit and finish of the ultralight is impeccable and the harness design is excellent. Carrying a fully loaded backpack is not difficult and my back and shoulder felt better carrying a fully loaded ultralight compared to a fully loaded (lesser load) Kata R-101. I bought this backpack for a planned trip to Alaska in September and will add in further comments after the bag gets some real life experience. Please feel free to email me for any questions or pictures
Likes about the bag: Everything
Dislikes about the bag:
I wish they had a included a side attachment for tripods/ monopods
1. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6D HSM with lens hood reversed & Nikon lens cap
2. Optech Neck Strap
3. Kirk Photo L bracket BLD70
4. Nikon D70
5. Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S with lens hood reversed
6. Nexto Di 2525 CF Ultra Portable Hard Disc with extra battery
7. Kirk Photo BH3 ballhead with Novoflex MiniConnect Quick Release
8. Nikon SB-600 Flash with set of spare batteries
9. Think Tank Photo Rain Cover
10. Giottos Rocket Air Blower
11. Nikon 200-400mm VR f/4 AFS with lens hood reversed
12. Wimberly AP533 replacement foot with Novoflex Quick Connect Connector
13. Nikon padding support for 200-400 taken from the Nikon CL-L2 lens case
14. Nikon 1.4x TC
15. Nikon D2Hs
16. Optech Neck Strap
17. Front flap lower pocket containing: a) Canon 500D 77mm closeup lens; b) Singh-Ray thin mount Vari ND 77 mm filter; c) Singh-Ray Thin mount ColorCombo Polariser 77mm ; Upper pocket (not in picture) contains a) Better beamer flash extender b) Gepe Compact Flash Holder for 4 cards
18. Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8 wt lens hood reversed
19. Upstrap SLR QR Pro Pack Neck Strap attached to 200-400 lens
20. Nikon foot with Novoflex Mini Connect Connector
21. Nikon 1.7x TC
22. Nikon Spare Li-ion batteries EN-EL4a + EN-EL3e
Price paid: 177 US$ (inc shipping)
Review text:
I was looking for the smallest and lightest camera bag that would take a Nikon D2Hs with a 200-400 lens and hopefully a 1.4 TC. The three manufacturers I zeroed in after considerable research were Kata (HB 207); Think Tank Photo (Airport Ultralight vs. antidote) & Moose Peterson (MP-3). I already had two Kata products (R-101 & T-214). They are very well made and I am quite happy with their performance. However I find the padding to be a bit much and the amount of gear that actually goes in is quite limited. In addition, the HB-205 & HB 207 are huge backpacks and will definitely not fit into the overhead compartments of smaller jets. The Moose Peterson bag is quite pricey and in my opinion under padded.
That left my choices limited to Think Tank Photo's Antidote and Ultralight. These were the two bags that fit into the overhead compartment of smaller jets. I selected the ultralight as it was longer (Internal height=46 cm) versus the antidote (40 cm). This allowed me to fit in the D2Hs with the 200-400 & 1.4TC. If this feature is not important, the antidote may be a better option as it comes with a removable laptop case; has a pocket for the shoulder harness, removable waist belt, a pocket on the side and a side attachment for monopods and tripods. The antidote is also 30US $ costlier.
The fit and finish of the ultralight is impeccable and the harness design is excellent. Carrying a fully loaded backpack is not difficult and my back and shoulder felt better carrying a fully loaded ultralight compared to a fully loaded (lesser load) Kata R-101. I bought this backpack for a planned trip to Alaska in September and will add in further comments after the bag gets some real life experience. Please feel free to email me for any questions or pictures
Likes about the bag: Everything
Dislikes about the bag:
I wish they had a included a side attachment for tripods/ monopods
Thanks to Sandeep Sebastin for photo
