Really Waterproof Cases

[OdDbaLL]

My MP and I are going to be doing a few days kayaking in the Georgian bay in Ontario at the end of August. I need something to keep it all bone dry in case I should capsize. At the moment I'm looking at getting a Pelican 1300 case to hold the one body and 3 lenses while I'm out on the high seas. Does anyone have any experiences, opinions or tips?

 

[drewbarb]

Pelican cases are good, but for a kayak trip I'd opt for a good quality dry bag and just wrap the camera in your dry clothes. Check REI (http://www.rei.com/category/4501503) or similar outdoor outfitters.

 

[waileong]

Actually one of those Digipac waterproof cases might be good.

 

[noimmunity]

I would put it in a dry bag for sure, but also use an aloksak inside that, and have one handy when the camera is out taking photos.
http://www.loksak.com/

 

[nksyoon]

I would put it in a dry bag for sure, but also use an aloksak inside that, and have one handy when the camera is out taking photos.
http://www.loksak.com/

They don't mention cameras on their product page - would the weight and possible sharp edges be an issue with the plastic?

http://www.loksak.com/products/aloksak

Somebody posted a pic of a Pelican 1200 on the Leica Users Forum:

 

[OdDbaLL]

Thanks for all the replies. The Leica Forum link was quite useful. I'm leaning toward a hard case because I can have good use for it in other situations.

Most of the reviews of Pelican cases I found was for gun folks and LED flashlight nuts. There's are some very active forums out there dedicated to discussing and collecting LED flashlights. The internet truly is a marvelous place! I couldn't wait to show my wife how ungeeky my camera hobby was. 😀

I'll also definitely be getting something small and soft that I can strap to the deck and put map,gps and GR1 in for quick snaps.

 

[robinsonphotography]

Not sure what you ended up doing/if this is all a moot point now, but I went on a week-long canoe trip this past year and used a pelican case to carry all my camera gear--worked fantastic. We never fell in the water, luckily, so it didn't get fully submerged, but lots of drips and dirt got on the outside, nothing was ever let in though. Plus, I love the sturdy look/feel of the Pelican case, it inspires confidence that your gear is safe.

 

[RichardB]

As a whitewater kayaker and canoer, sea kayaker and canoer, I always expect anything I take along to get wet, its just the nature of the beast.

i assume you will be sea kayaking. do you have previous experience and your own boat or will this be your first time and not your own boat?
If your first time and/or not your own boat, there are only a few places to store objects and for hard case, the hatch openings are critical. Carrying anything that you don't want to lose in your cockpit is not wise. Are you using a spray skirt and have experience in 'wet exit' with a skirt attached?
For a seasoned sea kayaker and your own boat, I might reccamned a dry bag if you just have to have your MP stored in the flotation bag that should be both fore and aft.
I personally do not carry any of my Leica's because they are going to get wet sooner or later.-Dick

 

[Benjamin]

You want a Nikonos.

 

[wontonny]

I've heard many good things about Pelican's. I've heard of people fashioning underwater cases for using their cameras out of these. I've also heard of people floating their case in the water while crossing a shallow reef.