I want a nice padded camera bag, cheap as possible in terms of price. From a UK store preferably.

Big enough to fit my EA50 body, a couple of prime lenses and a VG20 ... (am I asking for too much lol?)

Any help would be appreciated ...

I'm a big fan of the Petrol cases. B&H recommends Petrol PC206 Deca Mini Camporter or Porta Brace CTC-MINI Traveler Camera Case. Both around $150 to $170 I see the Porta Brace at CVP.com in the UK.

James - this fits mine (with the microphone on but the viewfinder off) perfectly and a good price - especially for KATA

There's also internal pockets that will store the viewfinder/batteries etc

Kata CC-195 PL (CC195PL) HDV Case for Canon XL series, JVC HD series and similar sized models or HDSLR rigged with video accessories (internal dimensions:H 24cm x L 58cm x W 27cm) (p/n KT PL-CC-195) (http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/index.php?t=product/kata_kt_pl-cc-195)

Pete

i just purchased 3 Kata Capsule 185 bags. they are large and able to store the camera with the shot gun mic intact. not a ton of storage but for the price $45.00 usd you really cant find a better bag out there... even comes with a lens pillow... check the link.

Amazon.com: Kata Capsule-185 HDV Case (Gray): Camera & Photo

Huh?? Only 45 dollar, a local dealer here charges over 200 euro for this one! That's a bargain.

super good deal did you see the amazon link?

I've bought from LCD4Video before and they're a pretty good outfit. If I needed another bag I'd get one.

i just purchased 3 Kata Capsule 185 bags. they are large and able to store the camera with the shot gun mic intact. not a ton of storage but for the price $45.00 usd you really cant find a better bag out there... even comes with a lens pillow... check the link.

Amazon.com: Kata Capsule-185 HDV Case (Gray): Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Kata-Capsule-185-HDV-Case-Gray/dp/B003BIFNBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361210173&sr=8-1&keywords=kata+hdv)

Cheapest UK price I found ... is £200 so that's $308.

Kata DLC185 Case HDV Capsule | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kata-DLC185-Case-HDV-Capsule-/170981896857?pt=UK_Camera_Cases_Bags_Covers&hash=item27cf50b299)

I got mine at Amazon for $45. I should have bought two. :)

I just ordered the Kata 185 too. For $49.00 it is ridiculously cheap. It is a $200.00 bag everywhere else but appears to be discontinued so the Amazon vendor must have picked up a bunch for nothing. I have a ton of bags and cases but I could not pass this one up.

By the way, I am convinced Amazon and other web sites keep "quantities left in stock" at fixed low numbers to stimulate purchasing. I think there has been 5 of then purchased through this thread alone and the number has only changed once. It now says 1 left as it did before I ordered. Get it while you can? They are discontinued.

Steve

Need to get a decent bag soon too... I'd like to get a bag with wheels if possible. But even if it's well padded, will the tiny vibrations eventually shake things loose, what do you think?

Dimitry,

I was not kidding when I said I have a lot of cases. With wheels and not. And I spend a lot of time on the road. I worry about vibrations so no matter what gear it is I have to pick it up sometimes because surfaces that rumble are more common than you think.

My EA50 lives in a BIG pelican case with wheels. It is 60 pounds loaded. I bought the Kata for an airline carry on bag so I don't have to let go of the camera. I don't need wheels for a single camera bag. I hope all of the dimensions inside and out work for that?

I am a big fan of Porta Brace bags and willing to pay the premium for it most of the time. The EA50 fits in my old Porta Brace traveler bags for Canon but not well. For $50.00 I figured I can't loose with this Kata. I can let you know what I think when I get it. I can't imagine this deal lasting long though.

Steve

I can't order the bag in Europe from Amazon, too bad. Here it's 5 times more expensive...

The Kata bag just arrived. Wow...what a smokin deal! Fifty bucks for a great bag that works like it was made for the EA50. I thought I owned everyones case, lots of PortaBrace stuff, pelican, etc.

This is my first Kata and I will be looking for more. The bag is more rigid and protective than I expected. It is very well made and designed. For $50.00 it is a steal!

Amazon.com: Kata Capsule-185 HDV Case (Gray): Camera & Photo

This is a camera bag, not a gig bag with tons of room. It is just what I need when I travel and want to pull the camera out of the pelican case. I just packed it with, camera, power, wireless mic receiver attached, two wireless mics ( HH & lav ), and media case. The diopter can stay on but I do not intend to carry it this way often.

It came with a rain cover that could be used to cover a tripod mounted camera in an emergency. The lens pillow could be used as a small bean bag for a shooting rest.

At this closeout price they will disappear fast. Grab one if you need it, anything comparable will be $150.00 or more.

Steve

The Kata bag just arrived. Wow...what a smokin deal! Fifty bucks for a great bag that works like it was made for the EA50.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in some more...:D

Currently I have a cheap quite large backpack that can fit two cx730's, one xr520, two 550d's, 3 lenses and my tascam dr40. Actually it's over it's max weight limit as the top handle already tore off. The 2 big shoulder straps are still ok but I fear that one day that will come loose as well.

The thing is I have a back problem and I need to find another solution on longer term and even though I like the mobility to go in and out of a church with the backpack and with 2 extra tripods that are on a small roller but still, the weight of that backpack is killing me and I also have to drag along those 2 tripods. I also regret that I can't take my nex ea50 with me because that would require again a additional bag and no way I am leaving that camera in the car's trunk when I"m filming in a church. Then I also have 2 smaller bags that hold my audio gear.

So, I actually was thinking, why not carry all in one big bag that has wheels and a handle and one that could hold my 2 tripods as well so I imagine that bag would have to be really massive but then I came across the Think Tank Logistics Manager: Think Tank Logistics Manager Hands On - YouTube

It might be able to fit all video and audio gear, including my ea50 so I don't have to choose anymore what to leave home, I wouldn't have to carry it anymore but I think stairs will be hell. It's very expensive but it looks like it can pack all I need at a wedding day in one go, what do you guys think?

Everyone needs a BIG bag. Here is mine (biggest one, previous model) no cameras in it, just stuff:


PortaBrace - Production Gear (http://www.portabrace.com/products/production-gear/645-wheeled-production-cases)

I love it, but, the problem with BIG bags is you will ALLWAYS fill them up = HEAVY!

Here are my tripod cases, they have back pack straps that are hidden:

PortaBrace - Tripods (http://www.portabrace.com/products/tripods-and-lighting/tripods/583-tripod-shellpacks)

With Porta Brace you pay for it, but you cant beat it! It is a worthwhile investment.

I am researching wheeled carts for all of my bags at once. There are good threads on carts in several forums here at DVINFO.



Steve

Hi Steve

I made my own cart!! Over here we have a rather ingenious little product called "connect-it" They are simply a series of PVC fittings made in various configurations with 1" square tube protrusions and you use them to make your own aluminium furniture by pushing on pieces of anodised (black or silver) lightweight 1" aluminium sections of tube to make, say a coffee table.

I made up a two level trolley using the tube so I have an enclosed shelf on the top where my two cameras sit and then the bigger piece under, fits my lighting case and then mic, battery and other cases and I have two garage storage hooks on the side which fits my tripods and lighting stands.

Metal Mate Connect-It (http://www.rcr.com.au/metalmate/metal-mate-diy-connect-it-system/)

It makes a smart looking trolley (just add wheels too) and you can customise the size and shape so you can be assured you gear will fit and more importantly the darn thing will fit in your car!!! I just pop riveted MDF particle board onto the aluminium to make the bases. This saves me making multiple trips to and from the car at the reception venue and also you are not trying to carry heavy a very bulky bags around.

Again like big bags ...stairs are an issue so sometimes I have to struggle but normally it's a breeze!!!

Chris

Steven, you must have got the last of that "smokin deal"! No longer available.

Eh... um ... no props or thanks?
JC

Chris, That is cool stuff. You're right, I searched and can not find it here.

Dan, that link was active when I made my post. It had been saying one in stock for a long time. Both before and after I ordered mine. That finishes my debate too. I was thinking about ordering another one even though I don't really NEED it.

J.C. Yes, thank you for posting the original amazon link!

Steve

I made my own cart!!

Been thinking to do that as well as you can customfit the box to your gear, these professional very big bags are between 600 and 900 dollar here and eventhough they are very well build that's a lot of money for 1 bag.
First I was thinking in buying the trolley separately and to get a large travelbag and fill that completely with some cubed foam so I can make compartments that have the same size as the gear they need to hold, that would also be a great way to quickly see you have not forgotten any of your gear. Often when I have to clean up in church after the ceremony I"m very stressed and always fear I might forget something, having a bag with separate fixed spaces for everything you use give you a visual status, so you don't have to think anymore, just look and see what's still missing.Only those replacement cube foam blocks you can buy are also ridiculous expensive. Pro gear = pro price

Hi Noa

With my cart everything is on it so you have little chance of leaving a case behind...I'm actually busy modifying it at the moment and when the new camera trays are finished I'll post a pic...With the existing cart my lower comparment housing my lighting case and battery and mic cases and tripods/stands and the upper compartment used to take the two Pansonic cameras...I'm now making two extra trays that sit on top of the compartment and are fixed with pins and those take the EA-50's the then blank compartment underneath will be useful for other odds and ends like headphones, clipboard and such like.

The beauty of the trays is that they are foam lined to protect the cameras and pull out the pin and the tray comes off and is now used to house the camera in the trunk of my car while I'm driving so they are dual purpose trays. They sit side by side on top of the cart!! Everything in one wheeled cart!!

Chris

With my cart everything is on it so you have little chance of leaving a case behind...
I"m not worried about the case but more about small stuff like my yamaha c24 recorder, in the morning the audiogear is all nicely packed together in a small bag but at the venue it's all thrown in a bigger bag and when I get home I have to put everything into place again. If I would have one bag with spaces specifically shaped for each device I use then it's just a matter of looking at it and seeing what might be empty.

Therefore these cube foam blocks would be perfect and then build a waterfproof custom made case around it which could be placed on a trolly and with the possibility to attach 2 tripods to the side and maybe a slider to the front.

I was planning to go out and shoot some more next week but it has started raining again here so I think I will spend that time seeing how I can custommake such a case, it would be great though to see your solution as well for inspiration.

Hi

I went Petrol CP004. Fantastic build quality and even an LED strip light built into the inner lining. Weirdly this feature wasn't documented when i bought it from CVP but it's proven to be a really useful feature.

Inventory control is a big issue for me. Most of you guys know that I am an AV technical director as well as a video producer. That means my adapters, cables, and other gear sometimes gets mixed in with gear from the AV companies I hire. Sometimes It is a nightmare.

There answer is small zip ties. Almost every piece of my stuff has a small blue zip tie on it. The blue identifies it as mine. Buy a bulk bag of “your color” to be sure you can find it in the future. Many items have a second zip tie next to that so I can identify which kit and case it belongs in. For example, I have three Lowell kits. When you get all that stuff set up and then you need to strike it in a hurry how do you get it back where it goes? Each case and all of its contents has its own color of zip tie next to the blue one.

I have found this to be the best method I have tried. First I tried colored e-tape like a lot of other companies, I hated it. It eventually comes off and leaves a sticky mess on your gear plus I would only use it on cables because I don’t want tape on camera stuff. Now my cameras have a zip tie that matches their power supply etc. to keep the kits together.

Steve

Hi Guys

As promised here are some pics of my existing aluminium trolley and then the new camera trays that fit on top if I have to go a fair distance from the car to the reception. The trays have 4 locating pins so they snap onto the top of the existing trolley and cannot slide around. For safety a bungee cord goes over the top as well. The trays normally live in my car trunk so the cams are protected while I'm driving and only taken out when I need to do a "one trip takes all" jaunt from the car to the venue.

Chris

Chris, you must have been a designer and machinist in your previous life. Very nice design and workmanship!

Like Steven I have my own system of identifying my gear. I use tape on the XLC connections of audio cables and video cables though I rarely have to rely on my own stuff. However when I do a job, be it a wedding or a seminar or anything else where I DO supply gear I will not allow anyone to help me pickup and repack. I'm not talking about big huge jobs but small jobs. Again, it might be a wedding or a small seminar or conference. I have a system of packing my bag(s) and cases, knowing that all I have to do is look at them and I can tell if something is missing (mental checklist) plus I do the old IDIOT walk probably 2 sometimes 3 times just in case. I'm anal about that sort of thing. BIG jobs where I'm a hired hand, I don't worry about it as much sine in 99% of the cases it's not my gear and there might be a crew of 5 to 15 or more each responsible for their own area...for me, it's usually cameras.
Anyway, checklists, mental or written are good things to have but the best, is a keen set of eyes (or 2 sets) doing a "walkabout" after everything is all packed up. You might be surprised at what you find. ;-)

Hi Don

It only looks good due to the clever design of the corner fittings!! You bang them into 1" square aluminium tubing and voila you have a professional product ...tools needed are a hammer and hacksaw (I did need a drill with so I could fit the MDF flooring to the aluminium with pop rivets and the wheels with bolts

I made the base trolley so it would fit in my car .... (without the trays, which live in the trunk) and it really does work well and is an ideal type of construction for someone like me who needs 4 guide lines to cut a piece of square tubing otherwise the cut is far from straight. It is amazingly light too!!

Chris

This is a camera bag, not a gig bag with tons of room. It is just what I need when I travel and want to pull the camera out of the pelican case. I just packed it with, camera, power, wireless mic receiver attached, two wireless mics ( HH & lav ), and media case. The diopter can stay on but I do not intend to carry it this way often.

It came with a rain cover that could be used to cover a tripod mounted camera in an emergency. The lens pillow could be used as a small bean bag for a shooting rest.

At this closeout price they will disappear fast. Grab one if you need it, anything comparable will be $150.00 or more.

Steve
Hey Steve, does it have room for an extra lens or two?

Yeah, yeah, rub it in some more...:D
Sorry Noa, but I just ordered one too ;-)

Sorry, who are you? :) You lucky ....

As promised here are some pics of my existing aluminium trolley

Cool Chris! So if I understand you right the sides remain open? Will any equipment not slide out during transport?

Sorry, who are you? :) You lucky ....

Someday's even i don't know who I am..... LOL

Cases go in the top tray under the camera trays and they are restrained by the bungee cords on the sides
The bottom compartment already has eyebolts fitted on the frame and I also have bungee cords that clip onto them in an "X" formation so the cases/bags there are also secure.

I always seem to have a couple of loose items so maybe it would be an idea to add a plastic compatment box at the end of the top compartment to toss my bits and pieces in ...I don't have much really as everything has a case so that way it's easier not to leave anything behind afetr the wedding is over...It's tough having to drive back on Sunday morning to retrieve something you accidentally behind!

Chris

Chris,

That is a cool cart. I bet it cost you less than a pre-made cart and you got what works for you.

I work out of state more than I work here. All of my gear is set up to be Fly-A-Way cased. A cart sure would help for local jobs.

Jerome,

I doubt it if you are going to fit two extra lenses in the case but it will be close. I have an out of town job next week. I am debating whether I should put the camera in a porta brace traveler case which is designed for carry on or try the Kata. The Porta Brace is made for over heads, the Kata is a little bigger, it will be close. And remember to always check your flights, nothing fits on regional jets.

Sorry, who are you? :) You lucky ....

Well the lenses could go in a backpack or something if they don't fit. For air travel, I pack the pelican 1650 (or whichever it is that fits in overhead... barely) Regional jets gate check but never had problems. A bag would be better but for regional gate checking, pelican is the way to go in my opinion.

My KATA bag will be here tomorrow, can't wait to check it out.

Everyone needs a BIG bag. Here is mine (biggest one, previous model) no cameras in it, just stuff:
PortaBrace - Production Gear (http://www.portabrace.com/products/production-gear/645-wheeled-production-cases)
I love it, but, the problem with BIG bags is you will ALLWAYS fill them up = HEAVY!


Looks like an indestructible one too, I have here an 8 year old Italian "working easy" bag (Home (http://www.workingeasy.it/)) that still looks like it came off the shelves, also a very durable one and it's a perfect fit for my ea50 now.
I was also looking at some peli stormcases with some wheels but those things are not only very expensive, they weigh at least 10kg. It's fine as long as you can drag it along but at every weddings I have to do stairs and those extra 10kg might just be too much for my bad back and knees.

The main issue I have is that I need to carry my 2 tripods along as well each time, now I was thinking of fitting my current large backpack to such a trolley which would allow me to snap on my tripods, in that way I could take the working easy bag with me as well in a church. Or maybe find a way to put my working easy bag on a trolley and be able to attach my backpack just above that and attach my 2 tripods to the trolley as well? Then I would only need a bit more sturdy trolley that would allow some modification. Mmm...something to think about. :)

I just received the Petrol PC206 Deca Mini Camporter Bag and like it a lot. It's not going to carry all my gear, but it'll do since I need something that will carry my basic kit on the plane. It holds the camera with the mic and viewfinder both extended. The camera has a Rokinon 35mm Cine lens attached, and I have room for 2 more lenses in the bag. I've also got the charger, some extra batteries, headphones, wireless mic kit, filters, and other (small) accessories in the outside pouches.

Attached are a few pics.

I ordered the Kata CC-197 PL bag and felt it was a bit too big. Its spacious alright, but its going back because I think I'll run into issues when getting it on the plane as a carryon.


http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/wes-browning-albums-gear-picture790-petrol-pc206-deca-mini-camporter-bag-image-1.jpg

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/wes-browning-albums-gear-picture789-petrol-pc206-deca-mini-camporter-bag-image-2.jpg

That looks like a great bag for the ea50 Wes, whay I do like is that you can leave the viewfinder and mike on and that you have space for extra lenses. Isn't it a too tight fit? When you close the bag isn't there some pressure on the mike of viewfinder? Can I use the pictures for my blog? (see link below)

Had a quick look around at some prizes and yet again it seems that in Belgium is bloody expensive when you want to get video accessoires, I found prizes from German and Uk suppliers half the prize compared what I pay here, good thing we have something called the internet.

The bag is a perfect fit for the camera. It barely brushes agains the sides when pulling out of the bag due to the wide top opening. There's about 2 inches from the zipper to the viewfinder (about 1 inch to the mic shock mount). I think there's sufficient room inside to give it protection from overhead pressure. The Kata CC-197 PL had more extra space above the camera and the side walls curved over the top of the bag, which gave it a little more protection overhead. That also means it was a little tough to take out - it got caught every time I took it out of the bag.

The decision to go with this bag came down to 2 main factors. One, I need something that I can take on planes - I do a lot of air travel and overhead bins can be pretty tiny. Second, I needed to be able to pull the camera out quickly and begin shooting right away - a feat more difficult if you have a hard time taking out the camera or need to remove the mic, fold in viewfinder, etc.

I liked the Kata CC-197 PL bag for the space and extra protection, so its perfect for people who need lots of space and don't travel on planes a lot. I ended up being pretty surprised how much I liked the Petrol PC206. The marketing photos/videos didn't do it justice. B&H Photo recommends this bag for the EA50 and I think they were spot on.


Yes, feel free to use the photos and my comments on your blog.

My current bag also fits the ea50 well but I can't attach the lenshood and the mike which need to be placed in a side compartment, I just found a great price for the Petrol bag at a UK dealer, think I"ll go ahead and order it, there also seems to be a trolley as accessory which has some connecting brackets to attach the Petrol bag to, it would be great if there was a way to attach my tripods to the trolley as well. I might have to see if there are a bit more versatile trolleys that would fit 2 bags and 2 tripods..
That petrol bag seems to be a perfect fit for the camera incl lenshood and mike and still leaves sufficient room for some lenses and maybe a small sony handicam.

i just purchased 3 Kata Capsule 185 bags. they are large and able to store the camera with the shot gun mic intact. not a ton of storage but for the price $45.00 usd you really cant find a better bag out there... even comes with a lens pillow... check the link.

Amazon.com: Kata Capsule-185 HDV Case (Gray): Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Kata-Capsule-185-HDV-Case-Gray/dp/B003BIFNBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361210173&sr=8-1&keywords=kata+hdv)
This bag is GREAT! Mine came in today and is a great alternative to my small Pelican Case for 1 camera shoots. Thanks for posting! I can't believe this is under $50!!!!!!

BTW, the amazon page showed "1" available when I ordered. It still shows "1" available. There's probably plenty folks!

I can't believe this is under $50!!!!!!
I bet if you pick up the bag from the ground you"ll find it has no bottom leaving your camera on the floor, I ordered a Petrol PC206 today, now THAT's a bag. :)

I bet if you pick up the bag from the ground you"ll find it has no bottom leaving your camera on the floor, I ordered a Petrol PC206 today, now THAT's a bag. :)
The Petrol is a nice bag I'll say. I like mine for $120 less though ;-) Oh it does have a bottom.

Check out my uber awesome petrol PC206 bag, it almost looks like my wife's purse inside, more room then you might think. :)

What's in the bag:
1x Sony nex ea50 (duh) with the stocklens but no hood
2x Canon 550d, one body alone and one with a 35mm lens and batterypack attached to it.
2x Sony cx730
1x 24mm lens
1x 85mm lens
1x 14mm lens
1x Eye cup for the dslr
6x dslr batteries, 3 cx730 batteries and 2 sony batteries for the ea50. (you can't see the batteries on the photo, they are placed in a compartment in front of where the stocklens ends

What I don't like is that the side pockets that can be opened with a zipper can only hold flat objects, wish they would have been a bit bigger (meaning extending from the main bag a bit) so I could add some more stuff but then the bag might get a bit too heavy, currently it does weigh more then enough for me, I think if I have to carry it up stairs it might even be a bit to heavy, will see soon how that works out. I also bought me a snaplock trolley from petrol that goes with the bag, it's quite handy as it locks the bag into place. I had to use some extra spacers I ripped out of another bag, all gear fit's tight like a glove now.

I bought the Porta Brace BK-1NR from B&H on their recommendation.
Porta Brace BK-1NR Backpack (Black with Copper String) BK-1NR
It's kind of pricey, kind of heavy and the implementation of a few things is totally bizarre to me... in particular, the tripod holder on the side is weird, but maybe if I invest in a much bigger tripod? that I'll never want to carry? It's also a bit awkward as a backpack as the weight is pretty far back... But it feels super sturdy and long lasting. The straps pack away which is crucial, I think.

Anyway, I wanted a backpack, and it needed to hold my 15" macbook pro which it easily does. While it's technically too big to be a carry on, I've discovered that it JUST fits the overhead of the 6 or seven planes I've been in with it (mostly 737's). The backpack straps need a bit of squeezing. I always go thinking I'll try and get away with it... and so far, so good.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/darryl-n-barg-albums-gear-picture793-portabrace-bk-bag.jpg

I have noticed that it is not unusual to find a product for 50 to 75% off mixed in with all of the regular stuff on Amazon in any given category. Especially if the item is discontinued. So I have been watching Kata ever since I bought the 185 Capsule bag for my EA50.

Here are two more smoking deals I just ordered:

A video backpack that will hold the EA50 (pretty sure), laptop, and more.

$79.99 at Amazon - $189.99 at B&H and more than that elsewhere:

Amazon.com: Kata BP-502 GDC Camcorder Backpack for a DV/HDV camcorder or D/SLR and 600mm lens with laptop pocket. (Insertrolly optional).: Camera & Photo



This is a small camcorder bag, not for the EA50. I can use it for a ton of stuff even if I do not put a camera in it. Extra Small Kata One Man Band Bag... $59.00 at Amazon - $150.00 other places:

Amazon.com: Kata KT OMB-72 One Man Band Bag for Videographer - Extra Small (Black): Camera & Photo

I think the backpack is going to be amazing. I have a weird thing about bags and cases. I have tons of them, even for the same piece of gear, so I can use the one that works best for the job. Backpacks, a favorite for run-n-gun, soft cases for overhead bins because I also have a backpack with me, pelicans for shipping. And lots of Porta Brace stuff. Now I am keeping an eye on these Kata deals.

Darryle, I am a huge fan of Porta Brace bags. Unfortunetly that does not include their backpacks. I have one similar to yours only a much older model. I find their backpacks to be like a hard box case with shoulder straps on it. Very unusual for a company that usually surprises me with functionality and design.

Steve

Update - I got an e-mail from Amazon saying the One Man Band Bag is out of stock and canceled. Hopefully the backpack order is still good, there was supposed to be 10 of those in stock.

I bought the Porta Brace BK-1NR

Darryl, I used your image and a part of your description on my blog (see link below) I f you want me to remove it just let me know but I think it might be valuable info for anyone interested in the bag.