A new Gecko-style shoulder strap clings to your shoulder with suction-pad style gripping, thus making shoulder carting much less a game of balancing equilibrium before the bag slides off your shoulder (or trying to strangle yourself by putting it on the opposite shoulder). As the OMB’s rugged construction is easily able to be stacked, the bag includes rear channels for an Insertrolley (sold separately) which further helps simplify use of the case. (Plus, they include a spacer for stacking additional bags on the Insertrolley with the OMB.)
Despite their fairly compact sizes, the OMB 72 & 74 are extremely flexible. Both include the Modi-Vers spacers that have been part of the Kata bags for years. (Essentially velcro-attached, padded dividers that are specially designed to not scratch lenses or other valuables.) They also include multiple velcro pockets which can be re-arranged inside your camera case in places that are convenient for you. (Of course, the OMB 74 includes an extra pocket for your laptop.) In addition to these customizable areas, there are pockets in both the top and the bottom of the lid, as well as lower pockets on the outer sides and front of the bag. As that was my big complaint with some of the older Kata bags, it’s great to see all the storage options. (I personally found it pretty convenient in the OMB 72 to store my shotgun mic in the top compartment of the case, rather than inside the bag with the camera. Additionally, things like your white balance cards and other smaller things can fit in this compartment.)
One other nice thing that’s included in the case is a velcro-bottomed lens pillow for your camera’s lens, which is especially useful if you’re using a small matte box, since this adds extra strain on the body of your camera if it’s not supported. (Even in the OMB-74, emphasis should be put on the word “small” when it comes to matte boxes. You won’t be able to fit your Redrock Micro mattebox into this fully assembled!) Plus, if you have a smaller camera, you can even take out the flexible pillow and use it as a poor man’s cinnesaddle in the field, which is kind of clever.
