Right now I got a camera bag, audio bag, and two duffle bags I keep tripods, light stands, lights, extension cords and a bunch of other crap. It's a pain carrying it around and just looks like a total mess. I don't wanna spend a ton of money, but does anyway have recommendations on what to use to keep my gear organized and professional looking?
Keeping gear organized...?
- Thread starter grantw
- Start date
Chris Adler
Veteran
Hope you meant to say "milk". My mind is racing wondering what a MILF cart would consist of.
Jordan Scott Price
Veteran
Wondering the EXACT same thing!
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
if you cant afford pelis (I cant) I think reallyusefulboxes are awesome
Inside them I have billingham and other bags - which are what is usually used on the location
Some of my larger items (3 redheads) just live in a box with a bit of foam
I can stack the boxes (in my studio, at the womans gaff) using minimal floor space
And move with a sack truck (as above but cheaper)
S
Inside them I have billingham and other bags - which are what is usually used on the location
Some of my larger items (3 redheads) just live in a box with a bit of foam
I can stack the boxes (in my studio, at the womans gaff) using minimal floor space
And move with a sack truck (as above but cheaper)
S
If you are looking for low cost cases you might take a look here: Carry Cases Plus
wgzn
Veteran
i stow my crucial gear (camera, computer, monitors) in pelicans. but for grip and lower end light stuff i have no problem with the clear sterilite boxes from target, walmart, etc... stackable, lightweight, cheap and you can SEE whats in them! stack it all up on a rock n roller cart and you're off to the races!
Stanley mobile job box. http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UHTeMBwjiYk It can get heavy if all of your gear is in it and trying to lift into / out of vehicle. It has a simple lock on it. I have a truck so it works for me. Would work with a SUV but not a car. Video by Olivia http://www.oliviatech.com/hard-shell-roller-case-for-camera-equipment
Michael Carter
Veteran
I'm a freak for cases and organization. I regularly troll eBay for deals on used cases. Really good ones last forever - I have a Tenba case that's been all over with me for close to 20 years. I don't like to show up to a gig with cheap-looking cases if I can avoid it. Though I use several dairy crates, can't beat the long ones. I can get more turtle bases in those things than I can lift.
I've never shown up on set with a cardboard box though...
I search for Tenba often - their wedding cases and car cases are great. A nice sized wedding case was listed last week for $90, no takers - that's like a $300 case that your kids could inherit.
Small DSLR bags by Nikon, Tenba, etc - great for carrying monitors, chargers, etc - they're just all over eBay since they come in so many beginner kits. Great for modular packing, fill a larger case with several of these - really organized and allows a cheaper footlocker-style case to be used while really protecting everything.
EBay often has military surplus cases, the modern plastic ones are really kickass - usually a guy will have like 30 of 'em so prices can be low. Search for Hardigg, they make some great cases. Usually they don't have wheels or pull-handles though - but they do have ATA clasps and grab handles. Great utilitarian cases, good enough for military spec, and can be found cheap. You can hit military surplus stores, but man, they overcharge for everything.
The ubiquitous black-plastic footlocker with wheels (in the US it's sold at WalMart, Amazon, etc) is a decent budget case for non-fragile stuff. If you have some basic skills you can take some 1/8 plywood, foam and fabric and make dividers for it. I carry gels, grip, even my 300-watt fresnels in it. You can find 'em for $35 or so. Not super-strong or ATA level, but great for local gigs, they're wheeled and they stack.
I can get 3 or 4 1k fresnels in the "ActionPacker" trunks - I have foam glued to the sides & bottom. In black, they look very nice on a set. Really hold up well, too. Under $40 of you shop around.
SKB has knockoffs of popular pelican sizes, with fabric dividers, etc - they're about 20% less $$.
Domke used to make an amazing stand bag - no frills, just thick canvas and a phat zipper - mine's 20 years old and I still throw 3 or 4 c-stand columns in it and a ton of arms. I emailed pics of it to Canvas Grip, they're interested in making something like it. Stand bags are the hardest thing to find in a quality that will last.
Cool Lights sells an awesome roller case which can take quad biax flos and comes with dividers - $200. I usually have a quad and several duals in that one.
Check the big-box builder stores for pouches like this or sets like this. They'll hold all kinds of grip odds & ends, superclamps & pins - all those little steel pieces. Often there will be a deal on things that aren't on their web sites. You can toss these in larger cases.
For bigger gigs, I use a large convertible dolly - you really can't beat those and they're handy around the house, for moving, etc. I take a couple cheap 1" ratchet straps (I cut off the hooks and cut the fabric down to 5 feet or so and use them like large belts to hold a stack of cases to the dolly). Those straps end up coming in handy on-set sometimes, as tie-downs, etc.
Lately my audio gear's been traveling in a regular everyday black roller suitcase - my daughter got one from the airlines after they trashed her duffel. I wouldn't check gear in it, but for local, it's great. My blimp is nestled among a bunch of DSLR-sized camera bags, sort of like packing cubes, with headphones, mics, odds & ends.
There's a start for your case upgrade mission!
I've never shown up on set with a cardboard box though...
I search for Tenba often - their wedding cases and car cases are great. A nice sized wedding case was listed last week for $90, no takers - that's like a $300 case that your kids could inherit.
Small DSLR bags by Nikon, Tenba, etc - great for carrying monitors, chargers, etc - they're just all over eBay since they come in so many beginner kits. Great for modular packing, fill a larger case with several of these - really organized and allows a cheaper footlocker-style case to be used while really protecting everything.
EBay often has military surplus cases, the modern plastic ones are really kickass - usually a guy will have like 30 of 'em so prices can be low. Search for Hardigg, they make some great cases. Usually they don't have wheels or pull-handles though - but they do have ATA clasps and grab handles. Great utilitarian cases, good enough for military spec, and can be found cheap. You can hit military surplus stores, but man, they overcharge for everything.
The ubiquitous black-plastic footlocker with wheels (in the US it's sold at WalMart, Amazon, etc) is a decent budget case for non-fragile stuff. If you have some basic skills you can take some 1/8 plywood, foam and fabric and make dividers for it. I carry gels, grip, even my 300-watt fresnels in it. You can find 'em for $35 or so. Not super-strong or ATA level, but great for local gigs, they're wheeled and they stack.
I can get 3 or 4 1k fresnels in the "ActionPacker" trunks - I have foam glued to the sides & bottom. In black, they look very nice on a set. Really hold up well, too. Under $40 of you shop around.
SKB has knockoffs of popular pelican sizes, with fabric dividers, etc - they're about 20% less $$.
Domke used to make an amazing stand bag - no frills, just thick canvas and a phat zipper - mine's 20 years old and I still throw 3 or 4 c-stand columns in it and a ton of arms. I emailed pics of it to Canvas Grip, they're interested in making something like it. Stand bags are the hardest thing to find in a quality that will last.
Cool Lights sells an awesome roller case which can take quad biax flos and comes with dividers - $200. I usually have a quad and several duals in that one.
Check the big-box builder stores for pouches like this or sets like this. They'll hold all kinds of grip odds & ends, superclamps & pins - all those little steel pieces. Often there will be a deal on things that aren't on their web sites. You can toss these in larger cases.
For bigger gigs, I use a large convertible dolly - you really can't beat those and they're handy around the house, for moving, etc. I take a couple cheap 1" ratchet straps (I cut off the hooks and cut the fabric down to 5 feet or so and use them like large belts to hold a stack of cases to the dolly). Those straps end up coming in handy on-set sometimes, as tie-downs, etc.
Lately my audio gear's been traveling in a regular everyday black roller suitcase - my daughter got one from the airlines after they trashed her duffel. I wouldn't check gear in it, but for local, it's great. My blimp is nestled among a bunch of DSLR-sized camera bags, sort of like packing cubes, with headphones, mics, odds & ends.
There's a start for your case upgrade mission!
David W. Jones
Veteran
I use a variety of different bags, cases, and crates to hold my stuff, mostly in racks on my Sprinter van. The door mounts for stands are really helpful. I keep every equipment spot in the racks labeled so if I hire freelance help they know where everything goes.
Attachments
...Just out of curiosity, what are the tall aluminum looking things standing near the center at the back of your van?
David W. Jones
Veteran
Ramp so I can roll carts in and out.