Camcorder bag suggestions for XH-A1
 

I'm interested in hearing from XH-A1 owners as to what camcorder bag you are using. I'm looking for something to use around town, on the road, and as an airline carry-on. I've read some threads with posts by people who had recently bought a bag or who were thinking about various bags - I'm particularly interested in opinions from people who have had the A1 for awhile, and therefore have some decent amount of time using their bag or bags.

I have a Petrol PCUB-1. I believe it cost about $170 or so. It has nice big side pockets, and I like the hard bottom underneath so if you set it down on wet grass it doesn't get into the fabric.

A friend bought an XH A1 from Tapeworks Texas and got the free Camrade bag. I think it sells for around $150. It's lighter weight and slimmer, though a bit longer, than my Petrol. I think it might be better as a carry-on. The Petrol probably offers better protection, while the Camrade is softer. The Petrol's sides are more rigid, so for example, you could put another bag on top and not squish it down. The Camrade bag is more squishable. But it is thinner and lighter and easier to carry around. My Petrol is close to a year old now and has no problems. I think it's as well made as the Portabraces I've used for years with other cameras and equipment.

Is that the same as the Petrol PCUB-1N U-Bag, which B & H has for $179.95?

Do you know anything about the Petrol PDRB-3 Dr. Petrol Bag? I just saw it on B & H while looking up the other Petrol bag.

Do you know which Camrade bag is the one for the A1?

lowepro magnum aw

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Shoulder.html

I never seem to have enough space for all the 'extra' bits..The Petrol PCCB-2N comes pretty close for me, firm base, excellent protection and meets most carry on regulations.

http://www.petrolbags.com/products/C...B-2/PCCB-2.htm

Mine doesn't have the U...just PCUB-1N

However, I just got on B&H, and that PCUB-1NU is the same one, and you still get the free rain cover. There's all kinds of velcro'd stuff inside you have to pull out, and the camera is a pretty nice fit. They give you a couple of little U-shaped velcro pads, and I stick one down so the base of the camera sits against it, then I stuck the other one at the end of the bag for the lens to run up against if the camera should tilt and slide. They also have a velcro strap you can stick across the bottom and look around the camera to hold it in place better, which is good if you stick the camera in an overhead compartment on a plane.

Can you fit the A1 in it with the lens hood on and with an external mic?

I like to travel light so I use this one and it fits well under a plane seat or in the overheads:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...arry_Case.html

Mine doesn't say Panasonic on it BTW and the HVX200 or the XH-A1 fit just fine. It's very stiff and durable but compact.

I love my Porta Brace CS-DV3U. I don't like to carry a large camera bag, so the CS-DV3U is perfect. It fits the XH-A1, shotgun, tapes, batteries, cables, charger, etc. perfectly. Although Porta Brace is expensive I can say that you definitely get what you pay for. The bag is very well built and provides good protection. If you want a bag with lots of extra storage space then the CS-DV3U might not be the best choice for you.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...rder_Case.html

Hugh

Stephen,

Are if you're looking for a hard case for the A1 you could look at the pelican
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...se_Black_.html

It's light and compact but yet solid case and meets the current FAA regulation for a carry on bag. I recently bought it and my camera lives in this case. I've travelled a few places with this case as well and I feel comfortable and confident when I travel around with this case.

The complete camera (hood, battery charger, cables etc.) fits in with some room to spare (not much). Not sure what mic you have but it should fit in there too.

If looking for a sub-$100 solution...
 

I've been more on less happy with my Impact bag:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...order_Bag.html

It appears to have the exact same form factor as the Petrol bag linked to by a previous poster, for about half the cost.

I've got the lens hood on, and a Rode NTG-1 inside an SM5 shock mount, and the only thing I have to do prior to shoving the camera into the bag is to unplug the XLR cable from the camera. Even this is something I could probably avoid with a right-angle connector on the male end.

Here's a pic of the camera inside my bag:

http://screencast.com/t/JazceMFdi

Because of the weight of this case 15lb. (6.8 kg) bare , You might not get it on at some airport or airlines as a hand-carry after you put the camera inside

Shiv,
That Pelican 1510 looks pretty good to me..the Pelican 1600 is available down under with precut foam for the Canon A1. The 1510 is a better carry on size as you say...how much foam trimming did you have to do?

Malcolm,

You literally pull off the foam by hand. I'd say you tear off half the foam since the camera and stuff takes up quite a bit of space.

I think one advantage of "do-it-yourself" is that you can lay out things the way you want/need rather than have to live with a specific pre-cut layout.

I could show you the inside of the way my layout is if you'd like. I'm not near the camera nor my still camera at this moment or I'd have posted a few photographs anyway.

Also note that the pockets thinghy you can buy (extra) is pretty much useless (for our purpose at least). I bought it and don't use it for two reasons:
1. screwing that thing on is more than just a pain. You will need to drill tiny holes prior to screwing the thing on because the screws are so tiny and the angle is so odd that applying pressure to get the self threading screws to catch a tread is hard.
2. The A1 pretty much comes right to the top of the foam so you don't want stuff in these pockets applying pressure anywhere on the A1.

Shiv,
Thanks a lot for the detail..if you have a chance to show a view of the inside that would be great..however your info has certainly steered me toward a 1510 hard case for many assignments.

Images showing Pelican 1510 housing the XHA1
 

Malcolm,

Here are the images...

The top view showing (from Top-left to bottom right)
1. My Mic preamp
2. My Mic (It's a lav. mic) and the XHA1 Remote
3. The battery charger, and the two cables. The bettery goes into the A1.
4. This cutout allows for a few tapes, head cleaner tapes, screw driver, 25 foot XLR cable, filter wrench lens cleaning solution and 100 pads and some other odds and ends.
5. The A1 camera (the battery is in the A1).

Side View:
Essentially showing that the A1 fits comfortably in the case.


About the foam cut-outs:
The body area of the A1 is supported by 1 layer of foam the top two layers have been cut out. The handle and mic area of the A1 are supported by the bottom two layers of foam. In other words, only one layer (the top most) has been cut out from this area.

All other cut outs have only one layer at the bottom supporting the contents. That is the top two layers have been cut out. Now the right most compartment (No. 4 above) could quite easily have no supporting foam since there is nothing delicate in this compartment.

You can also see (in the top view photo) that the convoluted foam of the case's top presses into the top of the foam in the bottom part of the case. The top part of the case is just about 1.5-2 inches in depth. So not much space there except for the convoluted foam.

Shiv,
Thanks again, those pics tell it all. Exactly what I need in a small crash proof footprint. I'll definately order one.

I was warned against using those pull-foam cases because the foam can absorb moisture pretty easily.

Might make a difference what kind of climate you live in...

JR

I'm a happy user of the CS-DV4U of Portabrace. The bag is big enough (some ppl consider it too big for the XH-A1) to house external mic and a lot of extra equipment and the bag is of good quality. Though it's not a hardcase it offers a lot of protection. I guess I could sit on it without harming the cam inside, but forgive me not actually trying it...

Pic: http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/PBCSDV4U.JPG

Here's another vote for the Peli 1510, it's ideal for general protection of the XH-A1. I wouldn't want to carry it around town though if that's your main requirement, you'd be better of with a shoulder bag for that. I've been really impressed by the peli cases, in fact another Peli (the 1560) was the first thing I got for my EX-1 too.

Slightly different configuration to Shiv's, but that's the great thing about the pluck 'n' pull foam. The foam is quite easy to damage though if you don't treat it carefully.

Paul.

I had thought about that too, but after purchasing mine I noticed a little brochure supplied by Pelican. They make a little humidity thing that absorbs moisture that you can put right in the case. I live in AZ so I'm not really worried about condensation too much...

I love the Pelican 1510. Fits the cam perfect and will be great for travel. It's not that much of a hassle to lug around eaither with the rollers and extension handle. I just have my camera in it for now. My new shotgun mic is on the way so I want to get a good layout for it, but I'm thinking it will have to be removed and stored seperate because the camera fits so snug.