Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I'm going on a trip soon, and was wondering what I should check in or carry on.

Is it safe to check in flashes in their cases, and wrapped in some clothes for additional padding?

How about a short prime, non-IS lens?

Of course, I'm not going to check in my camera or expensive lenses.

Any other suggestions on hauling as much gear as possible, and not breaking one's back hand carrying the stuff up the plane?

What about security while on the plane?

If you are going to the states its a different rule than to any other country in the world....

If i were you ..I will carry my camera lens and laptop in backpack...
Never had an issue with a backpack before.......
This is just my few flying experience .....

Good luck

Im warning you right now .. I worked as a bag boy at the airport .. Carry on .. If its heavy they throw it harder .. if it says fragile it means toss it farther if its light they got thrown harder and further .. carry on

Too funny .. but true. Carry anything you care about in your carry on.

Here's someone who found a unique solution.

http://blog.jholko.com/

DG

light stands?

sigh. i think i have to break my back then, judging from the advice here.

light stands should be fine. sent stands, seamless holder and roll of seamless across the country with multiple stops. all in a ski bag

Are you going to be using a backpack? If you are, I would get one of those folding trolley and strap the backpack on or what ever bags you have.

I'm going to carry my photo gear in a shoulder bag; I suppose I could still use a trolley.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Chase Jarvis has put together some helpful videos.

http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2007/1 ... aphy-gear/

Carry on .....

Lightstands, tripods and occasionally flashes get checked in for me. Not to mention, I couldn't fit a lightstand or tripod into my carry on bag anyway and my second carry on is my laptop. Camera bodies and lenses are with me at all times.

I just got back from NYC. I carried everything. Even my wires and photoviewer. My arm almost fell off but for my situation it was worth it.

The issues with carry-on's to the US that were enforced in January and February this year have been largely relaxed. As long as your camera bag doesn't have roller wheels on it and will fit in the overhead bin, then you should not have any problem. Please note that they are VERY diligent about making you put your bag into that 'will it fit into the overhead bin' contraption before you even get to security, so if you have an oversize bag, you will be scre@@d and your only option at that point will be to check the bag or cancel your flight.
Air Canada has also decreased the number of bags you can check in for free and increased the cost of additional bags, so it's wise to verify allowable dimensions as well as quantities and overage costs directly from the Carrier's web site.

I had a medium sized backpack and a carry-on. I ended up on a small plane and had to use valet/plane side checking. I've also found it useful to print off any current TSA or carrier policy statements regarding camera gear.

We flew to New Mexico in Dec/09 right around the time of the attempted bombing. The flight down was just before the incident, so no restrictions yet, but the return flight was after, and except for increased airport security, they didn't really bother with my camera stuff.

I carried a NatureTrekker II (this is likely the largest camera backpack allowed) with a 7D, 50-500, 1Dm2, 400/5.6L, 18-50/2.8, 20-40/2.8. The backpack was quite heavy, but no one ever tried to weigh it or see if it'll fit. I also had a laptop bag with me.

I did put the flash in the check luggage. No problem.

The flight was with American Airlines.

I just got back from a visit to Europe, my outgoing flight connected at JFK in New York. All the gear I traveled with was in my CompuTrekker that I carried on. No one ever said a thing about it yet I'm pretty sure it would not ever fit in one of the frames they use to verify your carry-on. Considering the heft of the bag I'd seriously consider paying the extra $$ next time to check-in a second bag instead of flying with all that weight on my back. More importantly though is the restriction on batteries in your checked baggage, so be diligent in your research before you travel.

I was also surprised by the number of people who took small(-ish) wheeled suitcases on the plane as carry-on luggage. I was shocked as these things were way bigger than the allowed size.

I also noticed when I arrived in France at least one decent sized Pelican case came out on the conveyor belt as a checked item. Food for thought.

Flights from Canada TO the US seem to still have much more strict rules than flights from Canada to Canada or Canada to International destinations, even when they go through the US.

Another question:

Where do you go to declare the goods for temporary exportation?

I believe you can get the forms at the Customs & Immigration office at the airport. It's been a while since I did that. knock on wood.

I travel across Canada every week for business and I carry on my gear/laptop in a shoulder bag and my tripod in it's bag. You are allowed 2 carry on's.

Lightstand checked.

If your checked in bag has wheels then you only carry a very short distance.

double post. grrrr.

You can get the Y38 "green card" at the Customs offices at 1 Front Street West. I went there May of last year. Take all of your equipment with you as they will want to spot check some of the serial numbers.

Yes, I went to the Customs & Immigration office at Pearson Airport to declare camera gears last year too.