Anyone ever make their own camera/lens case?

[praline3001]

I was looking at bags and cases today and the ones I want are like $400! ouch!
I was looking for a case to keep my camera/lenses/flashes/tripods/ batteries/ memory cards.. you get the idea here. I wanted to have a nice place to keep everything together. That way I can take it with me in the car. I am also trying to stay organized with everything.


So after looking at these $400 bags and realizing that's a new lens or flash or heck anything else I could budget, I decided I am going to make my camera case and it will be custom!

Here is the plan. Hubby is very good at making things. He is like..really good at building stuff.

I am going to take an old medium sized suitcase I have and he is going to get gun cabinet foam (the stuff is thick). He is going to glue/use adhesive to secure the foam to the bottom of the suitcase. We will then measure and cut holes for the camera, lenses and that kind of thing. We will most likely make it 2 stacks high with stuff I don't use often at the bottom. After we finish that we will make a foam top to place at the top and secure it with the straps that are inside the suitcase. we are also thinking of sewing/gluing velcro straps to each of the holes. This will help keep the equipment in place.

Has anyone ever made their own camera case? If so, how did you do it? I would love to get ideas and feedback before we start building this one. The suitcase is black and I think it will all look really nice when we are done.

[OsmosisStudios]

$400 bags are usually really big, and usually designed for specific things in mind. My biggest bad is a Lowepro Vertex 200AW, and it was about $250, and it's extremely well designed. In hindsight, I'd have gone even larger, but they were pushing $350.

I dont know if I'd make one myself; most camera bags are designed specifically for cameras, and specifically to carry heavy camera loads safely and comfortably. If you just need a case (a wheely-case or a pelican-style case) to carry gear from A to B, then it wont be an issue, but my backpack is designed to be worn while shooting, and it's used as such without issue.

[praline3001]

I have a small camera bag that has enough room for the camera and 2 small lenses. I can also fit my memory card and extra battery in it.

I want something that I can store all of my gear in. As you said, from point A to point B but also to stay organized at the house so I know where everything is. I won't be hiking with this camera *case*. We are going to modify a carry on suitcase I had in the attic. hubby found a place that carries 4" thick foam. The plan as of right now is to put a piece of plywood at the bottom of this suitcase. As do most carry ons, the handle slides down into the case making it uneven. The plywood will be screwed in and keep the case even so the foam doesn't get crushed. Once the 4" foam is in there we can cut to fit my camera. lenses and flash and anything else I want to add. The outside pockets will hold batteries. Once we have it all in place, he is going to use a 2" piece of foam as the top. That way I can place the top on it and then use the snap in place buckles that are inside the suitcase. There is also a small pocket inside where I can store my paperwork/warranties and all of that kind of stuff.

[Jonbar18]

I tried to, by fitting a regular bag with padding, velcro, and insert pockets. couldn't find the padding/material I needed, and velcro was a rip (something like $10 for how much I needed). Gave up on it, watched for deals, and found a nice bag I liked that was half off for $35.

[Doug Sundseth]

I use this backpack for most of my stuff. Fits the body, a couple of lenses, filters, cards, manual, chargers, speedlight, extra batteries, flashlight, lens cleaner, whatever. For my other speedlights and miscellaneous modifiers that I don't use all the time, I have a $20 pistol case from a discount store, which came with cubed foam. Light stands, tripods, umbrellas, and monopod go into a $20 bat bag from a different discount store.

[NathanFranke]

OP is basically making a Pelican without the price tag. Go for it.

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

I use this backpack for most of my stuff. Fits the body, a couple of lenses, filters, cards, manual, chargers, speedlight, extra batteries, flashlight, lens cleaner, whatever. For my other speedlights and miscellaneous modifiers that I don't use all the time, I have a $20 pistol case from a discount store, which came with cubed foam. Light stands, tripods, umbrellas, and monopod go into a $20 bat bag from a different discount store.

That is the same backpack I have Doug Its great and priced nicely.

I just needed something bigger to store all of my gear. The pistol case sounds similar to what hubby is making for me. Its using the gun case 4" foam. He is cutting custom made spots for everything. The carry on suitcase will make it easier for me to travel with in the car as it has wheels. I am still REALLY new at this and end up forgetting stuff to take with me =/ On Christmas I forgot my lens cleaner and had a smudge on my lens

ETA: My parents live 1.5 hours away and the in laws are about an hour away. When I go to visit I might have a chance to pull everything out and practice my photography or I might only be able to take a quick snapshot or 2. Having everything with me to go from home to their house is helpful.