travel and gear

[bbarn]

Hi, I have a question regarding traveling and hauling a lot of expensive gear.
It gets to be a pain to haul 25lb in a pelican case through airports but is secure.
Now I have added a long lense and separate case for that. With tripod I will probably tip the scales
close to 45# just in camera gear. Now I love having it all along on a foreign adventure, but worry about
losing it, having it stolen by airline ground staff or just having it out of my sight for any
length of time.
What do other people do to protect but use their gear?
thanks, bb

[bob_r]

I store mine in a pelican case, but don't travel with it. I pick the lenses that I think I will use and take just those on trips.
I also insure all my gear so I don't have to worry too much about it.

[Edd]

Hi !
i am new in this forum and i want to learn from here.
so i wish you guys will help me.
Thanks.

Hi and Welcome to the forum.

Post your questions under the relevant sections and we'll see what we can do to help.

Ed

[Bonish Photo]

One option that might be safer is to package the Pelican case up in a box, UPS or FedEx it to your destination with it insured and have it waiting there for you when you arrive.

This would be much easier and probably cheaper than lugging it through the airport especially with the costs their tacking onto overweight luggage these days

[gldiana]

Pat is right as far as travel within the U.S. is concerned. Shipping 2 boxes with my cameras and lenses via Fedex with $8000 insurance cost me about $30 using my fedex account (huge discounts to 9 digit accounts). Since most of my travels are international I never leave my camera out of sight, I wouldn't even dream of checking in my gear. Abroad you can lock it but within the U.S. airport security will break the lock because they have the right to do whatever they want with our a$$es... I meant assets. Sorry, I just need to vent.

[bbarn]

Thank you for the thoughtful replies.
I too am frustrated with TSA treating me and all my gear like threats. I cant tell you how many times my gear box has been opened and manhandled with risk of dropping and dusted down for explosive residue. Sometimes I am in attendanace and other times they do it away from me.
I too don't trust the airlines or TSA to properly care for my important gear and don't EVER check in camera gear.
the idea of shipping gear ahead of time is good, but I guess I need to get an account with FedEx. I had to ship my camera body in for a sensor cleaning and UPS wanted $80 to insure it!
I guess it is just one of the challenges to face in order to enjoy the pleasure of shooting with great gear in so many great locations.
bb

[gldiana]

Sometimes I am in attendanace and other times they do it away from me.

You have the right to be with your luggage.

[Vintage Guitars]

Thank you for the thoughtful replies.
I too am frustrated with TSA treating me and all my gear like threats. I cant tell you how many times my gear box has been opened and manhandled with risk of dropping and dusted down for explosive residue. Sometimes I am in attendanace and other times they do it away from me.
I too don't trust the airlines or TSA to properly care for my important gear and don't EVER check in camera gear.
the idea of shipping gear ahead of time is good, but I guess I need to get an account with FedEx. I had to ship my camera body in for a sensor cleaning and UPS wanted $80 to insure it!
I guess it is just one of the challenges to face in order to enjoy the pleasure of shooting with great gear in so many great locations.
bb

Oh ! That will be so wonderful if we see bear in Asian countries

[samchadwick]

This is my kitlist.
http://www.samchadwickphoto.com/inthebag.html

Apart from thinking VERY carefully about what to take, I generally pack bodies and flashes in my checked luggage, sealed in ziplock bags in case of exploding shampoo bottles etc. as well as the external harddrives, any reflectors and diffusers, filters and cables.

Lenses I always carry on board. I learned from another photographer: it is easier to find replacement bodies in far off countries, but much harder to find lenses.

If I can get the tripod in my checked luggage, depending on how much other stuff I'm taking, then it goes there, otherwise it goes on the outside of the carry-on. I've only had an issue once with the TSA thinking that it can't go on-board like that, so now I've left a few older TSA stickers on it to show that it is well traveled like that. The ballhead I take off and put in the checked bags.

Do I go overweight - sometimes yes. But if I do (and I've done this twice now) I go to the bathroom and put on as many clothes as I can. On the trip to Nepal I went on board wearing 3 pairs of trousers, a pair of shorts, 4 T-shirts, 2 fleeces, hiking boots and a jacket. The person next to me thought they were the unlucky one to get a fat person sitting next to them for a long-haul flight until I went to the bathroom and stripped off half my weight!

[gldiana]

I generally pack bodies and flashes in my checked luggage

That is something I would never do, nor I recommend anyone doing. Luggage theft is still very high at airports by hand of luggage employees. I've known of too many people getting their gear stolen like that and crying for not being able to replace their precious cameras/video cameras. Airlines are not responsible for that as their policy clearly states it. And without counting the fact that bags get thrown around a lot. You should see the bumpers of those conveyor belts, machines that hit luggage from one belt to another automatically with enough strength to push a horse.

And definitely do not check in guitars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

I carry my tripod with me sometimes as a carry on depending on where I'm going, there are airlines that do not allow that so I have no choice but to check it inside my suitcase but for good measure I will keep the ballhead in my carry on.

[samchadwick]

It's funny. Since writing that post, over a year ago. I don't think I have packed the bodies in the checked luggage again. It is always in my hand luggage. Can I change my mind?!

[szafrica]

I recently had to fly to London. Had 38 lbs of camera gear and they only allowed 13 lbs for carry on. So I got a photo vest with the large pockets and put my 100mm-400mm lens in the back pocket and other lenses and accessories in the other pockets until I got my camera bag weight down to 13 lbs. I put a jacket on over the vest and never got hassled. Just put the vest in the overhead compartment with my camera bag. Worked like a charm.

[elkhornsun]

All my photo gear goes on to the plane with me. Now since 2011 I cannot lock my checked luggage so anything inside is easily stolen. Worst case I will use a Tamrac roller case when carrying underwater gear and gate check it so it is first on and first off and does not go through the TSA and baggage handling areas. Usually this is not needed as I can carry everything on board, one way or another. One trick is to make us of the Domke Photographer's Jacket which easily holds a 70-200m 24-70, 14-24, SB800, and D3 and I can wear it onto even the smallest 6 passenger planes with no problems. The jacket also is easily stuffed in nooks and crannies where a regular bag would not fit. Once I reach my destination the gear is transferred to the camera bag and I am good to go.