Tenba air cases... wow.

I'm going on a trip in a couple of weeks and I realized that I didn't have anything to transport my view cameras in. I have a Lowepro stealth backpack that I can use for either my Gandolfi 5x7 traditional OR my Horseman LE 4x5 camera. I can put in a modest number of film holders, dark cloth and lenses for either camera in the backpack as well. The trouble is that I wanted to take both cameras with me, along with the 5x7 back for the Horseman and it's related accessories.
In addition to all this, I plan on taking some extended trips overseas next year and I wanted something to protect them when they were shipped to my location. I work in a store that sells Pelican cases and while they're really nice, I couldn't get over the weight. They weigh a ton empty, I didn't want to think about them full.
So I ordered a pair of the Tenba air cases. I got the 1026 view45 and the 1101 air case. These things are amazing. First off, I can put everything I need for 4x5 work into the view 45 case. The camera hangs by the monorail like most other cases, but the dimensions are almost perfect for my use. The pp11 lens case fits perfectly on one side with no slop and the other side is the perfect width for 4x5 holders standing on their ends! I can fit about 20 or so in there and still have plenty of room for all the other goodies. To kick it off I can stand on the thing (Yes, I tried Wile E. Coyote style. BTW, I'm about 215 lbs.) and it weighs 7 pounds empty!
The other case is a bit of a catch all. I can put the Horseman 5x7 rear standard, both its bellows, 4x5 reducing plate, 8 or 9 5x7 film holders, and my Gandolfi 5x7 traditional field camera with a 210mm lens on it. This'll be OK for shipping and transporting, I have a feeling that I'll probably put the Gandolfi into the backpack and put more 5x7 holders in with the Horseman standard most of the time.
So, the punch line is that I recommend these things highly, they are bullet proof and weigh much less than other options. I think these'll survive being shipped overseas with no problems...

Isaac

The Tenba TTP case is also a nice tripod case that you can check on a plane. I've used the medium size version and have flown with it several times. I leave the head on the tripod usually and put the handles in the outside pocket.

They appear to provide the sort of protection I am looking for with large format camera's. However, it is difficult to find good cases in these sizes in the UK.

A while ago I tried to find Tenba Car & Air Cases in the UK without success. Linhof & Studio used to stock them but it seems no longer. Anyone know of a supplier in europe?

I know about Peli's etc but they are very heavy.

Barry

I fully agree that Air Cases are absolutely the best. I have several, purchased from B&H in NYC. They offer excellent protection for work around town and for trips in the car trunk.

But you sound like you are planning to fly around the world with your entire LF studio.

Taking that much LF stuff on an aircraft is ranked somewhere between taking up smoking and hiring a hooker in Angola. All three require great bravery. Some might call it foolheartiness.

I wish you well. And thank God I am not your insurance man.

Bon Voyage!

My BIG trip...

Well, when I go over to Cairo next year I'll have them shipped to me via ups or fed ex. I plan on being there for a year, soshipping will be a worthwhile expense. I'll hopefully make a trial run in feb, with any luck I'll be down in Chile or Argentina for a couple of months. Yeah, there's some risk, but I'm willing to take that risk so that I can shoot while I'm doing these once in a lifetime trips.

Isaac

Isaac-

As I contemplated asking these questions, I realized that they sound rather flippant. I mean no offense...I'm seriously interested in your answer to these questions regarding shipping your cameras.

What would you do if (heaven forbid) you equipment was lost, stolen, or damaged during shipment? All of the shipping companies that I'm aware of are painfully slow in making restitution for missing packages, including wait periods of months to see if the package shows up, and insistance on proof of the value of the contents before insurance claims are paid.

Again, I mean no offense, nor do I mean to imply that your plans are somehow flawed...I'm seriously interested in your thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Dave

I have to agree with the above: shipping by UPS or FedEx is a bad idea. I promise you that, at least in Egypt, you will end up paying pretty severe customs duty; possibly more than the value of your equipment. Carry what you can with you--check in or carry on--what you can't take you don't need.

Well, I would take all of it with me however I can only take but so much stuff with me on the airplane. If I were going for a couple of weeks, I'd figure out some way to take it with me, but I'll be there a year. I'll still look at the possibility of taking everything (clothes, computer equip, camera equip, etc) at the time I get on the plane, but right now I'm thinking it would be better to take the necessary stuff first and then bring over everything else once I'm settled in.
As far as them loosing my stuff or it getting stolen during shipment, I'm not all that concerned. I've shipped a decent number of items to other countries like China, Indonesia, etc with no problems. And these have been fairly expensive items, comparable in price to my current equipment. Yes, it would suck if something happened to my view cameras, but they can be replaced. I hadn't thought about import duties, I'll have to see if there is some way around that by declaring it my own stuff, or as part of a move etc. I won't be leaving until next year, so I have plenty of time to figure these things out.

Isaac

Thanks for the reply Isaac. I think you're right about taking the necessities with you and bringing over other things once you're settled. Here's hoping it's a good year for you.

By the way, I love the "Train Station" picture in your gallery.

Mongo said:

Thanks for the reply Isaac. I think you're right about taking the necessities with you and bringing over other things once you're settled. Here's hoping it's a good year for you.

Click to expand...

Thanks! The more I think about it, the more sense it would make for me to get a reducing back for the Gandolfi and just shoot that. I've never been known as someone who takes the sensible path though I think that it would work, but the problem is that I really prefer shooting with a monorail when possible, and a year (or more) is a long time to shoot with something that isn't exactly what I want.

By the way, I love the "Train Station" picture in your gallery.


Thanks! It's one of my favorites too. I'm using it as fodder for a new essay on "Ugly" subect matter. The most common comments I get on that are, "Why did you take a picture of that?', and , "It's OK, but why didn't you take a picture of the landscape?" It's also an image that looks better the bigger I print it, the monitor really doesn't do it justice...

Isaac