Pelican cases - Which would fit me?

[Headshotzx]

Hi guys! I'm tempted to purchase a pelican case for my on location shooting, ie I set the case down somewhere safe at an event, locked tight to a pole or something, and shoot with a thinktank belt with modular system.

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6269/pelicanjpg.jpg

I want a "bring everything I own, plus more" kind of thing. The gear I own is in the link in my sig, and I'm going to get a 1 series camera (1D2N) by the end of the year. I also put in the 400mm because I'm going to get that (hopefully by next year).

What I want is to lay the long lenses flat, which probably will take up around 2 to 3 normal lens slots. That way, I can have a case that isn't deep. It has to be compact, roughly the size of a Think Tank streetwalker or slightly longer. It doesn't need to be carry-on size, because I don't travel often, and when I do, I won't ever bring all that gear (unless I go on safari of course ;) but that's another matter).

Since I have a TTP streetwalker HD, I am able to carry probably everything I need (sans lighting gear), but it hurts my back. Plus I'm still a student - don't wanna stop my growth ^^

In the image above, you can see what I need to place inside. I would like padded dividers. I don't know how I can store their stuff, so I'm appealing to anyone who has experience with pelican to draw in that blank space how you would pack.

And also - what are my options if I will want to bring a 13" macbook along? I don't want to purchase their LOC option which will cost another US$50...

I've read many reviews on the forum on the 1510/1514 and the 1610/1614 and they look good. But I'm not sure if they will be able to house the tripod I'm going to purchase, which is a 190XPROB (57cm). So now there are two variables that I can change. I get a case to accomodate the tripod, or a tripod to accomodate the case, most probably it'll be me getting a smaller travel style tripod. For my monopod and lightstands, they are 51cm and 53cm respectively.

So, what say you?

EDIT: Found out that my lighting umbrella is 60cm. So all my lighting / tripod / monopod gear will go into another tripod case and be slung on my back.

[katodog]

I was going to say 1510 until I realized you wanted a tripod in there. Depending on if you can shorten the tripod by removing the head, possibly the center column, you might be able to squeeze one into the 1510. Otherwise, you need to go to the next few sizes bigger to see what's suitable.

I have the 1510, and as far as "getting everything in there" it does a good job of holding a lot of stuff. Here's a shot of what mine looked like before I went back to my shoulder bag...


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/katodog/Pelican1510-1.jpg




Bad part is that you probably aren't going to be able to fit a 70-200mm and a 400mm in without sacrificing a lot of space. As you can see by the picture, a lens as big as the Sig 150-500mm on a body fills a lot of room. If I take the front cap and UV filter off the Sig I can get another body in for a total of three, but it's a very snug fit. Any lenses that are long won't fit standing up, so you're stuck laying them down. That eats a lot of space.


I wouldn't go any smaller than a 16200, but again the tripod is going to be the tricky part.

[Headshotzx]

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 16200, but again the tripod is going to be the tricky part.

Yes, I was eying the 1510 and the 1610. Don't you think the 1620's a little big?

The tripod will be without a head when packed I guess. Unless I go with the reverse fold kind of travel tripods. Y'know, the leg fold upwards above the tripod head and stuff. Min height's an average of around 37 to 40cm then.

Edit: Hmm, just reread mhthomp's review of the 1564 with lid organiser. Hmm...

[Headshotzx]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4240/pelicanpsd21560d.jpg

A plan I drew up for 1560. Looks decent?

[katodog]

Looks heavy. Heck, anything that fits the gear you want is going to work. The case empty is heavy to begin with, but we don't slap them on our backs and go cross-country skiing. Looks like what you drew up would work perfectly.

[Headshotzx]

Alright, cool. That's good to hear.

But dang. Looks like my 'lighting gear' won't fit even the 1560. My umbrella (2in1 Impact 43") measures 60cm folded. Looks like its back to the bag & case system for me. Anything from Pelican that can hold 60cm is waaay too large.

I'll draw up a plan on the 1510. Tripod / Lighting gear will be in a separate tripod case.

[Headshotzx]

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8039/pelicanjpg1514no3jpg.jpg

Here it is. Followed pretty much your (katodog's) first photo in the thread. Replaced sigma lens with 400mm, replaced flashes with 70-200 hood reversed, shifted batts and stuff to the right, and placed the two flashes in the 'other stuff' place. I have this thing about not mounting your lenses to the body.

[katodog]

I used to be the same way until I figured out that in the Pelican, nothing was going anywhere, and having the lens on the body wasn't a problem. I switched back to my Nova 5 AW because I kept getting bigger lenses, or more stuff, and quickly outgrew the Pelican. I bought a Think Tank Digital Holster 50 for the Bigmos/body combo and fit everything else I needed into the Lowepro. Any extras or non-essentials went into the Pelican, which stays in the van.

Once you start getting a few big lenses, room is a commodity you don't take lightly. unfortunately the Pelican 1510 wasn't big enough for what I wanted to put in it, and I didn't want to throw more cash at another case when I have enough cases already.


As long as you don't plan on too much expansion in your gear list the 1510 should be good enough. Get a case for your lighting and tripod. Doesn't have to be specifically a photo-type case, I used to use a keyboard case for carrying my swords from demo to demo, I don't see why something like that wouldn't work for light stands and tripods and such.

[mhthomps]

This is pretty close to your set up.

[Headshotzx]

This is pretty close to your set up.

But my lighting gear can only get longer as I get larger umbrellas for different situations. The basic 43" is 60cm when folded. I can't find double fold umbrellas in Singapore. So that leaves out the lighting / tripod / monopod from the bag. It'll store them in a padded tripod bag with a sling.

As long as you don't plan on too much expansion in your gear list the 1510 should be good enough. Get a case for your lighting and tripod. Doesn't have to be specifically a photo-type case, I used to use a keyboard case for carrying my swords from demo to demo, I don't see why something like that wouldn't work for light stands and tripods and such.

For now, I only own 3 squares, 1 long rectangle and 1 small rectangle's worth of gear, and am expanding to the gear in the picture by next year. So I can say that for now, that's my max amount of gear.

And I just saw this photograph on cambags. Seems to be almost exactly what I'm going to go for, except there's another body where the rocket blower goes.

http://www.cambags.com/canon/1d/cases/images/pelican_1510/pelican_1510_canon_1d_bennettevans.jpg

I see that the flash is packed in the L shaped position. Does it mean that my 580EXII can't be packed vertically up?

[Headshotzx]

Hm, about the organiser lid, I personally don't think it's all that necessary, but if I ever need / want something like in place of the foam, do you think it's going to affect the safety of my gear by scratching and all that bumping up and down?

And as for the image directly above, the 580EX is in an L shape position. Does this mean that the 580EX can't be stored vertically up in the 1514?

Cheers,
Zexun

[Vascilli]

A 1-Series will not fit in a 1510/1514 without a small hump from the pentaprism housing bulging out of the padding. It'll still close, but the main section will only go that high. A flash will not stand up in a 1514. (I'll check if you want)

[Headshotzx]

Yes, I do know about the 1 series camera having a bulge, but I doubt that it's anything much when the lid has foam. But if it had an organiser lid, then it might be a different story.

[Vascilli]

Lots of people use the lid organizer with their 1-Series, I've never heard of one being crushed or whatnot. I got mine with the wrong lid organizer (For a 1600) but whatever, I only paid $100.

[Headshotzx]

I see. Thanks for the info!