Backpack for the EX1

Steven D. Martin · February 10th, 2008, 09:53 AM

With EX1 and MacBook Pro inserted (and a few accessories), do you think these bags will fit under the seat in an airplane?

Michael H. Stevens · February 10th, 2008, 10:24 AM

The big Petrol I have, that holds a 17" laptop and the EX1 with matte box attached will NOT noway go under an aircraft seat. Most airlines would have you check this in as baggage.

Piotr Wozniacki · February 10th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Same with my Kata BP-502, I'm afraid - too large...

Jamie Baughman · February 10th, 2008, 11:38 AM

I have an HB-205...I haven't traveled with it yet, but I would hazard a guess that it will not fit under a seat, but would fit in the overhead.

So far, I have had a great experience with the bag. I'm carrying around the EX1, battery, charger, cables (they fit nicely in the little area on the top of the bag) and I could easily fit a wireless pack and receiver in there as well as a shotgun mic.

Chip Curry · February 11th, 2008, 11:29 AM

I saw mention on another post of someone removing the viewfinder to fit the camera in a smaller bag. I have yet to use the EVF and if I found a way to cover the opening would be willing to carry it as an accessory. I broke off one protruding Sony viewfinder and feel like the camera would be more compact without it. Anyone try this? I do a lot of nature videography and need to travel light.

Michael H. Stevens · February 11th, 2008, 12:22 PM

If you need to fly with your camera I would get a small bag for the camera only and check all the other stuff.

Brendan Pyatt · February 11th, 2008, 01:04 PM

Does the kata 205 have the compartment for a laptop?

From what i can tell on the kata website the 207 does but not the 205.

Bryan Suthard · February 11th, 2008, 06:42 PM

I bought a Tenba case for laptop and EX1. Not a backpack but probably the smallest combo laptop case you could fit the EX1 in.

http://www.tenba.com/pc-953-6-photol...bag-black.aspx

Benjamin Eckstein · February 11th, 2008, 07:56 PM

I just ordered the Kata HB-207. There is a post on the first page from Simon Cox who has this bag and said it fits a 17" MacBookPro as well as the EX-1. I emailed him about it and he said it has worked as a carry-on bag. I should get it in a couple days and am flying with it in a couple weeks. Will let you all know how it looks, but coming from one user (Simon) he says thumbs up!

Keith Moreau · February 12th, 2008, 01:13 AM

I got the Kata 207, nice backpack well made. Not light, large but well balanced and holds the EX1 nicely. I like the hip straps, like a pro backpack. Not a super amount of extra room, but protects it nicely. I have the EX1 mounted with the left side toward the 'back' side of the pack. If mounted vertically it sticks out a bit too much. I have to get used to the tripod rig it has. Seems with it mounted directly behind it's a bit too much leveraged weight and not comfortable.

Simon Cox · February 12th, 2008, 01:24 AM

The Kata 207 is too big to fit under the seats on an aircraft - but fits easily inside the overhead baggage crate. I'm traveling from LA to the UK with it on Sunday and have managed a few flights so far without a hassle. I've certainly seen much larger carry on bags - especially the wheely type cases that people seem to use a lot. Weight wise, with a laptop and the camera (plus the batteries you now have to carry in hand luggage - though I'm not totally sure what the limits are - anyone know? I have one small and two large Sony batts for the EX1), it does go overweight for most carriers hand baggage allowance - so far, both Virgin and BA have turned a blind eye to this in my case. Other people undoubtedly carry heavier bags on board. I tend to pack all other equipment (mics, charger, light etc) separately to keep the weight down.

Hope this helps.

Steven D. Martin · February 13th, 2008, 06:06 AM

Thanks for all this advice. It's great to have a community like this to help make expensive purchase decisions!

My main issue regards smaller, regional jets. Flying internationally is no issue- these are always large jets with plenty of overhead bin space. BUT- in order to connect with these large jets flown from hub airports, I have to always fly a small jet from a small airport (sometimes even larger ones) to that hub. Therein lies the problem.

I have flown before on a Canadair regional jet where there were tiny overhead bins and NO closet space. If there had not been an empty seat beside me, I would have been in a real sticky spot- I would have had to either gate-check my computer, or my camera. Neither would have been an acceptable option.

If there's a bag small enough to put an EX1 plus my 15" MacBook Pro together and still fit under the seat, life is good. If not, it's a Pelican case for the EX1 and I'm checking it- taking the Lithium Ion battery out, cuz they don't like those in checked baggage anymore...

And it's sounding like there's no bag available that will do this. Am I correct?

Steven D. Martin · February 13th, 2008, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Suthard

I bought a Tenba case for laptop and EX1. Not a backpack but probably the smallest combo laptop case you could fit the EX1 in.

http://www.tenba.com/pc-953-6-photol...bag-black.aspx

Could you post a photograph of your bag with the EX1 in it?

Brendan Pyatt · February 13th, 2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven D. Martin

Thanks for all this advice. It's great to have a community like this to help make expensive purchase decisions!

My main issue regards smaller, regional jets. Flying internationally is no issue- these are always large jets with plenty of overhead bin space. BUT- in order to connect with these large jets flown from hub airports, I have to always fly a small jet from a small airport (sometimes even larger ones) to that hub. Therein lies the problem.

I have flown before on a Canadair regional jet where there were tiny overhead bins and NO closet space. If there had not been an empty seat beside me, I would have been in a real sticky spot- I would have had to either gate-check my computer, or my camera. Neither would have been an acceptable option.

If there's a bag small enough to put an EX1 plus my 15" MacBook Pro together and still fit under the seat, life is good. If not, it's a Pelican case for the EX1 and I'm checking it- taking the Lithium Ion battery out, cuz they don't like those in checked baggage anymore...

And it's sounding like there's no bag available that will do this. Am I correct?

I travel alot on planes so I can understand your woes. I often travel with a stills camera & a 600mm lens - airlines can be such a pain.

For me I don't like checking expensive items when I travel due to the fact that they go missing. Insurance replaces them when I get home but not when I'm on that trip.

My advice to you would be get a bag that fits your EX1 and is allowed on a international jet. If you are faced with a regional jet that won't take it I would take off your jacket and/ borrow a blanket roll your EX1 in that and put under your seat / above your head.

That said if the EX1 will fit under your seat then I am sure there must be bag of sorts that it will fit in a go under your seat.

Steven D. Martin · February 13th, 2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan Pyatt

For me I don't like checking expensive items when I travel due to the fact that they go missing. Insurance replaces them when I get home but not when I'm on that trip.

My advice to you would be get a bag that fits your EX1 and is allowed on a international jet. If you are faced with a regional jet that won't take it I would take off your jacket and/ borrow a blanket roll your EX1 in that and put under your seat / above your head.

Thanks for your common sense answer! Many times I miss the obvious, low-tech solutions!

One of the reasons I purchased the EX1 was that it was smaller and more sturdy than my JVC HD100, which is very gangly and fragile in comparison. I had no choice but to put the JVC in a big Pelican case, check it, and hope for the best. I hope those days are behind me.

February 10th, 2008, 09:53 AM	#16
Steven D. Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oak Ridge, TN Posts: 72	Kata HB-205 or 207 With EX1 and MacBook Pro inserted (and a few accessories), do you think these bags will fit under the seat in an airplane?

February 10th, 2008, 11:11 AM	#18
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	Same with my Kata BP-502, I'm afraid - too large... __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

February 10th, 2008, 11:38 AM	#19
Jamie Baughman Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 180	I have an HB-205...I haven't traveled with it yet, but I would hazard a guess that it will not fit under a seat, but would fit in the overhead. So far, I have had a great experience with the bag. I'm carrying around the EX1, battery, charger, cables (they fit nicely in the little area on the top of the bag) and I could easily fit a wireless pack and receiver in there as well as a shotgun mic. __________________ Jamie Baughman

February 12th, 2008, 01:13 AM	#25
Keith Moreau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane, California Posts: 530	I got the 207 I got the Kata 207, nice backpack well made. Not light, large but well balanced and holds the EX1 nicely. I like the hip straps, like a pro backpack. Not a super amount of extra room, but protects it nicely. I have the EX1 mounted with the left side toward the 'back' side of the pack. If mounted vertically it sticks out a bit too much. I have to get used to the tripod rig it has. Seems with it mounted directly behind it's a bit too much leveraged weight and not comfortable.

February 12th, 2008, 01:24 AM	#26
Simon Cox New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London & Los Angeles Posts: 11	Kata 207 The Kata 207 is too big to fit under the seats on an aircraft - but fits easily inside the overhead baggage crate. I'm traveling from LA to the UK with it on Sunday and have managed a few flights so far without a hassle. I've certainly seen much larger carry on bags - especially the wheely type cases that people seem to use a lot. Weight wise, with a laptop and the camera (plus the batteries you now have to carry in hand luggage - though I'm not totally sure what the limits are - anyone know? I have one small and two large Sony batts for the EX1), it does go overweight for most carriers hand baggage allowance - so far, both Virgin and BA have turned a blind eye to this in my case. Other people undoubtedly carry heavier bags on board. I tend to pack all other equipment (mics, charger, light etc) separately to keep the weight down. Hope this helps.

February 10th, 2008, 10:24 AM	#17
Michael H. Stevens Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Palm Desert, California Posts: 311	The big Petrol I have, that holds a 17" laptop and the EX1 with matte box attached will NOT noway go under an aircraft seat. Most airlines would have you check this in as baggage.

February 11th, 2008, 11:29 AM	#20
Chip Curry Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 54	I saw mention on another post of someone removing the viewfinder to fit the camera in a smaller bag. I have yet to use the EVF and if I found a way to cover the opening would be willing to carry it as an accessory. I broke off one protruding Sony viewfinder and feel like the camera would be more compact without it. Anyone try this? I do a lot of nature videography and need to travel light.

February 11th, 2008, 12:22 PM	#21
Michael H. Stevens Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Palm Desert, California Posts: 311	If you need to fly with your camera I would get a small bag for the camera only and check all the other stuff.

February 11th, 2008, 01:04 PM	#22
Brendan Pyatt Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 165	Does the kata 205 have the compartment for a laptop? From what i can tell on the kata website the 207 does but not the 205.

February 11th, 2008, 06:42 PM	#23
Bryan Suthard Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampa, FL United States Posts: 135	I bought a Tenba case for laptop and EX1. Not a backpack but probably the smallest combo laptop case you could fit the EX1 in. http://www.tenba.com/pc-953-6-photol...bag-black.aspx

February 11th, 2008, 07:56 PM	#24
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	I just ordered the Kata HB-207. There is a post on the first page from Simon Cox who has this bag and said it fits a 17" MacBookPro as well as the EX-1. I emailed him about it and he said it has worked as a carry-on bag. I should get it in a couple days and am flying with it in a couple weeks. Will let you all know how it looks, but coming from one user (Simon) he says thumbs up!

February 13th, 2008, 06:06 AM	#27
Steven D. Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oak Ridge, TN Posts: 72	Regional jets Thanks for all this advice. It's great to have a community like this to help make expensive purchase decisions! My main issue regards smaller, regional jets. Flying internationally is no issue- these are always large jets with plenty of overhead bin space. BUT- in order to connect with these large jets flown from hub airports, I have to always fly a small jet from a small airport (sometimes even larger ones) to that hub. Therein lies the problem. I have flown before on a Canadair regional jet where there were tiny overhead bins and NO closet space. If there had not been an empty seat beside me, I would have been in a real sticky spot- I would have had to either gate-check my computer, or my camera. Neither would have been an acceptable option. If there's a bag small enough to put an EX1 plus my 15" MacBook Pro together and still fit under the seat, life is good. If not, it's a Pelican case for the EX1 and I'm checking it- taking the Lithium Ion battery out, cuz they don't like those in checked baggage anymore... And it's sounding like there's no bag available that will do this. Am I correct?