Frustrated by an ever so slight miss in Systainer sizing...

[COBill]

I had the brilliant idea to move my CXS 18, insert and all, from the SYS 3 DF M 187 (577347) it comes in:

to the top of a SYS3-COMBI M 287 (577766) so that I get a drawer on the bottom:

Denied.

It's so close to working - the interior of the 187 is 389x275x146mm where the top of the combi is 389x287x140mm.

That 6mm difference in height is just enough to not allow the top lid of the Combi to close with everything from the 187 inside, largely due to differing beam placement. [sad]

(Yes, everything will fit if I do a custom foam liner to accommodate all the bits, but I was trying to avoid that and ultimately it's not really worth the hassle to gain the drawer.)

 

[Packard]

Pick & Pluck Foam? Available everywhere on the Internet.


If you need to cram in more products with smaller spaces between items, then make dividers from aluminum sheet and pop rivet in place.  Finish with felt fabric cover to protect the contents.

I did that very thing in 1967 to house my two Nikon F cameras, a light meter, several filters, three lenses and a few accessories in a standard size attaché case.  I still have that in the house somewhere.  If I can find it, I will post an image. 

They make kits for flocking interiors.  I’ve never used them.  If you want durability combined with high product density, that is the way to go.

Pick n’ Pluck is easy, fast and gives good protection.  I don’t know how durable it is.  I have heard about people spraying the foam with the liquid vinyl used for tool grips.  I’ve never seen it done, however.

 

[Packard]

As mentioned, here is an image of my camera case with custom dividers made from aluminum flashing and pop rivets.  Then covered with felt to protect the camera components.

Squeezed into that standard sized attaché case are:

2 camera bodies
5 lenses (28mm to 200mm)
1 extension tube for close up photos
1 waist level finder
11 filters
1 hand held light meter
1 spot meter attachment for meter
1 two-camera neck strap for carrying both cameras at the same time.

Based on “feel” about 40 pounds of gear.

The aluminum flashing and pop rivets proved to be surprisingly durable. 

As I recall (about 60 years ago) applying the felt was the greatest challenge.  I used one piece of felt to cover the 4 horizontal pieces making slits to accommodate the short vertical strips. 

The vertical strips were covered individually.  I can not recall which I covered first, the horizontal or the vertical pieces. 

If you are looking for an equipment-dense arrangement, the aluminum dividers win, at a cost of considerable labor covering the aluminum and working out the best layout.

This only works if you are certain that you will not be making substantial changes in equipment.  I made no changes in the layout since it was initially built, and I don’t see how making changes would be feasible.

At the bottom of the photo, on the right side is one large compartment (like a “junk drawer”).  Not fitted, but tightly arranged so no movement of the gear is possible.

 

[Chainring]

[member=74278]Packard[/member]

If you ever decide to redesign that case, check into Pelican TrekPak. I'm not suggesting TrekPak; rather the thought of it and the DIY versions available. Corrugated plastic as the base with some foam padding glued onto the plastic. That's nice and inexpensive, yet protective. I have more photography focused cases than I need and I've come to dislike those thick padded velcroed ones. TrekPak (DIY) solves the problem.

 

[onocoffee]

Sorry to hear that, [member=83003]COBill[/member]

Your post reminds me I had with my TXS 2,6. I bought the TXS from a local seller with just the tool, Jacobs Chuck, two batteries and the charger. Festool was kind enough to send me the Systainer insert and my understanding is that it would fit in a T-Loc 1 Systainer. And since I had an extra SYS3 M112, I figured it would work. It doesn't and I had to fit it into an M137.

 

[Packard]

Those cameras (film) won’t ever be used again.

I’m waiting for them to regain some value (like vinyl records) and cash them in.  Two Hasselblads too.

On the plus side the camera stand I paid $1,100.00 for is still listed in the Manfrotto catalog for $3,900.00.  So I should ge my money back on that.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I keep my Makita power file belt sander and belts in a SYS1 case, and it's so tight it can only fit it in there in a single very specific way, so I had to laser a photo of it onto a label on the case as I could never remember how it went once I took it out!

 

[Coen]

Oh, I thought it would be a rant on how Sys3 heights are off.

But if you can fix it with a modified inlay... just do it.

Those cameras (film) won’t ever be used again.

I’m waiting for them to regain some value (like vinyl records) and cash them in.  Two Hasselblads too.

On the plus side the camera stand I paid $1,100.00 for is still listed in the Manfrotto catalog for $3,900.00.  So I should ge my money back on that.

That dollar from now is not the same value as the dollar back when you bought it

 

[Packard]

Oh, I thought it would be a rant on how Sys3 heights are off.

But if you can fix it with a modified inlay... just do it.

Those cameras (film) won’t ever be used again.

I’m waiting for them to regain some value (like vinyl records) and cash them in.  Two Hasselblads too.

On the plus side the camera stand I paid $1,100.00 for is still listed in the Manfrotto catalog for $3,900.00.  So I should ge my money back on that.

That dollar from now is not the same value as the dollar back when you bought it

You are right.  According to the US Government Consumer Price Calculator the equivalent price of $1,100.00 in 1980 dollars is $4,511.44 in current dollars.

Happily, DOGE hasn’t shut down the Consumer Price Index site where the calculator resides.  I don’t expect they will let it last long.

 

[Vondawg]

Got to agree with [member=8955]Coen[/member] … modify totally worth a drawer

 

[COBill]

I did the obvious - everything fits beautifully in the top of a SYS3-COMBI M 337 (577767) and the slight extra space at the top is welcome.

I even moved the CXS 18’s “what goes where” lid diagram to the lid of the Combi and it looks and fits great!!

Well worth the $10 extra for the 337, and my Systainer3 stack looks great!

 

[semenza]

I did the obvious - everything fits beautifully in the top of a SYS3-COMBI M 337 (577767) and the slight extra space at the top is welcome.

I even moved the CXS 18’s “what goes where” lid diagram to the lid of the Combi and it looks and fits great!!

Well worth the $10 extra for the 337, and my Systainer3 stack looks great!

In that case you should have room to also swap the storage (attic) lid onto the COMBI.

How about some pictures?

Seth