Camera Cases

[jakeWI]

I have been looking into buying a Hard Case for my camera. I want something durable and water tight for protection. I dont want something the size of a suitcase, but something more carry-able.

I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS with two smaller lenses and small accessories.

I was looking at the Pelican 1300 and 1400 cases but not sure how everything would look inside. I haven't seen the cases in person, just on crappy stock photos that don't even have a camera placed in them.

Im not set on Pelican, just curious on what you guys suggest or are using.

 

[Hackmeister]

a friend of mine has a Pelican for his Nikon and loves it. It's not much bigger than a normal camera case, and he can toss it in the snow, wet, whatever as long as it's sealed. Pelican stuff passes MIL specs for moisture and whatnot so it's good enough for a camera

 

[jakeWI]

a friend of mine has a Pelican for his Nikon and loves it. It's not much bigger than a normal camera case, and he can toss it in the snow, wet, whatever as long as it's sealed. Pelican stuff passes MIL specs for moisture and whatnot so it's good enough for a camera

could you ask him which Pelican case he has? and if he could take a picture of it loaded with gear?

 

[DrMoab]

The best thing to do with Pelican cases is take all the gear you want to put in one and arrange it on your table as compactly as you can but leaving room for the foam in between components. Measure and then find a case that closely fits that.

Every photographer has different gear and it makes a difference in the size of the case you get.

 

[jakeWI]

that makes since. i wish there were more places close to me that sold them in store. ill have to try and measure it out.

anyone running a hard case other then pelican? or is that pretty much a standard?

 

[Handlebars]

Are you SURE you need that much protection? They make splashproof bags and cases. This is the only time I used my Pelican:

Most of that trip the camera rested on the spray skirt in front of me, not in the case. :gee:

The downside to Pelican cases is it is a hassle getting the camera in/out, and if your camera or hands are wet when you put it back now you have your camera steaming in the sun inside a sealed case. I have used my D700 in the rain, on the lake and river several times, to the point that I now have hard water spots all over it. The camera still works fine. For the price of a Pelican case you can buy a waterproof/drop resistant point-n-shoot and get those photos you would miss because things are too sloppy to get out your nice camera.

I've gotten photos I wouldn't dream of using my DSLR on with a cheap Olympus camera:

Remember, whatever camera that is in your hand will take better photos than that DSLR that is sealed away in its case.

 

[jakeWI]

What splashproof bags or cases do you use or recommend Handlebars? Like I said, im not set on Pelican. Im just curious what everyone uses. Last summer when I was in Washington and at Yellowstone it rained ALOT. The camera bag/backpack I have now isnt water proof by any means so I am thinking about getting another case.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Hers an option Jake

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...abelas/en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form23

 

[jakeWI]

P.S. Thanks for rubbing it in. Haha JK. looks great down there.

 

[jakeWI]

Hers an option Jake

yeah. ive looked into those. never seen one the size of the "large" listed there so good to know they are out there. only thing is, for the same price or $30 more (depending on model) I can get a Pelican off of amazon.

 

[Handlebars]

What splashproof bags or cases do you use or recommend Handlebars? Like I said, im not set on Pelican. Im just curious what everyone uses. Last summer when I was in Washington and at Yellowstone it rained ALOT. The camera bag/backpack I have now isnt water proof by any means so I am thinking about getting another case.

That depends on how much camera gear you plan on having with you in the rain. I like to travel light. I usually have the camera around my neck with the flash in a pocket or in my Camelbak. No bag for the camera. When it rains I put my jacket over the camera too. I do have an M-Rock Appalachian that I use as a storage bag, I never take it hiking. It is more for protection when my camera is rattling around in the trunk of my motorcycle. My M-Rock looks like this one, only a little bigger. Mine seems to be discontinued. For camera gear storage in my Jeep I use a clear plastic shoebox. If I can't fit what I need in there I probably can do without it. I have bigger problems if enough water gets inside my Cherokee to inundate that box. You have a Cherokee, right? With doors, windows, roof and all that? Consider that your durable, waterproof case. Get a shoebox for storage. I just saved you several hundred $ that you can spend on gas.

The Pelican cases are good if you plan on throwing your camera into a flooded slot canyon and relying on if as your personal flotation device but they are overkill and inconvenient for pretty much anything else. In October of 2006 we got some great photos in the rain. I don't remember anyone mentioning drowned cameras. You won't get photos like those with your camera tucked safely away in a case. Keep your camera handy! :thumbup:

 

[bigalpha]

FWIW, I'm in the process of researching some waterproof cameras.

Olympus is coming out with the Tough 6020 and 8010 at the end of March. It's supposed to be the latest and greatest iteration of their Tough series.

Panasonic makes the DMC-TS1. It takes HD video and got some pretty good reviews. It's going to be discontinued soon to make room for the TS2. The TS-series cameras can take video in .mov or AVCHD Lite. The AVCHD Lite format has somewhat limited support by manufacturers right now, though.

The rest of the models I've found, though, don't really stack up to the specs and the picture quality of the TS1.

Canon makes a waterproof camera, but the housing is extremely bulky and it doesn't take HD video.

Sony is coming out with a waterproof camera in April/May but I don't particularly like the touchscreen that Sony uses. It doesn't seem rugged enough to withstand the test of time.

I'll be waiting for the Tough 6020 to come out and read some reviews and see some pictures and video it takes before I get it or the TS1.

 

[jakeWI]

My girlfriend has the Olympus tough 6000. That is a great little camera.

 

[bigalpha]

The 6020 is supposed to be even greater, but that's manufacturer hype.

 

[dphillips]

Here's a few pictures of a Pelican 1500 case. We use them at work with some of our portable lab equipment. They are a little bulky, but they make one hell of a case!

Those are the outside demensions in the pictures. Please excuse my mad paint skills! All you have to do is pluck out the foam in the spots you want to place the items and you're good to go. If you screw up you can order the foam inserts and start over. We also have large rolling cases for heavier equipment that have held up vary well over the years.
Hope that helps.

 

[jakeWI]

wow. thanks for the pics and the dimensions.

 

[dphillips]

They're good cases. A little on the pricey side, but worth it if you really need to protect something delicate. It's hard to come off of that kind of money for a plastic case, but once you hold one in your hand you can see why the cost is where it's at. I will pick one up for my nikon soon.