Travelling Abroad

[Muggsy]

I'm about to embark on a bit of long haul flying.

On advice from a proffesional I avoided the purchase of a proper camera bag, he reckons its better to just wrap everything in bubble wrap and carry it in an unobtrusive bag.

The question I would like to ask, having already been told on here to take at least one camera body and one lense in hand luggage.

Should I remove the lense from the camera body and wrap each seperately or will it be ok to leave it attached ?

Muggsy

[ron1863]

I would use a proper camera bag that is legal to carry on board. Much safer

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I use a backpack type camera bag and take it on as hand luggage.It doesn't say "camera" as much to a thief like a typical camera bag.

neil

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

I use a backpack type camera bag and take it on as hand luggage.It doesn't say "camera" as much to a thief like a typical camera bag.

neil

I'm lucky enough to trqvel a bit in my latter years. Weight, photography, birding - are words that don't mix well.

I use a carry on wheelie trolly of max size; in this I can get body+18-200 walk around lens, scope, bins, 100-400 pump, computer and power supply, spare pants and teeshirt and reading material. But it weighs over the 7-9 kg you are meant to carry on !!! Pants and teeshirt essential if flights delayed etc..

So far I haven't been weighed, but if with "her that must be obeyed" I dump the 100-400 pump in her wheelie carry on. Failing to lift that lot into the luggage rack is a bit of a give away!!

Tripod goes in luggage.

I also pack a very ordinary looking shoulder bag that I then use for walking around in built up areas - on recent Morocco trip was well able to conceal camera, bins, and 100-400 pump.

My daughter lives south Africa, so I leave spare bins and tripod for her to "borrow" when I'm not there.

Guide books are a bit of a problem, but gradually I'm going electronic on those where possible.

I've been meaning to investigate becoming a golfer and carying a golf bag that goes at a special "sports" rate, but will only have three clubs along with tripod, monopod etc. etc.. If people can take skis, bikes, surfboards and other sporting equipment at special rate, why not us?

[Muggsy]

thanks each,
pants and T-shirt, why didn't I think of that

no laptop going with us so camera and 2 lenses shouldn't present a problem.

I was interested in wether or not to remove the lense from the body, though I'm not sure why I'm asking to be honest.

pants and t-shirts going in bag right now

[Brocker]

I fly to America between one and three times a year. I always keep my kit with me as hand luggage. I use a Lowepro Trekker. In it I can carry my camera body, two lenses, including a 100-400mm and a flash gun. There is still room in the top to place some smaller items and sweets and drinks for the flight. I always have my smaller of the two lenses fixed on the camera for the flight. The bag has always gone through the security checks ok and it has never been questioned...

[Hobjob]

One thing I didn't make clear is that I would not put any lenses, bins, cameras in my main luggage - too likely to be damaged and/or lost.

Don't forget to insure properly, ordinary travel insurance will not cover.

[Wilko]

Last time I went through airport security (August, flying out of Nairobi) I had to take out (and unwrap) both my lenses for them to look through, take out the body, find the batteries (virtually flat) and turn it on, unwrap my bins, and unwrap and turn on my MP3 player/file storage before I could board. Meanwhile, my girlfriend went off and put her feet up whilst I stood for 20 mins doing this, which was nice of her.

So my biggest tip would be not to bother wrapping them up too well until after you've been through security. You'll have plenty time.

Slightly worryingly, I never had any of this problem flying out of Britain.

As for how I carried my camera gear, I just put my entire (medium-sized) camera bag inside another backpack. Still leaves you some room for other stuff and you wont have any problems in the airport.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

they probably wanted to see a decent camera for the first time , and make sure you weren't boarding the plane with some dodgy music on your mp3

neil

[Muggsy]

thanks for the advice peeps.

was given another bit last night too, as much of my gear is less than a month old, I was told to take the receipts for it.

Now Wilko has got me worried I always get pulled for something, I must stop wearing that balaclava