joseph_iannazzone

As a non-professional who travels and photographs for pleasure, I purposefully limit my essential carry-on bag to one that will fit under the seat. I have usually been fortunate enough to get overhead space for my clothing as well.

If you will have the camera in a bag of some sort you can toss in a hand warmer to keep it going longer in the cold.

I have flown, within the US, with a compact tripod inside my roll-aboard luggage. Never had a problem with TSA.

Let me through a curve here. I've been a Nikon shooter since that late 1980's, moving from a Nikkormat EL, F3, D70, D7000, D3200 (as a backup). I recently added a Fuji X-T1 to my collection and have enjoyed it. I think that or any of the other Fuji X-T series would be an easier transition from an F2. They use traditional shutter speed and aperture controls. Cheap adapters are available for your existing Nikon lenses.

Beaufort, SC - nice, southern architecture Hunting Island State Park - light house and beach

If I am taking only a body and a couple of lenses, I will just carry my gear in a shoulder bag, usually a Domke f-3X or F-803. For more gear, I use an older Lowepro Mini-Trekker backpack that is small enough to fit under every seat I have encountered. The shoulder bag gets either folded flat or stuffed with clothing and goes into my regular luggage, often with a smaller tripod as well.

I am a DX shooter and unlikely to move to FX based on size and weight. My current main lenses are Tokina 12-24, Nikon 16-85VR, Nikon 70-300VR, and Nikon 35/1.8. I would be happy to replace the zooms in my regular kit with a 16mm, 35mm, 70mm, and 135mm. That would replicate the focal lengths I carried with my film kit (24, 50, 105, 200).

I have TSA PreCheck and have yet to be subjected to a hand inspection of my camera gear. As for gate checking luggage, I limit my camera bag to one that will fit under the seat in front of me. My wife says I am a little bit compulsive. I take a tape measure with my when buying luggage to make sure it fits airline carry-on requirements. Some manufacturers do not include wheels and handles in their published dimensions.

Hi Bill, I purchased a Mefoto Roadtrip for air travel a few years ago. It reverse folds and fits easily in a carry-on bag. It comes with an arca swiss compatible ball head that handles my D7000 with 16-85 lens well. The 70-300 pushes the limits. I think it would be more than sturdy enough for your Fuji X100 or an XT1 with primes. There are a number of similar tripods sold under different names. Look up and down the product lines to find the best balance of size, weight capacity, and cost. One advantage is that they are relatively inexpensive in the event of salt water corrosion. Joe

I've never seen nylon or any other synthetic come apart like that without major UV exposure of small animal intervention. My guess is that you had the latter.

I use the same set up as Anthony when I use my Black Rapid strap. However, I prefer a neck strap carried over one shoulder with the lens pointed in (suggested by Joe McNally). It is not a quick to pull up and shoot but feels more secure to me.

As of now, lithium batteries must be carried on; they cannot be placed in checked baggage. I have never had an issue flying inside or outside the US if I follow that policy. I have heard that in some places, the batteries must be packaged so that the contacts cannot short against another battery or other object. Here is an explanation of current rules directly from the TSA website. If you are concerned about it, you may want to print the page and take it with you. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf Batteries Allowed in Carry-on Bags: Dry cell alkaline batteries; typical AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button sized cells, etc. Dry cell rechargeable batteries such as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad). Lithium ion batteries (a.k.a.: rechargeable lithium, lithium polymer, LIPO, secondary lithium). Consumer-sized lithium ion batteries [no more than 8 grams of equivalent lithium content or 100 watt hours (wh) per battery]. This size covers AA, AAA, 9-volt, cell phone, PDA, camera, camcorder, Gameboy, and standard laptop computer batteries. Up to two larger lithium ion batteries (more than 8 grams, up to 25 grams of equivalent lithium content per battery) in their carry-on. This size covers larger extended-life laptop batteries. Most consumer lithium ion batteries are below this size. Lithium metal batteries (a.k.a.: non-rechargeable lithium, primary lithium). These batteries are often used with cameras and other small personal electronics. Consumer-sized batteries (up to 2 grams of lithium per battery) may be carried. This includes all the typical non-rechargeable batteries for personal film cameras and digital cameras (AA, AAA, 123, CR123A, CR1, CR2, CRV3, CR22, 2CR5, etc.) as well as the flat round lithium button cells. Batteries Allowed in Checked Bags: Except for spare (uninstalled) lithium batteries, all the batteries allowed in carry-on baggage are also allowed in checked baggage; however, we recommend that you pack them in your carry-on bag whenever possible. In the cabin, airline flight crews can better monitor conditions, and have access to the batteries or device if a fire does occur. Prohibited Batteries: Car batteries, wet batteries, or spillable batteries are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage unless they are being used to power a scooter or wheelchair. If you need to pack a spare battery for a scooter or wheelchair, you must advise the aircraft operator so that the battery can be properly packaged for air travel. Spare lithium batteries (both lithium metal and lithium ion/polymer) are prohibited in checked baggage. Packing Tips for Batteries: If you’re traveling with spare batteries in addition to the ones inside your devices, consider placing each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag, or package, or place tape across the battery's contacts to isolate terminals. Isolating terminals prevents hazards due to short-circuiting. If you must carry a battery-powered device in any baggage, please package it so it won’t accidentally turn on during the flight. If there is an on-off switch or a safety switch, tape it in the "off" position. Check out the Department of Transportation’s spare battery tips page for more information on safely packing spare batteries, and this FAA webpage for more information on permitted and permitted batteries that includes helpful photos. Battery Chargers: You can pack battery chargers in carry-on and checked bags. If the charger has an electrical cord, be sure to wrap it tightly around the charger. Don’t pack regular batteries in a rechargeable battery charger. Non-rechargeable batteries are not designed for recharging, and become hazardous if placed in a battery charger.

Look at Op-tech straps.

<p>I use a Domke strap. I like the strap but worried that the metal QR clips would scratch something on my cameras. I had the clips removed so it is no longer detachable. I sometimes use an Op-tech strap. I like the QR feature but not the bulky neoprene strap. Are any manufacturers listening?</p>

I use a Lowepro Toploader clipped to the backpack shoulder harness. That keeps the weight off my neck.