Since the HVX is finally in several hands do we have any recommendations on cases or good bags for the unit? I am partial to a soft case for easier travel but I am not sure what will work or not.

Thanks!

I think a Portbrace bag would work well. I have the CS-CR4 which I bought for my DVX and I just tried fitting the HVX and it will work, but it doesn't leave a lot of room for anything else and the "caddy" in the bag is too small for the HVX (the HVX is considerably larger than the DVX). I've actually been looking at a Pelican Case because I thought that would be BETTER for travel--more rugged, waterproof. If you go soft case I would really recommend the PortaBrace, though--you can't beat them. Hope that helps and if anyone has a Pelican Case recommendation, let us know!

Peter

The Storm Case looks nice and rugged . . . diffrent colors too.

http://www.goeps.com/Storm-iM2950-Case-IDs-29-x-18-x-105-P3940C1125.aspx?UserID=175337&SessionID=KR4kmQO8kQ2hsmuSfNTs

I scored a Portabrace a Black and Red DV Organizer.

http://www.portabrace.com/product_detail_A.php?id=2947

I needed something flexible since my HVX rig varies in size.

The camera fits perfectly in the padded side of a Billingham 445 and I've filled the rest with long and short shotguns, a couple Lectronics wireless mics, extra batteries, charger, and a Litepanel. Still room to stuff in a change of clothes and take it as a carry-on.

Since the HVX is finally in several hands do we have any recommendations on cases or good bags for the unit? I am partial to a soft case for easier travel but I am not sure what will work or not.

Thanks!

We went with the Porta-Brace DVO-1U ... works great, semi-rigid, keeps the camera well protected while providing room for extra batteries, charger, P2 cards, headphones, wireless mics (in the zippered stuff sacks ... very cool), etc.

Here's the link at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=375656&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

It's basically the alter ego of Steev's.

http://www.petrolbags.com/new_petrol_site/products/search/search.html

Click on the HVX200 options.

Call me cautious, but none of my camera equipment ever leaves the studio/office unless it's in a Pelican hard-case.

I've had a selection of semi-rigid and soft cases for my SLR equipment over the years, but nothing stands up to abuse, weather or being accidentally dropped by a lazy airline ramp-loader like the Pelican cases. And, they have built-in hasp holes for locks, not to mention a choice of either pluck-able foam or padded inserts for dividers.

Case in point: Last fall I transported my Canon 400mm f/2.8, 200mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.2 lenses, two DSLR bodies and a few EX strobes in one large 1650 Pelican case with padded dividers. That lazy airline ramp worker I mentioned? He didn't load it properly on the belt-loader and I watched the case drop from the near-top of the loader onto the ramp below - from a 767 belly.

I thought for sure the big glass would be damaged in some way, but the Pelican case distributed the shock amazingly well - all that broke were two of the snap-downs (finger pinchers) on the corner where the case took the hit, everything else survived unscathed. Not even those expensive aluminum cases ever held up that well or, protected my gear as well.

I have my HVX, matte-box, filters, Senn G2 Evo mics, batteries, OWC 500gb drive, FW cables, inverter, power supplies and few other minor items all in one Pelican 1650.

You can certainly get some very cool looking bags, but for my money and piece of mind, my gear is either in a Pelican or it doesn't go out.

Robert,
I agree with you for the most part on using hard cases. But there are some times coming up where I am going to be running and gunning and something more like the old portabrace quickdraw. Also I am trying to get a padded bag small enought that I can carry it easily for walking 12-13 miles each day.

I should point out that the camera will never leave my hands. If I ever have to check it at an airport or let someone else handle it during transit you can bet it will be in a hard case.

Thanks,
Marty

Robert (or anyone else with the Pelican),

Did you do the padded dividers again (as you mentioned with your camera above), or did you get the "pick n' pluck" foam? I'd lean towards the foam for my own personal taste at this point. From what I can tell, you can also have the interior foam of the Pelican's custom cut with any kind of configuration. All you have to do is send them the specs of what you want.

From what I can tell, the 1610 may be a little better for me. The HVX dimensions (pg. 130 in the manual) are 6 5/8 x 7 1/16 x 15 3/8 (WxHxD).

The 1610 interior dimensions are 22 x 17 x 10 1/2 and seems like it would be easier to handle and store. Just not sure if it would allow for enough of the accessories? Any opinions welcome.

Hey Derek--I just ordered the 1650 per Robert's suggestions. I don't think I have as many accessories as Robert, so I'll let you know if I think it's way too much room. Better to have too much room than to little, of course. Keep in mind that when shooting with the HVX, you're going to need to take along a P2 Store or at least a portable hard drive, cards, etc., so I imagine you'll be pretty full before you know it. And the 1610 is obviously not carry-on size, so you'd have to check either case (though when I travel with my HVX I put it in my PortaBrace and do it as carry-on....don't trust the "throwers" with my baby).

Peter

Peter,

Good points. I need to order one today, so I can get it quick. I think I'll go with the 1650 as well. It will allow for the most flexiblity in the future. Thanks for letting me know that's what you got. It helped me make up my mind. I'm going to place the order now and have it the interior custom cut to the camera's dimensions.

Glad to know I could help Derek. I hope the case works out for you. The custom cut sounds cool. I got mine with the Pick and Pluck, so hopefully that works ok. Let me know how the custom cut turns out.

Peter

You might like the storm cases at Pangaea-Expeditions. I got a couple of iM2400's for my DVX's from them and the HVX fit it them quite nicely too, with room for batteries, P2 cards, and the ac power adaptors. I believe they are carry on sizes, but you need to check on that, I don't fly that much. They also sell Pelican cases there. I agree with Robert Lane, we have way too much money in these cameras, computers etc to put them in soft bags.

http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/storm/index.html

David

I'm working on figuring out how I want the foam cut in the 1650. The interior room of this case is roughly 26.88"L x 15.88"W x 8"H. These are conservative numbers. With that in mind I made a simple diagram in Flash that's pretty close to scale. that's 540 (27x2x10) pixels horizontal by 320 (16x2x10) pixels vertical. I think I know how I'm going to have the space cut for the HVX and 2 HDD's but everything else is up in the air. I figure since I'm not the first to buy this case and more than likely not the last, other's may find this useful as well in helping with ordering a hard case.

Here's the link:http://www.thisis24p.com/pelican.html

Any input? I'll gladly add comments, suggestions and notes to the Flash diagram as needed. Thanks!

- - - -
EDIT:
Just thought of this as well. If anyone wants to send a photo of the inside of their video camera case (Storm, Pelican, etc.), I'll come up with a way to post it in the same link above with your name next to it. It would be interesting to see what others have done. And I don't think it has to be just HVX's either.

Just got my Pelican today -

Here's a photo of how I placed my camera.

I'm waiting for other items to arrive (Marshall 7" Monitor, 2 250GB G-Drive Q's) bofore setting out everything I want to fit in the case and before I do any more "plucking."

link removed

***IMPORTANT EDIT***

I took the 3 layers of foam out and rotated all of it 180 degrees clockwise (or counter-clockwise, same result in this case - no pun intended). I made this change because I realized the rollers were on the opposite side than I thought. The case has three handles, so initially when I set it down and opened it up and saw the handles location I "knew" the rollers were on the opposite side.

A few minutes later, I closed it and wanted to see how it rolled and discovered the wheels were not where I thought they were. It was no big deal to change at this point as now the way the foam is it's better for another reason as well. My first instinct to put the camera in the way I would grab it was IMO not the way to do it. It works well for taking it out of the case, but if you have the case sitting on something it's going to put the lens closest to the ground. The new way the foam is the lens will be at the top when the case is on the ground.

New photos:

http://www.thisis24p.com/Pelican1650-1.html (also shows where handles are located)
http://www.thisis24p.com/Pelican1650-2.html
http://www.thisis24p.com/Pelican1650-3.html

What's that saying? ~ "You live and you learn."

Here's a photo of how I placed my camera.
http://www.thisis24p.com/Pelican1650-1.html

Cool. I saved the pic in case I ever get a Pelican for more hardcore travel. Right now I'm lovin the Portabrace.

I don't know if this helps for the Marshall monitor, but you can kinda see how I plucked it here:

http://web.mac.com/holyzoo1/iWeb/Site/Photos_02_files/IMG_4315.jpg

Just hard to see exactly how many spaces.

-steev

I got my Porta-Brace DVO-1U on Tuesday. I dig it. I feel really good about taking it with my as a carry-on. I'm taking it to Vegas this weekend, so we'll see how it goes!

I've been thinking about getting Zacuto's "Docu-Case" foam insert for the Pelican 1650. I like that it's designed to hold the camera with matte box and ff mounted for "quick draw" use.

http://zacuto.com/HVX_docu_case_sm.jpg

Sure, I could pick-and-pluck from pelican's foam, but this just looks cool. ;)

THAT is nice. Thanks for the link. It will be a useful guide and in the future if/when I get a matte box it would be a great insert to order.

that's 540 (27x2x10) pixels horizontal by 320 (16x2x10) pixels vertical.


Interesting. Given the CCD's of the HVX, you'll have to turn the camera sideways to get full res vertically and 1/3 res horizontally.

Interesting. Given the CCD's of the HVX, you'll have to turn the camera sideways to get full res vertically and 1/3 res horizontally.Barry,

???? To get "full res" from my Flash illustration/diagram of the dimensions of my new Pelican case???

:)

That IS interesting!

The storm case 2750 works nice as a rental case and for loading onto a truck and for security.

I ended up getting a large bag that was designed for a varicam or the large panny HD camera.. forgot the name. It fits the HVX really well on one side and I can put my wireless mikes and P2store on the other side. I even have room for my boom mike. The inside cases even have spots for the P2 cards.. batteries, cables and even my monopod.

The case is made by Kata. Called the varicase. It's like 350 but I ended up getting it for free. just got to shoot a bit of video with the HVX..

It is a heavy bag when loaded down but I put everything into the bag... Makes offloading the p2store much easier too... by setting it up in the bag

Using a Lowepro Commercial AW shoulder bag, with some Sliplock cases it is carrying the HVX200 setup, audio gear, and SLR lenses.

Well,

Here's the final configuration I went with on the Pelican 1650.

http://www.thisis24p.com/Pelican1650-4.html

This case IS big, but I'd buy it again because the convenience of being able to put the majority of my camera equipment in and the way it keeps everything easily accessible when open on the floor.

The aluminum piece in the middle is a 5 shelf desk orgaizer from the container store. I liked the idea of having as many separate bins as possible, but if you do it with just the foam, it becomes way too weak and the lines don't stay nice and straight. The desk organizer gives me five nice and big separate areas while maintaining structural integrity.