Home > Computers & Internet > Memory Adapters > Lowepro PixelPack V2 Compact Memory Card Case for Compact Flash Type I, Memory Stick or Memory Stick... (34774)
Lowepro PixelPack V2 Compact Memory Card Case for Compact Flash Type I, Memory Stick or Memory Stick... (34774)
theuerkorn's Full Review: Lowepro PixelPack V2 Compact Memory Card Case for ...
It's almost unavoidable for digital photographers to end up with several memory cards and the ultimate shuffle to keep them organized and easy to find. With the advances in SD memory, it becomes harder to find a good solution for the more professional CF cards or worse yet, for a mix of different formats. I was on the look-out to find a protective case for my CF cards and the PixelPak fits most of my cards nicely. There was one little surprise that could have easily been eliminated if I read the specs more closely before buying ...
IN A NUTSHELL
PixelPak v2 is functional and (semi-retro) stylish. The flexible inserts allow a great variety of memory cards to store safely, or by sacrificing 2 slots even room for PCICMA adapter (i.e. for laptops). The best fit is for Compact Flash cards, while Memorystick and MS Duo still just fit 4 cards and you end up carrying a lot of air around with you.
The semi-transparent outer shell allows to store a business card or name tag inside, and still visible from the outside (in case you loose it and some honest person finds it). The housing is rugged and easy to use, since it opens easily with a single push button (no case yet where it opens unwanted).
On the negative side, the inserts are only designed for CF Type I, MS and MS Duo cards. The Type I restriction is significant only if you're populating all opposing slots, since otherwise you could still store a CF Type II card if you're placing a MS Duo card in the opposite slot or leave it empty. It's not recommended to force fitting the taller CF Type II as deformation of the housing might impact reliability of the moving parts. (The interference of even just one microdrive with a Type I card requires extreme force to close the case -- not recommended. Two opposing microdrives make it virtually impossible to close the case without destroying something.)
The only other thing is that the PixelPak is not hermetically sealed and water could easily migrate into the memory cards. (It may swim when dropped into a lake, but I am not planning to try this experiment since it's kind of heavy.)
DETAILS
Outer shell: [*****] - Rugged ABS plastic housing that's translucent, with a brushed aluminum insert on the lid make for s stylish retro design. While not very resistant to scratches, it still provides plenty protection from typical daily abuse. The push button lock mechanism is robust enough to match the housing and I wouldn't expect any durability problems under normal use. The weight alone feels rugged and leaves no doubt that your cards are safe.
Inner shell: [****-] - The elastomer inserts hold the memory cards securely via predefined memory slots. An additional insert is provided that pretty much fits a card reader adapter for laptops. Theoretically, one could also use it to store microdrives as the height is the same, but certainly no side support is provided. The inserts sit in the out shell thigh and while hard to remove, it's also safe to assume they stay put. CF and MS both have the best hold while MS Duo is somewhat marginal.
Protection: [****-] - The main protect is from mechanical impact and coarse dust. The outer shell takes the hit while the elastomer inserts dampen the shock slightly. The most important protection though may be against loosing the cards and the case is small enough for convenient storage but also big enough to not simply fall out of your pocket. Environments with a possibility of more than the occasional spritz of water are not recommended for the PixelPak v2 since it does not prevent water from migrating.
Functionality: [****-] - The PixelPak is easy to hold in one hand and even the snap can be actuated with the same. Extracting a CF card is easy enough due to the provided grip areas -- provided you're not wearing gloves. MS Duo cards sit a little deeper and relatively flat against the bottom to make it slightly more difficult to get a good handle on those. Memorystick, on the other hand is probably the easiest to get your hands on. Of course, for either MS or MS Duo there are dedicated solutions that hold more cards and are optimized in size and fit.
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