GSI N-Case 840 Follow-up

For my birthday last year I received a new camera, and found that it fit perfectly in the GSI N-Case 840 I had received for Christmas a half year before.

So I have been using this case for about 9, 10 months now. Admittedly I open and close it a lot. I don’t think dozens of times a day is an exaggeration.

Two days ago I noticed that the latch didn’t close with the satisfying click it once did. I looked and there was a big crack running along it.

So, the stress of being closed and opened a few thousand times seems to be all it took to do it in.

Rats! That case perfect for the camera.

I wondered whether it required a harder plastic or a metal latch perhaps?

GSI got in touch with me and it seems they’ve  already improved the latch, with a stronger, fibreglass impregnated plastic. They’re sending me a new one and want me to test some other things out for them.

Excellent! That’s what I like to see. Constant upgrading and development and responsive customer service. Thanks GSI.

So I will once again happily recommend this product.

I realize that stuff breaks, but companies that constantly strive to make their products better and are committed to their customers, are good to go in my books.

Camer’mups

A few months back I did a review of the GSI N-Case 840 I received and use as a protective case for a digital camera.

As part of the waist pack I’m designing and building, I wanted a pouch that I could carry it in. 

Rather than a regular flap closure, I wanted to make it so I merely had something to retain the case in the pouch, but also quickly open it and retrieve the camera. I though for quite a while how best to achieve that.

Going through my extensive collection of hardware, I found a side release buckle that instead of taking webbing at both ends, took webbing at one end and and parachute cord at the other. Hhhmmmmhhh....

The back features my super duper new CLASP (Cord Lattice Attachment System Pattern).

Drain hole on the bottom.

With the GSI N-Case 840 inside.

When it’s attached to the front of the waist pack, I’ll be able to very easily undo the buckle, open the case, and pull out the camera. If I know I’m going to keep the camera in use for a while, it’s just as easy to close the hatch back up, and put the cord back over the top and snap the buckle in place.

If I don’t close the buckle again, there is a chance the case itself might fall out. I only have one of these cases, and since I tend to move it around a bit from bag to bag, I may just get another one. With the lanyard attachment point on the bottom corner, I can attach the second case into the bottom corner of the pouch with a bit of cord. That way if I want to take the camera along in another setup, all I have to do is take out the camera, put it in the other case, and away I go.

GSI N-Case 840

I received this GSI N-Case 840 at Xmas last year.

Made of Lexan and weighing 77 grams (2.7 oz.), it’s approximately 14cm (5½") by 6½ cm (2½") by 3 cm (1¼").

There is a spot at the top to attach a lanyard, around the peg...

...and one at the bottom through the hole.

The lid is closed with a secure latch. I tested it out in the tub and everything inside stayed bone dry. It behooves a user to inspect that seal often though. If it’s being used to keep safe an expensive piece of electronics, make sure that the gasket hasn’t degraded, and that no debris is lodged in there that might affect the seal.

The case comes with two lanyards. One is a ribbon, with a small ball that has a hole in the center. The ball slides to adjust the lanyard to the desired length and also serves as a breakaway. It’s fairly secure, but real force would rip it free. Of all the breakaway lanyard systems I’ve seen, this is the one I like most. It’s secure enough for most day to day use, but an unusual circumstance like getting it caught would rip it loose.

It attaches around the peg at the top and can be worn around the neck or slung over a shoulder. 

The other lanyard it comes with is a length of elastic cord with a small plastic clip at one end.

This part attaches through the bottom hole. If the case is worn across the body, it can be clipped to a belt loop to avoid it swaying to and fro.

Of course the user is free to devise whatever system works best for them.

The fact that the case is made from Lexan makes it very strong. While anything can be broken, reasonable day to day wear and tear won’t destroy it or the contents within. The seal is very water resistant. I don’t know how it would hold up to extended dives at depth, but an unexpected dunk, a rain shower, or going for a swim at the beach with your ID and money inside will be just fine.

What excited me was that it is a perfect fit for my new Samsung ES70 camera. Like it was made for it. No rattling or anything. Perfectly snug fit.

If you’re going on vacation and want a case that you can keep your hotel key, credit cards, cash, etc. in when you’re playing in the surf with your kids, if you’re a canoeist that wants to protect a camera from a potential dunk or bumping, if you’re a cycling commuter in the Pacific NorthWest and want to protect your cell phone from constant rain, this is a great container. Several means of attaching it to oneself or to a bag, capable of protecting against jostling, bumping, dunking, soaking, and rounded corners to carry comfortably in a pocket. All in all I’m very happy with this case and I think others will be as well.

You can read a follow-up review here.