Case -Hard or Soft at DVinfo.net

Matt Ludwig · September 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM

I'm looking for a new case for my PD170. Any suggestions? How well do the soft ones hold up?
I know that there is basicly only 1 option for a hard one, but if I went with soft, what do u suggest? I'm trying not to go over $200.
I'm going to be using it traveling here and there alot, maybe even go camping with it.
~Matt~

Don Bloom · September 13th, 2005, 07:09 PM

Sony has a decent soft bag for the 170 for 189.95. It comes with a rain cover for the camera as well. B&H #solcpd150bp

As for hard case, I have a Shok-Stop case. Its made for the 150/170 and believe me you can cram a lot of stuff in it. I did (do) a lot of traveling with it and carry the camera, WA lens attachment, wireless receiver, lav and body pak, handhled wireless, 3 batteries, headphones, shotgun on the camera, 10or 12 tapes and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ;-o

Well maybe not the sandwich but it does carry alot of stuff,but you gotta squeeze some in-no harm though, nothing has ever gotten damaged. I think I paid about $200 for it 4 years ago so I don't know how much it would be now.

Don B

Boyd Ostroff · September 13th, 2005, 07:29 PM

It costs a little more than your budget, but you might check out the Tamrac 644 "strongbox." While it's made for still cameras, I'm using it for my Z1 and really like it.

It looks like a soft case, but there's a rigid ABS plastic tub under the nylon cover which is really sturdy. So you get the advantage of a hard case but it isn't so conspicuous if you're travelling. The interior is completely customizable using velcro divider sections and would hold a lot of stuff in addition to your camera.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Matt Ludwig · September 13th, 2005, 07:43 PM

any certain feelings about the brand Petrol?

Mike Rehmus · September 13th, 2005, 07:46 PM

Those are the people who make the case for Sony. I've got a lot of use out of the one that came with both my PD150's. Can't be beat for the price. Unless you are shipping the camera or on really rugged trails, the hard case is a bit restrictive in one way or another.

Lots of old postings on this very subject. Maybe some on Support Your Local Camera too. Do a search.

Pat Sherman · September 22nd, 2005, 11:07 AM

I have a thermodyne hard case for my PD-150 that's all custom fitted for it from them.. Then I have the Petrol Soft/Hard Cube bag/case for the 170.. I am buying another Petrol.. I like it that much better plus the backpack straps are handing for trekking into a site..

B&H
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Jeff Toogood · September 22nd, 2005, 04:13 PM

I have the Sony Petrol bag for my PD170 and like it. Like it so much I ordered another similiar Petrol bag for my VX2000.
Very nice case for the money.

Jeff Wilson · September 22nd, 2005, 05:47 PM

The only problem that I have with some of the Sony hard cases is that Sony bought a large number of cases, particularly Thermodyne, back in the ’90s for Betacams, and they continue to custom fit the insides for the newer, smaller, digital cameras. The problem with these cases, besides the fact that they are a lot larger than they need to be, is that they exceed the minimum luggage dimensions for the airlines. Before 911 the airlines would take about anything you gave them. I found this out when I contacted Thermodyne with questions about the case B&H sold for the DSR-250. Nothing against Thermodyne, in my opinion they make some excellent cases.

Tom Hardwick · September 23rd, 2005, 07:56 AM

I'll go along with the thoughts on the Petrol brand of cases. I checked out the tens of cases on display at the Video Forum in central London at the beginning of the year, and the Petrol camera bags were far and away the best value for money in my view.

Just as long as it doesn't say Diesel on it I'll be happy.

tom.

Anthony Milic · October 11th, 2005, 02:03 AM

Oh Tom....

Martin Archer-Shee · October 13th, 2005, 06:42 PM

I got a Pelican 1520? hard case for my PD150 and am very pleased. I custom fit it with heavy duty upholstery foam and formed a cloth covering over the cutouts to give pil free finish. It holds my PD150, Sony828 still three batteries for the camcorder, extra cards and battery for the 828 and about 10 DV tapes. No there is no danger of anything not being well protected. Yes, fully losded it is a bit of weight, but it is only one case and easy to look out for. I also got a Pelican lock so the whole thing can be secured if I have to leave it in my car. bike cable throgh the lock and around seat frames.

Highly recommend a hard case for travel. A soft case might do well for day tripping.

Martin

September 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM	#1
Matt Ludwig Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 51	Case -Hard or Soft I'm looking for a new case for my PD170. Any suggestions? How well do the soft ones hold up? I know that there is basicly only 1 option for a hard one, but if I went with soft, what do u suggest? I'm trying not to go over $200. I'm going to be using it traveling here and there alot, maybe even go camping with it. ~Matt~

September 13th, 2005, 07:46 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Those are the people who make the case for Sony. I've got a lot of use out of the one that came with both my PD150's. Can't be beat for the price. Unless you are shipping the camera or on really rugged trails, the hard case is a bit restrictive in one way or another. Lots of old postings on this very subject. Maybe some on Support Your Local Camera too. Do a search. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 22nd, 2005, 04:13 PM	#7
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	I have the Sony Petrol bag for my PD170 and like it. Like it so much I ordered another similiar Petrol bag for my VX2000. Very nice case for the money. __________________ Toogood Studios

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September 13th, 2005, 07:09 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Sony has a decent soft bag for the 170 for 189.95. It comes with a rain cover for the camera as well. B&H #solcpd150bp As for hard case, I have a Shok-Stop case. Its made for the 150/170 and believe me you can cram a lot of stuff in it. I did (do) a lot of traveling with it and carry the camera, WA lens attachment, wireless receiver, lav and body pak, handhled wireless, 3 batteries, headphones, shotgun on the camera, 10or 12 tapes and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ;-o Well maybe not the sandwich but it does carry alot of stuff,but you gotta squeeze some in-no harm though, nothing has ever gotten damaged. I think I paid about $200 for it 4 years ago so I don't know how much it would be now. Don B

September 13th, 2005, 07:29 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,791	It costs a little more than your budget, but you might check out the Tamrac 644 "strongbox." While it's made for still cameras, I'm using it for my Z1 and really like it. It looks like a soft case, but there's a rigid ABS plastic tub under the nylon cover which is really sturdy. So you get the advantage of a hard case but it isn't so conspicuous if you're travelling. The interior is completely customizable using velcro divider sections and would hold a lot of stuff in addition to your camera. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

September 13th, 2005, 07:43 PM	#4
Matt Ludwig Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 51	any certain feelings about the brand Petrol?

September 22nd, 2005, 11:07 AM	#6
Pat Sherman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DuPont, Wa Posts: 325	I have a thermodyne hard case for my PD-150 that's all custom fitted for it from them.. Then I have the Petrol Soft/Hard Cube bag/case for the 170.. I am buying another Petrol.. I like it that much better plus the backpack straps are handing for trekking into a site.. B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

September 22nd, 2005, 05:47 PM	#8
Jeff Wilson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Rome, Ohio Posts: 36	The only problem that I have with some of the Sony hard cases is that Sony bought a large number of cases, particularly Thermodyne, back in the ’90s for Betacams, and they continue to custom fit the insides for the newer, smaller, digital cameras. The problem with these cases, besides the fact that they are a lot larger than they need to be, is that they exceed the minimum luggage dimensions for the airlines. Before 911 the airlines would take about anything you gave them. I found this out when I contacted Thermodyne with questions about the case B&H sold for the DSR-250. Nothing against Thermodyne, in my opinion they make some excellent cases.

September 23rd, 2005, 07:56 AM	#9
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I'll go along with the thoughts on the Petrol brand of cases. I checked out the tens of cases on display at the Video Forum in central London at the beginning of the year, and the Petrol camera bags were far and away the best value for money in my view. Just as long as it doesn't say Diesel on it I'll be happy. tom.

October 11th, 2005, 02:03 AM	#10
Anthony Milic Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 103	Oh Tom....

October 13th, 2005, 06:42 PM	#11
Martin Archer-Shee Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 123	I got a Pelican 1520? hard case for my PD150 and am very pleased. I custom fit it with heavy duty upholstery foam and formed a cloth covering over the cutouts to give pil free finish. It holds my PD150, Sony828 still three batteries for the camcorder, extra cards and battery for the 828 and about 10 DV tapes. No there is no danger of anything not being well protected. Yes, fully losded it is a bit of weight, but it is only one case and easy to look out for. I also got a Pelican lock so the whole thing can be secured if I have to leave it in my car. bike cable throgh the lock and around seat frames. Highly recommend a hard case for travel. A soft case might do well for day tripping. Martin