Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 | | Review Date: August 17, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $12.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive alternative for 70-200/2.8 | | Cons: | Thinner foam than more expensive alternatives, less robust attachment | |
The E18 model from Safrotto is sold as appropriate for the various 70-200/2.8 lenses and is the largest of their current lineup. It typically ships directly from China and costs around $12-13 shipped and took 18 days to arrive (10 of which was sitting in NYC Customs). The LowePro equivalent is their 11x26 lens case which can be had for around $38. So, you can order 3 Safrotto cases for the price of a single Lowepro case.
The Safrotto looks like a clone of the Lowepro cases that I own on first glance. They are functionally the same in several ways:
- Each has two d-loops for a shoulder strap (included)
- Each has twin straps around the barrel for daisy chaining multiple lens cases together
- The designs are essentially visually equivalent
- Each has a double zippered top and there is good overhand from the top to the body to help prevent water ingress into the case.
- Both are all black with grey interiors
However, closer inspection points to several key differences.
- The Safrotto is slightly smaller than the LowePro. While the Tamron 70-200/2.8 with reversed hood and tripod mount does technically fit, it's very tight but in the Lowepro it fits without any effort.
- Exterior fabric is not as robust as the LowePro
- The twin straps around the barrel of the case are nice but definitely thinner web material than on the LowePro.
- The foam padding is thinner and/or less dense than the LowePro cases.
- The paddle on the back for attaching to a sliplock point or to a belt is long and has velcro to hold it closed with a second velcroed opposing strap, however the velcro is less dense and therefore far easier to detach than on the LowePro case.
I'm going to be using the LowePro 11x26 for the field and the Safrotto will remain at home as a storage device for my larger lenses like my K300/4 or for multiple smaller lenses with foam pads between them. For $12 and change its not a terrible case but I am not comfortable with the quality of the construction to risk my Tamron 70-200/2.8 in it in the field and getting the lens out of the case would be a challenge to do quickly.
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