Paul Chiu
April 4th, 2009, 11:14 PM
Search some dozen hard and soft rolling cases for the Sony PMW-EX1 and accessories with a Macbook Pro 17" notebook. The goal was to find the safest case for rolling over theme parks, big cities and even short stretches of rough roads this summer and fall.
I finally bought the Tenba Universal Roadie with outside dimensions of 20x14x8 and interiors of 17.5x12x7.25. It also fits in a Macbook Pro 17".
This 'Universal' model has the biggest inline style wheels among the Tenba Roadie series, even larger than the large Roadie. It also has the deepest interior at 7.25" which helps accomodate the Sony PMW-EX1 on its side. With the eyepiece pulled up, the PMW-EX1 can also be place snugly at one end of the Universal Roadie freeing the top 2/3 of the case for maybe a Letus35, light, microphone or external batteries.
At first, I thought the miles of rolling maybe better served with a Pelican or HPRC hard case with wheels. Upon closer inspection, all hard cases within cabin specs that can carry the Sony PMW-EX1 including the HPRC 2550W and HPRC 2600W or Pelican 1510 have flat hard wheels. These wheels with higher rolling resistance, meaning a larger surface of the wheel touching the ground will transfer more vibration into the case. Think of rolling over the 10 to 15 miles of theme parks a day and you would want as little vibration as possible.
The Tenba Universal Roadie with the largest inline style wheels among the various brands I looked at seemed to best protect while rolling with the Sony PMW-EX1.
Among the other rolling cases that accommodated the Sony PMW-EX1 I examined:
1. Petrol PCTB-3 rolling backpack
The best alternative and the interior was the best. The wheels were of the same size and kind as the Tenba Universal, large and sturdy. The only issue was the bottom of the case; (surface near wheels), it was not as reinforced as the Tenba Universal.
Also, the backpack feature cannot be used instantly instead of rolling since the shoulder harness has to be zippered underneath a canvas panel. It's either shoulder or rolling, no quick switch to the other when needed.
2. Crumpler Cork and Fork Photo Trolley Bag
This is a fabulous 2 in 1 rolling backpack. It's a backpack inside a really nice and strong roller case. The wheels are the best inline skate styled wheels I have seen in a cabin allowed luggage. The only problem is that I cannot fit a 17" Macbook Pro.
3. HPRC 2600WIC
The Sony PMW-EX1 fits inside the soft Porta Brace bag and it is 100% protected from drops and probably a bullet or SUV. The only problem is that the small flat wheels were designed for airports and not for theme parks or the occasional off roads. The only HPRC hard cases with big off road wheels were cases over 30" long, too big to take into the cabin.
4. Pelican 1510.
Same problem as the HPRC 2600W.
5. Kata HB-207 with Trolley
I have this setup and used it since May 2008.
Rolled it through 5 theme parks, Boston, New York city and Washington DC. Through pot holes, uneven sidewalks and even small steps.
The problem is that the setup is bulky, hard to hand hold getting the luggage with trolley attached into theme park rides or car trunks without taking out the trolley. The trolley has small hard wheels. Not flat like the HPRC and Pelican but not inline and large like the Tenba, Petrol or Crumpler. Vibration is felt by my hand throughout. Although the Sony PMW-EX1 works fine since, I do not want to submit it to another summer/fall of vibration. So the Kata HB-207 will be carrying other stuff this year.
I finally bought the Tenba Universal Roadie with outside dimensions of 20x14x8 and interiors of 17.5x12x7.25. It also fits in a Macbook Pro 17".
This 'Universal' model has the biggest inline style wheels among the Tenba Roadie series, even larger than the large Roadie. It also has the deepest interior at 7.25" which helps accomodate the Sony PMW-EX1 on its side. With the eyepiece pulled up, the PMW-EX1 can also be place snugly at one end of the Universal Roadie freeing the top 2/3 of the case for maybe a Letus35, light, microphone or external batteries.
At first, I thought the miles of rolling maybe better served with a Pelican or HPRC hard case with wheels. Upon closer inspection, all hard cases within cabin specs that can carry the Sony PMW-EX1 including the HPRC 2550W and HPRC 2600W or Pelican 1510 have flat hard wheels. These wheels with higher rolling resistance, meaning a larger surface of the wheel touching the ground will transfer more vibration into the case. Think of rolling over the 10 to 15 miles of theme parks a day and you would want as little vibration as possible.
The Tenba Universal Roadie with the largest inline style wheels among the various brands I looked at seemed to best protect while rolling with the Sony PMW-EX1.
Among the other rolling cases that accommodated the Sony PMW-EX1 I examined:
1. Petrol PCTB-3 rolling backpack
The best alternative and the interior was the best. The wheels were of the same size and kind as the Tenba Universal, large and sturdy. The only issue was the bottom of the case; (surface near wheels), it was not as reinforced as the Tenba Universal.
Also, the backpack feature cannot be used instantly instead of rolling since the shoulder harness has to be zippered underneath a canvas panel. It's either shoulder or rolling, no quick switch to the other when needed.
2. Crumpler Cork and Fork Photo Trolley Bag
This is a fabulous 2 in 1 rolling backpack. It's a backpack inside a really nice and strong roller case. The wheels are the best inline skate styled wheels I have seen in a cabin allowed luggage. The only problem is that I cannot fit a 17" Macbook Pro.
3. HPRC 2600WIC
The Sony PMW-EX1 fits inside the soft Porta Brace bag and it is 100% protected from drops and probably a bullet or SUV. The only problem is that the small flat wheels were designed for airports and not for theme parks or the occasional off roads. The only HPRC hard cases with big off road wheels were cases over 30" long, too big to take into the cabin.
4. Pelican 1510.
Same problem as the HPRC 2600W.
5. Kata HB-207 with Trolley
I have this setup and used it since May 2008.
Rolled it through 5 theme parks, Boston, New York city and Washington DC. Through pot holes, uneven sidewalks and even small steps.
The problem is that the setup is bulky, hard to hand hold getting the luggage with trolley attached into theme park rides or car trunks without taking out the trolley. The trolley has small hard wheels. Not flat like the HPRC and Pelican but not inline and large like the Tenba, Petrol or Crumpler. Vibration is felt by my hand throughout. Although the Sony PMW-EX1 works fine since, I do not want to submit it to another summer/fall of vibration. So the Kata HB-207 will be carrying other stuff this year.