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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Transporting Lenses Do and Don't!!

KETCH ROSSI said:
Thanks Rich, and also thanks for sharing your tough and experience, however I must insist that you do keep your Zoom to the minimum or maximum setting, preferably to the maximum, but some zooms that are not IF then will be set to the minimum, the aperture always wide open and at last the Focusing must be set to Infinity, as this far more protects the internal focusing elements then the opposite, for more then one technical reason.

So the best thing to do in order to make sure to do things right set the focus to Infinite, the zoom to the maximum, in my case the RPZ 18-85 will always sleep and transport set at its maximum zoom range of 85mm while its focus always set to infinity, and the Aperture must always and absolutely all ways be set to Wide open, as to insure that the petal blades are tucked away.


Above statement are not from personal opinion but from knowledge gained thru out my many years in the industry, never a professional AC ncomparativelyor have I held a position in any set, but I have been in so many and have had the pleasure to learn so much from some of the best in the business, which patiently answered the many questions I always had about everything, plus I did studied a tone too :)

Any way, I can't remember how long it has been since I first learned this stuff, but I do remember particularly to have also read it on a very popular and respected book in the business, to which I was recommended by many years ago, just can't recall the name of the book, sorry, but I followed this rules ever since.
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If there's a temperature issue caused by sunlight on black cases should lighter coloured cased be used for lenses and probably other equipment by preference. I mention this as many of us use Peli, Storm and other cases these days and most of them are black. Out of 250 or more in our hire stock over 200 are black. There is a 'silver' colour (which is in fact light grey) that might be better suited for lenses. The Aluminium custom flight cases are used far less for our own work as then need to be completely water tight as a good deal of our work is in marine environments. The only down side is some or our work is also at high altitude and a Peli can be slight heavier. We use cases manufactured by Zargess which are extremely light and very strong, water tight and comparatively inexpensive when an off the shelf aluminium case is required.
 
As you know, Ketch, I came back to Italy with a lot of stuff this summer. I traveled with an airline company that charged me a quite reasonable price for the extra luggage, less then half compared to shipping with express couriers. My red and the drives where with me on board. When I arrived in Venice in Italy, the tripod was missing. It's arrived the day after at my home with a courier. About the RPP: the case of red works well, it's safe and solid, with the case you will find some foam circles shims, if you put 2/3 shims at the bottom in each of the 5 hole (the holes are 6 but the RPP set lenses are 5 for now) and put the lenses facing up, the part with the front cup of the lens will protrude that bit you need to easily grab the lens. In every set of lenses I've seen Cooke and Zeiss, the lenses were facing up, you can also attach a sticker on the front cup with the size of the lenses (35mm, 25 etc.) as I've seen sometimes. Ciao.
 
I got a full-size carry-on bag from Think Tank. I'm able to pack my Red One (stripped down), 5 Zeiss primes, 2 hard drives, a battery, basic 4x5 filters, EVF and 5" LCD along with a couple of cables (in case airport security wants to see the thing actually work). I carry plates, rods, extra batteries and chargers, etc. in my checked baggage.

I've flown to several places around the USA, and so far, this has worked pretty well. Of course, now with my RPP's, I'm trying to figure out how to carry these on.
:-0 (Probably a backpack.)

Has anyone had their carry-on weighed? So far, I've been lucky in this regard.
 
Dave, black cases are indeed more sensitive to sunlight, as they will get hotter sooner then any other color, but I do hope that no one leaves the cases on the sun, and when the cases are shaded, then it will make no difference on the color, none!

I have tested this with four color shades, and different cases, and the Peli/Storm are the one that actually do get warmer then standard ATA designed cases, but the temperature was exactly the same across no matter of color.

So get the color cases of your liking, as far as you can keep them out of direct sunlight, color will make NO difference, off course if you know that by NO choice you will have your gear under direct sunlight, then Black is by far the worst color case to have, and you want to go with light color, such as Gray and or silver, as to reflect, at list partially, the sun rays.


Glad to hear that everything when well for you return home Luca, and good thing about the tripod coming back to you soon after been lost, this is a true risk of airlines, and one of the primary reason as to keep as much gear with you as you can.

Yes as I said no matter what you should always try to keep the lenses stored in a position were the front element faces up, form more then one of the reasons already mentioned in this thread, but it is also a good mentioned point, that doing so you can have lenses mm markings on the top cup, so to make it easy for your AC to reach for the right Focal length.

Off course larger lenses such as the 25mm and 35mm and more surely the new to come 18mm and wider, will have to be preferably be stored and transported side ways as I do with the RPZ 18-85 and will do with the RPP 300mm, but I'm in fact thinking of going all side ways carrying for al lenses as this by far will insure a better and more secure and safe storing and grabbing of each lens despite of size and weight.
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
Dave, black cases are indeed more sensitive to sunlight, as they will get hotter sooner then any other color, but I do hope that no one leaves the cases on the sun, and when the cases are shaded, then it will make no difference on the color, none!

I have tested this with four color shades, and different cases, and the Peli/Storm are the one that actually do get warmer then standard ATA designed cases, but the temperature was exactly the same across no matter of color.

So get the color cases of your liking, as far as you can keep them out of direct sunlight, color will make NO difference, off course if you know that by NO choice you will have your gear under direct sunlight, then Black is by far the worst color case to have, and you want to go with light color, such as Gray and or silver, as to reflect, at list partially, the sun rays.
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Well we try not to leave any cases in the sun but reality is some times it unavoidably happens, Decks of boats and so on. Perhaps I digress, but when working in the mountains and moving around with Yaks which carrying cases they are usually tied on to to a frame on the yaks back. They are then in quite bright sun but this is less of a problem, We always covered them up with a white blanket when we could. The rope that the cases are secured with is tied in some sort of quick release slip knot by the Yak herdsman. To remove the cases from the Yaks back the loose end is pulled and all cases descend to the floor with a big crash. Aluminium cases are less favoured by the Herdsman as they make a bigger crash than the Pelis and the crashing of boxes tend to frighten the yak which then makes a dash for it. I just thought Id mention it....
 
Great post Ketch... I've learnt a lot, was doing everything the wrong way. :-)
 
I wish I would have reviewed this today... I just sent off my Angenieux 9.5-57mm zoom to be remounted in preparation for Scarlet today... I think I did all of that stuff, but can't remember for sure because I didn't realize the importance of it. Thanks though, Ketch, for future consideration!
 
Btw I have been talking to Luis at Innerspace of which products are sold at Abel, and there will be Storm cases with cut outs available as well as the Innerspaca ATA cases specially sealed to provide the professional durability and safety of lenses expected by professionals on set, while delivering some of the added benefits provided by Storm/Pelican cases type.
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
Btw I have been talking to Luis at Innerspace of which products are sold at Abel, and there will be Storm cases with cut outs available as well as the Innerspaca ATA cases specially sealed to provide the professional durability and safety of lenses expected by professionals on set, while delivering some of the added benefits provided by Storm/Pelican cases type.
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If in case someone don't know the RPP cases are made by Innerspace.
 
So in the end what are the best cases to hold our equipment in (lenses included). From what i've read here Storm is the best as it also offers increased protection from dust, water but it's uncool because of being balck it tends to overheat (you can order different colors anyway). I own a couple of Storms and they are very nice but I wouldn't sit on them as I sometimes do on the hardcases because they tend to bend.

Is there a quality difference between AJ and Innerspace ? And what does ATA case mean. Is it the matterial used to make the case ? Does AJ cases use this same ATA material ?

Thanks,
Mihai
 
Mike N said:
So in the end what are the best cases to hold our equipment in (lenses included). From what i've read here Storm is the best as it also offers increased protection from dust, water but it's uncool because of being balck it tends to overheat (you can order different colors anyway). I own a couple of Storms and they are very nice but I wouldn't sit on them as I sometimes do on the hardcases because they tend to bend.

Is there a quality difference between AJ and Innerspace ? And what does ATA case mean. Is it the matterial used to make the case ? Does AJ cases use this same ATA material ?

Thanks,
Mihai
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ATA stands for Airline Transport Association of America, and it regulates how cases should be built for safe transport among dictating specification of thickness and materials used in their construction.

The storm cases are great and I own many of them, but they do only serve a limited purpose in the transport of Optics, but even then they need to be fitted with customized cut outs as to insure maximum protection of the Optics and their content, for this together with Luis at Innerspace we talked about fitting the customized cut outs for the Storm cases offering great protection fro the contents, but this again are only, to my advise to be used not on a regular basis but only when dimmed necessary cause you are going to the river, mountain, beach, and wanted the case to be as sealed to the elements as much as possible.

However even in this conditions things are about to change as we are also talking with Innerspace about customizing their Original ATA cases with a special application to seal all its interior components and also apply and exterior rubber ring to the latches as to drastically improve its protection against the elements.
 
Thanks for the info Ketch,

But If I have a Storm case with custom foam interior cut to the size of the lenses i'm carying why would an Innerspace or AJ case be better then ?

I mean I don't want to carry 2 types of cases for my gear. One for exterior work and one for "normal" work.
 
Mike N said:
Thanks for the info Ketch,

But If I have a Storm case with custom foam interior cut to the size of the lenses i'm carying why would an Innerspace or AJ case be better then ?

I mean I don't want to carry 2 types of cases for my gear. One for exterior work and one for "normal" work.
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Most welcome Mike,

they are very different type of cases built for very different purposes, and while the storm case type will offer the best protection against the elements will never provide with the level of protection in the field and especially on set and in travel as the ATA cases do, and I love the Innerspace designs, which take in consideration the cut out thickness in a serious way and they don't go skimping on it.

Seating on the cases or putting something heavy on top of it were the pressure from the weight it is not well distributed on the corners will make the Storm case swallow in and then jeopardize the content's safety, and thus is why I prefer the ATA to any other case, and if Luis from Innerspace successfully designs the customized sealed AYTA cases as I have asked him to do, then those will replace all my cases, and those will be what I'll be offering to any one else.

We are talking having in some cases a up word of 50K and or more worth of Camera and Glass gear, so spending the few extra dollars very few, and make sure that you get the absolute best protection you can for it is the list you can do for your gear, and the money you spent on it, but also very important is that you do not ever want to be in a situation were you are unable to work cause your gear was damaged on the way there, or while seating there.
 
Hi: just my 2 cents on zooms. Not sure about all other brands, but the LOMO OPF18-1 20-120 zoom requires special care. The focus should be set at the closest setting (1 meter) while the zoom should be at the opposite (brings the elements all the way to the back). Both should be taped down to prevent the lens groups from throwing themselves around (which is common for this lens and has caused many upside down smiles).
 
Don't know if it was nemtioned yet but the first thing I was ever tought about protocal with respect to lenses or any other case for that matter ist hen when anything is removed from the case one latch whould be securly clasped.

1 - this lets anyone know that the case is not fully packed
2 - if anyone is dumb enough to pick up the case that is not supposed to... to, move it or something nothing can drop out of it on to the floor.
 
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