Keep your expensive gear safe when you’re travelling
Manfrotto’s massive range of camera bags just got bigger with addition of these two new hard cases for cameras. They join the company’s Reloader range of bags designed to meet airline carry-on case sizes so you don’t have to check your valuable gear into the hold.
Where the existing Reloader bags are soft, the Tough H-55 (high hood) and L-55 (low hood) models are rigid cases secured by Manfrotto’s safe-release latch system, with protection from both water and dust.
Inside, there are customisable dividers which can be moved around at any time to accommodate different bits of kit or even removed completely. Both cases are made in Italy using heavy-duty “military standard” materials.
The Tough H-55 (high hood) model is the larger version and can accommodate a pro DSLR with a 400mm lens attached, plus a second DSLR and 3-4 additional lenses. It has an external front tripod attachment which uses metal pins.
The H-55 would also be ideal for carrying a video camera, a selection of lenses and a couple of small-ish LED panels and lighting stands.
The Tough L-55 (low hood) is slightly slimmer and can hold a pro DSLR with a 70/200mm lens attached, a second DSLR and 4-5 additional lenses.
The Pro Light Reloader Tough 55 cases have customisable interiors suited to both stills and video kit.
Plane facts
The Tough H-55 and L-55 are both designed to meet international airline carry-on dimensions. The H-55 measures 55 x 35 x 22.5cm, and the L-55 and its ‘low hood’ design is slightly slimmer at 55 x 35 x 20cm.
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Both cases have trolley wheels in the base and 2-stage retractable handles for those long walks through airport departure lounges and there are two carry handles, one on the top and one at the side – perfect for hefting the cases in and out of taxis
The Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader H-55 will sell for £289.95/$329.99, while the L-55 model is slightly cheaper at £269.95/$299.99.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
