Suggestions: 8x10 monorail case on a budget

[Ari]

Hi,
Can anyone suggest alternatives to an $850 case for a Toyo G 8x10?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...inum_Case.html


Military surplus? Build your own?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[vinny]

Containerstore.com
You can get an Anvil brand or similar type case from hollywood for much less than the B&h thing.

[Ari]

Thanks, Vinny.
Anvil looks pretty good.
I should have specified that it's not really for storage, but for use in the field.
I didn't see anything that looked all that sturdy on containerstore.com website.

[Jim Ewins]

Foam rubber wrap and a back pack.

[Ari]

Foam rubber wrap and a back pack.

Jim,
It's a monorail, and a heavy one at that; no backpacks.
I like your low-budget approach, though.

[Frank Petronio]

There are tons (literally) of inexpensive used Anvil and Anvil-style cases on eBay or other sources that cater to musicians, technicians, etc. The downside is that these cases are made from Plywood, metal, and a tough Formica-type covering, they get heavy. But you can build military bunkers from them if you stack them right. You're pretty much buying a dolly of some sort to move them around.

The next step lighter is the giant Pelican style cases. They aren't that expensive - $3-400 for an 8x10 camera size - and very rugged and mostly wind/dust/water-proof. Used ones can be prematurely beat to death though, the plastic does crack eventually. At least with an Anvil you can fix it. But the Anvil will leak compared to the air-tight Pelican.

On both the Anvil and Pelican style, once you get into the larger sizes then you are definitely into the Airline surcharge territory.

What professionals and rental departments use are the Anvils or the newer foam/Nylon Tenba-Lightware View Camera Cases. Last I checked their largest was over $500. But I remember buying a used one for a couple hundred, they are rare on eBay so sometimes people miss them when they pop up.

There are a few custom case builders who fab foam/Nylon cases for the ULF crowd, but you know they aren't cheap either.

If you are lucky you might keep the whole package airline checkable.

I guess the question is whether you want to carry the camera assembled, hung from U-frames and almost ready to pull out and shoot? Or are you willing to disassemble it to make transport more compact?

Any of the big boxes like this will require a dolly. I used a Kart-A-Bag, which I used to check back when it wasn't stupid to pay more in fees than what the Kart cost... Now, I don't know... car rides only? Ship ahead? Air travel with big gear is an expensive hassle.

[Walter Calahan]

Go to a music shop to look at various cases for musical instruments.

I needed a strobe "beauty dish" shipping case. Camera stores had cases costing more than the dish. Found a base drum case for $40, and padded it out with foam. Perfect.

[Ari]

Frank, thank you, that was very helpful.
I checked for Anvil cases, but right now, there doesn't seem to be anything in my size or price range.
And shipping those things to Canada usually costs much more than the case itself.
I should have specified that I'm looking for a case out of which I can work; I'm not really looking to ship it or bring it on a plane or anything. Just a day-in day-out working case.
I was looking for something that approximates the B&H's dimensions (23 x 13 x 22); I suppose if it's possible, I'd stash it inverted and assembled. But it's a big 8x10, so I don't mind taking it apart in its case either.

Walter, thanks for the suggestion; I'll be doing that too.
Thanks again, everyone.

[cdholden]

Check out the large Sinar Expert Case. I've been trying to find a case for my 8x10/5x7. My only complaint (and the one thing keeping me from buying one) is that the case is ~26 pounds empty. Add Sinar camera and a Majestic tripod, lenses and a few film holders... I'll be up close to 100 pounds. This far exceeds the weight I want to move around, so I'm trying to find something lighter, maybe a Tenba design or so to shave a few pounds off the end result.
Let us know what you settle on. There isn't much to go on when looking for info to choose a case that will hold an 8x10 monorail.

[Frank Petronio]

You might check some large tool boxes, larger ice chests, maybe even plastic RubberMaid storage container? Or look around a large store for a travel trunk, maybe even vintage luggage? Then make two dividers with U-shaped notches for the monorail so you can hang the camera upside down. It may require some ingenuity ;-)

I have a trunk from childhood that hoods my childhood toys, school projects, etc. that is made from lightweight plywood, like a cheap, light Anvil case. It would do good car duty.

When I shot a Sinar Norma 8x10 I had a Lightware 16x23x10 (interior) large attache style case, which could hold the disassembled camera pieces. It really wasn't that hard to assemble, they are still quicker than most so-called field cameras in use. You could fly with it, you'd want to wrap and pad everything though.

But for day-to-day I stuck it upside down in a plastic milk crate and kept some plastic over it for dust prevention. It could ride in the car like this and not slide around or get damaged, was instantly accessible, easy to carry, cheap, etc.

$8 Milk Crate, probably all you need!