Vanguard Supreme 46D – Camera Protection

Vanguard Supreme 46D – Camera Protection

We’ve owned the Vanguard Supreme 46D hard case since 2017 and in that time it’s been on a multitude of photo-shoots mainly out in the Andalucian campo at old ruins and mines.

Besides from that it has been used as a case for storing our camera gear in the house.

When we began overlanding however the Vanguard began to see a bit more action. Camera’s are some of the most expensive gear in the truck so it pays to keep it well protected especially from dust and moisture, this case does all of that and it’s the type of hard case you can throw into the luggage area knowing that the contents will be perfectly safe.

OK you’re not going to go trekking with this case but when it comes to storage or on location shooting this hard case is a great solution as it holds two DSLR’s (with grips) and lenses attached plus another half a dozen lenses, speed light and other bits and pieces.

The first thing you notice about the 46D is its weight, it is a hefty bit of kit which is reassuring considering that it will house some very expensive gear. On the exterior you have six sturdy clips to fasten the lid tight, rubber grip feet on the base, facility for two separate padlocks, purge valve and a name tag window.

Inside gets interesting with the insert bag fitting snugly in the hard case itself, the insert can also be used as a stand alone bag if needs be although when crammed with lenses, flash and camera bodies I can’t see me using it that way personally, the option however is there.

Open the zips and lid of the 46D bag and it is pretty impressive (as you would expect for the price), inserts in standard camera bags can be a bit on the flimsy side and while the Vanguard’s inserts attach the same way with velcro wings you can tell immediately that the quality is far better than what you can find in your usual camera bag.

you could throw this case down an escalator at your nearest shopping mall and your gear will be perfectly fine when it gets to the bottom

Everything seems thicker, better finished, less pliable perhaps but in a hard case this is a good thing as equipment fits snugly and snug means safe, in fact you get the impression you could throw this case down an escalator at your nearest shopping mall and your gear will be perfectly fine when it gets to the bottom (not that I will be trying).

The biggest issue was organising the inserts, getting the layout right can take some time but once you have it nailed and are happy with the set up then all is well – until you buy a new lens that is and you have to re-organise from scratch.

The bag also comes with a handy full size pocket on the inside of the lid, perforated so you can see what’s in it and ideal for A4 notes, pads, filters and essentially anything flat.

Full Specs:

• Waterproof (up to a depth of 16.5 feet/5 meters)
• Airtight
• Soft divider bag organizes camera gear and doubles up as stand-alone kit bag
• Steel reinforced lock holders
• O-ring sealed
• Pressurized equalization valve for airline travel
• Withstands extreme temperatures (-40F/-40C to 203F/95C)
• Anti slip feet

Dimensions:

• Outer – 51.5 x 43.5 x 22cm
• Inner – 48 x 37 x 20cm

What we don’t like:

Having owned the Vanguard Supreme 46D for some years now there is one thing that we don’t like and that is the zips on the inner bag. The zips themselves are are of good quality and work well but they do get stuck when closing the lid on the case.

We’ve managed to bend and snap both zips just by closing up so make sure the zips are tucked in before you go slamming the case shut.

Verdict:

Well made professional hard case, rugged and safe offering a high degree of protection, the pressure valve is also a welcome feature should you be travelling by air and for overlanding this case will not look out of place with the rest of your set up.

We all know that some locations can be a challenge when it comes to mud, dust and rain, this case handles the elements well, other sizes are available depending on your gear.