Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
small but sturdy, January 29, 2007
update: i ordered another vanguard case, the VGC-13, after i got this one. they make a good pair, but if you're trying to choose one, get the other one. it's bigger and less expensive with the same quality. (otherwise, you'll end up getting it anyway as your gear selection grows.) in retrospect, i would recommend this more as storage for just your camera (w/cables, memory cards, filters, speedlight) or if you have a small (2-3 lens) outfit. get the vgc-13 if you have a lot of lenses (more than 5) and/or a long telephoto lens.
i ordered the vanguard hard case because i didn't want to just toss my extra lenses in a backpack. also, i live in california, so you never know when an earthquake might hit.
when it arrived today--beating the shipping estimate by over a week--i was fairly impressed out of the box. it's brushed aluminum hardware and sides, backed with slightly ribbed ABS plastic on the outside. on the inside, there's a waffle-foam top, a two-layer foam bottom, several rubber section dividers, and a dice-pattern foam sheet. the dividers slide together into any number of configurations, the foam can be used to custom-fit pieces. you also get two keys for the front locks and a shoulder strap that clips onto the side.
it's a rugged-seeming package that doesn't look cheap, but is a bit on the small side--amazon offers no specs, but this is the VGP-13S model, the dimensions are 15.75" x 9.9" x 6.9"--although compact might be a more politically-correct term.
after loading it up with some gear, here's what i was able to fit into it:
-70-300 tele w/ hood
-12-24 wide angle w/ hood
-15 fisheye w/ hood
-50 prime
-flash
-two 3-filter kits and 3 loose filters
-two extra batteries.
obviously, this is not a solution to hold all your gear if you have much more than 2 lenses and one body. then again, the relatively small size does offer a degree of portability, even if its just from one end of your studio to another. the handle's nice and sturdy, but the nonpadded strap would probably get uncomfortable after more than about 5 minutes, although the case isn't all that heavy loaded up, unless you fill it with bricks or something.
I decided to give the Vanguard 5 stars because this unit did what i wanted it to do, which was secure my gear in the event of any unforseen accidents, like accidentally siting on a lens or filter i've left on the couch. even without cutting out the foam and fitting them into the partitioned dividers, it held the gear steady in the upright position--no jostling or rustling. i may leave the foam sheet untouched, so i can reconfigure it easier, but if you want to have a dedicated home for specific items you don't always need in your camera bag, this isn't a bad choice. i couldn't fit some of my lens pouches, cables, and the like, but those things aren't as in dire need of being properly secured as all your precious glass and/or body(s), so no biggie.
overall, this is a versatile case that's just big enough to be a stay-at-home unit, and just small enough to venture out w/ you on a shoot. does exactly what you'd expect, has a professional appearance, and is a good looker to boot. if you're an extreme gearhound, at the price it might be worth it to get two, although you might also want to look into the wheeled model, which is a bit bigger, for around twice the price, especially if you plan on carrying this around a lot.
bottom line: why expose expensive glass and/or your camera to danger or possible damage? protect your investment -- after all, it's cheaper than sending a bag full of lenses in for warranty service if your drunk uncle roy has a mishap while watching WWF or NASCAR.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best and cheapest, November 13, 2006
After looking at and using MANY brands of equipment case for photography, sound and video equipment I finally discovered Vanguard Diamond ABS cases--and will never go back to another brand again. These are indestructible, lightweight, lockable, very classy looking and most important of all about half the price of comparable cases from other name-brand manufacturers. I've used them now for over a year of intensive use in my high school video and photography classes and they still look brand new. Trust me, other cases costing twice as much did not survive!
This particular case is the perfect size for a large digital still camera (such as the Canon Digital Rebel) and an accessory lens or two. I also use this size for my Sony PDX-10 video cameras and the case is deep enough to keep the mic attached all the time, saving setup time as well as wear and tear. The case is just barely big enough for that, which is perfect for me but if you want accessories in the case with a video camera I'd reccomend the next size up instead.
The pick-n-pluck foam makes it easy to customize the case to fit your equipment. No complaints, and highly recommended.
(Okay, one complaint. Annoyingly, amazon doesn't seem to tell you the dimensions of the various Vanguard cases, nor sometimes even the model number so you're left guessing which case you're ordering. Hopefully this will be fixed soon, right amazon?!)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value for the money, March 10, 2006
I purchased this for professional use in my business to protect my investment in a Canon 350D digtal SLR used in aerial photography. I was so impressed with the price (and the free shipping at the time) that I ordered another for my personal camera equipment. These are rugged, well built cases and the interior amenities help to design a well organized protective space to carry cameras, lenses and accessories, while standing up to the rigors of hauling them in and out of a small aircraft on a regular basis. Small enough to be convenient but large enough to hold a substantial amount of auxiliary gear. Lockable, hard sided - hard to beat !
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