Pelican 1470 vs PM Easy Fold Softbox: Hard vs Soft Case Storage
By Camera Clix | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Pelican 1470 hard case and PM Easy Fold softbox soft case to decide which protects your camera gear best for travel, storage, and daily shoots.
Quick Answer
Choose the Pelican 1470 Black Case if you need maximum protection for sensitive equipment during transport and storage in challenging environments. Choose the PM Easy Fold 16" Speedlight Softbox if you want a compact, lightweight diffuser that folds into its own carry bag for easy storage and transport. They serve different roles: the Pelican is a hard case for gear, while the PM Easy Fold is a soft modifier for light.
What Each Product Actually Is
The Pelican 1470 Black Case is a hard-sided protective case with double safety locking latches and keys. It is designed to safeguard sensitive equipment during transport and storage in challenging environments. The PM Easy Fold 16" Speedlight Softbox is a light modifier that attaches to a camera-mounted flash to produce soft, diffused, natural light for photos of people and objects. It folds compact and includes a carry bag for storage and transport.
Protection and Build Differences
The Pelican 1470 offers superior protection with its hard shell and locking latches, making it suitable for rough handling and secure transport. The PM Easy Fold softbox is not a protective case for cameras or lenses; it is a softbox that folds into a soft carry bag. If you need to protect lenses, camera bodies, or other sensitive gear, the Pelican is the appropriate choice. If you need to soften flash light, the PM Easy Fold is the tool.
Neither product is a substitute for the other. The Pelican 1470 is a hard case for equipment; the PM Easy Fold is a soft light modifier. They can complement each other in a kit: use the Pelican to transport your flash and camera, and the PM Easy Fold to shape the light on location.
Portability and Storage
The PM Easy Fold softbox folds compact and includes a carry bag, making it easy to store and transport alongside other gear. The Pelican 1470 is a hard case that provides secure storage but is bulkier and heavier. If you are hiking or traveling light, the softbox takes up less space. If you need to check gear or protect it from impact, the Pelican is the better option.
Trade-Offs: Hard vs Soft
- Protection level: Pelican 1470 provides superior protection with a hard shell and locking latches. PM Easy Fold softbox offers no impact protection for cameras or lenses. Choose Pelican for gear protection; choose PM Easy Fold for light quality.
- Portability: PM Easy Fold folds compact and includes a carry bag. Pelican 1470 is a hard case that is bulkier and heavier. For travel-light, the softbox is easier to carry; for checked luggage, the Pelican is safer.
- Primary function: Pelican 1470 is a storage and transport case. PM Easy Fold is a flash diffuser that softens light. They solve different problems; many photographers need both.
Product Facts
- PM Easy Fold 16" Speedlight Softbox: The PM Easy Fold Speedlight Soft Box allows you to use your camera mounted flash to produce a soft, diffused, natural light for pleasing photos of both people and objects. The soft box folds compact and includes a carry bag for convenient storage and transport. This easy fold kit comes with the soft box and all the mounting gear you need to attach your flash. This is a lighting tool, not a protective case. It improves flash quality and packs small, but it won't shield your camera from drops or pressure.
- Pelican 1470 Black Case: Pelican Case with Double Safety Locking Latches. This Pelican Case is crafted to provide superior protection for sensitive equipment, featuring double safety locking latches with keys for added security. Ideal for transport and storage in challenging environments, this case combines Pelican's durability with convenient safety features. This is a hard case for secure transport and storage. It protects gear from impact, dust, and unauthorized access, but it is not a light modifier.
Which Should You Choose?
Best for
- Photographers who need secure, impact-resistant transport for cameras, lenses, and sensitive equipment.
- Anyone storing gear in challenging environments where dust, moisture, or rough handling is a concern.
- Users who want a lockable hard case with keys for added security.
Not for
- Photographers looking for a lightweight, compact solution for softening flash light.
- Those who need a softbox or light modifier rather than a protective case.
- Budget-conscious buyers who don't require hard-case protection.
