case for international travel

<p>I'm in Texas. Traveling in two months to Australia to shoot wedding. Be the first time I haven't been able to drive to a wedding.</p>

<p>Looking for the right bag to carry my camera and lenses. I'll check my suitcase with my clothes, but I'd prefer not to let the camera bag out of my sight on the trip, so I'm hoping I can carry it on. I'll be traveling fairly light but the key equipement will be: one Sony A99, plus probably three or four primes (28, 35, 50 and 85—nothing real long), and two or three flash units. I don't have a single bag that will hold all this stuff well. Any recommendations? Must be able to carry bag on the plane with me (flying Qantas).</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>p.s. Not sure yet about second camera but it's not an issue for the purpose of this question. </p>

<p>Will, is there any way you can go to a local camera store to check out a few different kinds? It's such a personal matter; what I find useful, you might dislike. I would make sure it can at least hold another body (I'm not going to lecture you about a backup ;-) ), and the lenses/flashes you desire AND be comfortable to wear. Some you wear like a backpack, others are slung over the shoulder. I personally prefer the backpack style with waist and chest straps like those made by Lowepro.</p>

<p>Lowepro makes a nice line of backpacks. I use one, carry it when I still fly sometimes. I would trim the carry list as much as possible, and you are already thinking right on those lines.. lot of work and fuss to carry all that multiple item weight on the back and heft it on board the plane even for peace of mind frame with a wedding at destination, as airlines are fussy in cabin space control as we all know. Call the carrier just for heck of it and find what they will or won't do, am sure you have already looked at configuration of their international aircraft. <br>

So what does Quantas offer in economy or business class nowin way of cabin storage. Business Class ought to be more pliant.... Yep I once got on board with a guitar as well as camera and lenses and they put same it in a locker up front of cabin for me....them was the days long ago for economy fliers..<br>

I trust the hold for cameras if the case is Pelican strong. Else I would send some gear by international carrier. It is a crap shoot but the odds are still favorable. Many pros fly all over the place. Will follow this to hear more myself.</p>

<p>I have several Lowepro bags, cases and backpacks. They are made very well, and well padded. My preference for air travel is a backpack from <a href="http://www.ThinkTankPhoto.com">www.ThinkTankPhoto.com</a>. They are lighter than the corresponding LowePro, and have a rectangular profile which is very space efficient. The perimeter is fairly stiff and keeps its shape regardless of loading. It has three handles, top, side and bottom, for hoisting in and out of the overhead compartment. The straps are not nearly as sophisticated as the hiking LowePros, but good enough for air and public transportion. There's space for a laptop, but I prefer to put that in a separate bag as my "personal" carry-on piece.</p>

<p>It's been a dozen years since I last flew on Qantas, so I just checked. Two two things to watch for: they have a restrictive weight allowance for carry-on, of 15 pounds, and different carry-on size limits on domestic flights. You have to be careful if you have connecting flights within Australia.</p>

<p>The best-padded Lowe-Pro bags, including my Trekker 400 AW backpack (<a href="http://products.lowepro.com/product/Pro-Trekker-400-AW,2166,16.htm"><strong>link</strong></a>), use up too much of your carry-on weight allowance. I also have a Flipside 300, probably not enough capacity for you, but the Lowe-Pro Flipside 500 AW (<a href="http://products.lowepro.com/product/Flipside-500-AW,2294,14.htm"><strong>link</strong></a>) might work. The Flipside has to be loaded and unloaded when off your back--a friend can't help you take something out, and a sneak thief can't rob you.</p>

<p>In shoulder bags, the original Domke F2 (<a href="http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=domke&itemnum=700-02B"><strong>link</strong></a>) offers minimum padding and maximum space. The canvas bags hug your body better and are more comfortable to carry. The ballistic nylon ones are better against rain.<br /> <br />I very much agree with the advice to take all your stuff to a camera store to try their bags. Otherwise, buy from a store that allows returns. It's like fitting clothes.</p>

<p>Have a great trip. U.S. to Australia is terribly long. Noise-cancelling headphones, with or without something to play your own music, make the flight more bearable. If you take them, keep in mind how much space they require in your bag.</p>

<p>If you want the ultimate protection go for a Peli case. They come in a variety of sizes from very large that needs to go into aircraft/ships holds to small cases that can be held in the palm of your hand.</p>

<p>They are used by the military and police for their ruggedness and I have had one for years which has had medium format kit in it. The guarantee is that if you break it they will replace it free.</p>

<p>My own Peli case has thwarted a variety of baggage handlers in Europe for years!</p>

 

<p>If you are asked for the purpose of the visit to Australia, and you say to shoot a wedding, make sure you have a temporary work permit for Australia. <br>

Consult your nearest Australian consular office and ask for advice, or for a permission to do business there. Immigration officers do not have to believe you that you will be shooting the wedding for free.<br>

Make sure you have credit cards and/or money with you to pay for your accomodation and travel during entire time of your visit there.</p>

<p>Frank is correct. A lot of my family live in Sydney and the LA-Sydney leg is 19 hours. But didn't they change to a Texas end point now? Sydney to London is 23 hrs for them. They are used to long flights.<br>

Check the Qantas website for baggage allowances. Yes, you do have to prove that you have money to support your trip. Take a recent credit/debit card paper statement with you and the phone number and address of where you are staying.<br>

As to the relevant visa...think what it's like for foreigners coming into the US. Its the same drama there if you mention you are going to "work". If you check the wrong box on your immigration card its a $300 fine, plus mention your work plans and you are if you are on a tourist visa you won't even get out of immigration. You might even be a new star on the next episode of Border Security.<br>

In fact you might even get you at check in. My advice is to fess up before you go. Australians are pretty laid back. Its not like you are taking a job away from an Australian resident. That's how they look at it.</p>

<p>Have a nice trip</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for the recommendations, and also for the excellent travel advice!</p>

<p>I've been looking at the various bags. The Pelican looks indestructible, but I don't really need indestructibility. If the plane crashes, I won't care what happens to the cameras. The Pelican is also pretty heavy (like 7 lbs) and Qantas's rules limit the weight of a carry-on to 15lbs. Don't think that would work. </p>

<p>So I'm looking at less sturdy alternatives, including the ones from Think Tank, LowePro, Tamrac and Crumpler. Not sure I'm hip enough (or young enough) for a Crumpler bag. The ThinkTank cases look good. Yes, I can get to the local best camera store (here in Dallas that's Competitive Camera) and see what they've got in stock; they have a pretty good selection of bags. But before I go I think I'm going to make some decisions about what I'm bringing exactly, and see what it all weighs. I'm still open to suggestions, of course! But I'll try to remember, when I make a decision, to close this thread by reporting back what I got.</p>

<p>As for the travel advice, I'm grateful for it. Never been to Australia. I think it will be fair and honest for me to declare that my purpose for traveling is to attend a wedding and do a little tourism. The bride is a relative. I am (also) looking forward to shooting some little wallabys and echidnas and other Ozian critters, and will hit tourist destinations in Sydney if I have time.</p>

<p>I'll fly from Dallas non-stop to Brisbane (16 hrs) then continue to Sydney (1.5 more hours), my destination. Coming back, it's direct from Sydney to Dallas and shorter. Very weird that, in clock and calendar terms, it takes me two days to get there, and virtually no time at all to get back! </p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>ThinkTank packs are fine products. Keep in mind that TT makes "bags with straps", not real backpacks, but the straps are OK for carrying it short distances during travel. And where it comes to design and construction TT bags are really good! I use Airport Ultralight 2.5 and Airport Acceleration 2.0 (both discontinued but I bet TT makes close replacements.) The Ultralight can take 2 Canon 1D size bodies, 3-4 lenses and assorted junk. The Acceleration can take much more, in fact I can stuff with with 50 lbs of junk (400/2.8 + lots of other junk!) Plus there is an external poket for a laptop. All TT packs are very flat (not much higher than a pro-size body) and fit very well in overhead or under the seat (yep, even on small CRJs under the seat) on every plane I have flown except the smallest Embreaer. <br>

Another TT bag, shoulder-type, that can take a lot of junk is Urban Disguise: I use model 60 for 1-2 bodies, 2 flasheads, 3-4 lenses, a laptop, cables and assorted junk. It does get a bit heavy though :-)</p>

<p>Make sure that you are flying Qantas and not on their crap-subsidiary Jet Star: I never had any issues with my photo cases on Qantas but on Jet Star one can apparently only bring on board a post-stamp sized carry on, 2 ozs or less...</p>

<p>Hi Will........... I've "speed-read" the replies to your questions and there is some sound advice there.............<br>

I last travelled from Aus to the outside world and back, in 2008 and yes, things will, and do, change.........<br>

So, if my primary goal is to shoot a wedding.... what will I need on the day, and how will i get it there....... well done, good questions.<br>

I would select a bag that I can use at the wedding.... it will carry all my gear.<br>

I would consider what needs to go with me in the cabin, and what can go in the hold. For me it would be the camera bodies and prime expensive lenses in the cabin and all the rest in the hold.<br>

I have noticed that the airports that i went through all had a "shrink-wrap" facility whereby ones suitcases can be totally encased in plastic film to prevent theft of items from it. what also happens, as a bi-product is that all those type-suitcases get loaded together in the aircraft for additional protection....... use it for your surplus photography equipment.<br>

Maybe I have been lucky......... but in all my worldly travels, I have yet to lose anything through an airline. Insure your gear and go for it.<br>

Australia is awesome........... just don't get arrested for filmimg bikini-clad nubiles on our beaches......... our "nanny" type country takes a dim view of "stalkers"... as we are seen to be (smiles)...... oh!, said in jest yet with reality around the corner.......<br>

Have a great time over here.<br>

Regards </p>

<p>THANK YOU to all who responded and thanks also for the extra travel advice. I looked at LOTS of bags, in person (at our local Competitive Camera store here in Dallas which has a good selection, although it doesn't carry Crumpler) and online. </p>

<p>In the end I decided to get the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home. It's very lightweight, stylish (I decided I <em>am</em> cool enough for a Crumpler bag), doesn't look like a camera bag, and not least seems pretty well padded. It's certainly not bulletproof and I will make an effort NOT to drop it from six feet off the ground. But I think it will take the knocking around that will be inevitable getting on and off the plane and through security and customs and that's about all I think I'll need. And the form factor is such that it's really a very good bag for carrying gear around, to gigs here in the States, on vacation, just driving around. I dig the bag. (Do the young people still say "dig"?)</p>

<p>iPhone pic below shows (badly shows) the bag packed with my Sony A99, four primes and one flash. There's more room but I think I'm close to packed here. Total weight: about 10lbs. I can throw a couple more batteries in there for the camera, maybe another flash.</p>

<p>I've got a useful but fairly lightweight Benro MeFoto "Transfunctional" Tripod coming tomorrow but I think I'll pack it in my luggage. I'm still not sure what I'll do with my iPad or Macbook Air. Perhaps I can carry them on in a second smaller bag that I'll designate as my man-purse? </p>

<p>Thanks again,</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dm-gODUseok/USZ2p59BaMI/AAAAAAAAFBc/EWhZGBKRDcY/s684/Crumpler.jpg" alt="" /></p>