In summary
Hardside cases provide a better storage and carrying solution than traditional foam-filled, single set-up camera cases. The modular divider system means they are much more configurable and adaptable to photographers’ differing requirements.
They are also considerably lighter than metal cases, without sacrificing durability and impact protection.
The Hardside 200 is an excellent choice for photographers with compact system cameras because it can readily fit a typical user’s kit and keep it safe against virtually any environmental danger.
Its rugged exterior will keep out water and dust, while the easily extracted and configured inset can be adapted to suit a wide variety of cameras, lenses and accessories.
Since CSC equipment is usually smaller and lighter than similar items for DSLRs, users can fit a lot of items in this compact case.
Dedicated outdoor and sports photographers who work in environmentally challenging conditions could well find their ideal carrying solution in the versatile Hardside 200.
Full review
Lowepro’s Hardside cases have been described as ‘game-changing’, partly because they are the first products of their type from this leading camera bag manufacturer but also because the company has tried to make them more versatile than competing camera cases. They’re available in three sizes, all of them designed for cameras and related accessories. No provision is made for including laptops or tablets.
The three Lowepro Hardside camera cases, stacked in order of size with the Hardside 200 on top. (Source: Lowepro.)
The dimensions and weight of the three Hardside cases are provided in the table below.
|
|
Hardside 200 |
Hardside 300 |
Hardside 400 |
|
Case exterior dimensions |
447 x 132 x 297 mm |
447 x 180 x 297 mm |
551 x 234 x 376 mm |
|
Insert internal dimensions |
400 x 83 x 240 mm |
400 x 118 x 240 mm |
515 x 167 x 313 mm |
|
Case+insert weight |
3.2 kg |
3.6 kg |
6.1 kg |
|
Airline carry-on |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
RRP ($AU/US$) |
$229/$169.95 |
$249/$199.95 |
$299/$249.95 |
The Hardside 200 comes pre-configured to hold between five and 10 action cameras and related accessories. The Hardside 300 can hold a DSLR with an attached lens as well as four-to-six other lenses or accessories, while the Hardside 400 extends the options to six-to-eight extra lenses/accessories.
But you don’t need to stick with the manufacturer’s recommendations. We thought the Hardside 200 would be ideal for compact system cameras (CSCs) and we’ve reviewed it as such. Only the Hardside 200 was supplied for our review but all three cases differ primarily in size and capacity.
Design and Construction
Lowepro has worked with Underwater Kinetics, a specialist manufacturer of cases, lights and other accessories for the utility, industrial, fire and dive industries to develop the Hardside products and they all share a number of key features. Each case has an outer shell built of formed ABS polymer resin with a removable, soft-sided insert where equipment is held. They carry an IP67 rating, which means they remain waterproof for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water.
Hardside cases are rated to remain waterproof for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. (Source: Lowepro.)
Although each case would normally be air-tight, pressure release valves built-into the latches enable it to be opened and closed when the user changes altitude quickly. A silicone gasket, which is virtually maintenance free, provides additional protection against the ingress of dust and moisture.
A durable piano wire hinge runs the length of each case’s back and allows the lid to be opened to 90 degrees. The lid carries clip locks, which are generous in size and easy to open and close. Between them on the case body is a handle (also large) that is also made of ABS resin and rotates through 180 degrees.
Each case contains a soft-sided protective insert with adjustable dividers, which is removable and can be configured to suit individual users’ equipment. Tuck-away straps allow it to be used as a backpack when hard shell protection isn’t required.
The Hardside 300 and Hardside 400 cases shown with their inserts removed. (Source: Lowepro.)
The lid of the insert has two zippered pouches that can be used for storing memory cards, filters, cleaning cloths and other relatively flat items like cellphones, camera manuals, tickets and colour reference cards. A cloth handle on the top of the insert makes it easy to remove from the protective case.
The tuck-away straps convert the insert into a backpack by clipping onto loops attached near the base of the insert. The clips are made from metal and appear to be very robust. Lowepro provides generous strap lengths to fit users of all sizes.
Three zippered pouches are included in every case, extending the options for packing small items like spare batteries, chargers, microphones and cables. An additional loop near the top of the insert lets users attach a water bottle or compact tripod via a carabiner. The Hardside 200 and Hardside 300 meet standard airline carry-on requirements.
In Use
Becasue there aren’t many waterproof cases available for CSC equipment, for our user tests, we loaded the review bag with as many CSC cameras and lenses as we could find space for and then assessed what could fit into the remaining space. We were able to pack in two camera bodies with lenses attached (the Panasonic DMC-GH4 with 14-140mm lens and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 14-42mm lens), four additional Olympus lenses (the 40-150mm f/4-5.6, 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7, 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and the 12mm f/2 super-wide prime lens) plus a Rode stereo microphone with wind baffle and the compact GN 5.8 flash supplied with the E-M5.
The insert from the Hardside 200, packed with CSC equipment listed above.
We had to re-configure the interior of the insert by shifting some of the dividers. But this was easy to do. The best configuration had the lenses in the lower section (which was pre-configured for action cameras) and the camera bodies in the upper section.
Packed with this equipment, the insert weighed just under 3.8 kg and was easy to carry, both with the handle on its top and when worn as a backpack. The straps are slightly on the narrow side and don’t spread the load quite as well as you would need for a long day’s hiking. But you would probably want the insert to be inside the case in such situations in case of inclement weather. The equipment was very well protected inside the insert.
Care and Maintenance
The ABS polymer resin shell of Hardside cases requires minimal maintenance. However, Lowepro advises users to conduct routine inspections of critical touch points (the rims of the case and lid and the closures) each time the lid is closed to ensure they are free of dust and other debris.
All zippers on the soft-sided insert should also be checked to ensure they are clear of the hard case edges before zipping them up and closing the case. We also found we needed to push the handle on the top of the insert in before the case could be closed.
If the outer shell becomes dirty, it is easily cleaned with a sponge or cloth that has been dipped in clean water. For persistent grime, non-abrasive, all-purpose cleaners can be used. The case should be dried with a clean, soft cloth before subsequent usage or storing.
Conclusion
Hardside cases provide a better storage and carrying solution than traditional foam-filled, single set-up camera cases. Users don’t have to spend time cutting foam. The modular divider system means they are much more configurable and adaptable to photographers’ differing requirements. They are also considerably lighter than metal cases, without sacrificing durability and impact protection.
The Hardside 200 is an excellent choice for photographers with compact system cameras because it can readily fit a typical user’s kit and keep it safe against virtually any environmental danger. Its rugged exterior will keep out water and dust, while the easily extracted and configured inset can be adapted to suit a wide variety of cameras, lenses and accessories.
Since CSC equipment is usually smaller and lighter than similar items for DSLRs, users can fit a lot of items in this compact case. Dedicated outdoor and sports photographers who work in environmentally challenging conditions could well find their ideal carrying solution in the versatile Hardside 200.
SPECS
Construction: ABS polymer resin with silicone o-rings, military grade lockdown latches, customisable photo/video insert with padded dividers and tuck-away straps
External dimensions (wxlxh): 447 x 132 x 297 mm
Internal main compartment dimensions (wxlxh): 400 x 83 x 240 mm
Weight: 3.2 kg
Colour options: Black
Features: Stackable form factor, IP67 protection rating
Rating
RRP: AU$229; US$$169.95
- Construction: 9.0
- Design: 8.8
- Versatility: 8.8