Pelican case

cosmonaut

cosmonaut

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Anyone here use a Pelican case for storing your Leica?
http://www.pelican-case.com/1500.html
I saw a post here once and Eggleston stored his in a safe. I would like to keep mine in a rugged case when not in use an wonder would the foam be safe to store a Leica and a few lenses in. Maybe one day I can get a safe.
 
I've had them and they are very secure for travel, being almost airtight and waterproof. But that foam can break down and hold dust, so I wouldn't leave my Leicas in the case for a long time. And while there is no odor, I suspect all that plastic and foam must off-gas something and it probably isn't "archival" quality gases. I've had the larger ones, and if you stand on them in the cold, they break. Not that you should stand on them but sometimes I needed the height for a photo....

For at home storage I think a small steel safe with a desiccant unit makes the most practical sense. Ideally you put the safe in the most fire-proof area of the house, under a bathroom in a concrete basement, near a corner. If it is a good safe, water dripping or a bathtub falling on top of it won't damage the contents, and bathrooms burn last.

But why not keep the Leica with you most of the time?
 
I do keep them with me most of the times since I am on the road a lot. But there are times that I am going to be out of my truck and the cameras stay in the truck. It worries me having them in the truck in the summertime as the inside temp of the truck gets pretty high and also low in the winter. During very hot or cold days I carry digital.
 
I wouldn't leave one in there

I wouldn't leave one in there

As previously mentioned they're great for travel but I wouldn't leave the camera in there. They're totally watertight so if you get any moisture in there (take your camera in the rain or something) than the water is stuck in there. This would probably increase your chance of things like fungus.

They're great for canoeing though. Mine's seen the water once or twice and I keep my digital in there. Still firing!

Churchill-758.jpg
 
I had a bad experience with my pelikan case and M6 on a cross country flight.
I used my case as a carry-on for my M6 and a couple of lenses and when I arrived and opened the case it had significant pressure build-up.
The rangefinder patch on my otherwise perfect camera had fractures and a corner of the patch had delaminated.
The patch was still usable and I've never had it repaired, however the warranty only covers damage to the case and not what is in it.
Needless to say I was not too happy about this and now the case is only used for car travel.
 
^---they blow Halliburtons out of the water. Pressure changes should *not* have caused delamination unless something was already seriously awry.
 
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Great for transport . Storage???? Nah, Others have said the two biggies. Break down of foam and closing in of moisture. I have a couple and unless I'm going to somewhere high risk or "check bagging" a big kit I leave them at home. Cameras are rugged and Pelicans are bulky. Europeans style air travel is on it's way to the states. We better start getting used to traveling lighter or putting checked bag charges onto client invoices.
 
Check a Pelican full of lights or a view camera and get a nice surcharge, there is no way to keep those under 50 lbs when the case weighs half of it.

Halliburtons dent but if you buy used beaters and don't use the foam - have everything wrapped individually - then they hold a lot since the walls are thin. And they are nice and light for air travel.

Otherwise I'd stick to the soft-sided Nylon and hard foam Lightware type cases unless I was needing waterproofness or cheapness from a Pelikan.
 
el fotografo said:
I had a bad experience with my pelikan case and M6 on a cross country flight.
I used my case as a carry-on for my M6 and a couple of lenses and when I arrived and opened the case it had significant pressure build-up.
The rangefinder patch on my otherwise perfect camera had fractures and a corner of the patch had delaminated.
The patch was still usable and I've never had it repaired, however the warranty only covers damage to the case and not what is in it.
Needless to say I was not too happy about this and now the case is only used for car travel.
Click to expand...

My Pelicans (getting old now maybe new ones are different) have a small screw valve on the case near the handle. This valve is to help deal with pressure differences from travel (open or close as you choose before take-off). I don't doubt you had a problems but rather, feel there was likely something quite amiss with your m6 before takeoff.
 
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Live in Bangkok where humidity can be a problem. I've used two Pelicans for a number of years for both storage and travel. I have a large one for medium format and a smaller one (the 1510) for 35mm cameras. Neither have the foam inserts but use dividers. I use silica gel desiccants in both cases. Lenses are kept in zip-lock bags with a small silica desiccant in each bag with each lens. The larger case has O-rings so that air can be pushed out of the case. Smaller case is kept in a locked stainless steel cabinet for security at night. I open it up pretty often to get things inside. It sure has been a convenient way to carry stuff on trips. Never had any of the pressure-related experiences cited in another post, but I've only carried on my 1510 for one long trip to the USA. I carry the big one around in my station wagon when doing a photo trip in Thailand. I also keep a good 'Hydrosorbant' silica container in the smaller case, which requires a periodic warm-up in the oven to refresh its absorbency. I'd often considered using a dry cabinet but they require electricity and I'd heard from local sources that they can be too effective, causing the lubricants etc. to become excessively dried out over longer periods of time. With this Pelican + desiccants formula, I've had no problems with fungus on lenses or other surfaces. Another thing I like is that keeping my gear in these cases enables me to move all the gear quickly, should I need to. Plus the cases have wheels so moving gear about is easy. I've a very positive experience with my Pelican cases and highly recommend them for a sturdy clean environment for cameras.
Charles
 
I used one for several years, but had a problem with the foam deteriorating. I opened the case and noticed dust, I pinched the foam and it disintegrated between my fingers. Other than that, it was a great case.
 
Thanks all for the great advise. I doubt I will ever take them on a plane but the knowledge is new and interesting for me. My pelican case as a valve of some sort on the front to relieve pressure. I plan to get a small safe in the near future. I found the advice about the tub falling interesting as well and something I never considered. Damage from the foam and gases are my biggest consern. I never intend to stop shooting long enough for that to be a problem but with the said you never know what life will deal you.
 
Some of the cases are available with compartments rather than foam- years ago these were camera bag type foam wrapped in some soft cloth, not sure if they are still like that.

A note of caution buying a safe- DO NOT get a "Fireproof" safe as they are made to absorb moisture from the air and that moisture is used to keep the contents from burning. I had a polaroid camera that was kept in a fire safe for a while- it was thick with fungus.
 
sepiareverb said:
Some of the cases are available with compartments rather than foam- years ago these were camera bag type foam wrapped in some soft cloth, not sure if they are still like that.

A note of caution buying a safe- DO NOT get a "Fireproof" safe as they are made to absorb moisture from the air and that moisture is used to keep the contents from burning. I had a polaroid camera that was kept in a fire safe for a while- it was thick with fungus.
Click to expand...

Thanks a million a firepfroof safe is what I was looking at.
 
I habe a 1510 with the padded dividers rather than the foam. The new Pelican cases have automatic pressure valves; the older ones did not. SO, if you are buying one today, cabin pressure should not be an issue.

I do store gear in the 1510, but I am rarely ever in a humid environment; where I live (inland in So Cal), it is hot and dry (desert influence).
 
I have one that I use now and then - mainly when I expect to be going into a hostile environment like the outback (dusty and bumpy roads) or the ocean (wet and salty).

They are good for air travel too but honestly I would be seriously reluctant to use on anyway other than as carry on - they positively signal "high value contents" to anyone who wants to steal something. Call me paranoid but...............!!

As someone else points out they have a pressure relief valve to deal with pressure changes due to airtravel.

You may wish to also consider popping in a small sachet of silica gel to make sure that there is no moisture build up.
 
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