I just ordered a Kata case online for my new GL2. I wish I had examined this thing in person first, it's a worthless piece of crap. There is absolutely no padding.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for a carrying case under $200? Even though it is probably best, I don't want to haul around a hard case.

Well, I don't know anything about this Kata bag---never even seen one. Depending on how much room you want in a bag, let me suggest the Lowepro Nova 4, 5, or 6. I have the Nova 5, and it's well padded. It even comes with a lifetime warranty. But I have so much stuff that I wished I would have went for 1 size larger, the Lowepro Nova 6. Mind you, I've got 3 cams plus lenses and stuff stuffed in there!

The Nova 5 cost me just under $80 Canadian. That would be around $60 US Dollars.

http://www.lowepro.com
http://www.lowepro.ca

Thanks, I'll check it out.

The Kata brand was included on the GL2 accessories section of Canon's web site. I suggest that they not continue to endorse this product.

This thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8958) and this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4885) may give you some guidance.

In my opinion, if you want a very good bag for your GL2, spend the extra for a Porta Brace. Most everything else will be "crap" by comparison.

Yes, the Porta Brace is nice also---it has about the same kind of padding as the Nova Series. The Porta Brace, from what I recall, is even larger than the Nova 6, and 3X the price.

Nope, they're not that expensive. You can get a Porta Brace CS-DV3 case (GL1/GL2/PD150) for less than $200.

Lowe makes good, reasonably-priced cases with still photography gear in mind. I own 2 myself and like them. But Porta Brace's detailing really targets video cameras and accessories.

A Nova 6 costs just under $90 Canadian; a Porta Brace costs at least $269 Canadian---last time I checked.

Ah, indeed, you're right Frank. But Alex has a budget of $200.

I use a Lowe Pro Commercial AW. It's overkill for -just- the camera. I inevetibly have my digital camera, chargers,cords, flash, tapes,microphone, etc with me so it works perfectly for me. I got mine on ebay for cheap. good camera bags wear well and are often not used heavily so I think ebay is a great place to look. There is another Lowe Pro model that is made more specifically for video cams but mine works great.

Re: "Ah, indeed, you're right Frank. But Alex has a budget of $200."

Hehe. My way of buying is always going for the best bang for the buck. I'd buy the almost as good Lowepro, and with what I had left over, I'd buy an extra battery or something, or put it back into the bank. :)

Frank,
You and I would make a lovely couple. I'd be pillaging the central bank like Sadaam and you'd be beating me off with a baseball bat. (Actually, my wife is very much a kindred spirit to your philosophy.)

So, Frank and Ken - what do you recommend by light hiking? I'm looking for a bag to carry my GL2 and accesories on the trail.

Stephen, I don't work for Lowepro, really. I just wanted to mention this. Now go to Lowepro's site, and look at the great hiking type protective bags they have:

http://www.lowepro.com

Ken, my wife is like you, I think. I'm always beating her back from spending money. :)

<<<-- Originally posted by Stephen Sobel : So, Frank and Ken - what do you recommend by light hiking? I'm looking for a bag to carry my GL2 and accesories on the trail. -->>>

http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/dryzone/dzone.htm

I use this for my GL1, and every time we hike to a location my partner is whining about why they don't make on for the XL1s <;~)

I love this bag, it is very well made and worth the $$$ IMO.
You can also carry your sticks with this pack. See me if you buy one because I made some minor modifications on the strapping system for your sticks.

I do wish that they would make this a little larger though....
I'm the kind of person who would carry 100lbs of gear on a hike just so I have everything for every potential situation.

I have no experience with hiking / backpack cases for gear. But here is Porta Braces version (http://portabrace.com/asp/ProdDesc.asp?DescCode=BK) for the GL2-sized cameras. Here's their larger version (http://portabrace.com/asp/ProdDesc.asp?DescCode=HV).

Honest, I don't work for Porta-Brace, either! I'm just a big fan of their cases.

I use the Kata CCC 3333 bag. It has plenty of room for extra batteries, lenes, small lights, chargers and tapes. It also functions well as a carry-on for your camera on flights.

I have the CS-DV3 for my GL2. Love it (although I'd make one minor change). I will definitely look to Porta Brace first when I need more cases.

Do any of my fellow Canadians on this thread have any idea where in Canada one can buy (at retail) Porta- Brace bags? I'm intersted in the DV3/CR3 but so far all I have found are distributors that are not really willing to sell to me easily...

Cheers;
Eric

See http://www.portabrace.com/asp/CanadianDealers.asp.

Hi Will;

Thanks for the link. I did however check them out first and after a few phone calls, I discovered that most of these companies are only interested in selling to Gov't, institution, corporation, etc.

None of these guys (to the best of my knowledge) are retail oriented operations. I'm really looking for a place in Canada similar to a B&H photo for example.

Cheers;
Eric

I don't work for them---honestly, but here's a link to a Vancouver store that sells Porte Brace (and Lowepro):

http://www.leoscamera.com
peter@leoscamera.com


:)

Thank you Frank, I have just sent off a note to Peter at Leos Camera to inquire about the DV3 bag.

Much Appreciated!
Eric

I bought a case from pelican, with the 1cm foam squares, and it's a dream. It is totally waterproof shatterproof....and it's sturdy as can be....And they're CHEAP TOO!!!!! There is plenty of room for your filters, lenses, extra tapes, etc....They even go as far as putting on a presure valve so if you put the thing in a plane, and the pressure changes, this will let it off, so it keeps the seal. Very nice....hiking would prolly not be a good one, but for the everyday hauling around, very nice....lockable too!

http://www.pelican.com/cases/cases.html

Ken and others,

Do you know how the Portabrace backpack compares with the Lowepro Nature Trekker AW?

Sorry, no, I've never used either backpack version.

As previously posted:

LowePro Nova 5, with the inserts for a Compact AW DV inserts substituted for the Nova 5 inserts, and with the LowePro Deluxe shoulder strap substituted for the Nova 5 strap. The DV insert set has to be purchased directly from LowePro. This combination is far lighter and less bulky than the Compact AW DV, yet has essentially the same room, which I need for the following:

Canon GL 2 with Century 0.65X zoom-through lens attached
Century FA 100 (I think that is the number) lens shade (it is big!)
Sennheiser MKE 300 shotgun mike (detached)
Extra Canon battery packs & charger
Cables
Blank tapes, all pre-blacked with time code, and numbered
Folded white cotton T-shirt for white balance & misc.
Small spiral notebook & pen
LED flashlight
Cleaning items, including small air can
GL 2 manual, with French section trimmed off.
Remote control
Extra batteries for MKE 300
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones, folded (wonderful!)

There is also room for a Beachtek XLR adapter

A footnote - The new Nova line has AW covers for light rain protection.

Also as previously posted:

LowePro Nature Trekker AW, Nature Trekker AW backpack, with a Lowepro Day Pack attachment, is good for for ski-trips, hiking, etc. It nicely holds roughly the same gear as the Nova 5, plus clothes, lunch, first aid kit, etc. in the Day Pack attachment. The Day Pack attachment does not interfere with opening the main pack. The interior space is similar to the intererior space of the Dry Zone, but with less exterior bulk, and less expensive. The AW cover should suffice in the event of brief rain showers.

Video & digital still gear in the main pack:

- Canon GL 2 with Century 0.65x zoom through wide angle adapter.
- Century FA-100 lens hood
- Sennheiser MKE 300 microsphone
- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones
- Extra Canon batteries
- Spare battery for microphone
- Pen and small spiral notebook
- GL 2 manual with French section trimmed off
- Sony head cleaning tape
- Blank Sony Mini DV tapes, numbered and blacked with time code
- Cables and battery charger
- Canon G2 digital camera with adaptor for wide angle lens
- Canon wide angle lens for G2
- Canon EX 420 speedlite and off-camera cord for G2
- white cotton t-shirt
- LED flashlight
- compass
- Multi-function tool

There should be room whenever I swith to a Beachtek adaptor and Sennheiser 66 / K9 mike

This pack is also very good for airline carry on, though anything suspected of being a weapon would have to be packed elsewhere.

Another excellent, but slightly smaller backpack, is the MiniTrekker.

Lowepro Trekker series backpacks have quite a loyal following among outdoor (still) photographers.

No, I have no affilation whatsoever to LowePro.

Richard D. George
Lakewood / Denver
Beautiful Colorado

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a small bag for my XM2 (for the holiday)
Because the camera is so big, it is difficult to find a bag that is large enough to only fit the camera and some tapes, batteries, not more.

I need a bag that I can wear all day (light) and is easy to open so I can "point and shoot" instead of "put my bag on a steady place, open the zipper, carefully grab my XM2, close the bag, put it on around my shoulder, start filming"

So I started looking at a bag in The Netherlands (europe), but it seems that some brands are like liqued gold.
The portabrace for example is only sold at the official dealer, CS-DV3, and costs $350.
Katabags are also expensive, and costs $200.Importing it is no solution because of paying large amount of VAT and extra's.
Lowepro is the only brand that is affordible.
So I found the NOVA 5, but I do not know if this bag is light enough to wear the whole day around my shoulder.
Or should I look at the VIDCAM 6?

Who can give me some advice at a very small bag, wich I can wear around my shoulder the whole day, and is easy enough to open and "point and shoot" my camcorder.

Gabriel

Hey Frank,
When you said you have 3 cams stuffed in your Nova 5 bag, were you referring to 3 still-cameras? Or is that bag large enough for 3 small camcorders? I ask because I need a way to transport 2/3 GL2 sized video cams in the same bag.

Al

Gabriel:

The Nova 5 itself is light. The stuff you put in it may cause you not to want to carry it all day long. Be sure and swap out the shoulder strap for a LowePro deluxe shoulder strap. You could also add a waistband to it. However.......

For all day use, I would rather carry a GL2 with accessories in my MiniTrekker backpack, with water, lunch, etc, in the outside pocket. Of course, you have to take it off to get to the camcorder. Life is full of compromises. I would have the GL2 out and around my neck (in front of me) for those times when I might likely shoot, with the MiniTrekker on my back. For all day use, this backpack will be vastly more comfortable than any shoulder bag. Cell phone goes in a tiny case on one of the shoulder straps.

I use a Lowe Top-loader Zoom (TLZ) Pro AW for my GL1. It fits the camera nicely, and batteries fit in the bottom compartment and tapes in the pocket. With the 2x on the camera it still fit, barely.

The GL2 doesn't fit as well. It might work if you used the normal eye-cup not the larger eye-cup. It would certainly fit without the shade on, probably not an option.

This bag just rides at my side while I'm hiking and allows me to quickly pull the camera out when I see something I want to capture on video. For more support I use a strap around my shoulder to support some of the weight.

Has anyone tried the Portabrace CS-DV2 along with a GL2?

I'm leaning towards it for the slightly smaller size (over the DV3) since I tend to travel fairly light in the first place. I called Portabrace and they said the GL2 will fit even though the DV2 is listed as a GL1 sized bag. Not many accessories that I'd consider "essential" for my purposes. Maybe the power adapter and associated cables, the video hookup cables, some tapes, a 930 sized battery (w/915 attached), possibly the remote and a WD-58. That's propbably the absolute max I would be carrying at any given time.

Although it's not very padded a GL2 will fit in a Porta-brace Hip-4. It has some padding on the bottom and stiffeners in the sides. An alternative if someone needs a strap on carrier.

Clint, the list of items you mentioned is close to what I carry. My DV3 isn't full, but I'm not swimming in space, either.

I have tapes at one end and the power stuff at the other. The pouch contains my shotgun mic and a few other items. The big outside pocket holds cables, a mounting bracket for my shotgun, my pouch of filters, and a few other items. With all this, I'm still able to get the GL2 out without digging.

I'm glad I have the DV3 because I will inevitably end up with more to carry and I still have room.

Will,

Have you ever had the chance to compare the DV2 and DV3 side-by-side? I'm really interested to know if the DV2 w/GL2 would be a tight fit and thus not be useful for very long. We all acquire more stuff, right?

I did not do a physical side-by-side comparison. I bought the DV3 blind after making what comparisons I could via the Web and asking around. Then I accepted PortaBrace's statement that the DV3 was the right case for the GL2.

The DV2 is smaller in every dimension -- 3.75" shorter, .75" narrower, and 2" lower. That doesn't sound like a lot until you do the math. The cases are not quite a rectangular shape because the sides taper in a bit, but assuming they were, the DV3 would have a volume of 1240 cubic inches and the DV2 694 cu.in. That is quite a difference. Call the DV2 40% smaller.

I've got the GL2 centered in the middle of my DV3. One end holds tapes and the other end holds all the power stuff plus the remote. The pouch is on one side holding audio stuff. The pocket on the other side holds my white balance card, the English third of the user manual (I stripped off the other two languages), and a few other flat things. I do have quite a bit of empty space above the GL2, which I plan to fill with the addition of rain and possibly polar gear in the fall.

I'm sure this is a matter of personal taste. When I go mobile, which isn't very often, I take the DV3, my JTL Everlight kit (4 times the size of the DV3), my bag of tripods, my bag of stands, two briefcases full of audio stuff, a small case with my small MiniDV camcorder, and a smaller case with my digital camera. The bigger size of the DV3 isn't an issue in this mound of equipment.