Traveling...

[Imakethem]

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2 bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

 

[Wiley Denson]

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

My suggestion is to ship FEDEX to your destination and have them hold for pickup. It sure simplifies things, particularly at airport checkin.

--
Wiley D

Pictures can't do the real thing justice, but you gotta' try.

 

[Juli Valley]

You might pack your tripod in your regular checked bag. You might not be allowed to carry it on the plane.

 

[John Lewis3]

If really heavy, send cargo.

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

My suggestion is to ship FEDEX to your destination and have them
hold for pickup. It sure simplifies things, particularly at airport
checkin.

--
Wiley D

Pictures can't do the real thing justice, but you gotta' try.

 

[Imakethem]

Juli,

Just an FYI, you CAN carry a tripod on the plane. Security will check it out, but it is not on there list of things not to allow.

I am trying to avoid checking any bags, and I WILL NOT check my camera equipment!!

Guess I'll just have to try taking all the pieces and see what happens!

Thanks for the input.

Paul

You might pack your tripod in your regular checked bag. You might
not be allowed to carry it on the plane.

 

[Juli Valley]

When I went to the UK in the spring of 2002, I didn't check anything either, but I took a film camera with a very short lens. I wasn't sure about the tripod, but I know I wouldn't take one because I wouldn't want to have to carry it. I guess I'd take my 16-35L and 28-70L or if I bought another 28-135IS I might take that.

 

[John Lewis3]

Depends if is international or local.
There is a weight and bag size for each.
Those small block luggage bags you see can be regulation size.
Ask at the dept store an they will have the dimensions for different airlines.

Your bag has got to fit into those metal weighting machines beside the counter as to the overhead compartment.

If you get a bag with wheels and extended handle it makes for easy travelling.

Luggage itself can be over half of the allowable weight, so take a plastic bag with you too. If you look like your cabin luggage is going to be weighted, take some items out and put into the plastic bag and hold in your hand.
They allow you a couple of hand held bags + the regulation size luggage bag.

Your guaranteed to be over weight if you get a nice bag with wheels and handle and fill it up, but if it looks regulation there is less of a problem.

Buy a smaller tripod for travelling with. There are some really cheap and light ones.

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

 

[Lee Rothman]

I don't fly anywhere, I drive my sales territory. So with that said I pack all my gear up in a LowePro Photo Trekker AW and away I go with it in the trunk/hotels. I have a "All Risk" policy with Allstate that covers it for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that could possibly happen PERIOD. $364.00 a year worth of peace of mind...........

 

[jblann]

where you are going. And what you are doing. When I went to South America, one of my legs only allowed one carryon and one "personal item" like a purse or laptop or similiar. With my Tamrac backpack (which is carryon size) I also had to choose between my 70-200 F2.8 and 100-400 IS. I took the 100-400. For my trip, I left the tripod and took along the monopod, which went into checked baggage.

I think the bottom line is to really consider what you will actually use. Do you have to have the tripod? Will a table top version do just as well? Do you really need all your lenses? If you have a lot of gear, check your clothes/personal items. Maybe take one set of clothes along just in case. For my trip, that is what I did because I was going for ten days and couldn't carry all that on.
--
'In cyberspace, you can't hear the screams...'
'Price is only an issue in the absence of value.'
'Being 6'8 means not having to say you're sorry...'

Equipment list in profile.

 

[The Loner]

I'm going to Bolivia for one month, and I'm carrying on all of my baggage. I use the LowePro Trim Trekker, which fits nicely under the plane seat.
The TT will fit:
10D w/attached lens
2 lenses
Filters, manual, etc.

There's a slide out drawer in the TT which will fit one large lens, but for me it fits:
Flash
2 extra batteries
Charger and cord
Tripper portable storage unit w/cord.

More info.here:
http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/trimtrk.htm
..and you can get a new one at Ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&krd=1&from=R8&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=trim+trekker
Can't help you with the tripod, though!
Good luck.

 

[Phil Nicholls]

Hi Paul,

I'm flightcrew for a major airline and we only allow ONE piece of carry on luggage unless travelling in Club or First. That said, we usually make exceptions if you are carrying a laptop and one other piece of carry on. You should be able to use the same 'delicate equipment' argument to get 2 bags with camera gear on, you'll be extremely lucky to carry any more than that though!

You may well have difficulty taking a tripod into the cabin. Whilst it isn't a specifically 'named' banned item it could still become a decent weapon in the right (wrong?) hands and it is this that 'may' prevent carriage - it will depend on the airport security and the airlines own interpretation of what constitutes a potential weapon, if any of the crew have any doubt then it will be off-loaded or put in the hold - and the editors decision is Final!

If you insist on trying to get your tripod through then attach it securely with a bungee cord and it will count as just the one piece. You may well be advised to check the weight of all your gear. I have seen plenty of people refused boarding as they've had too much hand-luggage and are not willing able to put some into the hold.

Personally my tripod goes into my suitcase - actually I'm in the market for a new one - and the rest of the gear comes with me on the flight deck in a medium sized (OK for cabin) roller. I carry an empty shoulder bag in my suitcase as well which my gear goes into at my destination.

Oh, yes, whatever happens, be pleasant with the people handling you and you'll get much further. There are numerous ways both ground and cabin crew can get their own back with 'Arsey' punters! ;-) No matter how tired I am, or how late the flight is, I will never lose my rag with anyone checking me in - I know what they are capable of! I find that the 'little boy lost' act works best - there are plenty of ground staff just waiting to display their compassion - it makes a nice change for them rather than dealing with the 'card' holder that didn't get his first meal choice!

ATB,

Phil

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

 

[Imakethem]

I appreciate all the input.

I do need to take my tripod as I am traveling to California and will be going to the beach, I plan on taking some long timed shots as well a surfers out on the water. Taking long shots with a Sigma 50-500 lens (80-800 on the 10D) So a tripod is manditory! Plus, if you have ever seen what they do on the wood on the pier rails, you would NOT want to set your camera down!!

I was thinking that strapping the tripod to my bag would help, thank you for that tip as well. Finding a "good, sturdy, small" tripod is a task for me, as it also needs to extend to 72" in height. I am 6'4" tall, and bending over to take a shot starts to get taxing very quickly!

Thanks again,
Paul

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

 

[William C]

I'm flightcrew for a major airline and we only allow ONE piece of
carry on luggage unless travelling in Club or First. That said, we
usually make exceptions if you are carrying a laptop and one other
piece of carry on. You should be able to use the same 'delicate
equipment' argument to get 2 bags with camera gear on, you'll be
extremely lucky to carry any more than that though!

You may well have difficulty taking a tripod into the cabin. Whilst
it isn't a specifically 'named' banned item it could still become a
decent weapon in the right (wrong?) hands and it is this that 'may'
prevent carriage - it will depend on the airport security and the
airlines own interpretation of what constitutes a potential weapon,
if any of the crew have any doubt then it will be off-loaded or put
in the hold - and the editors decision is Final!

If you insist on trying to get your tripod through then attach it
securely with a bungee cord and it will count as just the one
piece. You may well be advised to check the weight of all your
gear. I have seen plenty of people refused boarding as they've had
too much hand-luggage and are not willing able to put some into
the hold.

Personally my tripod goes into my suitcase - actually I'm in the
market for a new one - and the rest of the gear comes with me on
the flight deck in a medium sized (OK for cabin) roller. I carry an
empty shoulder bag in my suitcase as well which my gear goes into
at my destination.

Oh, yes, whatever happens, be pleasant with the people handling you
and you'll get much further. There are numerous ways both ground
and cabin crew can get their own back with 'Arsey' punters! ;-)
No matter how tired I am, or how late the flight is, I will never
lose my rag with anyone checking me in - I know what they are
capable of! I find that the 'little boy lost' act works best -
there are plenty of ground staff just waiting to display their
compassion - it makes a nice change for them rather than dealing
with the 'card' holder that didn't get his first meal choice!

ATB,

Phil

How do you travel with your camera gear?

I have a trip next month and will be taking my camera (10D) and all
the support gear (extra lenses, tripod)

I do not want to check any of my bags. Is there a way around the 2
bag carry on limit?? If my tripod is hanging off my camera bag, it
that 2 bags??

Thanks.

Paul

--
“What actually happens in the real world is what photographers needs to know.”
Michael Reichmann – Luminous Landscape