tbcass
Forum Pro
Almost everything electronic has lithium batteries these days so how do they enforce that?
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How much gear is too much when flying to other countries?
- Thread starter fractal2019
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Craig Gillette
Forum Pro
I think there are size limits - and they have x-ray scans and access to the baggage before loading.
Craig Gillette
Forum Pro
I I took more than usual on our recent trip to Europe. Generally, I'd have been fine with A7riv, 17-28 and 28-200. I took a 24/1.8 "just in case" but the ideal "case" never developed. I also took my "new" A6700 kind of as backup and to try some video. TBH, our phones would have been quite satisfactory for casual back-up and video, too.
What I think might be a problem some places is that that extensive a kit and the lighting gear, especially, might suggest a "professional" trip and might require a work permit. not a tourist visa, etc.
What I think might be a problem some places is that that extensive a kit and the lighting gear, especially, might suggest a "professional" trip and might require a work permit. not a tourist visa, etc.
David Lal
Forum Pro
Well, I am quite a keen photographer and have been so for 60+ years but if I travel, it's not just the travelling I enjoy but the company of my friends/family with me. I don't want to hold them up while I fiddle about with lenses and so on. My rule is one camera; one lens and one flashgun. Sometimes I cheat a little and have a second point-and-shoot shirt pocket sort of additional camera.
Were I travelling because of a (paid) photographic assignment that would be a different matter and I'd have the kitchen sink with me if I thought I needed it.
Problems with airport customs/security scanners etc.? Well, once upon a time I was flying almost weekly between England and Germany on business. I am olive-skinned, bearded. I'd often be quizzed on entering Germany as to the purpose of my visit. Usually I would say "to sell drugs". I was in pharmaceutical research at the time. I thought this was a funny answer - the authorities seemed not to appreciate my humour.
Mackiesback
Forum Pro
It sounds like you are preparing yourself for every possible scenario, even though the likelihood of you needing all that gear would rarely arise. I think many of us have fallen into that trap, and once you are at your destination you find yourself wondering why you brought all that gear in the first place.
Many eventually come to grips with the reality of what is practical and they cut their weight in half by understanding that they may miss a shot or two, but those occasional shots are not worth the hassle of lugging all that gear.
If you know what you are going to be shooting 99% of the time, you can probably get it down to 1 body and 2-3 lenses. Maybe a tripod if you are going to do a lot of night work, and of course batteries and cards. etc.
Many eventually come to grips with the reality of what is practical and they cut their weight in half by understanding that they may miss a shot or two, but those occasional shots are not worth the hassle of lugging all that gear.
If you know what you are going to be shooting 99% of the time, you can probably get it down to 1 body and 2-3 lenses. Maybe a tripod if you are going to do a lot of night work, and of course batteries and cards. etc.
Gato Amarillo
Forum Pro
Much less than you list. Even if the trip is primarily for photos I want to be concentrating on photography, not worrying about keeping up with gear.
This sounds more like a list for a film crew than a solo photographer. If you really need it, that's great. But you have to be prepared to accept the problems that come with it
The few times I needed to transport large amounts of equipment my company shipped it ahead. Packed it all on a freight pallet and handed it off to FedEx. It was waiting at the location when I got there. At the end of the job I packed it back on the pallet and called for a pickup.
When I'm traveling on my own by air I try to get all the essential gear into one carry-on -- including photo gear, a change of socks and underwear, and personal essentials like spare eyeglasses and prescription meds. If I have to bring lights or stands I check them. Or arrange to rent at the location.
FWIW
Gato
How long a trip and what kind of photo opportunities do you anticipate? Will you have time and opportunities to use all that stuff? Will you miss photo chances because you're distracted by your gear?
This sounds more like a list for a film crew than a solo photographer. If you really need it, that's great. But you have to be prepared to accept the problems that come with it
No surprise there, you may have to learn to live with it.
Airlines set the rules and post them on their websites.
The few times I needed to transport large amounts of equipment my company shipped it ahead. Packed it all on a freight pallet and handed it off to FedEx. It was waiting at the location when I got there. At the end of the job I packed it back on the pallet and called for a pickup.
When I'm traveling on my own by air I try to get all the essential gear into one carry-on -- including photo gear, a change of socks and underwear, and personal essentials like spare eyeglasses and prescription meds. If I have to bring lights or stands I check them. Or arrange to rent at the location.
FWIW
Gato
tbcass
Forum Pro
What does that have to do with banning Lithium batteries? I was responding to this; "Only rules Im aware of are for forbidden items in carry on or checked bags (e.g lithium batteries, sharps, liquids, flammable gases etc)."
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robert1955
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Li-on batteries in hold luggage are forbidden. In the cabin up to a certain size in Wh, which only would get you in trouble with very big laptops and powerbanks. Reasoning is that in the cabin overheating will be noticed sooner and the crew have training and means to deal with it. Checking is indeed done in the scan.
...ah, the days before 9/11...
JohnSil
Senior Member
Yes, 9-11 was the last nail in the flying coffin. The first nail in the flying coffin was that danged D. B. Cooper!!! LoL
John
PhotoTeach2
Forum Pro
The incidents I described happened between 1973 and 1976, (airplanes were being hijacked to Cuba).
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Gramar
Active member
At home in the UK on holiday or just days out dedicated to photography. I will choose from my Nikon DSLR/lens selection depending on likely subject and weather conditions. When going abroad I've got used to only taking my Sony RX100 mark I. This remarkable little camera, for me at least. can do everything really well
UsherFellig
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In wildlife use-cases such as safari in Africa, one might be flying in small indie charter planes between wildlife parks, sometimes between countries. Those outfits often have extremely stringent weight restrictions. One must do their advance research very carefully.
As for general travel, I'm a believer in the one-camera/one-lens philosophy, but liberalize this somewhat in practice. If traveling by air with a FF camera it'll be one body and two small primes. OTOH, I might take two small APSC or m43 cameras with either a small prime glued onto each, or a small standard-range zoom glued onto one and the smallest possible fast prime glued onto the other.
Light and mobile is a glorious way to roll, and optimizes creativity in recognizing and pursuing shot opportunities.
Richard B99
Senior Member
Carrying tools onto planes was/is prohibited in India. Local rules apply. Yes, it surprised me too but wise to also check the rules of the country you are returning from! Subsequently, I put them in checked luggage (though I rarely travel with checked baggage on business trips).
JohnSil
Senior Member
Yes, Cooper was in 71. THAT's when they started toi install metal detecters!
Because of all the hyjakings is when they started to use x-ray!
After 911 they created TSA and the rest is history!!!
John
felix from the suburbs
Senior Member
I've been flying for work and holidays for over 30 years and never had any problems bringing a camera bag loaded with 2 bodies and a couple of lenses as a carry on - I fly mostly Air Canada. However, I have have since learned that just because you can bring it on board doesn't mean you should. Our last trip was a tour of historic Greece - and pretty much all of the sites were either up hills or on top of mountains and required a lot of climbing. Cameras and lenses get pretty heavy in the heat and I stuck to one camera and a zoom lens - a lesson I had painfully learned in Death Valley years prior. Everyone else I saw was using a cell phone and seemed pretty happy with their photos.
Richard B99
Senior Member
I guess you don’t fly much or haven’t checked the TSA / airline restrictions when you have checked in. Might be worth a few minutes of your time. Even carrying a bottle of water through security is restricted currently.
Wingsfan
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We have kids with us when we travel so photography is always secondary. I typically bring one body with a wide fast Zoom and one body with a long telephoto zoo. That way depending on where we are, I can just grab whichever camera has the right focal length on it and get a shot, since zooming with my feet often isn't practical with kids, and forget about having time to move around to frame a shot the way you want with a prime.
I will usually bring a small Enthusiast camera as well just to have with me for those times when I can't bring the gear out of the hotel room. Or if we're going somewhere not well lit like a museum, having a 1-in sensor and f1.8 can be very helpful at times like that.
I will usually bring a small Enthusiast camera as well just to have with me for those times when I can't bring the gear out of the hotel room. Or if we're going somewhere not well lit like a museum, having a 1-in sensor and f1.8 can be very helpful at times like that.
tbcass
Forum Pro
I haven't flown since 2006.
ChrisMT
Active member
Hello,
As many others, I, for convenience, usually carry one body (FX DSLR) and two or three lenses on longer trips. If two, for example a 24-120 zoom and a 35 prime.
But my problem regards the size of the carry-on load on planes. Flying in Europe, I usually use a Thule backpack as a carry-on, which also holds a laptop an iPad and some other stuff. It measures 30 x 22 x 52 cm (11.8 x 8.7 x 20.5 in). I’m now deciding on the larger Mindshift Rotation 34, which is 34 x 58 x 26 cm (13.4” x 22.8” x 10.2). But I’m afraid that would stretch the limits for carry-on. Any experiences or thoughts about what usually works when you are entering the plane?
As many others, I, for convenience, usually carry one body (FX DSLR) and two or three lenses on longer trips. If two, for example a 24-120 zoom and a 35 prime.
But my problem regards the size of the carry-on load on planes. Flying in Europe, I usually use a Thule backpack as a carry-on, which also holds a laptop an iPad and some other stuff. It measures 30 x 22 x 52 cm (11.8 x 8.7 x 20.5 in). I’m now deciding on the larger Mindshift Rotation 34, which is 34 x 58 x 26 cm (13.4” x 22.8” x 10.2). But I’m afraid that would stretch the limits for carry-on. Any experiences or thoughts about what usually works when you are entering the plane?
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