Hard case experience and suggestions?

[rbiemer]

My job means that I basically maintain two residences, I live and work in the Adirondacks for six or seven months, come home to Cortland for six or eight weeks, then go back north.
So I mainly use my bag to carry all my stuff back and forth between Cortland and Raquette Lake.
I've not been too happy with any of the bags I've tried, mainly because I don't really use one when I shoot. Typically, I take a camera and lens, some film, a meter if I'm using one of my meterless cameras, and occasionally one other lens. Rarely I will carry two cameras.
I think what will work better for me is not any soft bag but a hard case. something like a Pelican or an Otter Box. And I'd bet there are other brands available.
I need room for 7 or 8 cameras--RF, SLR, and P&S--about a dozen lenses, and all the small accessories. I have film storage sorted, I've been using an old .30 cal metal ammo box.
So, who uses what?
Rob

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I can't say anything but good things about the Pelican cases. They aren't pretty, but they work exactly as advertised. I've used one for years for hauling MF gear around and it's pretty much bullet proof. Also makes a nice place to sit down and to stand on to get a little higher angle. 🙂

There are too many models to make a specific recommendation for your needs, but shouldn't be a problem finding out what works.

 

[newspaperguy]

Why not a hard sided picnic cooler of the size you need,
and some foam of your choosing. Works well, and nobody
thinks of swiping your picnic lunch.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Zero Halliburton are excellent. Mine have been kicked around the world for almost 30 years.

Tashi Delek,

Roger

 

[Al Kaplan]

My Zero Halliburton cases must be about forty years old now but I about never use them anymore. I've tried to cut down the amount of crap that I take with me to three bodies max and five or six lenses. Those ammo boxes are too heavy! They also get hot if left sitting in the sun. I painted mine white.

 

[rbiemer]

I should be clear about this: I am wanting a case to put in the car and then on the boat(or snow mobile, depending on the season) to get my stuff back and forth from home and Adirondacks. Once I'm there, I have a lovely shelf to keep it all on and I then just carry whichever camera I want for walking around. So not for day to day use.
Yes, Al, the ammo cans are pretty heavy but the are waterproof--as long as the gasket is OK, anyway--tough, and mine floats when filled with film. I'm pretty sure "eureka!" was NOT what I said when I found that out.😀
Rob

 

[Al Kaplan]

I depend on heavy duty Zip-Lok freezer bags for "waterproof" and they do float. The ammo boxes are reserved for 30-30 and 9mm ammo. At least I've managed to get the arsenal reduced to just two guns.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

My musician friends have custom-made 'flight cases' for their instruments and electronics.

Maybe a similar large hard case made to your own dimensions would serve as your transit case?

I think these things are expensive, but not too expensive.

 

[peter_n]

Pelican, I love the yellow ones and you can make your own cutouts in foam kits. 🙂 They are not expensive either.

I was in an elevator at the airport the other day and I was talking to a bloke with a really beat up one. "Absolutely bullet-proof" he said and I agree with him.

 

[rbiemer]

After looking at the various suggested cases, I think one of the larger Pelican cases will be my choice. Seem to be the best combination of features and price.
Thanks, all!
Rob

 

[pete63uk]

I was going to get a nice display case, and despite a nice meal, a paid for night out with her freinds and a NEW dress, the wife said "no way". So I have recently (yesterday) aquired some old aluminium cases from work. So I will set one up with the 8 Olympus OM's in, one for the 35's and one for my prime Zuiko glass. I might aquire another for flashes and other accessories. The only thing I need to get is the foam so I'm trying to find out the name for the type of foam I need. Which is foam you can easily cut to the right shape and is firm enough to do the job, not too hard and not squishy. If anyone knows the technical name for such a foam, I'd be pleased to know.