Traveling (flying) with cameras and lenses safely?

[pennylane]

What would you recommend is best for safe travel of cameras and lenses? Carrying everything onboard with you?

Have you ever been concerned with the conspicuousness of camera bags?

Just wondering, as it looks like I'll be doing some traveling soon.

 

[BornStar]

I've got a backpack that fits my laptop and my camera. It's not incredibly obvious what it contains and I obviously carry it on with me.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I carry a dedicated camera bag. Never had a problem. Definitely carry it onboard with me. Unless you have a Pelican case or other heavy-duty protection you should not put a camera in checked baggage.

You shouldn't get any trouble for having the camera. Last flight I was on I was taking pictures from the plane and no-one cared.

ZV

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
What would you recommend is best for safe travel of cameras and lenses? Carrying everything onboard with you?

Have you ever been concerned with the conspicuousness of camera bags?

Just wondering, as it looks like I'll be doing some traveling soon.

I carried my BAG yes the whole thing in a "pull-on" bag and had room for a change of clothes just in case they lose my baggage...

Edit
on the way to Hyd India ...

Edit2:
from ATL Georgia

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I carry a dedicated camera bag. Never had a problem. Definitely carry it onboard with me. Unless you have a Pelican case or other heavy-duty protection you should not put a camera in checked baggage.

You shouldn't get any trouble for having the camera. Last flight I was on I was taking pictures from the plane and no-one cared.

ZV

Iv always wondered about taking pictures out the window of a plane...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
I've always wondered about taking pictures out the window of a plane...

Some of them were pretty cool, some weren't. This one came out pretty damn cool, even though we were still taxiing.

ZV

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I carry a dedicated camera bag. Never had a problem. Definitely carry it onboard with me. Unless you have a Pelican case or other heavy-duty protection you should not put a camera in checked baggage.

You shouldn't get any trouble for having the camera. Last flight I was on I was taking pictures from the plane and no-one cared.

ZV

I should have done that, I stupidly I carried my laptop over shoulder ...

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alfa147x
I've always wondered about taking pictures out the window of a plane...

Some of them were pretty cool, some weren't. This one came out pretty damn cool, even though we were still taxiing.

ZV

Interesting I have a new wallpaper. I love the range of the shot ... also I thought the windows are dirty i guess you were lucky to have a clean window!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
Interesting I have a new wallpaper. I love the range of the shot ... also I thought the windows are dirty i guess you were lucky to have a clean window!

Thanks for the compliment on the shot, desert sunsets are incredible, loved watching them.

And the window actually was pretty dirty, but when you're focused at infinity with the lens hood touching the window the smudges and such just don't show up. Kind of like how if you wear glasses you don't notice most of the dirt they collect.

EDIT: I think that one of the things about taking photographs in an airport or on a plane is to just be obvious about it. If you don't look like you're trying to hide the fact that you're taking pictures, people are less weirded out. Actually, that works for a lot of situations. Don't make a big productions out of taking the photos, but don't be shy about it either. If you act like you're supposed to be there, people will usually assume that you really are supposed to be there.

ZV

 

[corkyg]

I can echo what Zemmervolt has said, and add a caveat based on personal experience. If possible get one case that will hold everything - camera, lenses, laptop and accessories. Airport security requires laptops to be removed from the case - then shoes, jacket, belt buckle, watch, etc., etc. all go through the scanner. Then it is chaos trying to get it all back together again with very little room to do it and lots of confusion,.

I had separate cases last summer and when all was said and done, I walked off and left my camera case at the TSA scanner exit. Long story short - I got it back in September, but it was not fun.

You can get some decent pictures from an aircraft window - they are a type of plastic/plexiglas, and not optical, but if you are at a low enough altitude, you can get some neat pics. Once you get in a jet over 30,000 feet, and there is no sunset - unless you like the aircraft wing or clouds, there's not much to see.

Here are a couple of shots I got after taking off from Oakland airport and the plane headed West by the heart of San Francisco then over the Golden Gate.

SF1

SF2

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I can echo what Zemmervolt has said, and add a caveat based on personal experience. If possible get one case that will hold everything - camera, lenses, laptop and accessories. Airport security requires laptops to be removed from the case - then shoes, jacket, belt buckle, watch, etc., etc. all go through the scanner. Then it is chaos trying to get it all back together again with very little room to do it and lots of confusion,.

I had separate cases last summer and when all was said and done, I walked off and left my camera case at the TSA scanner exit. Long story short - I got it back in September, but it was not fun.

You can get some decent pictures from an aircraft window - they are a type of plastic/plexiglas, and not optical, but if you are at a low enough altitude, you can get some neat pics. Once you get in a jet over 30,000 feet, and there is no sunset - unless you like the aircraft wing or clouds, there's not much to see.

Here are a couple of shots I got after taking off from Oakland airport and the plane headed West by the heart of San Francisco then over the Golden Gate.

SF1

SF2

I think on the second picture having a lens hood might have helped the reflection in the glass

 

[GTaudiophile]

Dedicated camera bag. Carry it on. Everything is okay for security.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
I think on the second picture having a lens hood might have helped the reflection in the glass

Actually that stuff in the lower center is not reflection - it is the residual effect/wake of a boat that passed under the plane.

And, yes, a hood would have been good. I did not get a hood until the next camera. That was with my old 20D and the EF-S 17-85mm lens.

And, the dedicated camera bag is good - it goes right through the security scanner - just don't walk off and leave it!

 

[alfa147x]

Ok here I what i would do
Get this: http://images.jupiterimages.co...ail/72/76/23107672.jpg

Put about 3 gallons of watter on the bottom for cushion
Then toss in your camera body
Then some food color
Then you lens
Then some more color
then all of the rest of you equipment

Take pictures and tell use how it goes!!

Good luck!

 

[corkyg]

Huh????

What's your point?

 

[Brainonska511]

The first time I flew with my camera, I didn't have a case/bag, so I just carried it around my neck and carefully put it in my backpack when I went through security and sitting in my seat on the plane.

The last time I flew, I had my Lowepro Slingshot 200 to hold my camera and 2 lenses, but I put that bag inside a larger duffel bag as I was heading back to school and wanted to limit the number of bags I had to physically carry.

For winter break, I plan on just carrying my lowepro bag and my backpack (with notebook) onto the plane and check my clothing bag. I might invest in a computer/camera backpack one day, but my budget is a little thin at the moment.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Huh????

What's your point?

It was meant to be a joke

 

[JulesMaximus]

Carry all your photography gear in a carry on bag. There is no way I'd check thousands of dollars worth of gear.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Carry all your photography gear in a carry on bag. There is no way I'd check thousands of dollars worth of gear.

I take it you work at the airport checking baggage ?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Carry all your photography gear in a carry on bag. There is no way I'd check thousands of dollars worth of gear.

I take it you work at the airport checking baggage ?

No, but I have watched people handle bags at the airport. It involves your luggage potentially flying a few feet into the air and/or falling off of moving carts on the tarmac. Not to mention the potential for it to end up in a different city than you do.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I can echo what Zemmervolt has said, and add a caveat based on personal experience. If possible get one case that will hold everything - camera, lenses, laptop and accessories. Airport security requires laptops to be removed from the case - then shoes, jacket, belt buckle, watch, etc., etc. all go through the scanner. Then it is chaos trying to get it all back together again with very little room to do it and lots of confusion,.

I had separate cases last summer and when all was said and done, I walked off and left my camera case at the TSA scanner exit. Long story short - I got it back in September, but it was not fun.

You can get some decent pictures from an aircraft window - they are a type of plastic/plexiglas, and not optical, but if you are at a low enough altitude, you can get some neat pics. Once you get in a jet over 30,000 feet, and there is no sunset - unless you like the aircraft wing or clouds, there's not much to see.

Here are a couple of shots I got after taking off from Oakland airport and the plane headed West by the heart of San Francisco then over the Golden Gate.

SF1

SF2

Nice pictures! I flew out of DCA for the first time in forever over the summer and it was a great view, but impossible to take pictures since the windows were so low (it was a puddle jumper).

 

[zinfamous]

camera bag. carry it on.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Jawo
[Nice pictures! I flew out of DCA for the first time in forever over the summer and it was a great view, but impossible to take pictures since the windows were so low (it was a puddle jumper).

I haven't flow out of DCA in years. My SF flight was nice - my bro's airplane - a collector's item that he loves dearly. We were at about 1200 feet and about 130 knots. This is the beloved old warbird:

C41

 

[madmacks]

Great pics corkyg! What kind of cell phone do you use to get such high resolution?

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Jawo
[Nice pictures! I flew out of DCA for the first time in forever over the summer and it was a great view, but impossible to take pictures since the windows were so low (it was a puddle jumper).

I haven't flow out of DCA in years. My SF flight was nice - my bro's airplane - a collector's item that he loves dearly. We were at about 1200 feet and about 130 knots. This is the beloved old warbird:

C41

Nice plane. But - ISO-1600 in broad daylight? Sigh.....

 

[corkyg]

Yeah, I know - the ISO wass set for indoor shots and I forgot to reset it. Mea culpa!

But it still illustrates the message. It's not here for photo judgment - focus on the airplane.