Need ideas for storing my ever growing lens collection

[Jarhead5811]

Check this out: Pelican U.S. Dealer Locator


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In NY State (Where your Bio places you):


R. P. LUCE & COMPANY INC.


81 SCUDDER AVE


NORTHPORT, New York 11768


www.rpluce.com


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or online:


Grainger


www.grainger.com


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BTWThere is still plenty of room for a few more lenses in my safe [].

[btaylor]

Pelican cases are fantastic and have been the "duck's nuts" for quite some time. You might also like to check out Storm Cases. There were an independent company but were bought out by Pelican last year some time by the looks of things. They are essentially the same material with a different latch. I find the latch on the Storm Cases are a bit better as the Pelican latches can get really hard to open after a harsh life.


I work in an underground mine and I'm also in the Mines Rescue squad so you can imagine what sort of environment we work in and how roughly the cases are treated. Both the Pelican and Storm cases have been flawless.


I've had my 40D and a couple of lenses in a Pelican 1510 while kayaking through white water and the tetherto the case broke (not the fault of the case, the rope I used snapped when the case went overboardand got caught up on a log). Foundit about 6 hours later still wrapped around the same log and not a drop of water got in. Made me rather happy.


Both the Pelicans and Storms have a pressure relief valve that adjusts depending on altitude. This is handy to equalise the case otherwise if the pressure inside the case drops for some reason it'd be near impossible to open.

[Jarhead5811]

I'm starting to amass quite a collection of L lenses and need some way to store them beside my camera bags. Can anyone recommend something to store 6-10 lenses (preferably shock/water/fire proof)? I saw some Pelican cases a while ago but they're no longer available.
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I've had used Pelican cases for rifles in the past and highly recommend them but they are far from fireproof (nothing really is).

I have friends who keep their lenses in a gun safe.

That's what I do but even inside a "fireproof" gun safe temperatures can get hot enough to damage the springs, stocks and especially scopeson firearms. Those temperatures would defiantly also kill the toughest lens. That being said I keep my safe on an exterior wall away from the kitchen (the most likely origin of a fire). If you have a good (not volunteer)fire department in your area hopefully they could put it out before temps got to that point. INSURANCE is the only sure protection.

[scalesusa]

Your post got me to thinking, so I checked out a large gun safe in costco today. Hardly room for my 600mm lens, not to mention my other lenses, cameras, flashes, and accessories. I'm sure I could fit them in if I built shelves, but wooden shelves would not be very smart for fire protection, so I'd need some metal ones.


The gun safes also have some sort of carpet looking material lining them which would be questionable in extreme heat as well. I wonder if they are worth it, as opposed to a good insurance policy.

[Jarhead5811]

...wooden shelves would not be very smart for fire protection, so I'd need some metal ones.


The gun safes also have some sort of carpet looking material lining them which would be questionable in extreme heat as well.
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Gun safes are generaly insulated with drywall and interiors are usualy carpeted wood. If temps get high enough that wood and carpet are a problem I'm sure your lenses would already be toast as well.


Check [url="http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html#fireproof]this[/url] out.


[quote=scalesusa]


I wonder if they are worth it, as opposed to a good insurance policy.
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[/quote]


I'd recomend both. If you're like me your gear isn't (and your guns aren't for that matter)in the safe anywhere near all of the time. Check this out.

[Josh]

I keep my lenses and camera in a filing cabinet. I've lined the inside with polysteirine (?) and whenever I get a new lense I cut out a new hole to fit it in there snugly (it's around 2" deep).


Filing cabinets are good as they have deep drawers, are discreet and nobody ever looks there for expensive stuff if your place gets knocked over. I'd avoid lining it with foam due to the inevitable detorioration and dust accumulation.

[neuroanatomist]

Filing cabinets are good as they have deep drawers, are discreet and nobody ever looks there for expensive stuff if your place gets knocked over

Right. People keep things like credit card statements, bank statements, etc., in filing cabinets. No thief would be interested in those.

[Josh]

Filing cabinets are good as they have deep drawers, are discreet and nobody ever looks there for expensive stuff if your place gets knocked over

Right. People keep things like credit card statements, bank statements, etc., in filing cabinets. No thief would be interested in those.
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Dunno about you mate, but where I'm from when people steal your shit they do it properly: TVs, Computers, Cash, Jewelery, Stereos etc. I can't imagine anyone wanting to break in and steal a bank statement with no important details on it. Maybe they want to know how much interest I earn PA?