Travel Photography - bringing photo equipment

Hi,

As you might have known some Airlines such as SQ has a weight requirement for whatever you bring to the cabin.

I'm planning to bring some heavy photo equipment and sure as hell won't be checking them in.

Can you share your experience on how to overcome these problems? I have heard stories of flight attendants roaming around waiting lounge bringing a scale to weigh in your carry on luggage.

The requirement of SQ is 7 lbs and I'm sure my photography equipment will worth more than that.

What do you do? Can you just ask nicely for an exception? Act strong so they don't ask to weigh your luggage? Hide stuff under your coat? Leave the luggage with someone while you check in?

Any ideas appreciated :)

One professional photographer says he wears his lenses on holsters hitched to his waist.

I haven't had any problems (with other airlines with carry on weight restrictions; haven't flown SQ, though). I put my gear in a smallish backpack or a small roller tote bag. I like the small roller bag because it doesn't look like it's heavy.

I carry a Canon MarkII 1ds, a 100-400 or 70-200 lens and a wide zoom. Sometimes I carry another lens. I wrap everything in foam.

I'd really like to know, cause I'd like to fly SQ this fall.

Last year I had a backpack with a 17" laptop, 5Dmk1 with grip, 70-200, 24-700 and a flash. I couldn't feel my shoulders after a while...

They probably didn't question me because it's a backpack and I tried as hard as I can to look tough, but I'd rather get a pelican case and have wheels on it. Of course it won't look subtle and they can easily ask me to weigh it in.

Also Manneca, can you share what tote back with wheels that you're using? I might be interested....



One professional photographer says he wears his lenses on holsters hitched to his waist.

I haven't had any problems (with other airlines with carry on weight restrictions; haven't flown SQ, though). I put my gear in a smallish backpack or a small roller tote bag. I like the small roller bag because it doesn't look like it's heavy.

I carry a Canon MarkII 1ds, a 100-400 or 70-200 lens and a wide zoom. Sometimes I carry another lens. I wrap everything in foam.

I'd really like to know, cause I'd like to fly SQ this fall.

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/baggage_allowance.jsp

your link specifies CHECKED baggage.

I was talking about CABIN baggage

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/cabin_baggage.jsp?v=2027851262&

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/baggage_allowance.jsp

Also Manneca, can you share what tote back with wheels that you're using? I might be interested....

It's a Travelpro rolling tote ID: 4060913. I can't find a picture of just it to post a link to. It's a regular tote; I just pack my camera gear in it and cushion with foam and pads from my camera backpack and other camera carrying gear I'm not using. The bag itself weighs 5.8 pounds which I guess is about 2.5kg. My camera gear weighs more than 8kg for sure.

I'm an older woman so I think I can get away with looking like there isn't anything in it. I can't get a 17in laptop in it, though I think I've gotten my 15 in MacBookPro in it. (I can slip a netbook in the outer pocket which is what I sometimes do to cut the weight.)

it's probably this (http://www.luggageguru.com/product.asp?pid=4439&zmam=94162553&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=114FYAF859**********************) one right?
that looks pretty good.. not sure if I can get away with it...

It's a Travelpro rolling tote ID: 4060913. I can't find a picture of just it to post a link to. It's a regular tote; I just pack my camera gear in it and cushion with foam and pads from my camera backpack and other camera carrying gear I'm not using. The bag itself weighs 5.8 pounds which I guess is about 2.5kg. My camera gear weighs more than 8kg for sure.

I'm an older woman so I think I can get away with looking like there isn't anything in it. I can't get a 17in laptop in it, though I think I've gotten my 15 in MacBookPro in it. (I can slip a netbook in the outer pocket which is what I sometimes do to cut the weight.)

Looks like it's 7 kg (http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/cabin_baggage.jsp?v=-39877004&) for cabin baggage, not 7 lbs, so you'll get about 15 lbs out of that limit.

I'd take a very small camera backpack, such as the LowePro Mini Trekker, and get my critical bodies and lenses in there. Maybe take a decent jacket to slip some speedlights into the pockets.

Can you check the rest? How much gear are you taking? Are you taking a laptop? I believe I got a 15" Macbook pro into the Mini Trekker once, and it wasn't pretty.

I've also gone the route as that Travelpro with a similar bag from Targus (though not on SQ), which solves the laptop situation, but bring plenty of towels/lens clothes to wrap around the gear as doesn't have the protection of a dedicated camera bag.

Last week I stuffed my MiniTrekker with 2 bodies, a 70-200/2.8 and 5 other lenses, flash, filters, etc., etc., so the size isn't an issue. And with domestic, weight isn't a problem. But from my back pain I'm sure it was more than 7kg.

But if you pack all of the ancillaries and only carry 1 body, 1 long lens and a few short ones, plus a flash, 7kg should be fine (unless you're carry a view camers, MF camera, etc.). Putting memory cards, filters (well packed), remote releases, etc. in check-in should be OK. In fact, iirc, I removed one of my grips and put it in check-in because I didn't have room.

I'm not sure "acting strong" is going to do much - better to be within the limits than take a chance. I suppose a lens or two in your pockets is possible.

as for now I think I can do with just 1 body - 5Dmk2. as for the lenses still not sure. might got with 24-70mm and 70-200mm. but I'm contemplating going prime and getting a wide zoom... so might have 16-35mm, 50 or 85mm and 135mm.. need to find someone with those lenses and weigh those in...

Looks like it's 7 kg (http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/cabin_baggage.jsp?v=-39877004&) for cabin baggage, not 7 lbs, so you'll get about 15 lbs out of that limit.

I'd take a very small camera backpack, such as the LowePro Mini Trekker, and get my critical bodies and lenses in there. Maybe take a decent jacket to slip some speedlights into the pockets.

Can you check the rest? How much gear are you taking? Are you taking a laptop? I believe I got a 15" Macbook pro into the Mini Trekker once, and it wasn't pretty.

I've also gone the route as that Travelpro with a similar bag from Targus (though not on SQ), which solves the laptop situation, but bring plenty of towels/lens clothes to wrap around the gear as doesn't have the protection of a dedicated camera bag.

I have flown around the world on various airlines (but not SQ) with a Canon 200EG backpack with:

- 7D with 17-55/2.8, or 5D with Tamron 28-75/2.8
- 70-200/2.8 and 1.4x extender
- 85/1.2
- Sigma 8-16
- 580EX II
- various accessories

Definitely over 7kg and I'm not a big person. Nobody ever approached to have the backpack weighed. Usually when airlines try to weigh carryons (I've seen AF doing it at IAH), they look for 22" rollaboards, not a smallish backpack.

Also flew HKG-SIN-PER and back on SQ last year, but without that backpack. I did not see any passenger's carryon being weighed.

[But of course, if you demand a SQ Girl to load your super-heavy backpack onto the overhead, then that may be a separate issue.]

I had the same experience with NH and their 7 kg limit. They insisted on weighing my 20" rollaboard (carefully preweighed by me to be 6.999 kg) and just waved through my backpack, which looks small while on my back (I'm pretty big) but actually weighed well over 7kg with my camera gear, chargers, laptop, etc.

Bring 2 backpack. 1 backpack for your camera & lens and another for your other stuff. It's annoying and heavy but at least you won't need to checked it. The inconvenience worth more than loosing your camera stuff.

yes I was planning to do that, but SQ's rule is kinda vague.

They said I can bring 1 carry on and 1 'personal item' to the cabin. What constitutes as a personal item? If I stuffed my backpack with laptop (which is on the list), ipad, kindle, nintendo ds, and several documents... can that be counted as personal item? of course another bag for my camera equipments..

Bring 2 backpack. 1 backpack for your camera & lens and another for your other stuff. It's annoying and heavy but at least you won't need to checked it. The inconvenience worth more than loosing your camera stuff.

yes I was planning to do that, but SQ's rule is kinda vague.

They said I can bring 1 carry on and 1 'personal item' to the cabin. What constitutes as a personal item? If I stuffed my backpack with laptop (which is on the list), ipad, kindle, nintendo ds, and several documents... can that be counted as personal item? of course another bag for my camera equipments..

Basically, anything that can fit under the seat in front of you and not taking up overhead space is a "personal item".

got it.. I might be able to shove my laptop bag under the seat and put my photography equipment in the cabin...... hmm..


Basically, anything that can fit under the seat in front of you and not taking up overhead space is a "personal item".

I always consider my camera bag as a personal item :p

I always consider my camera bag as a personal item :p

Except when I am taking both my Canon backpack and another Crumpler bag with a 2nd dSLR. Then the backpack is the regular piece and goes in the overhead and the Crumpler the personal item.

haha yes... need to figure out which one should be considered a personal item :)

btw it's nice to see another indonesian in the forum :)



I always consider my camera bag as a personal item :p

For what it's worth, I flew BA SYD-BKK-LON return with carry-on a 500/4, 300/2.8, 70-200/2.8, 16-35/2.8, a flash, and 2x bodies.

Everything was in a non-camera bag except the 500 - which I just carried on as-is.

No problems anywhere, even into LYS and out of Milan.

At the moment I use a Lowepro Computrekker for travel, usually with the following:

300/2.8, 70-200/2.8, 17-40/4, 24-105/4, 2 bodies, 1.4x TC, 2x TC, flash and a laptop.

Only issue I've had on the following: BA, CO, SW, EZY & RYR was at EWR where I was last to board a CO flight after a delayed connection. Crew member wasn't sure if it would fit under the seat in front, but after seeing the contents was willing to let me try rather than gate check it. Fitted no probs. Flew SQ from Jakarta to SIN in economy with everything apart from the 300/2.8 & TC's. Also had a tripod & additional laptop with me at the time (works & personal), again no issues. Not even with the tripod strapped to the side of the bag.

Ideally I would like a roller bag so that I could take the weight off the shoulders at the airport.

Many people wear a photo vest or ScottEVest so if your gear bag is weighed or not allowed aboard you can wear most of it on your body. It's a good idea to have a little soft canvas or nylon bag that you can offload the gear into once aboard should you need to carryon on your person.

Ok, SQ's rules aren't too strict (trust me, with some airlines, one item means one item). Assuming one DSLR body you could probably get away with this:

- Smaller camera bag with one body + lens attached to fit under the seat
- Camera bag with lenses, flashes and extra lenses where you would normally fit the camera.

If you have two bodies (always a good idea IMHO), you may have to compromise a bit on the lenses. Trying to avoid too much overlap and similarities between the lenses. For example, if I have Olympus 14-42, 9-18, 40-150 lenses for my smaller travel kit, I could probably do without the 14-42 and 40-150.

The problem with the 22" roller cases is that they already have quite a bit of weight to them when empty so some airlines insist on weighing these.

I recently flew with Easyjet to Malta and they really do have a strict one bag limit. I really could have done with a bigger camera bag but here's what I managed to fit into my smallish Tamrac bag:

1 x Olympus E-30 with Leica 14-50 attached
1 x Olympus 9-18
1 x Olympus 40-150
1 x Panasonic L1 body with 25mm pancake attached
spare batteries and memory cards
2 x set of underwear and socks
2 x t-shirts

Annoyingly I didn't need the last two items because they have M&S in Malta in the event my checked in bag didn't arrive (and my Amex Plat travel insurance would have ponied up for that).

I am off to Europe at the end of the month and I read when flying in Europe ..Ryan Air does not allow any personal bags beside 1 in cabin bag . They have a 10kg Baggage limit for in cabin baggage . No extra Camera Bags or Personal bags etc. Everything must go into the ..one bag 10kg maximum weight. As I have not flown Ryan Air ...I was wondering if any one has... and what they experienced.

I am off to Europe at the end of the month and I read when flying in Europe ..Ryan Air does not allow any personal bags beside 1 in cabin bag . They have a 10kg Baggage limit for in cabin baggage . No extra Camera Bags or Personal bags etc. Everything must go into the ..one bag 10kg maximum weight. As I have not flown Ryan Air ...I was wondering if any one has... and what they experienced.

They appear to be very strict. When I was flying back from Malta with Easyjet, the queue of passengers at the gate next to ours was on the Ryanair fight (same route) and all we could hear was Ryanair barking orders at the passengers that they must have one bag only and that any duty free they'd bought must fit into that bag.

Easyjet are the same in terms of their published policies but were allowing people to bring their airport shopping on board in addition to their hand baggage.

Many people wear a photo vest or ScottEVest so if your gear bag is weighed or not allowed aboard you can wear most of it on your body. It's a good idea to have a little soft canvas or nylon bag that you can offload the gear into once aboard should you need to carryon on your person.

A ScottEvest is a good idea -- I tend to wear what I can on the body including use of belt bags in addition to a carry-on.

Thankfully my belt-bag has always been overlooked. When baggage limits make carrying photography equipment difficult is with small "regional" airlines in more remote areas -- aircraft types often include Cessna Caravans, Shorts 360s, Twin Otters, and Beech King Airs.

These flights are often in more remote areas where airports are often basic airstrips, sometimes unpaved (or poorly paved), and carry-on limits as low as 10 lbs are the norm.

Checked baggage allowances vary depending on aircraft type - sometimes as low as 1 bag at 25 lbs.

Ironically, these flights can also be great for Ariel photography, especially on high-wing aircraft like the single engine Cessna Caravan... Twin Otters with large windows are great, as long as the wing mounted props aren't in the way.

Traveling with a lot of camera gear can be a challenge - sometimes it means ditching the DSLR for a high quality point and shoot ... or going with other transport, be it over the road in a 4WD vehicle or via boat / ferry.

I flown SQ between SIN-BKK last year with a lowepro pro roller 1 weight in at 27lb. (2 bodies + 7 lenses + stuff pretty similar setup like McG). No one seems to care.

I usually fly with my Pelican 1510LOC (http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=rangersange09-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001E06VVW), I used to work as a ramp agent, so....


Anyways, the weight of my carry-on alone is too heavy to come with me on SQ!