Air Travel

I'm going to LA via Continental (from NYC) next month and I want to bring my

8x10 Deardorff; and also my Pentax 67. I carrying the Deardorff in an f64

backpack; the Pentax has its own backpack.

 

Is it utterly idiotic to put the Deardorff and Pentax in a Pelican box (a box

of very hard plastic with foam inside to prevent damage from shocks); or

should I carry them on the plane. I assume the f64 is small enough to

(23x14x7) to be a carry on.

 

I can check in the tripods.

 

 

RON

Be sure to check the airline's rules on their web site.

 

You are probably OK for one but both may be a bit dicey.

BETTER TO CARRY THEM WITH YOU. You can put the 6x7 on a strap around your neck and extra lenses in pockets and thus be taking only one bag. Better check the permissable size in advance. A checked Dorff in an f64 is doomed.

The airlines will not cover loss or damage to camera gear. Best bet is to carry it on. An alternative is to ship it ahead via FedEx or UPS.

I just returned from Florida, I carried a 4x5 on the plane no problem and loaded a large

suitcase with tripod background etc. I also paid to have an extra bag that being

background stands $10.00. They made me xray the large format film, hate doing that. I

have not developed it yet, pray it is ok.. background stands minor damage to one of the

knobs. Hope this helps a bit.

I've been hearing of some photographers packing a handful of bullets or a starter's pistol in with the rest of their gear. Then the TSA requires that the case be locked and checked, and there is a paper trail, so you know who is responsible for it at every step of the way. Unfortunately , in NYC checking a gun in your luggage is problematic.

Actually, I have a Pelican waterproof case with form which might protect the Deardorff; I've used it to carry the camera (by car); it's a very strong box with locks, like one of the boxes you can carry guns in (fitted in foam which can be cut to hold items, like the Deardorff). I would not check the F64 in; only carry on, assuming it can meet the size requirements.

hugh: About the tsa checking and locking the bag: Suppose I request a manual search of the case while I watch...what about that?

Hi Ronald

 

My advice? Take the G/G of the Deardorff, wrap it in the dark cloth, make sure the lenses

are either in individual lens wraps or in the foam of a Pelican case and just 'check it'. I fly

about two weeks of every month, usually with at least 10 big/heavy cases. I carry on only

two cases (actually three-one's a small briefcase)-a small rolling luggage case with a

LowePro backpack inside that, it holds my SpeedGraphic and irreplaceable collection of

'fast glass' and the other is a case full of film. I was in Tahiti last month-all checked bags

got there fine. Do NOT let them xray your film, be kind & patient & polite and leave a LOT

of time. And as for the legs, Tenba makes a VERY nice and strong triangular case that I use

to pack and fly my tripods, and a full scrim set up. Nothing has ever gotten broken, or

damaged. I firmly believe that packing wisely and leaving enough time alleviates many

headaches.

 

Cheers

 

Robb Scharetg

www.scharetgpictures.com

if you have enough time, sendingthe 8x10 by mail is your best bet. you can insure it for loss and damage. when i went to utah last sept. i sent my 4x5 and 8x10 ahead by mail, and i carried my RB and LF lenses onboard with me. no problems at all.

 

eddie

In some bizarre logic, the TSA won't let you lock the case because that would prevent them from checking it for weapons, but if there is a weapon in the case they make you lock it.

 

take a look here

 

http://blogs.lexar.com/mattbrandon/2006/08/tighter_securit.html

First of all, THANKS!! to all for this. All this is very helpful to me. About the film: I'm not travelling with it. I'm going to have some film send from a store in LA to where I'm going. I'm bringing changing bags, of course. And when I'm done, I'm going to fedex the film back home. Fedex told me (and a photographer I take classes from also told me) Fedex does not xray.

 

I'm heartened by the account of Mr. Scharetg, who flies a lot. I'll look for that tenba bag at B&H. The problem with the tripod is that it is large, about 36inches. I'm carrying a spare ground glass with me.

 

What I'm hoping for from TSA is that they will let me watch when they examine that case; I'm concerned that they would try to force open the camera.

 

As for locking the case, I have those TSA locks which I can lock and so can the TSA.

 

I can't mail the stuff because I'm staying with my aunt in the desert and she's 97, so I definitely don't want a huge package to arrive at her door.

 

I definitely appreciate the comments here.

 

Ron

I flew to San Jose with my 4x5 last month. I had the camera, lenses, holders and meter in a LowePro Trekker backpack, and I carried an old Compaq computer case along as a briefcase to hold film, loading back, a Nikon FM-2, paperback book, etc. Checked the tripod in a Slik canvas tripod bag.

 

No problems at all. TSA security on the outbound leg did a wipe-test on the backpack, and also opened the tripod bag for inspection. But then I was flying out of Albany where they might see a LF camera once every two or three years. On the return trip from San Jose the inspectors didn't even blink when they saw the LF stuff.

 

I chose to not worry about x-ray (for the carry-on stuff). Recent scientific studies have shown that if the number of passes through the x-ray is limited the effect won't be noticeable, and my experience reaffirms that conclusion. And if you are going through airports where photographic equipment is rarely seen, asking for hand inspections could create more problems that its worth. I did have a changing bag (in the Compaq case), both for insurance in case the inspectors insisted on opening film boxes, and to have a backup in case it wasn't possible to darken the bathroom in the hotel in California.

If this were a 4x5, I would definitely take it on the plane, but being an 8x10, the problems are greater. Also, I'm not taking film with me; that is being handled by FedEx (which doesn't xray). That being said, I've never had a problem with TSA; they've always hand swiped the film and have been relatively pleasant about it. Of course, my number will eventually come up.

Shipping your expensive stuff in advance is a good idea (be sure it's well insured of course), and to ensure that you aren't challenged for having too big a camera bag when carrying it on, be sure to also check some luggage-- they REALLY hate to have to unload it. There are nice big places in First Class to store stuff if the Pilots really want.... :-)