Cheap Aluminum Case Alternative at DVinfo.net

Imran Zaidi · January 8th, 2003, 01:56 PM

This is info I found in a post from indieclub.com. Apparently a great low cost alternative for an aluminum case for your dv camera...

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Hey just in case anybody is in need I found this Aluminum Tool Case at Lowe's Home Improvement Wharehouse. It has egg crate foam on the top and diced foam on the bottom. I use it for my GL1 and it works great, lots of room for the camera, batteries, tapes, cords, etc. I have found guys selling these on EBay for $40+. Best thing is it is only $19.96. Here is the link if you want to look. Bear in mind the have taken all the foam out and put tools in. http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...10203-VGC-5200 You can change the location in the upper right hand corner and enter your zip code to find you nearest Lowe's.
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Jim Ferguson · January 8th, 2003, 06:18 PM

This is exactly what I need. However, it doesn't look big enough for the xl-1 (even in pieces). I have a camera case that looks quite similar. I planned on using it for the xl-1, but it's to shallow.
I'll measure up and see. Anyhow, thanks.

Andrew Petrie · January 9th, 2003, 09:05 AM

American home improvement stores have the best stuff. I've tried various home stores here in Canada, and can't find anything suitable for a home-made XL case.

Chris Kirby · January 10th, 2003, 02:08 PM

Thanks for the tip. I've been wondering how I was going to fit all the things I really need into my budget. You just saved me a few bucks!

Doug Quance · January 11th, 2003, 11:14 AM

Looks just like the cases I bought on eBay... for more money.

Good little cases, by the way.

Aaron Koolen · January 11th, 2003, 10:08 PM

Just wondering if those are REALLY big enough? They are 16.875cm deep and the XM2 is about 14 or 12cm wide depending on which way you measure it. This doesn't seem to give much leg room for the padding to work. Anyone actually using these? Are they safe enough for the XM2?

Doug Quance · January 13th, 2003, 11:24 AM

I don't know about the camera, but I have two for accessories.

One carries my video light, charger, and battery belt. The other carries my Rode NTK microphone, power supply, and shock mount.

R.J. Paradee · January 29th, 2003, 07:16 PM

Hey Imran, thanks for the scoop on the heavy duty aluminum case at Lowes. I've just bought a Gl2, and didn't want to pay alot for my case, but I wanted something substantial just like you mentioned. I'll be at lowes tomorrow. I love this forum! Thanks again.

r.j. paradee

www.hearditonhold.com/about.htm

Dylan Couper · January 30th, 2003, 12:48 AM

I've seen these metal cases at Home Depos here in Canada as well. I'm not big on them though. Way too small for my liking. I'd rather have one big case than 4 little ones.

Eric Reynolds · January 30th, 2003, 11:17 AM

I have this case. Works great.

Bryan Roberts · January 30th, 2003, 05:39 PM

I also have this case. For 20 bucks, it rocks! Here are some pics I just snapped real quick with my panasonic pv-dv852 inside, and normally my digital camera is in the upper right hand corner. This site doesn't have the web code turned on to post pics so you have to copy and paste the links in your browser. I fit my camcorder, camera, extra battery for camcorder, battery charger for camcorder, extra batteries and charger for camera, wide angle lense, 4 filters, extra dv tape, remote for camcorder, and all the extra wires that my camcorder came with all in this case! I love it......

www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case1.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case2.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case3.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case4.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case5.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case6.jpg
www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case7.jpg

Dylan Couper · January 30th, 2003, 07:38 PM

Bryan, that looks very good. I'm guessing you did the cut out for the camera yourself, did it come with the black foam already in it?

For Aaron, I've seen XL1's inside these cases, with decent room around them. The viewfinder has to come off, but it works. And being aluminum, I'd think they'd be pretty darn safe.

And for $20, it's a great buy if you don't want to lug around a bigger case.

Eric Reynolds · January 30th, 2003, 10:03 PM

Yes, the foam comes in it.

Bryan Roberts · January 31st, 2003, 06:48 AM

you can also arrange the foam lengthwise to fit longer cameras (xl1).

Nathan Gifford · January 31st, 2003, 10:55 AM

Its larger, has wheels and can hold an XL-1 fully assembled.

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00959027000

January 8th, 2003, 01:56 PM	#1
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	Cheap Aluminum Case Alternative This is info I found in a post from indieclub.com. Apparently a great low cost alternative for an aluminum case for your dv camera... ------------------------------------------ Hey just in case anybody is in need I found this Aluminum Tool Case at Lowe's Home Improvement Wharehouse. It has egg crate foam on the top and diced foam on the bottom. I use it for my GL1 and it works great, lots of room for the camera, batteries, tapes, cords, etc. I have found guys selling these on EBay for $40+. Best thing is it is only $19.96. Here is the link if you want to look. Bear in mind the have taken all the foam out and put tools in. http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...10203-VGC-5200 You can change the location in the upper right hand corner and enter your zip code to find you nearest Lowe's. ------------------------------------------

January 9th, 2003, 09:05 AM	#3
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	American home improvement stores have the best stuff. I've tried various home stores here in Canada, and can't find anything suitable for a home-made XL case. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

January 11th, 2003, 11:14 AM	#5
Doug Quance Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 138	Looks just like the cases I bought on eBay... for more money. Good little cases, by the way. __________________ If you're not the lead dog... the scenery never changes

January 13th, 2003, 11:24 AM	#7
Doug Quance Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 138	I don't know about the camera, but I have two for accessories. One carries my video light, charger, and battery belt. The other carries my Rode NTK microphone, power supply, and shock mount. __________________ If you're not the lead dog... the scenery never changes

January 29th, 2003, 07:16 PM	#8
R.J. Paradee Registration incomplete-contact admin. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 23	Thanks for the great tip! Hey Imran, thanks for the scoop on the heavy duty aluminum case at Lowes. I've just bought a Gl2, and didn't want to pay alot for my case, but I wanted something substantial just like you mentioned. I'll be at lowes tomorrow. I love this forum! Thanks again. r.j. paradee www.hearditonhold.com/about.htm

January 8th, 2003, 06:18 PM	#2
Jim Ferguson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 28	This is exactly what I need. However, it doesn't look big enough for the xl-1 (even in pieces). I have a camera case that looks quite similar. I planned on using it for the xl-1, but it's to shallow. I'll measure up and see. Anyhow, thanks.

January 10th, 2003, 02:08 PM	#4
Chris Kirby New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 24	Thanks for the tip. I've been wondering how I was going to fit all the things I really need into my budget. You just saved me a few bucks!

January 11th, 2003, 10:08 PM	#6
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Just wondering if those are REALLY big enough? They are 16.875cm deep and the XM2 is about 14 or 12cm wide depending on which way you measure it. This doesn't seem to give much leg room for the padding to work. Anyone actually using these? Are they safe enough for the XM2?

January 30th, 2003, 12:48 AM	#9
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I've seen these metal cases at Home Depos here in Canada as well. I'm not big on them though. Way too small for my liking. I'd rather have one big case than 4 little ones.

January 30th, 2003, 11:17 AM	#10
Eric Reynolds New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 24	I have this case. Works great.

January 30th, 2003, 05:39 PM	#11
Bryan Roberts Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 436	I also have this case. For 20 bucks, it rocks! Here are some pics I just snapped real quick with my panasonic pv-dv852 inside, and normally my digital camera is in the upper right hand corner. This site doesn't have the web code turned on to post pics so you have to copy and paste the links in your browser. I fit my camcorder, camera, extra battery for camcorder, battery charger for camcorder, extra batteries and charger for camera, wide angle lense, 4 filters, extra dv tape, remote for camcorder, and all the extra wires that my camcorder came with all in this case! I love it...... www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case1.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case2.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case3.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case4.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case5.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case6.jpg www4.ncsu.edu/~berobert/case7.jpg

January 30th, 2003, 07:38 PM	#12
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Bryan, that looks very good. I'm guessing you did the cut out for the camera yourself, did it come with the black foam already in it? For Aaron, I've seen XL1's inside these cases, with decent room around them. The viewfinder has to come off, but it works. And being aluminum, I'd think they'd be pretty darn safe. And for $20, it's a great buy if you don't want to lug around a bigger case.

January 30th, 2003, 10:03 PM	#13
Eric Reynolds New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 24	Yes, the foam comes in it.

January 31st, 2003, 06:48 AM	#14
Bryan Roberts Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 436	you can also arrange the foam lengthwise to fit longer cameras (xl1).

January 31st, 2003, 10:55 AM	#15
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Try Sears Truck Tote Its larger, has wheels and can hold an XL-1 fully assembled. http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00959027000 __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here