Travel Photography - How to carry all your camera equipments

Emirates airlines have ridiculously stingy carryon policy. It restricts carryon weighing over 15lbs. My camera equipment alone weighs more than that, that's not even counting the weight of hand luggage. I can't risk checking in equipments that cost over $15k. Any suggestions.

Thanks

Umm. Don't fly Emirates?

or carry less equipment. Do you really NEED all of the stuff you want to take? Every year I find myself leaving out more and more things when I am packing. Get it down to the bare essentials.

or carry less equipment. Do you really NEED all of the stuff you want to take? Every year I find myself leaving out more and more things when I am packing. Get it down to the bare essentials.
Unfortunately, it's an assignment shoot for African safari

2 pro bodies, 70-200, 12-24, 500f4, laptop. That is all in the carryon. 500f4 is essential and weighs over 8lbs. They are essential equipment for safari.

I just returned from a shoot in Japan. My choice for that route is J on NH but because of the weight of my gear in carry-on, I flew C on UA, which has a very generous carry-on policy. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for our art. ;)

Seriously, you might call the airline and inquire if they have an exception policy for photo equipment. Most airlines have in their policies a requirement that high value electronics may not travel in checked baggage. The only other option may be to ship your gear ahead to your hotel.

I just returned from a shoot in Japan. My choice for that route is J on NH but because of the weight of my gear in carry-on, I flew C on UA, which has a very generous carry-on policy. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for our art. ;)

Seriously, you might call the airline and inquire if they have an exception policy for photo equipment. Most airlines have in their policies a requirement that high value electronics may not travel in checked baggage. The only other option may be to ship your gear ahead to your hotel.

I would also look into whether you can book an extra seat for the camera equipment. I doubt the weight limit would apply in that case.

For a paid, professional assignment, the cost of proper packaging, insured shipping, etc., should be part of the cost/payment, IMHO. You may or may not get by with it (I had a decent sized pack on Emirates recently, but was flying Business and the 380's have lots of space), but that shouldn't be something to take a chance with when it comes to a paid assignment.

I'd assume you won't be able to take it on board and make other arrangements in advance - perhaps insured FedEx delivery.

If you need to carry gear for "work/business" then you have to investigate/fly with airlines that has a more liberal carry on policy.

I fly DL BE class and has never had any issue with my TWO pelican 1514's and a personal bag with computer and smaller accessories which is pushing the limit of the size of the personal bag. This applies to partner airlines as well: AF/KL/KE/AZ/VN/CI/MU/CZ/KQ.

Safari flight with gear experience: I did not have any issue with my 600/4 plus tripod in one case, a loaded 1514 and the computer bag flying DL/KL/KQ flying in BE.

In other posts/threads, people suggested wearing a multiple-pocketed vest and stick some of your lenses in it. Leave tripod in checked-in luggage

If you are allowed a "personal item" as well as a carry-on then take a laptop bag. You should be able to find one big enough to fit at least one of the bodies (with no lens attached) as well as a laptop.

If you need to have them all in the same bag then take the battery out of the laptop and put it and all the cables for the laptop in checked luggage. You can also do the same for your camera bodies (although I'd put the batteries in your pockets - whilst you could probably live without a laptop battery and survive on AC in the worst case, losing camera batteries means you need to find somewhere to buy new ones). Take filters off the ends of your lenses and check those if you use them.

Make sure you also have a light bag - Peli cases are way too much for this. The Think Tank backpack-style bags are quite light and still provide good protection - I have the Airport Acceleration v2.0 which will definitely fit all of your gear (I've managed to fit 2 bodies plus grips, a 70-200, 100-400, 500/4, 1.4x TC, 3 other lenses, flash, 10x30 binoculars plus batteries, memory cards and other assorted bits and pieces in mine before) but measure carefully and see if you could use a smaller one. The 500/4 will be the driver here though - they are pretty long beasts. Gura Gear also gets good reviews but I've not used them. Remember to remove/check as many of the straps from your bag as possible too.

If you want to save even more weight you could try a non-padded bag and wear a thickish coat in which to wrap the bag when you put it in the overhead.

I would also consider leaving the hood for the 500/4 at home (or alternatively putting it in a checked bag) - at least on the Canon version it weighs more than you'd think and it also adds quite a bit of bulk so without it you might be able to get away with a smaller bag.

Also think about what size laptop you need if you have the money to replace it. Although not ideal, a 12" or 13" screen is *much* lighter than a larger one and you can get laptops in this size which still have enough grunt to run Lightroom/Photoshop reasonably well. Something like the Lenovo X220 should work.

Finally, if all else fails, find out if you can get insurance to cover the equipment if you do check it in - I have a policy which covers this although I don't really like to rely on it. If you do check your luggage in, then obviously make sure it's in a Peli case or similar. Also consider using the luggage wrapping services - it won't stop a determined thief (who will probably just take the whole bag) but the added hassle of opening your luggage for them hopefully stops some of the more casual operators out there.

If you are allowed a "personal item" as well as a carry-on then take a laptop bag. You should be able to find one big enough to fit at least one of the bodies (with no lens attached) as well as a laptop.

If you need to have them all in the same bag then take the battery out of the laptop and put it and all the cables for the laptop in checked luggage. You can also do the same for your camera bodies (although I'd put the batteries in your pockets - whilst you could probably live without a laptop battery and survive on AC in the worst case, losing camera batteries means you need to find somewhere to buy new ones). Take filters off the ends of your lenses and check those if you use them.

Make sure you also have a light bag - Peli cases are way too much for this. The Think Tank backpack-style bags are quite light and still provide good protection - I have the Airport Acceleration v2.0 which will definitely fit all of your gear (I've managed to fit 2 bodies plus grips, a 70-200, 100-400, 500/4, 1.4x TC, 3 other lenses, flash, 10x30 binoculars plus batteries, memory cards and other assorted bits and pieces in mine before) but measure carefully and see if you could use a smaller one. The 500/4 will be the driver here though - they are pretty long beasts. Gura Gear also gets good reviews but I've not used them. Remember to remove/check as many of the straps from your bag as possible too.

If you want to save even more weight you could try a non-padded bag and wear a thickish coat in which to wrap the bag when you put it in the overhead.

I would also consider leaving the hood for the 500/4 at home (or alternatively putting it in a checked bag) - at least on the Canon version it weighs more than you'd think and it also adds quite a bit of bulk so without it you might be able to get away with a smaller bag.

Also think about what size laptop you need if you have the money to replace it. Although not ideal, a 12" or 13" screen is *much* lighter than a larger one and you can get laptops in this size which still have enough grunt to run Lightroom/Photoshop reasonably well. Something like the Lenovo X220 should work.

Finally, if all else fails, find out if you can get insurance to cover the equipment if you do check it in - I have a policy which covers this although I don't really like to rely on it. If you do check your luggage in, then obviously make sure it's in a Peli case or similar. Also consider using the luggage wrapping services - it won't stop a determined thief (who will probably just take the whole bag) but the added hassle of opening your luggage for them hopefully stops some of the more casual operators out there.
Thanks, very very helpful.

Have you tried to see if you could rent some of the equipment wherever your heading? I might be able to help if its in East Africa..

Unfortunately, it's an assignment shoot for African safari

2 pro bodies, 70-200, 12-24, 500f4, laptop. That is all in the carryon. 500f4 is essential and weighs over 8lbs. They are essential equipment for safari.

What happens to the weight if (as others have suggested) you put everything such as straps, lens paper, lens brushes etc. in a checked bag and wear one of the bodies with the 70-200 around your neck until you're on the plane?

Bob H

I flew EK from LAX to DXB in Jan and then DXB to SEA in March (inaugural flight!)

I don't have as much gear as you, but I have a medium-sized Tenba messenger bag with my body, three lenses, miscellaneous accessories, a notebook computer, headphones, and a few travel items. I also brought a small duffel bag with regular carry-on stuff (a change of clothes, etc.)

These boarded fine and didn't get so much as a crooked glance from EK staff on either flight.

I simply have all my camera equipments in my phone. :D

I simply have all my camera equipments in my phone. :D

I guess you have never had a paid intl assignment.

I think you can fit all that in a gura gear 22L. As for the weight, are you sure they will weight your backpack? Are you traveling alone? Everytime i saw weighting carry on items, i leave the item with someone else while check in so they doesn't see it and then they don't weight in the gate.

It might be worth checking with the airline, several photographers covering the F1 championship regularly fly with Emirates and dont seem to have any issues carrying all their equipment.