I am thinking of just getting a pelican case for the ex3, anyone know if the 1620-1640 would work?

Check the Peli website, they've got internal dimension there.
Steve

yeah, I have looked it over, thats how I narrowed it down. but wanted to see if anyone has either of them. I am always worried I forgot to take into account something, and when I get it, it wont shut, haha.

I think the 1630 should be fine.

I've never owned a Pelican case. Does the "pick and pluck" foam actually work as a good customizing solution? I'm worried that the foam would break down over time and you'd end up with foam dust on all your equipment. But again, I've never used it before, so I'm hoping I'm wrong. :)

I've never owned a Pelican case. Does the "pick and pluck" foam actually work :)

I've used my custom case for over a year, and just purchased a second one. The nice thing about it is just that...it is custom. The pelicans are nice for their rugged shell, but I can't justify the exra $$. If I was to travel via flight and carry on was not an option, I would probably go with the Pelican.

JS

I have a few Pelican cases for my DSLR/Light gear.
One thing you should think about with Pelican: WEIGHT!
These cases are great (the best) protection for your gear, BUT they are HEAVY.
Even empty, they are up there and once you put all the stuff in them (lots of space!) you're in trouble...
Last summer I was traveling internationally by air, and had my 1510 case (air line carry on size) filled with my Canon DSLR gear. On the check in, I had to take ALL gear out of the case and stuff my pockets in order to pass the "weight" limit for checked luggage (with Austrian Air). Of course, after passing the test, I continued on to boarding and returned all back in to the case. Go figure.

If you are using larger cases for equipment (I have 1650 and 1640 for lights and grip), once loaded they are better than going to gym.

Regarding pick and pluck foam: go for inserts instead. You can get them for any case size, cost a bit more but much more versatile - you can change configuration over time where foam once you pick it that's it.

the pick and pluck foam works really well. I havent seen any dust yet in the one I own now. if I had the ex1 I could use it, but the 3 is a little deeper now with the viewfinder, so I can shut it.

oh well, cant go wrong with 2 pelican cases!

Regarding pick and pluck foam: go for inserts instead. You can get them for any case size, cost a bit more but much more versatile - you can change configuration over time where foam once you pick it that's it.


are you talking about the dividers? I like the pick and pluck because I know the only thing the case will be used for is the camera, so I can make it a really snug fit and not worry about it.

I am not worrying too much about weight for airlines, as when I travel on planes it is coming on the plane as a carry on. I just want a case that it can stay in when not in use, and when transporting it in my truck, and not worry about it getting damaged at all.

I have a Pelican 1650 that was previously used for two XL1s cams (which were stolen, *sigh*) and when I got my EX3 on Monday, one of the first things I did was to see if the EX3 would fit.

The 1650's interior depth (10.5" IIRC) is perfect for the EX3. If anything, it might be 1/2" too much.

However, I will second the mentions of pick-n-pluck dust. When I pulled my beautiful new EX3 out of the foam, it was _covered_ in foam dust. It took me about an hour with a can of air to get rid of most of it. The rubber eyepiece cover still has foam residue. Hopefully it will go away with time.

I'm a huge fan of well-made hard cases, and have the Sony purpose-built hard case for my FX1 which I can't say enough good things about.

I'm ordering the LCEX3TH ATA case from Sony.

The Pelican 1650 will get a divider set and be used for my field production kit.

And yes, "who needs to go to the gym when you can use Pelican cases?" ;-) (it's not like they're cast iron or anything, but keep an eye on what you throw in them as it all adds up)

You guys in the US get away with murder when it comes to the size of your carry-on. It is rarely checked for size or weight. Over here in Europe they check carry on size quite regularly. The weight depends on the airline, but size is supposed to be regulated world wide. A 1650 is well over the international regulation carry on size.

I was on a particularly turbulent flight across the US Mid West one Spring flying from Toronto to Argentina. The turbulence was so bad that the overhead lockers were springing open and luggage was falling on passengers. There were several injuries where people people were hit by large heavy bags. We had to land at DFW so that some of the passengers could get medical treatment. Ever since then I have been quite wary about sitting under bins with flight cases inside. A falling, heavy, solid case could quite easily kill.

I'm ordering the LCEX3TH ATA case from Sony.

is that custom fitted inside? I am curious if it will work with a wide eye, or matte box attached, or if I would have to remove everything everytime I want to put it in the case.

A 1650 is well over the international regulation carry on size.



Sure, all carry on limits are similar EU or North America. It just goes difference on weight.
Now,
1650 is for checked luggage, of course. Once loaded with gear, it goes to "heavy" check in and sometimes extra fee is $100, but sometimes goes with no extra charge (depending on staff on the airport and the size of the smile of my producers who are paying this cost...).

is that custom fitted inside? I am curious if it will work with a wide eye, or matte box attached, or if I would have to remove everything everytime I want to put it in the case.

I can't say yet, but based on my FX1 case, it is very specifically made for the particular camera. I'd be fairly certain that a matte box would need to be removed. As would rails and the like.

My hope is that a plate such as the wonderful one from DM could stay on. That would be the only deal-breaker for me.

I can't say yet, but based on my FX1 case, it is very specifically made for the particular camera. I'd be fairly certain that a matte box would need to be removed. As would rails and the like.

My hope is that a plate such as the wonderful one from DM could stay on. That would be the only deal-breaker for me.

ahh, thanks.

is that custom fitted inside? I am curious if it will work with a wide eye, or matte box attached, or if I would have to remove everything everytime I want to put it in the case.

Zacuto sells a "Storm Case" (basicallly a pelican case) that's custom fitted for an EX1 or an EX3 and they also have versions if you're using a 35mm adaptor and matte box.

http://store.zacuto.com/storm/

Hmmm. The only reference on the Zacuto site to a Storm case insert that mentions the EX3 was for one that is $250 and says "This foam does not work with the EX3".

Am I missing something?

It would be ideal for EX3s with rails and a matte box. ($250 seems steep for a single piece of foam, though ... oh wait, it's Zacuto.)

I'm sorry, I miss spoke. I should have said "they are working on releasing" a Storm case for the EX3 with 35mm adaptor and matte box. They should be releasing it very soon, because they originally started talking about it over 2 months ago. (maybe they are waiting for me to get my rig so I can send them measurements...hehehe)

I'm sorry, I miss spoke. I should have said "they are working on releasing" a Storm case for the EX3 with 35mm adaptor and matte box. They should be releasing it very soon, because they originally started talking about it over 2 months ago. (maybe they are waiting for me to get my rig so I can send them measurements...hehehe)

so its probably gonna be around $300-50 or so huh?

It should be very similar in price to the EX-1/Letus Ultimate/Matte box version. Just give them a call and they'll tell you anything you want to know. I work with Mandy. She's always great to deal with. I've also talked extensively to Joseph Stunzi as he seems to have a direct line to Zacuto, but I don't think he watches this forum much.

I thought about waiting and buying a Storm case from them, but I wanted to go with the Red Rock matte box (about half the price of what Zacuto offers). It's a much larger matte box, so it probably won't fit. Once I get my rig all assembled, I'm going to send them measurements. Maybe I'll get lucky and with a little cutting I'll be able to make it fit.

"I was on a particularly turbulent flight across the US Mid West one Spring flying from Toronto to Argentina. The turbulence was so bad that the overhead lockers were springing open and luggage was falling on passengers. There were several injuries where people people were hit by large heavy bags. We had to land at DFW so that some of the passengers could get medical treatment. Ever since then I have been quite wary about sitting under bins with flight cases inside. A falling, heavy, solid case could quite easily kill."



You would think that modern technology could afford hatches that stay shut with heavy turbulence!

(I still don't know to do the proper quote box)

Just take a look at the Max Load plates on most overheads and you'll see they are only rated to hold a fraction of what's normally put in them. Also many of the airliners in the air today were designed in the 60's and 70's.

Got my gear today. The EX3 is very wide and is almost too wide for the Kata MCC-2A bag we purchased. I'm going to put the rig together tomorrow and see if it all fits or not. I know the Red Rock Matte box is going to be WAY too wide to leave on the camera. But I think the rest might fit.

The good news is, as large as this bag is (Kata's largest) it still fits crosswise in the back of our Mini Cooper. Sweet! :)

Hmmm. The only reference on the Zacuto site to a Storm case insert that mentions the EX3 was for one that is $250 and says "This foam does not work with the EX3". Am I missing something?

No not really. Zacuto is in the process of developing the EX3 foam insert. There is a very impressive demo video on their website showing how their existing foam insert works for a variety of cameras and configs, it also mentions the EX3 insert is not out yet. Don't diss it until you see the demo. A lot of clever thinking went into the making of it.

just an update, I went with the pelican case. I bought the 1620. if anyone was wondering, it fits perfectly with a matte box and AB battery mount (with battery attached). the only thing I have to remove is the shotgun mic. it was $184 at REI.

I returned the Kata case and just ordered the EX3 Storm case from Zacuto. Should be here on Monday. I'll keep you updated.

Has anyone looked at or worked with the Sony hard case? It's on their site, model# LCEX3TH.

Resurrecting an old thread.

I'm looking to buy a case for our new EX3 with a Chrosziel 450 matte box and base plate. Plan-A is to send the rig to Case Cruzer to have them build a custom foam lined case. Plan-B is to find a soft case that will fit the rig.

Anyone have any advice?

http://www.casecruzer.com/camera-cases/sony/PMW-EX3-case.html

I bought the Storm Case from Zacuto with their EX3 foam insert. This is not a rig that you would stuff in an overhead locker on an airplane. It is a fairly large case, but the foam insert means that there is a place for everything. The case has an extendable handle and wheels on the base so it is easy to pull along. While the case is designed to take a mattebox, and the Zacuto web site shows an EX3 in the case with one of their DOF kits fully assembled, I bought a Redrock Micro mattebox which is too big to fit in the case on the camera. I have most of a Zacuto kit; base plate, rails, etc. and the EX3 fits nicely in the case with all the gear attached. It sure is nice to just lift it out of the case and install it on the tripod.

I don't have to travel very far with all my gear as I work in a school (K-12) and so the objective for me was to get a case which would carry all my gear. I manage to fit the EX3, a PHU-60K, the batteries, a Zylight Z90 and its battery, zoom controller, wireless mic kit, headset, tools, adapter cables, manual and white cards into the case with room to spare.

On the topic of cases, I found a supplier of hardshell cases here in Canada, Nanuk Cases www.nanukcase.com and they are very competitively priced with Pelican. I use the Nanuk 945 for other mics, cables and gear.

I will be buying the mattebox case that Redrock Micro offers to store and transport the mattebox and its filtres.

I bought an Explorer 7630 for my ex3. I then bought the divider set. That's where it got a little ugly.
Explorer have two photos in circulation for the divider set, a nine pocket and four pocket. I bought the original four pocket thinking I'd make extra divider panels to split it further.

When the divider pack turned up it was literally half the size of the 7630 case. In order bto divide the whole case - you need to buy two. Eeven then - the dividers were not adjustable. I checked with manufacturer site and with the dealer site, then checked on the phone it was the correct part number etc.

I sent it back, got a full refund. I have now made a set of dividers for the 7630 using high impact shipping foam, black hook and loop fabric (with glue on back) and strips of velcro sewn to the ends of the divider panels. I am just finishing off some extra panels so when complete will post here...

If I forget the phot.. mail me and remind me...