location hard case ???

[rhoffart]

anyone find a good case without dropping the big bucks for a Pelican I looked at Home Doepot and Walmart.

Looking for something with wheels and about the same size as the 1610 ... thanks

[Daniel W.]

Price wise? Putting the money up for a Pelican will be worth it when the case falls off the back of a truck or someone spills a 5 gallon container of gatorade on it. (no kidding on those last two.)

Hard cases, tend to be something I avoid cheaping out on. I have a Pelican, and I know what standards to hold it up to, what I can (and cant - which is very little) treat it to.

That being said, here are the alternatives:
Storm cases (from Hardigg. About the same quality and price as Peli)
Zero and Halliburton (less subtle looking as Peli / Storm, usually more $$)

Amvona also has a few, priced well too - just haven't tried them.

There are also cheap versions around ebay... not anything close to a Pelican but hard enough to take a knock or two. They look kind of cheezy to me and the latches look like they'd easily break. Not sure about size.

[rhoffart]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Price wise? Putting the money up for a Pelican will be worth it when the case falls off the back of a truck or someone spills a 5 gallon container of gatorade on it. (no kidding on those last two.)

yea, 5k worth of gear in a tupperware box ... kinda sounds stupid now ... you know any local suppliers of the Pelicans ... maybe Camera Co-Op ? ...

[fivegrand]

I use and like SKB Cases.

I have a double golf club shipping case that I can put four lights, four stands, extension cords, boxes, brellas, and all kinds of other stuff in. Studio in a box!

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by rhoffart

yea, 5k worth of gear in a tupperware box ... kinda sounds stupid now ... you know any local suppliers of the Pelicans ... maybe Camera Co-Op ? ...

I don't know about local but I got my Pelican 1510 here and was very happy with the service and price.

[Daniel W.]

Forgot about SKB. To go with SKB would be Calzone, but you have to get custom cut foam. I store the pro-audio gear (you know, $16k in mics) in SKB's but I'm not a big fan "thermoplastic." That being, they are still great cases.

On availability, Not sure about Co-op. I'm sure a call to them would solve it. HCE might have a few too. I know my local store has Pelican and Storm (more Storm than Peli), Webster Camera (AKA Vintec.) A little pricey, but that's the cost of local. Stopped into the local Ritz (on Bay Area, not in the mall) before dinner to get a CF card and did see look-alikes, but all sized to hold a single lens or maybe PW's. Nothing to hold a kit. They also had the cheaper version (like on eBay)... those could hold a kit. Didn't really notice prices. (Every time I'm in there I have the urge to buy that EOS1V they have on display.)

If none of the camera stores have them. try dive / maritime / boating shops. The local dive shop had the 1510 I was looking for, a little ($15) less than the camera shop. More yellow / orange cases in stock, if you're into that thing.

Final note: When you do order, go with moveable padded dividers... I got sick of Pick n' Pluck...

[barP]

shutterbug just did a review of the amvona case and seemed to find it acceptable.

wp.

[Daniel W.]

Thanks Will, I'll have to check them out.

I dont really dig the reviews on Amvona's page... seem kind of faked. Like a FEMA press conference.

[fivegrand]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Forgot about SKB. To go with SKB would be Calzone, but you have to get custom cut foam. I store the pro-audio gear (you know, $16k in mics) in SKB's but I'm not a big fan "thermoplastic." That being, they are still great cases.

I ordered extra "blank sheets" of foam, and custom cut and glued for my needs.

I'm not a big fan of thermoplastic either, but the case I bought *is* air transport rated, so it is what it is...And it's much better than landing with pretzeled stands (thank you very little, America Worst) in a soft case.

[Daniel W.]

The layers are what we did too, holds up much better than any pick and pluck. Only went with dividers because I like moving things around based on assignment.

On that note, I discovered Calumet too, has their variety of cases.