Hiniso is a less-known brand known for value for money and quality dry boxes for camera equipment in the dry cabinet scene. The company has been in the market for over a decade, and its products are trusted by photographers looking for value. Let’s take alook at the Hiniso dry cabinet box today.
In a nutshell drys boxes are climate-controlled spaces allowing you to store equipment with lower chances of mold growth.
Hiniso was founded in 2017, and since then, they have been producing high-quality dry cabinets for photographers and other professionals who need to protect their sensitive equipment. They are an OEM based in China, and their products are sold globally.
Over the years, Hiniso has built a strong reputation for producing durable and effective dry boxes based on Japanese Technology. Also, the brand uses premium materials like steel, aluminium, and tempered glass to ensure that its products withstand harsh environments. Hiniso’s dry boxes are also designed to provide maximum protection against moisture, dust, and insects, making them an ideal choice for photographers who need to store their equipment for extended periods.
One of the standout features of Hiniso’s dry boxes is their customizable interiors. The brand offers a range of dividers and foam inserts. These can be tailored to fit specific camera models and accessories. This level of customization ensures that equipment is snugly secured and protected against impact, which is crucial during transport.
Dry boxes 101
The most crude version of a dry box is a passive one kept dry by desiccant nodules. But these are good for short term storage, especially if your dry box is not air tight. as unless the desiccant can get saturated with moisture over time.
A dry box allows you to achieve this low humidity environment right at home without breaking the bank. is an essential item for prolonged storage of camera equipment. This is particularly important in humid climates like Singapore. The optimal humidity to prevent the growth of fungi and spores on your camera equipment is under 30 percent humidity, with lower values further discouraging growth. The ideal situation of ours is to store your items in a vacuum, but that is not economically or practically feasible.
Camera lenses can easily be ruined with mold, especially if they start forming in the internals of your equipment. Dry boxes can also be used to store important documents where their life span can be prolonged in a low humidity environment.
Dry cabinet exterior impressions
Hiniso’s dry boxes are also aesthetically pleasing, with sleek designs that complement any studio or workspace. The brand’s dry boxes come in a range of sizes, from small cases that can hold a single camera to large cabinets that can accommodate an entire kit.
The front of the dry box is typical of what you expect of an enclosure. The front glass is covered with dark tinted tempered glass. It is designed to keep as much UV light from reaching the cabinet contents, yet still allowing you to see the contents under room ambient lights. You can activate the interior lights using a toggle button near the hydrometer screen.
Also, out of the factory, there are two translucent tray levels which you can place your items. Also the trays comes with pre-cut sponge shelving which allows you to place your lenses on. However, it be good if an additional shelf and insert be included too.
Pretty well-built for the price
As expected, the cabinet is China-made, which is typical in this price point. Still, the cabinets itself is well made and solid. The door and chassis does not creak when open or moved. Hence having said that, there is not quite the “best brand” when it comes to such camera dry cabinets. This is especially if you are starting away from professional brands. Still for the causal amateur to semi-professional photographer, or you are upgrading from smaller silica dry boxes.
The cabinet is solidly made without feeling cheap or rickety. The door hinges out on the right and closes with a nice thud. The door is held in place by a latching lockable door handle. The continuous magnetic rubber seal along the swinging door edge similar to what you see on fridges. This allowing for a seal good enough to keep leaks to a minimum and not over stressing the compressor. At first impressions, the dry cabinet does resemble a mini bar fridge.
Hiniso’s dry boxes have user-friendly interfaces and straightforward controls. All models come equipped with digital hydrometers, with automatic humidity target, a pleasing find normally reserved more expensive cabinets. Also, the hydrometers are built modular for easy parts replacement. There is a digital temperature readout, though that is mostly for your info.
Setting your target humidity is easy and quick, using the up down buttons to set and save your desired humidity target. The cabinet comes with a digital display that shows the humidity level, and you can easily adjust the level to your desired setting. The cabinets are also very quiet, so you won’t be disturbed by any noise when using them.
Reasonably priced
Furthermore, one of the best things about Hiniso dry cabinets is their affordability. Compared to other brands, Hiniso dry cabinets are reasonably priced, making them an excellent value for money.
In terms of pricing, Hiniso’s dry boxes are relatively expensive compared to other brands on the market. However, the brand’s commitment to quality justifies the higher price point. Hiniso’s dry boxes are a long-term investment that provides excellent value for money, considering how well they protect expensive camera gear.
Hiniso dry cabinets come in different sizes, so you can choose one that suits your needs. They have cabinets that are small enough to fit on a desk, and larger ones that can store multiple entire camera kits and lenses.
It is energy efficient
Also, the dry cabinets is also designed to be energy-efficient. The in-built compressor was able to bring the humidity from ambient of about 85% ambient to a working 41% in under an hour. After running it for about a year 24/7 I am pleased of it’s minimal power use, especially with skyrocketing energy prices today.
This runs off an off the shelf 10 watt power adapter which outputs 2 amps at 5 volts. It is similar to a USB charger. Also, the unit is rather efficient and hardly draws much power from the wall outlet itself. Power usage is measured to be under 5 Watts from the wall, much lower than a phone USB charger. This is a significant advantage for photographers who need to store their equipment for long periods and want to avoid high electricity running costs.
Navigating the OEM market
More at times, most camera dry cabinets originate from a handful for OEM makers, mostly with factories in China. A look around Chinese sellers typical revolves about a standardish design in terms of dimensions and features. It pays to get a cabinet from these OEMs to ride on their product’s quality control. Also, there is not one particular brand which rules the market. Examples includes the Samurai brand as well as other lesser-known brands such as Kangzhi and Andbon.
Hence, the smart buyer would be less brand agnostic but rather one tiered towards the models with good reviews on their product page, like say on Amazon, and to some extent Aliexpress where there are lesser bogus reviews with reasonable checks in place.
The Hiniso cabinet longevity is still questionable, but using it about 1-2 years and I hadn’t had any problems with this unit. This is as such Chinese products usually comes with little to none customer support, not to mention the headaches of returning the product to China for a replacement. Still, the two weakest links of a dry cabinet are usually the power adapter and the compressor. While you can replace the adapter easily, a new compressor often means a new cabinet.
All in all, overall, the Hiniso dry cabinet is an excellent investment for photographers who want to protect their equipment from moisture and humidity. They are affordable, high-quality, and easy to use, making them an excellent value for money. If you’re in the market for a dry cabinet, the Hiniso dry cabinet is definitely worth considering.
Hiniso Dry box cabinet review- Recommended
Pros
- Good quality
- Affordable price
- Locking door
- Digital automatic environment control
Cons
- Limited shelf inserts
- Questionable longevity
- Limited support
