Taking a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM in hand luggage?
 

Hi

I am looking to purchase a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM (Google if you don't know what it is!).

This lens is huge and would take up most of my hand luggage allowance, so I was wondering if I would have any issues with customs etc going from LHR to AUH and returning back to LHR from DXB?

I'm no journalist etc, just someone travelling for the F1 and a keen photographer :)

Thanks

I'm sure that baggage claim and the TSA would treat it very nicely. :eek: At least until they had fenced it.

Welcome to why I switched from DSLRs (in my case, Nikons) to Micro 4/3

Your chances of it being lost are probably lower than with most other luggage types. I'd use the appropriate locks, include ID inside the case, record the serial number, possibly engrave ID info on the lens, and maybe even use one of the new tracking devices.

Professional photogs ship these, plus 500, 600, 800's everywhere they travel. If you can afford the lens, I suspect you can afford insurance on it.

TSA won't touch it in LHR, AUH or DBX.

How's shooting F1 with a Micro 4/3 system? :rolleyes:

I haven't done it, but other folks have had some success doing so:

http://www.mu-43.com/threads/79609/

The question seems to be about carrying on this lens, not checking it. I think you'd be fine as long as you also carry the original receipt for the lens.

It shouldn't be any different than traveling with any other expensive electronics. I take my m43 kit in my carry on bag all the time without any issues (and my Nikon gear before I switched over). They may want to inspect it a little closer depending on how it shows up on the xray. But they see this sort of stuff every day at checkpoints. I agree that taking the original receipt might be a good idea just for customs purposes in case you get pulled over for customs inspection. But then again I've never had any trouble at customs with all of my camera equipment.

For customs - keep the receipt.

For continued joy of using the glass - keep it in you hand luggage!

Thanks all!

And yes, as the title says, it'd be in hand luggage. Would not risk putting it in the hold!

Good idea about the invoice too.