35mm / 6x7 medium format film equipment - transport

Hi,

I have 35mm canon equipment - 2 film bodies and 6 lenses with flash, extension tube, ballhead, tripod.

 

I recently bought pentax 67ii along with 3 lenses . I have lowepro computrekker bag. The challenge that I am facing is that I can carry only one system - 35mm or the medium format. It looks like both will occupy the bags just by themselves. In airtravel , only one bag is permitted in handluggage.

 

How do you guys manage?

 

thanks in advance and have a nice one

The current Lowepro offerings-from what I've seen-are pretty well optimized for 35mm and 35mm-like(i.e. DSLR) systems. They made some older bags that had a better interior layout for MF, and would get you some compartments for 35mm also. I regret not buying one that was pretty much externally identical to my Stealth Reporter AW. I have one now whose name escapes me, but I can pack my RB67 system in it pretty well.

This may sound silly, but if ya gotta take just one, close your eyes and pick one and that's it. When I go out shooting for fun, I'll pick one camera and one lens and see what I can do with that. (I assume you are not a pro)

 

One day I might force myself to use a 20mm lens with 35mm, the next maybe a 250 with a 6x6. OK, if I have some serious work to do like my nephew's wedding, that's a different story.

 

If I were you, I'd probably go with the 6x7 simply because it's "new".

 

Otherwise if you want to take it all, get a really sturdy hard case with foam padding and check it (and cross your fingers).

 

Hmm, the last plane trip I took I could have one bag in the overhead and one under the seat.

Edited August 8, 2018 by chuck909

When I travelled by air with a similar amount of gear (Mamiya Universal w/3 lenses and 3 film backs, 2 35 film SLRs and multiple lenses and flash units) I used a Porter Case, which was then legal as a carry on in the US and is a hard shell case with a unique handle design that turns it into a very useable luggage cart on arrival. This isn't a backpack, but it does roll on wheels so it isn't too hard to get around with if you have sidewalks. I would not check cameras and lenses in luggage, no matter how rugged the case. A well padded tripod should work that way, though.

. . . How do you guys manage? [air travel with Camera Gear] . . .

 

When I did most of my travel which required a lot of gear, it used to be easier: nowadays the WEIGHT limit for carry on baggage is enforced by quite a few airlines.

 

My advice is to know your journey's route and then the limits each carrier may enforce, on that route: that means both SIZE (bag dimensions) and WEIGHT for carry on and also the ITEMS which are allowed, i.e. know precisely what "additional items" you are allowed to carry on.

 

Then I suggest that you adjust what camera gear you take to address those limits whilst also addressing your photographic needs.

 

Hard case with wheels (as suggested by AJD) is an option I suggest that you investigate: I have a "Pelican" - another brand - similar product.

 

However, because of the some airlines (I have recently encountered) adhering strictly to the weight criterion I mentioned, I have found stripping down my gear to essentials only is necessary and my Pelican case is becoming quite problematic for “carry on”. Also I don't now have a "professional" need to transport a lot of gear when I fly.

 

I now typically use a Lowepro Sling Shot 202 AW: it is light and also small enough to fit UNDER the seat in front in nearly all airlines and that is just in the case any airline staff declare that the overhead lockers are full. (yep I've seen that done once).

 

My total camera gear and bag weight might exceed the maximum carry on limit, but, I carry "one camera" as "additional" to my "carry-on bag" and that's quite often permitted. Gear such as Tripod, Monopod, are wrapped in clothes in hold luggage, and depending upon weight other non essential stuff like a Speedlight, for example is in the hold luggage. "non-essential" meaning, in the worst case scenario if hold luggage was destroyed or lost, it wouldn't be a real big problem. However a speedlite or similar item in my coat pocket is something I have done, too. If you are travelling with a colleague, friend, partner, etc who trusts, obviously that allows the possibility of other photographic to be carried by them.

 

***

 

My key suggestion is to know exactly the airline rules regarding carry on and then make sure that you can address all those rules by never exceeding the weight, size and number limits: it is a real problem if (as I have witnessed) at the boarding lounge passengers’ carry-on luggage is itemized, measured and weighed – and if found to be in excess, then the balance of power of the negotiation certainly does not lay in the hands of the passenger.

 

Realistically, there are probably not many ‘travel’ circumstances where you really need all your gear, other than the joy and fun of having it all.

 

However a lot can be packed into a small space and if you are carrying it, then it does really require full freight style padded packing.

 

This is my Slingshot and it is not full: one DSLR, Battery Grip; two zoom lenses; three prime lenses; one mirrorless camera; two prime lenses. There’s space for a speedlite, two smaller lenses or tubes, and odds and ends, etc.

 

 

WW

For many US airlines, it is one carry-on sized bag, and one (smaller) personal item. The latter is meant to be a purse or other small bag.

 

Exactly what happens when the catch you with the wrong size item, I don't know.

 

There are some NZ airlines that, as noted above, have strict weight restrictions. Sometimes transfers get around them, if you don't go through the check-in process.

 

Otherwise, travel with someone else, and have him/her take some of the items.

Jetstar (Qantas subsidiary), Air New Zealand and Ryanair are the airlines, most recently (i.e. in 2017 and 2018) when I have observed scales (for weight) and measuring templates for size) at the boarding lounge, whereby each passenger's carry-on has been weighed and some checked for size before boarding.

 

Interestingly, the carry-on weight limit for many airlines is "combined weight" - but I have never had, nor seen, airline employees weigh any other items other than the one "carry on" bag.

 

WW

Yes it was Jetstar that I ran into not so long ago.

 

In my case, they weighed them when checking the checked baggage, and not again at the gate.

I suspect that they wouldn't give us boarding passes without weighing.

(They did let us through slightly over.) I don't remember a tag indicating the weight was checked.

 

If it doesn't look too heavy at the gate, I suspect that they weren't checking them,

but you can't be sure. I think transfers were getting through without being checked.

 

 

Reminds me, Amtrak has a 50 pound weight limit per item for checked and carry on.

Some years ago, my son had a box that was 70 pounds. They wouldn't let him

check it, but they did let him carry it on.

I now have reverted to 35/digital after many years of medium format (645/66/67). In my personal opinion I would stick to medium format as the film size gives far superior results compared to 35mm or digital FX. The only reason I decided to stop medium format was the weight and my advancing years. If you are young and fit stick to medium format. Of course, this reply will bring much dissent:)

 

Another possibility is to invest in a Peli case which are practically indestructible and I think that they are now made in carry on size.

 

On one occasion I put the Peli case in the check in and it came through completely unscathed. However, I did place the Peli case inside a soft larger case to disguise it.

I've had Quantas insist that I divide my bag contents, although they kindly gave me a canvas bag (which less kindly was slippery and fell out of the overhead cabin). Unless I'm travelling "light" with a ShapeShifter, I use a (discontinued) Think Tank Airport Acceleration 2.0 - the current Accelerator is similar but with less front space for laptops. (I've just picked up a larger LowePro bag with more access ports for convenient travel, but it's a bit too big for airlines.) Weight allowance issues are rare, and I fly BA when I can because their carry-on allowance is usually very high. I did come dangerously close to dislocating my right shoulder while shoving my bag into the overhead bin on the most recent trip (I felt it start to separate); I should be more careful. Carefully pretending your bag isn't heavy while within sight of airline crew seems to help, as does being excessively friendly and polite.

 

Those Think Tank bags are deliberately close to the size limit. I travelled with a D850, D810, D90, 200-500 f/5.6, 70-200 f/2.8, 14-24 f/2.8, 24-70 (Tamron) f/2.8, 50 f/1.4, flash, batteries (which you're not allowed to check), grip, grip batteries, a small flash and two portable hard drives. My "personal item" is a laptop bag with three laptops in it (two in the main compartment, a smaller one in the document pocket on the back). My main concern is how any of that would be treated if checked - I travel near the back of aircraft so as to be allowed on before the baggage bins fill up, but on small planes the staff has occasionally tried to insist on checking my bag due to space. Fortunately looking panicked, mentioning the total value of the contents and that it's mostly glass, and begging has so far persuaded them to put it in crew storage for me. The laptop bag goes easily under most seats (though they get kicked a bit); airlines that insist on you putting larger bags under seats don't seem to have worked out that the seat supports and life vests are configured to limit this space unduly.

 

I did once have Quantas try to complain about a bag. I offered to save 4kg by hanging my camera and largest lens around my neck and they let me off (and I have once travelled with a 150-500 and camera hand-held for space, with gifts in the camera bag). Fortunately extreme packing seems to get around the need. Pro tip: Removing tripod feet on the lenses and L plates from the cameras helps. Under duress, also hoods (if you can stop them getting squashed in the suitcase) - but I tend to rely on them for a bit of padding between lenses.

 

I'm inclined to say you might be able to fit both systems in if you're sufficiently creative at squashing, unless the lenses are really huge. The "personal item" can either be your largest camera/lens combination, or you might get away with a toploader or a flattish bag with lenses suitably configured. The old trick was to have a jacket with lots of pockets and fill them with lenses; I've never done that, partly because my lenses are too big, partly because I'm too big if I were asked to fit in a seat with lenses surrounding me, and partly because I overheat in airports even without extra clothing.

 

I absolutely always check tripods (usually diagonally across the suitcase, wrapped in clothing for padding). I've been known to take the expensive head off and put it in the camera bag, though. While I realise you can often get away with it, I kind of assume that at some point a security person is going to wonder whether a 6' extensible bit of carbon fiber with a heavy lump of metal at the end closely resembles a) a baseball bat, and b) a weapon, especially if you have a tripod with spiked feet. The only tripod I've tried to fit in a bag was been a Tamrac ZipShot, but they're smaller than some of my lenses.

 

I also, for what it's worth, don't carry all my gear at once. I used everything I had with me (except the flash), but I've carted a 200 f/2 all the way to Yellowstone on the assumption that I'd need it for low-light shots, and never did. "Just in case" is not your friend. Not that I've ever really learnt about travelling light.

 

If the worst comes to the worst, securely padding some things in your hold baggage my have to happen. It doesn't always have to be dedicated boxes, although they're certainly useful. If you're packing hiking boots, I can vouch for them as a padded and rigid lens case (wedged in with socks and in a plastic bag to avoid them falling out).

 

I've seen people in a queue for budget airlines breaking the wheels off their baggage in order to fit in the strictly-enforced size limit. Other than "don't fly with a budget airline", I've just determined to play it extremely safe in these circumstances.

 

Best of luck.