Kevin, You can find hard cases ranging from $50 to $500. It depends what you want to put in your case aside from the XL2 and one lens.

I myself bought a nice and big all aluminum and lockable Zero Halliburton 129c. It's not cheap at about $350 US but since I'll be carrying close to $9000 in equipment with that case, I figured it was worth it. It's a really big 29"x20"x10" case which will allow me to fit My XL2, the 20x lens, the 14x lens, a WA adapter, the 2x CRT viewfinder magnifier, 4 batteries, the LCD viewfinder, the CRT viewfinder, a home made matte box, the 2 lens hoods for both lenses, a director's viewfinder, the remote control and the charger.

If you need the size but can't afford an Halliburton, I recommend the Pelican 1650, which will cost around $150, can be locked with a locker and has waterproof anti-shock sidinds with foams inside.

If you do not plan to carry that much equipment in one case, any hard case will do, have a look on eBay, with Vanguard cases starting at $60 to smaller Halliburton's at around $200.

No matter what you choose, I recommend doing a little planing first. Measure all your gear precisely and try different fitting combinaisons either in Photoshop or on a sheet of paper to see if it will all fit in. You wouldn't want to shell $200 on a case only to find out there's not quite enough room in it for all your gear.

thanks david. I'll have a look around. Really it'll be for the cam, cables, viewfinder. the stuff that comes as standard with th eoriginal box. i can always buy a smaller bag for other items i guess

http://www.worldtraveler.com/servlets/store?S_=WorldTraveler__1096238293807&Page=shop/large_product.html&prodid=1691&viewnum=2&ref=brandresults

how do you fit the xl2 etc in that? did you make your own insides?

The cases comes with a big cuttable foam inside. You just lay your gear on top, might want to trace around with a pen, and custom cut the foam to your various accessories' shapes. They then fit snuggly into place and will not move during transport.

I see :)

Does this size sound good for a vanguard case i'm looking at on ebay?

460(L)x330(W)x155(H)mm

18(L)x13(W)x6(H)in

Hmmm, might be a bit too tight. I have in fact that very same case that I use for all my audio gear, but I'm not sure the XL2 could fit in there.

It might fit by removing the viewfinder and putting it aside, as well as the lens, but it's a little on the tight side, and you will not be able to put anything else in it.

Ideally you'd want nothing less than 7" deep inside measurments for maximum protection. This XL2 is pretty big...

As a reference, use those measurments:

20x lens: 8" x 4" x 4" with sunshade on
XL2 body : 8" x 11" x 6"
viewfinder: 7" x 8" x 3"
on-cam mic: 8" x 2" x 2"

If you have enough room for all that, it should work.

thanks , i'll keep looking then

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=227388&is=REG

would that be ok for an xl2 also?

Kevin,

You will find over time, that no matter what size case you get, it will gradually become stuffed with loads of goodies.

Add about 8" to your needed size, now.

Don't worry about "form fitted" inserts. Buy some foam stuffing from a furniture store/hardware store, and make your own inserts.

suitable you reckon?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WD2V

Kevin,

Have a look at the Probag at H Prestons if you're looking for a soft bag for on the road stuff, but big enough for batts, tapes, couple other bits and bobs but not too much else(other lens etc). I got it for my XL2 and I'm happy with it.

thanks. I'll give them a ring.

Hey Fellas.

I got an email today from a store in the UK recommending me this budget tripod and head. Here's what they said:


A tripod such as the Manfrotto 190PRO would be good. They are the most versatile starting tripod and can take a weight of up to 5KG. We sell them for £89.95. Further details can be found using the following link
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/cgi-bin/manmantri.asp

Depending on what you want to do a good basic head to go for would be the Manfrotto 488 ball and socket head. We sell this for £54.95. Details can be found using the following link
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/cgi-bin/manmanhead.asp

Now I know you guys have said to me I should spend big bucks on getting a really good tripod but like I've said I can't at this moment in time. I don't intend to shake the cam all over the place or abuse it on a tripod so surely these must be ok for doing simple still shots?
If I get these I might be able to afford a TA-100 also.

Hi Kevin,

by all means mate, go for it if you just want to take statics with it and it's certainly cheap enough. then when you get the cash together get the Vision 3 or similar for proper fluid movement and quality legs. someone recommended to me the Vinten Pro 5 as a starting level tripod system a while back, and at about 250 notes I think it wasn't too bad a price. might be worth having a play with something like that in-store to see what you think. not as good obv as the dearer options but it's bound to be a decent product - most DV operators/researchers in telly (multiskillers is the euphemism TV companies like to use), use the Pro5 or similar.

Thanks Gary. I'll check out a couple more then before deciding.

Is this it? It looks quite nice. Not bad cost wise either. I might mull over it.

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/gimme/storereframe.php?view=item&item=vinten_pro5

that's the one, doesn't look too shabby does it. Sorry though I thought it was cheaper than that. You can get stuff cheaper than creative video - I think they're one of the most expensive. Visual Impact hire Pro5s out all the time to broadcast and sell them cheaper than that. I think I had a quote of 290 before VAT. H Prestons are not bad either.

Are there several versions of the Pro 5? I found a place listing several at different prices here:

http://www.tnpbroadcast.co.uk/search.php

you'll have to type "Vinten" to see the list.

H Preston I couldn't find the exact model.

OK I decided to wait a few weeks and get the vinten Pro 5. I'm close to buying my monitor but can't decide on an appropriate resolution. What do you guys work with?

I'm looking at one for £182 which has a resoloution of 440 x 234 pixels and has some good connections or one at £300 which has a resolution of 2400x480 pixels.

.....about the panasonic tapes, I have been told that the MQ (master) and the PQ (pro) come off the same "pancake" of tape being loaded into the shells. The MQ is in the middle, followed by the PQ, followed by consumer at either end. BTW I've had very good luck with the 83 PQ's.

Kevin
Don't get the one with 234 pixels
I got one, and it was not good at all
I now have one with 480 pixels and its much better
Type in 7" Touch on ebay and you'll find the 7" higher res screens for around £190
Do not get the lower res
Lawrence

Cheers,
I did a search and found a bunch of liliput ones, three different ones to be exact. good prices, can they be fitted to the camcorder shoe?

http://search.ebay.co.uk/7-touch_W0QQsatitleZ7Q22Q20touchQQsoloctogZ9

can you buy mounts for them?

Depends what you are mounting to them, but try here fo a wide range of different mounts

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/Monitors%20&%20Btackets.htm

and scroll to the bottom of the page

or just use velcro!

Lawrence

Thanks. That's actually the place I'm thinking of getting the monitor from, the top one. So I might just get the bracket for that also from the same site.

Kevin,

This wouldn't be UK... but these folks might at LEAST know of a reseller in your neck of the world.

www.thetapecompany.com

They sell the Panasonic MQ tapes.
And, for the record, I have exclusively used the 83 minute MQ tapes for a LONG time. I almost NEVER have dropouts in them whatsoever. I love that tapes and highly recommmend them.

Cheers!
Luke

Thanks but I did end up finding a place in the uk who stock these tapes. I bought two Panasonic PQ tapes and have yet to open them. I've read I should ideally stick with one kind of tape and I trust PQ are fine, unless anyone should warn me from using them.

my turn for a question...
 

does anyone have any recommendations on an on-camera light? I've just seen a brochure from Ianiro and had a look at their site and they look pretty smart - I think I like the Aladino kit.

what do you guys think? - www.ianiro.com