I need a case for my DVX!

Tim Miller

Tim Miller

Well-known member
Just got my dvx100a and need a case for it soon. I know it's not a big ordeal, but I have only owned some low end hard case, that was good, but my dvx deserves better. I want a nice one but I don't want to spend a ton of money because I need to buy a tripod w/head (I am thinking a 501 head with whatever legs). They sell some on ebay that seem okay, but just okay... :huh:

So...
What kind of affordable case?
And if you have time, tripod and head?

Thanks everyone!
 
personally i decided to buy two cases: a soft one and a hard one.

i used the cam just for a documentary so far.
i used the hard case for safe transportation on planes, cars, etc, while the soft one was for daily operations: it would allow me easy access and i could wear it on my shoulder all the time (even when filming interviews). I basically used the hard case to move the camera from home to where i was going and then kept it in the soft case for a week. For extra safety i could store the camera in the hard case when i was in my 'basecamp', but i didnt.

I got the soft case for about 45 EUR (chinese brand SUN, but i've heard panasonic sells an equivalent one) and the hard for about 110 EUR. The hard case is branded 'explorer', it is slightly bigger than the cam (about 8-10 cms longer than the cam with lens shade on and viewfinder rubber eyecup gently folded), extremely compact, and it also allows me to fit wideangle lens, shotgun mic with shock mount, 2 filters with case, and short mic cable (NOT the power supply and extra battery though). It was an amazing 3d study to put all this stuff in a safe way in there, but it worked, and im happy i didnt get a bigger one.

Anyway, in my opinion, both soft and hard cases are very useful.
Another solution could be a semi-hard case but it never provides you the same safety of a hard one.

Andrea
 
There are two storage products you just can't go wrong with:

Cinebags Production Bag $185 from filmtools.com (where I got mine)
Pelican 1550 -- $100 give or take a little

I think these are the two 'best deal' examples of cases that are designed for our industry. You simply can't go wrong with either of these. The Cinebags is the best deal I've ever seen on a camera case, tho. It's enormous, yet, while not tested in real life, appears the exact same dimensions as the airline carry-on I've been using for the last four years... Recently I've been tidying everything inside there for a trip overseas and It'll hold my camera, matte box, follow focus, eight 4x4 filters, four microphones (2 boom, 2 lav) a wireless kit, 15' eng/xlr cable, a 9' K-Tek boom pole, headphones, a few batteries and some tapes. It's maxed out at that point-- so, I gotta find someplace else to put a wide angle converter and that battery charger.. Otherwise, this thing holds everything but the tripod. It's unreal. I can't speak more highly of a single piece of anything related to our industry than a Production Bag. Jarred Land has three of them now. The Pelican cases are very nice as well. I think the "1520" is a little smaller and is carry-on approved. The Cinebags, I repeat, is NOT carry-on approved, but man, it sure seems like it would be right on the edge.

Hope this helps.
 
If you do a search on "hard or soft" and Pelican, you will find several threads on this. Also, here is a pic of how I packed my Pelican 1600, fwiw. It is really handy to have everything in one case, and to know that if all the holes are filled, I have not fogotten anything (at home or on location).

http://www.VeniceDigitalVideo.com/locationDVXkit.htm
 
This is just me being "thrifty"...but I got a really heavy duty tool box (NOT one of those cheap aluminum-looking briefcase ones). Opens from the top with latches and a lock.

It's plastic, not metal, but really solid.

I got it at Lowe's. I used the packaging from the original DVX box (the styrofoam) because it was already form-fitted to the DVX. I just had to trim the sides of the styrofoam to squeeze it into the box.

I put a little material over the styrofoam to make it "prettier".

My DVX fits in their snug-as-a-bug, and never moves around or anything.

I fit my two batteries, two chargers, AT-897 mic, headphones, 15 tapes, etc....plenty of room.

Just a thought.

tryptophan
 
Tool boxes and bags have other benefits too, like being camoflaged. A $250 camera bag just screams "expensive stuff inside". But a $25 Sears toolbag could hold anything. Mine has a million pockets both inside and outside. Good idea about the box styrofoam, gonna try that if I can.
 
Thanks for the advice folks! I never thought about that idea of camoflauge...great thinking! Thanks again.
 
Don't skimp on a protective casing! A pelican case saved my ass (er well the DVX anyway) when I dropped it descending a mountain side!
 
camoflage with a cooler

camoflage with a cooler

I used to shoot a lot of offshore sailboat racing. Many of the still photographers kept their cameras in hard shell Igloo type coolers with a nylon strap around the outside for extra closure. They would rivet on a couple of eye hooks to attach a shoulder starp. They'd leave them sitting on the dock etc. which would amaze me and no one would ever bother to steal them. Guess they would only be of interest in a high beer consumption town like Key West.
 
those are some fantastic ideas, thanks, now to find a case. I would like to get a professional one (as my wife) simply because that is what they are made for and to protect our baby....I mean camera. But the camoflaging is a great idea and especially the money saved.

I heard from a friend that it is better to just put the camera in the case (hard case generally with the foam you pluck) with no accesories in it, to keep the camera totally safe. Ever heard of such a thing?

Thanks again.
 
Might want to give this case a look, too.

http://www.cases4less.com/detail_seal_tight_exlg.html

Many have suggested it's as durable and well-built as a Pelican with a substantially cheaper price tag. Either way, the seller, cases4less.com, also sells Pelicans and I've heard nothing but positive things from them on this forum and elsewhere.

I've got one on its way right now. It and my new DVX arrive Thursday :) !! I'll let you know how I like it later in the week if you haven't bought by that time.
 
Yes, please let me know...it looks huge! Until then I am going to check out some home improvement stores to see if I can make a case or find something "inexpesively safe," if you can put those 2 words together.
 
That would be perfect but unfortunately, according to the link you sent, it has been discontinued. Great price though. Is it better to carry your accessories in your case with you camera or just the camera alone in the case?
 
Hi Zack,
big question is- what types of shooting are you planning on? That is to say, will you travel on a plane with the camera? Pelican case/or type would be difficult to travel with. I always carry the camera on board with me.

I recently purchased a Petrol PDB-1 bag, and am very satisfied with it. My next choice was the cinemabag someone else mentioned earlier. Both great and roomy for extras.

I bought the Petrol for $139 at BHphoto. The Cinemabag was another $40+-.
Porta Brace gear is excellent- and they seeem to know it and charge more than acccordingly.

My needs were different perhaps. These are soft-sided bags that won't protect as well as a pelican case would.
Food for thought.

Jeff Patnaude
 
JPatnaude said:
Hi Zack,
big question is- what types of shooting are you planning on? That is to say, will you travel on a plane with the camera? Pelican case/or type would be difficult to travel with. I always carry the camera on board with me.
Click to expand...

OK. Now, don't laugh or cringe, but... I put my DVX in a Samsonite carry-on and pad it with socks and t-shirts.

Dan
 
I bought a well padded and armoured "Kenneth Cole" carry-on bag ($20!), cut some foam to fit inside it, and voila -- disguised carry-on camera bag.

Looks great and cost almost nothing.
 
galt said:
Also, here is a pic of how I packed my Pelican 1600, fwiw. It is really handy to have everything in one case, and to know that if all the holes are filled, I have not fogotten anything (at home or on location). http://www.VeniceDigitalVideo.com/locationDVXkit.htm
Click to expand...

Hey Galt-

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rick

PS all kidding aside, what about the mic attachment? Do you keep that on your camera? I have the 1514 Pelican case (because it's carry-on) and I love it, but I feel like I can't leave that mic adapter on. It feels like it's going to snap off. It's kind of annoying to have to screw and unscrew on all the time. Any organizational suggestions?
 
rlm7189 said:
Hey Galt-

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rick

PS all kidding aside, what about the mic attachment? Do you keep that on your camera? I have the 1514 Pelican case (because it's carry-on) and I love it, but I feel like I can't leave that mic adapter on. It feels like it's going to snap off. It's kind of annoying to have to screw and unscrew on all the time. Any organizational suggestions?
Click to expand...

I guess somebody didn't like your xxxxxxxxx joke. I thought it was funny tho....

IIRC, the 1514 is shallower than the 1600, and that was part of my reason for going with the bigger case. If you look at the cutout shape for the DVX, you will see that the mic holder is indeed attached all the time. I oriented it down, but Rush says it can sit sort of "on-top" of the foam and it will nestle into the bumps in the lid foam. I was worried the presssure that way would snap it off if the camera wasn't in there just right. With the 1514, you may not have a choice, I dunno.
 
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