Lowell cases: worth the money? at DVinfo.net

Bob Kerner · December 26th, 2009, 07:30 PM

Santa brought some lighting gear and now I have to figure out how to organize it an move it. I think I want a hard case, for the lights at least, and was looking at the Lowell cases wondering if they will suit my needs.

Right now I have:
Lowell Pro
Lowell Riffa 55 (which has its own bag but the Pro doesn't fit in it)
Assorted clamps and extension cords, gels, dimmers etc
Manfrotto boom stand
Matthews C-stand with detachable base

In the near future, I'll add either another pro or Riffa or a Coolights fixture. I'd like to keep everything self contained, if possible.

Is it reasonable to expect to pack all the stands with the lights, or should I plan on a duffel bag for the stands and keep the fixtures separate? The Riffa is pretty long to begin with.

I don't expect to every have to ship any of this stuff. It will ride in my car.

Thanks
Bob

Perrone Ford · December 26th, 2009, 07:35 PM

I got one of the large hard cases with my Lowel kit. I like it a lot. It's no Anvil case, but it does roll, has nice compartments to hold the fixtures, a small area for spare bulbs, and a strapped down section just for the stands. It also stores things like small reflectors, umbrellas, gel holders, etc. in a separate area with a hard plastic divider so they won't get beaten up by the lights and stands.

I don't know what the case costs on it's own, but I'd probably part with $200 for the one I have.

Jerry Porter · December 26th, 2009, 08:06 PM

I don't think they are worth the money I have two of them and they crack very easy.

Dylan Couper · December 28th, 2009, 04:56 PM

If you want something cheap but good, get a hard golf club case for your lights or a Home Depot rolling tool case.
If you want something awesome but expensive, get a Pelican case or a Kata lighting bag.
IMHO, the Lowell cases are the wrong part of each (though it's been 2-3 years since I've seen one, they may be better).

Andy Wilkinson · December 28th, 2009, 05:16 PM

I have a Petrol PLC-4 for my lights (and some of my sound gear). I really wanted one with good strong wheels built in - like it has as I'm not getting any younger and my kit seems to be constantly expanding in variety/getting heavier! It is a really excellent semi-hard case with lots of internal padding/configurability and looks "the part", i.e. "professional" when I'm wheeling it into a clients office etc....but it was not a cheap buy... so you pay for that!!!

Daniel Epstein · December 28th, 2009, 06:53 PM

Hey Bob,
Hi to a fellow NYer. I have a couple of the Lowel 4 light cases and they work well if I don't overfill them or travel them by plane too much. . My question would be what kind of vehicle do you want to move them in. I have a Minivan so the Lowel 4 light case fits easily and I have a DP, Omni, 2 or 3 Prolights and an Arri 300, a couple of Chimeras ,stands, gels etc. I used to have an Arri Kit but it was too heavy to take on planes and the Lowel kit was more flexible. It fits on the handtrucks I have and becomes the base so I can stack other stuff on it. Biggest problem is the handles and latches need replacement over time so be prepared to learn how to Rivet.
I also have a smaller 3 light case which is not as good as the long stands don't fit it in the smaller case.
I of course have also been bringing Kinoflos on most of my shoots the last few years so I may be changing what I carry in the Lowel case.

Bob Kerner · December 28th, 2009, 07:02 PM

I have an SUV and minvan so size is not so much an issue as durability, cost and fitting the gear in. I looked at the Lowell soft cases but it appears they don't hold nearly as much as the hard cases.

Unfortunately, it looks like these are items you buy based on specifications, since I was in B& H last month and they did not have them out on display to inspect.

Shaun Roemich · January 3rd, 2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kerner

Is it reasonable to expect to pack all the stands with the lights, or should I plan on a duffel bag for the stands and keep the fixtures separate?

The C-Stand is likely to be a "carry separately" item, due to it's size.

Look at the KATA "bags" as well. I'm probably buying a couple for my 2 and a half light kits (one Ianiro Redhead, one and a half Lowel Pro Light + RIFA + assorted)

December 26th, 2009, 07:30 PM	#1
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 388	Lowell cases: worth the money? Santa brought some lighting gear and now I have to figure out how to organize it an move it. I think I want a hard case, for the lights at least, and was looking at the Lowell cases wondering if they will suit my needs. Right now I have: Lowell Pro Lowell Riffa 55 (which has its own bag but the Pro doesn't fit in it) Assorted clamps and extension cords, gels, dimmers etc Manfrotto boom stand Matthews C-stand with detachable base In the near future, I'll add either another pro or Riffa or a Coolights fixture. I'd like to keep everything self contained, if possible. Is it reasonable to expect to pack all the stands with the lights, or should I plan on a duffel bag for the stands and keep the fixtures separate? The Riffa is pretty long to begin with. I don't expect to every have to ship any of this stuff. It will ride in my car. Thanks Bob

December 26th, 2009, 07:35 PM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	I got one of the large hard cases with my Lowel kit. I like it a lot. It's no Anvil case, but it does roll, has nice compartments to hold the fixtures, a small area for spare bulbs, and a strapped down section just for the stands. It also stores things like small reflectors, umbrellas, gel holders, etc. in a separate area with a hard plastic divider so they won't get beaten up by the lights and stands. I don't know what the case costs on it's own, but I'd probably part with $200 for the one I have. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

December 28th, 2009, 04:56 PM	#4
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	If you want something cheap but good, get a hard golf club case for your lights or a Home Depot rolling tool case. If you want something awesome but expensive, get a Pelican case or a Kata lighting bag. IMHO, the Lowell cases are the wrong part of each (though it's been 2-3 years since I've seen one, they may be better). __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

December 28th, 2009, 05:16 PM	#5
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	I have a Petrol PLC-4 for my lights (and some of my sound gear). I really wanted one with good strong wheels built in - like it has as I'm not getting any younger and my kit seems to be constantly expanding in variety/getting heavier! It is a really excellent semi-hard case with lots of internal padding/configurability and looks "the part", i.e. "professional" when I'm wheeling it into a clients office etc....but it was not a cheap buy... so you pay for that!!! __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

December 26th, 2009, 08:06 PM	#3
Jerry Porter Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, Fl Posts: 784	I don't think they are worth the money I have two of them and they crack very easy.

December 28th, 2009, 06:53 PM	#6
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Hey Bob, Hi to a fellow NYer. I have a couple of the Lowel 4 light cases and they work well if I don't overfill them or travel them by plane too much. . My question would be what kind of vehicle do you want to move them in. I have a Minivan so the Lowel 4 light case fits easily and I have a DP, Omni, 2 or 3 Prolights and an Arri 300, a couple of Chimeras ,stands, gels etc. I used to have an Arri Kit but it was too heavy to take on planes and the Lowel kit was more flexible. It fits on the handtrucks I have and becomes the base so I can stack other stuff on it. Biggest problem is the handles and latches need replacement over time so be prepared to learn how to Rivet. I also have a smaller 3 light case which is not as good as the long stands don't fit it in the smaller case. I of course have also been bringing Kinoflos on most of my shoots the last few years so I may be changing what I carry in the Lowel case.

December 28th, 2009, 07:02 PM	#7
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 388	I have an SUV and minvan so size is not so much an issue as durability, cost and fitting the gear in. I looked at the Lowell soft cases but it appears they don't hold nearly as much as the hard cases. Unfortunately, it looks like these are items you buy based on specifications, since I was in B& H last month and they did not have them out on display to inspect.