Pelican 1650 Case for Canon XL2 Pictures

Gary Gonsalves · October 14th, 2006, 02:12 AM

No problem. It was hard for me to make a decision when looking because of the lack of photos available. I am glad I could help.

Jonathan Kirsch · October 19th, 2006, 11:35 AM

OK, Jarrod's right. The Pelican 1510 came in and it's a tad too small. Tried putting it in vertically, but the handle sticks up too much...can't close it. Tried horizontally, but the viewfinder or shotgun mic sticks up...can't close it. Only solution is to take the viewfinder off. So I cut it that way and it fits. whoopee (sarcasm!) Then on the top half, I cut a space for the viewfinder. I put the mic on top of the camera (which is cut through both layers to the bottom.) And take the accessory off the back where I attach my wireless mics. I need as much in the case as possible because I need to take it on the plane (everything else gets lost for a couple days). I think, "OK.....not much real estate left," but I manage to cut space for 4 batteries (stacked) and 15 miniDV tapes (stacked). Then it hits me. I do a lot of run and gun on my international trips going from one winery to another. I don't have time to dissassemble my camera and put it back together again each time. Can't leave it out of the case between shoots because I'm driving as well. Don't think I can return it because the foam's already cut. I guess I'll have to take the hit. Should have stuck with my Portabrace softcase that I've been using. I usually fly British Airways and they only allow one hand bag on the plane that measures 22 inches x 17.5 inches x 9.85 inches. That's the dimensions of the PB case. Only had probs once with a flight attendant.

Sorry for the rambling. Hope this gives everyone something to think about.

Jonathan

Richard Alvarez · October 19th, 2006, 01:42 PM

It's a tough call, making the 'case' for the right carryall. (Sorry for the pun.) But I wouldn't call your purchase a loss. You COULD buy replacement foam, and then sell the case with new foam on Ebay, taking a small loss.

However. I think you'll find that having an hard, watertight case might be just the ticket at some point in time. I have two solutions for my gear. A large, soft case, that I can put the camera in, all 'built out', when I'm driving around and doing run and gun. I also have a Pelican 1620, that is LOADED to the gills, when it is packed. I opted for the dividers instead of the foam, and I'm absolutely glad I did.

In the Pelican, I Pack - DISSASEMBLED

The xl2 body
16x Manual Lens
3x Wide angle lens
Five BP945 batts
Ch910 Dual Batt Pack with cord and connector
Regular Batt Charger with cord
Fu500 Color EVF
FU1000 Monochrome EVF
Brace/adapter for CH910
TWO 25 foot audio cables
Canon Stereo Camera Mic
AT 897 SHotgun WITH WIndscreen and Fuzzy
Camera Shockmount for Shotgun
Short XLR for shotgun
A small microphone Case WHICH INCLUDES- One Shure SM58 One AT handheld mic, two lavaliers and all their batteries.
Fifty feet of SVHS cable for monitor
Assorted small connectors in a bag.
Headphones
One Canon On Camera Light
One 650WATT Sun Hotlight for mounting anywhere.
Box of FIVE tapes.
HEAD CLEANING TAPE
And a small pacakge of lens cleaning brush/tissue/fluid/cloth.

I'm probably forgetting something.

When this case is properly packed, and believe me, I've got it down to a science... EVERYTHING is padded and secure from movement and abrasion. This is my 'shoot package' and it goes with me on a job. When I am out and about, doing run and gun, I might ALSO take my large canvas bag. When the camera is built out, I'll put it and an extra battery and tapes in the canvas bag, and I can easily take it in and out of the car when I'm travelling.

My point being, there's a time and place for a hard case, and a soft case. Only you can decide if ONLY ONE is all you need.

Jonathan Kirsch · October 19th, 2006, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the info, Richard. I, too, have both cases PACKED! The only problem with the Pelican is that I can not go any larger...seeing as that I HAVE to get it on the plane in the overhead. There is no way they'd let me bring the 1610 on board. The original idea was to get something that would be checked luggage (you know how airline folks are at taking care of checked luggage!)...but after having luggage "lost" for three days each on two separate trips, that ain't gonna happen. Again, I wouldn't mind the disassembling if I didn't have three shoots a day and have to travel between them. Granted many of the wineries are either down the road or a couple of km away. It's still a hassle assembling/disassembling. Time is money. I can appreciate your effort to pack everything in that Pelican, though!

Jonathan

Richard Alvarez · October 19th, 2006, 03:10 PM

Jonathan,

"Leave the gun, take the canoli..."

Sorry. My point was, pack the Pelican with your camera, and check the canvas bag. Worst case scenario, you get where your going with the camera, lens and batteries. Best case scenario, you get where you're going, rent the car, and load your canvas bag for 'the day trip'.

Gary Gonsalves · October 23rd, 2006, 01:17 PM

Jonathan... I think that was a great piece of advice on purchasing the replacement foam. If you haven't had the case for long I would replace the foam (OME) and see if they will take it on a return or credit toward another case that will work for you.

Jonathan Kirsch · October 23rd, 2006, 02:54 PM

Good idea on checking the softcase, Richard. Didn't even think of that. Since I'm in a car or hotel room every day, that's where I can leave the hard case. Just have to decide if I want to carry all that (unfortunately, the tripod doesn't fit in the portabrace case, so I might be checking three pieces (my clothes suitcase, the tripod and the portabrace) and pay a small fee. Not a big problem.) My boss wants to keep the Pelican anyway, so there goes the e-bay idea. Although I do have to put the silve Canon hard case on e-bay (since I don't use it), unless anyone knows someone who wants to buy it at a discounted price! :)

Thanks everyone for your ideas!

Jonathan

October 14th, 2006, 02:12 AM	#16
Gary Gonsalves Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 56	No problem. It was hard for me to make a decision when looking because of the lack of photos available. I am glad I could help. __________________ Currently using Panasonic AG AC160 Cameras. Editing with a custom built suite by http://www.videohardware.com running the latest Adobe Suite with Matrox.

October 19th, 2006, 11:35 AM	#17
Jonathan Kirsch Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 204	Grrrrr.... OK, Jarrod's right. The Pelican 1510 came in and it's a tad too small. Tried putting it in vertically, but the handle sticks up too much...can't close it. Tried horizontally, but the viewfinder or shotgun mic sticks up...can't close it. Only solution is to take the viewfinder off. So I cut it that way and it fits. whoopee (sarcasm!) Then on the top half, I cut a space for the viewfinder. I put the mic on top of the camera (which is cut through both layers to the bottom.) And take the accessory off the back where I attach my wireless mics. I need as much in the case as possible because I need to take it on the plane (everything else gets lost for a couple days). I think, "OK.....not much real estate left," but I manage to cut space for 4 batteries (stacked) and 15 miniDV tapes (stacked). Then it hits me. I do a lot of run and gun on my international trips going from one winery to another. I don't have time to dissassemble my camera and put it back together again each time. Can't leave it out of the case between shoots because I'm driving as well. Don't think I can return it because the foam's already cut. I guess I'll have to take the hit. Should have stuck with my Portabrace softcase that I've been using. I usually fly British Airways and they only allow one hand bag on the plane that measures 22 inches x 17.5 inches x 9.85 inches. That's the dimensions of the PB case. Only had probs once with a flight attendant. Sorry for the rambling. Hope this gives everyone something to think about. Jonathan

October 23rd, 2006, 01:17 PM	#21
Gary Gonsalves Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 56	Jonathan... I think that was a great piece of advice on purchasing the replacement foam. If you haven't had the case for long I would replace the foam (OME) and see if they will take it on a return or credit toward another case that will work for you. __________________ Currently using Panasonic AG AC160 Cameras. Editing with a custom built suite by http://www.videohardware.com running the latest Adobe Suite with Matrox.

October 19th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#18
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	It's a tough call, making the 'case' for the right carryall. (Sorry for the pun.) But I wouldn't call your purchase a loss. You COULD buy replacement foam, and then sell the case with new foam on Ebay, taking a small loss. However. I think you'll find that having an hard, watertight case might be just the ticket at some point in time. I have two solutions for my gear. A large, soft case, that I can put the camera in, all 'built out', when I'm driving around and doing run and gun. I also have a Pelican 1620, that is LOADED to the gills, when it is packed. I opted for the dividers instead of the foam, and I'm absolutely glad I did. In the Pelican, I Pack - DISSASEMBLED The xl2 body 16x Manual Lens 3x Wide angle lens Five BP945 batts Ch910 Dual Batt Pack with cord and connector Regular Batt Charger with cord Fu500 Color EVF FU1000 Monochrome EVF Brace/adapter for CH910 TWO 25 foot audio cables Canon Stereo Camera Mic AT 897 SHotgun WITH WIndscreen and Fuzzy Camera Shockmount for Shotgun Short XLR for shotgun A small microphone Case WHICH INCLUDES- One Shure SM58 One AT handheld mic, two lavaliers and all their batteries. Fifty feet of SVHS cable for monitor Assorted small connectors in a bag. Headphones One Canon On Camera Light One 650WATT Sun Hotlight for mounting anywhere. Box of FIVE tapes. HEAD CLEANING TAPE And a small pacakge of lens cleaning brush/tissue/fluid/cloth. I'm probably forgetting something. When this case is properly packed, and believe me, I've got it down to a science... EVERYTHING is padded and secure from movement and abrasion. This is my 'shoot package' and it goes with me on a job. When I am out and about, doing run and gun, I might ALSO take my large canvas bag. When the camera is built out, I'll put it and an extra battery and tapes in the canvas bag, and I can easily take it in and out of the car when I'm travelling. My point being, there's a time and place for a hard case, and a soft case. Only you can decide if ONLY ONE is all you need.

October 19th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#19
Jonathan Kirsch Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 204	Thanks for the info, Richard. I, too, have both cases PACKED! The only problem with the Pelican is that I can not go any larger...seeing as that I HAVE to get it on the plane in the overhead. There is no way they'd let me bring the 1610 on board. The original idea was to get something that would be checked luggage (you know how airline folks are at taking care of checked luggage!)...but after having luggage "lost" for three days each on two separate trips, that ain't gonna happen. Again, I wouldn't mind the disassembling if I didn't have three shoots a day and have to travel between them. Granted many of the wineries are either down the road or a couple of km away. It's still a hassle assembling/disassembling. Time is money. I can appreciate your effort to pack everything in that Pelican, though! Jonathan

October 19th, 2006, 03:10 PM	#20
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Jonathan, "Leave the gun, take the canoli..." Sorry. My point was, pack the Pelican with your camera, and check the canvas bag. Worst case scenario, you get where your going with the camera, lens and batteries. Best case scenario, you get where you're going, rent the car, and load your canvas bag for 'the day trip'.

October 23rd, 2006, 02:54 PM	#22
Jonathan Kirsch Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 204	Good idea on checking the softcase, Richard. Didn't even think of that. Since I'm in a car or hotel room every day, that's where I can leave the hard case. Just have to decide if I want to carry all that (unfortunately, the tripod doesn't fit in the portabrace case, so I might be checking three pieces (my clothes suitcase, the tripod and the portabrace) and pay a small fee. Not a big problem.) My boss wants to keep the Pelican anyway, so there goes the e-bay idea. Although I do have to put the silve Canon hard case on e-bay (since I don't use it), unless anyone knows someone who wants to buy it at a discounted price! :) Thanks everyone for your ideas! Jonathan