Bags and cases

McLeish

McLeish

Active member
Hey all.
As of this past christmas I recieved my first prosumer digital video camera and I am so glad that it's a DVX100b!
Im sure as with many new DVX owners, I have tons and tons of questions but I'll try to keep it simple.
Im in the market to get myself either a hard case or a soft case because I plan on getting some tests done right away for an upcoming short. I spend a lot of my time on this site but there doesnt seem to be a lot of recommendations in terms of which cases are most reliable and the pros and cons of different models.
If anyone out there feels passionate about their particular case (and price point) please let me know.
Thanks to any that might help.
 
Pelican 1560 for me. $150 bones is quite reasonable imo for this case.

It's got a handle, wheels, and enough space for:

DVX
Nikon still camera with lense mounted on it
2 boxes of DV tape (vertically stacked)
SB-600 flash
various misc camera stuff, ie battery charger, cable trigger, extra memory cards, extra tripod quick release
70-300 zoom lense
Canon Optura camcorder.
 
Depends on what you want to use it for.
Carrying a Pelican case on the beaches of Hawaii might not be the best way to carry your new baby.

On the other hand, checking it on a plane, you'd want all the protection you can get.

I have several bags, a hard case and a backpack depending on what my need is.

On the beaches of Hawaii I carried around my HVX in a Porta Brace bag.
Hiking deep into Yellowstone, I loaded it all up in a Lowe Super Photo Trekker.
Lugging it to an interview, I had it in a Pelican 1600 case.
Running around my local nature center, I used a Porta Brace DV Organizer bag to carry more gear.

So while a Pelican case is great for major protection it might not be the best thing for the situation you want to use it in.
Take a small suitcase with you and walk around a park or go on a hike. You'll see that a Pelican isn't always the default answer.

Buy what fits your needs.
 
>I don't know if a clone would be quite as reliable.

I've got both, and the Doskocil is just as good/strong/reliable as the pelican.
I don't work for them, I'm just pleased with my purchase.

-j
 
I agree with above. Get a hard a case if and when you start doing air travel, for around town, a porta-brace or Petrol Case, I find, is usually better. I have one of the small post-brace bags that JUST fits the DVX and a few accessories--- it's small enough to qualify as carry on luggage on a plane. I would never send a camera through as checked baggage, even in a pelican case.

One soft case that is often over looked is the porta-brace 'Cargo' series cases. They are big soft cases, have firm walls & floor, and are stackable. I have 3 of them--- one for my audio accessories, one for my video accesories & spare lamps, and one for my mattebox & filters. They hold TONS of stuff, are well made, and have customizable dividers. PLUS, they are cheaper than a lot of the other porta-brace products that are "custom made" for one purpose or another. I have sent these cases as checked baggage, and they have been fine.
 
Wow, this is really great!
I've actually heard that adapting a toolbox is an affordable solution and works just as well. ....while I cant really say I'd be excited to trust my baby to a padded toolbox, I would still like to know if anybody has any experience with this ;good or bad. I was raised in a "do-it-yourself" family, so try not to mistake this as me being cheap haha. I would mostly be using my case for travel around the city, or throughout the country via bus, train etc.
 
To answer your last question, I am currently using a tool bag from my local Lowes store. I took the styrofoam bottom that came in the box from the camera and put that in the toolbag. I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and everything seems to working just fine. The bag has room for my shotgun mic, extra battery and charger as well as about 10 dv tapes. I too am a DYI'er and can't justify spending 5x as much for something that works just as well. I would also invest in a pelican for any serious travel.
 
Another option, especially for guerilla production is to pick up an old samsonite suitcase at a thriftstore. I used that for a case when I used to videotape bands. I figured that out after walking 4 blocks back to my car after a gig at 2am downtown with a big case that said *SONY* on the side...
 
j said:
Another option, especially for guerilla production is to pick up an old samsonite suitcase at a thriftstore. I used that for a case when I used to videotape bands. I figured that out after walking 4 blocks back to my car after a gig at 2am downtown with a big case that said *SONY* on the side...
Click to expand...

smart!
 
Tool bags from Home Depot work well, but I'd only use them sparingly for extra grip gear/AC cables, etc. If you get any paying clients that are 'in the know' about hiring video crews, you might get some questioning looks if you show up with your gear stored in Black & Decker bags.

I recently got hired on a two-camera shoot for a national talk show. On the shoot day, our crew showed up with our standard production carts and everything neatly packed in porta-brace & pelican cases. The other crew (not affiliated with us) showed up in a crappy old van with all their gear packed in old Samsonite and America Tourister baggage. They looked really bad and the producer that hired everyone was nervous about their skill level as a result. The other crew did a good job, but they blew their first impression with the client by showing up like rag-tag video rangers. :embarasse
 
I bought a Pelican case but for traveling I like to carry everything in a Kata Panda, which will hold a video camera, matte box and flags, filters, tapes, notepad, Macbook Pro, etc. and fits in the overhead compartment of an airplane.
 
I use a combination of a light padded backpack (Apollo px) and a Pelican case for most applications. However, if you need to fly with the unit, or ship it anywhere, I recommend getting a locking hard case. I you don't find one by the time you get this, I have one made by Panasonic that I will be selling. Email me if you need it. hessianben@gmail.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top