(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)The Tenba Car Case P2003 Wheeled Wedding Case is a good piece of luggage for transporting your photo and video equipment. The construction quality is good, and the low-key appearance will appeal to those who don't want to draw attention to the equipment they are transporting. But this case is somewhat limited by a few design elements, and the capacity is not enough to make it a carry-all. So after reviewing all the factors I decided to retire this case and go with an alternative.
PROS:
++ Rigid foam and plastic wall-panels can be removed and cleaned
++ Wrap-around double zippered opening makes it easy to organize your equipment
++ Padded pocket provides added protection and separation for accessories
++ Velcro straps & fuzzy walls accommodate optional accessories such as the magazine pack (MP) & lens pack (LPZ-4)
++ Compact enough dimensions (L12'' x H21'' x D12'') for potential flight carry-on & overhead storage
++ Padded hand-strap makes it easy to grab and go
++ Oversized 2-inch curved padded shoulder strap allows for comfortable transport
++ Telescoping handle and wheels makes it easy to cart around
++ Durable and weather resistant ballistic nylon material
++ Zippers can be locked closed for added security
++ Integrated Velcro lashing tabs for mounting your camera and / or strobe & bracket inside
++ External Velcro straps for your tripod or monopod
++ Low-key appearance won't draw attention to the equipment you are transporting
++ Integrated feet on the base for standing
++ Generous 5-year warrantee covers everything outside of intentional destruction
CONS:
-Though they are included in the production picture, the case does not include the magazine pack (MP) or lens pack (LPZ-4)
-Somewhat limited capacity & compartments prevent using this as a carry-all
-Insufficient attachment hooks and loops for hooking things onto
-Little padding or anti-shock protection built-in
-Handle is not reinforced, unlike alternatives
-Compared to alternatives, also has slightly less versatility for layout and organization
-No externally accessible zippered pockets for incidental storage
-Comes at a premium
KEY FEATURES & CONSIDERATIONS
The storage compartment includes a nice padded pocket, as well as space for additional accessories that can be added with adjustable velcro straps. The depth is good for fitting most bracketed setups.
The walls and cover all have wrap-around zippers so that the rigid foam and plastic walls inside can be removed and cleaned. That's probably this unit's best feature. I don't know how durable those plastic panels actually are, but they appear to be stable enough.
But I find several design elements of this case to be limiting. There are loops for a tripod or monopod on the side of the case. But there are no additional loops or carabiners for smaller accessories. The positioning of the internal lashing tabs also limited the setup options.
COMPARING TO ALTERNATIVES
I debated between this and the Pelican hard-shell case. The handle is not reinforced but it includes a functional but basic leather material cover. Contrast that against the Pelican 1510 Case with Foam for Camera (Black), which has a thick hard plastic steel reinforced handle and all metal hinges. The Pelican case gives you the extra confidence of potential water tight usage. You also have the option of fabric dividers and foam, both of which are customizable to make a large number of smaller internal compartments.
This case is more forgiving for fitting into an overhead luggage compartment. But the included dividers will only accommodate a small number of accessories. And while the Velcro sides allow you hook in more dividers, the lack of Velcro on the back, top and bottom limit the kinds of items that can be stored in ad-hoc compartments.
For those that want a fabric case, Tenba also makes a unit without the wheels, frame and telescoping handle, the Tenba 634-601 P2001 Wedding Car Case (Black/Blue). But because the fabric handle is not reinforced, I wouldn't really advise that one unless you are transporting it inside of something else.
There are other fabric cases like the Lowepro Pro Roller x100 Camera Bag (Black), but I have to look at them more before I can comment.
CONDITION
As a side note, the unit I initially received seemed old, dirty and used. It differed from the product picture in that the wheels were not as wide and, instead, were centered under the case. I was surprised because I thought this was a new model. Amazon was more than willing to replace the unit. But after looking everything over, I have decided to explore the alternatives.
CONCLUSION
This is a nice compact piece of equipment luggage made with high quality lightweight materials. While it didn't meet my needs, it is one of the most compact cases of this kind. Be sure to review your options and if you choose this one I hope it works for you.
Enjoy.
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