Holding it all -- cases?

[saaby]

Cases anybody? I'm torn. I have my still camera in a Slingsot (http://products.lowepro.com/product/SlingShot-200-AW,2035,4.htm) and quite like that a lot. The idea of getting the largest SlingShot (I have the medium size one for my photo EQ) and being able to carry almost everything I need in the 1 bag is pretty appealing.

But then another part of me says go for the standard Pelican case. Maybe buy one a little bigger than I need right now...so I have room for (and easy access to!) my basic kit, mainly, the camera, kit lens, filters, microphones, and eventually...a Zoom recorder.


Ok it's all a lie, I'm pretty much sold on the Pelican case, I'm just not sure what size to buy.

[Illya Friedman]

For what it's worth, I plan on having a custom Pelican-style case (it's actually much better than either Pelican or Storm) with GH1 specific laser cut foam, waterproof and lifetime warranty. The timeline right now is available before the end of August.

The Hot Rod Case will hold the GH1, stock Lens, any version of the Hot Rod kits, extra batteries, cards..etc

.....and cost about the same as a regular 'ol Pelican/Storm type case with messy pull and pluck foam. Also because the foam is laser cut, you can fit a lot more stuff in safely than the traditional pull and pluck.

[editman]

A good backpack with plenty of room for lensens and extras is what I plan on getting. I have a Kata DR-466 but it's a bit small to fit all my lenses and filters.
Looking at Computrekker for my needs that I'll also fit my netbook.

[Mike@AF]

I'm also going to go with a soft case for this one. I've always used hard cases before, but to keep the package small and more portable I'm going soft. For the run and gun situations it will be nice to have the case hanging off me or someone else rather than needing to set it down. The backpack idea is interesting. I'll have to look at that.

[saaby]

I'm also going to go with a soft case for this one. I've always used hard cases before, but to keep the package small and more portable I'm going soft. For the run and gun situations it will be nice to have the case hanging off me or someone else rather than needing to set it down. The backpack idea is interesting. I'll have to look at that.

Check out the Slingshot bags -- you look a little goofy, but you can actually swing the bag around and pull the camera out without taking the bag off your back.

The bad thing about the SlingShot is that I have a different backpack for my MacBook Pro. Hard to put 2 bags on your back, and both bags (The Slingshot, and the bag I have for my MBP) are awkward to carry by your side.



Illya -- I like the sounds of your case. I like your support systems too, but my budget is pretty spent for awhile. What I am wondering is this...if the foam is laser cut, I know it would fit my GH1 perfectly, but how do I get the foam to fit my other accessories perfectly? Go at it with a knife? While I know the pitfalls of the pick-n-pluck, it at least gives you a pretty decent fit around your stuff. (Until those little square foam bits all start coming apart and you just have a big mess)

[Illya Friedman]

Illya -- I like the sounds of your case. I like your support systems too, but my budget is pretty spent for awhile. What I am wondering is this...if the foam is laser cut, I know it would fit my GH1 perfectly, but how do I get the foam to fit my other accessories perfectly? Go at it with a knife? While I know the pitfalls of the pick-n-pluck, it at least gives you a pretty decent fit around your stuff. (Until those little square foam bits all start coming apart and you just have a big mess)

Well the custom foam is designed to perfectly cradle the GH1, Stock Lens, Hot Rod PL, or Hot Rod N(ikon), 15mm Iris Rods, Hand Held Kit, S-Grip, Spare Batteries, Charger AC adapter and some SDHC cards.

The case is small- easily airline compliant. If you need to bring other stuff with you (and you always do), you'll need a second case. Really, the goal was a proper flight/travel case for the Hot Rod PL/N(ikon) and other accessory pieces that would generally accompany the Package (Deluxe, Pro..etc) I figured as long as I'm making a case, might as well store your Camera Body, Stock lens, batteries/charger too.

This case is not meant to replace soft cases/travel bags..etc. Those bags are intended for a different purpose. The Hot Rod Case is for professionals who need to bring their camera kit with them on location (usually it'll sit on a cart) and those who need to transport equipment via truck, cargo van, stake bed, airplane, messenger and all the other ways production equipment gets moved by ACs/Operators/Transpo/production people- which is not neccessarily (or usually) the equipment's owner.

Owners and owner-ops who shoot small projects (local ads, Weddings..etc) have a tendency to baby the equipment every second it's in use/transit, and are likely looking for the cheapest storage/transport solution beyond a paper bag.

While I'm happy to sell as many cases as possible, the Hot Rod case is probably not the case for the hobbyists. It's designed to widthstand serious production & transportation.

For a while I toyed with the idea of also making a larger case with about a 10x10x4 section of movable velcro foam dividers so people could just have an area to throw in any random stuff they need to bring in one case. I just don't know if the demand is there for both a perfect small flight case to hold all this stuff, and then also a much bigger case with a general storage area for you Bartech, extra lenses, spare body etc.

If there's enough demand for both, I can make both. But my clients need to speak up now rather than waiting a month.

Right now I'm just trying to get the small one done.

[yslee]

As someone who shoots mostly stills for a hobby, I have way too many bags. I think I currently have six bags, maybe more.

Since still photography's requirements are quite a bit different, I guess I won't say too much, except that for the Slingshot, the Kata 3N1 and the Tenba version look like very nice alternatives, if one is inclined to go that way. Also, Think Tank has come up with a new line of modular cases for VDSLR users.

[Erik Olson]

We sell the full line of Hardigg Storm Cases (plus the full Pelican line, coming in the days ahead) and have a DVXUser discount coupons - just contact me for the code. Ordering the padded-dividers for your GH1 case will give you better flexibility as you expand the kit. The im2500 is our most popular - it allows you to carry the entire DSLR package as a carry-on too.

www.overlandfilms.com (http://www.overlandfilms.com)

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[Nick_K]

Does anyone know of messenger style bag that has a semi-rigid compartment for the body and a couple of lenses? I'm a fan of the Timbuk2 bags, but they don't have photo kit bag yet.

[saaby]

This just in. (http://www.uncrate.com/men/style/bags/incase-dslr-bags/)

[Ben_B]

Using an Ogio Atiba mini...love it. You can get it for as little as like $65 at Dick's sporting goods.

[J Davis]

my vote is on kata backpacks, even weight distribution is good for ur spine

[yslee]

Does anyone know of messenger style bag that has a semi-rigid compartment for the body and a couple of lenses? I'm a fan of the Timbuk2 bags, but they don't have photo kit bag yet.
Nick, there's always the Crumplers, I guess.

[Mike@AF]

I tried a few... Kata, Tenba, and Lowepro. Went with the Lowepro Slingshot. Not a messenger bag, but works well for what I needed.

[Dan Clark]

Mike,

I like the looks of that bag. It looks like a 100 or 200 might be fine. What size did you get?

Regards,

Dan.

[Mike@AF]

I went with the 350 AW so I could throw my computer in it. I also already have 3 additional lenses and plan on 2 or 3 more. I might get a smaller one for simpler shoots.

[Nick_K]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions. The Crumplers look very interesting... you can really get lost in that crazy website. Here's another messenger bag that I came across that might work well (Kata DB-455):
http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?p_Id=440&Version=photo

[yslee]

I have the DB-455; the problem is that they give a TINY insert for your camera gear. I ended up making my own set using a combination of leftover inserts from my other bags. The other problem is the bag is rather tall; I can fit the 80-200/2.8, 11-16/2.8, a Nikon D300 with a 35/2 lens, and toss the SB-900 on top of everything.

[manx]

I like Domke bags, one of the smallest ones works great to carry around 3 lenses and the camera. The larger ones are great for a massive kit. Made in the USA and really highlights the compactness of the system. Also doesn't really look like a camera bag.

[ElectricMayhem]

Anyone have any recommendations for holding two of these puppies with accessories? and down the road I'd hope Anton Bauer batteries. Im looking into custom cases, but at $280 bucks I was hoping I'd an alternative solution. I looked into Pelican and Hardigg. I'm just hesitant to get a huge case for little lights. And I'd prefer not to do softcases.

http://www.flolight.com/catalog/product/view/id/24/s/led-500/

[editman]

Just got a Lowepro Computrekker AW Plus.

http://www.takegreatpictures.com/content/images/tip1_6468.jpg

These are the things I can fit inside:

GH1, kit lens, Nikon D90, Nikkor 24, Nikkor 35, Nikkor 50, Nikkor 85, Wide lensadapterx2, Nikon Teleconverter, Mattebox, rails, quick release plate, base plate, Sony PCM-D50+cables, Nikon SB-900, Laptop up to 17", Panasonic FT1, chargers for alla cameras, Nikon power adapter, 4 SD-cards, 3xfilters, steprings, lensadapters plus small extra stuff.

It's pretty stacked and for a long hike I would leave some stuff at home.

[sirk]

Guess I'm the only one using the Panasonic DMW BAG. It came together with the GH1 and is quite nice, though not really fancy looking. But it does the job and stores cam with lens on it and another lens extra.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41y4etIRj6L._SL500_AA280_.jpg