This year, I was also able to spend some quality time with Keren Israel from Petrol Bags. Petrol manufactures high quality, durable equipment bags of many types. While several of their products were noteworthy, a couple in particular caught my eye. The first is Petrol’s PRC-15 raingear for medium cameras. It’s designed for cameras like the Sony PMW-EX3, JVC GY-HD200, Panasonic HVX and DVX. The rain cover is made primarily of transparent polyurethane and provides hand access to the on-camera LCD screen. It’s also designed with a hotshoe connector that stabilizes it on the camera. On top of that, there is also a 6” ABS track that allows an on-camera light or wireless receiver to be mounted. All this culminates in a lot of accessibility and functionality. Considering the list price is $160 US, affordability should be mentioned as well.
The second Petrol product that was on my radar this year is their monitor bag. Using a monitor on location can be tricky. Adequately shading the sun, achieving a workable angle and transporting it safely can be harder than it seems. With its monitor bag line, Petrol has created an all-in-one solution to these common problems. Their monitor bags are a convenient carrying solution, providing a sunshade and access to the rear of the monitor without ever removing it from the bag. There’s also a heavy duty prop stand in back to angle the monitor for easy viewing. Set up and tear down are incredibly efficient with this durable, weather resistant case made of Cordura and ballistic nylon.
