Traveling to Bali, Gear Questions

[dougolupski]

Hi all,

I am leaving for Bali on Sunday for two weeks and I am bringing a mess of equipment with me. I generally try to carry

all my gear in my carry on but this time I dont think its possible with out braking my back. Below is the list of stuff I

am bringing and would like suggestions of what case to purchase to pack in luggage or if its really even safe. I want

to bring all this as I shoot surf / action sports and alot of travel photos, I am already leaving alot of my really big

lenses at home. I have considered leaving my 400 at home since I am bringing my TC but that lens is a real joy to

shoot with. Any suggestions would be helpful. I think I can get it all into my carry on but it will kill my back.

<BR><BR>

 

1D MKII<BR>

 

40D<BR>

 

70-200 f2.8<BR>

 

400 f5.6<BR>

 

17-40 f4<BR>

 

50 f1.4<BR>

 

1.4x TC<BR>

 

Leica M3 plus film<BR>

 

Holga fish eye with underwater housing

[dallas_bittle]

When I travel internationally and need to bring more gear than I can fit into carry-on (and I make all attempts I can to bring only carry-on as much of the time as I can) I trust nothing other than a Pelican Case. I have the 1610 model and carried a little more than you have listed above to all kinds of places overseas without issue. Its got roller wheels and a retractable handle for ease of wheeling around. The thing holds up so well to travel (abuse).

 

When I was in Asia in 2007, I took a similar case to my Pelican, but a different brand name...was pretty disappointed when the airline snapped off the retractable handle, as carrying a big roller case like that upon the Shinkansen was a PITA...so I recommend getting the Pelican brand name...they are worth the extra bucks. They are designed so well!

 

Enjoy Bali.

[bruce_margolis]

Doug, when I travel I never -- EVER -- put camera bodies or lenses in a checked bag. That is just begging for a problem if it's not there when you arrive. Better to ship your equipment ahead of time. I use a backpack and my gear always goes with me on a plane, even the smaller regional airlines. Never out of my sight.

 

Traveling means compromises. I share your pain about leaving the 400 behind. My compromise here, an 80-400 zoom which is smaller and lighter. Also, I take only one body (and a P&S) but I usually have five lenses. Yeah, it's heavy but it is also safe as long as it stays with me. I have yet to hear that my bag is too heavy and has to be checked and really, you don't have to carry all that gear very far.

 

There are lots of bag choices out there. Pelican is great if you want a hard protective case. Others include Lowepro, ThinkTank, and Tamrac. All of them tell you which bags are airline compatible.

[Ed_Ingold]

Have you ever tried to use a roller on a beach? A gravel path? Cobblestones? Stairs? Think "backpack" for this much gear!

 

I have several backpacks, but those by Thinktank are the best for travel that I have found. The rectangular shape is space efficient and easy to stow on board. Your tripod should go in checked baggage (for a variety of reasons) but keep the head in your carry-on luggage. A shoulder strap makes the tripod easy to carry while keeping your hands free. I usually pack some lightly padded belt pouches for lenses and spare stuff. They flatten out for travel, and work as well a light "day bag". An heavy backpack (you're talking about 40+ pounds) is too much and too bulky for walking about.

 

A 400mm lens seems like a lot, but if you shoot surfers then it might be appropriate. I question carrying the Leica. It is a totally different tool with its own set of accessories and the need to carry film. How would you use it? Shoot everything twice - once digital and once film? (It doesn't work that way - been there, done that.) Any Canon digital body would make more sense as a backup.

 

A Pelican case makes sense for gear you are willing to check in baggage or carry on a Kayak, but is far too bulky and inefficient for casual use. I use a Pelican 1650, Anvil and Lightware cases for traveling with heavy gear, but this really doesn't apply to you.

[dougolupski]

I do have the Think Tank Airport Accelerator. It is the best travel bag I have ever owned hands down. Most of my issue is weight. I have a lot of flights and I know that much gear will kill me, so I am going to look at a Pelican and consider losing the 400 and just using my 70-200 with the TC. I can't leave the leica at home, I'm a leica guy and still love to shoot black and white on 35mm. This isn't my first long travel trip but I have a massed a large collection of equipment since my last vacation plus I need to fill the photo stock in my buisness thats the reason for the bulk of gear. But hey at least I am leaving my 300 2.8 at home:)

[tony novak-clifford]

Based upon your gear list, I don't see any problem with a standard camera bag like LowelPro, etc... I've been carrying the LP

Commercial AW bag and it's light, roomy, fits in the overhead compartments, room for 2+ bodies, 8 or more lenses depending on how

you configure it..., lots of accessories (filters, meter, etc.). A Backpack style bag I find very usefull when travelling by motorbike (the

main form of easy, quick transportation in Bali.As you mention shooting sports and action, I would reconsider leaving those long, fast

lenses behind. Surf breaks like Uluwatu, Kuta Reef, Canguu are quite a ways out and I think you would find those lenses very useful. I

regularly use my 300mm. 2.8. to remain unobtrusive and out of the main action when capturing candid portraits during temple

ceremonies, etc. and for fashion on the beaches is Kuta to Seminyak.

 

More importantly, I think you will find the need for a good driver/fixer to be essential in getting around to places you wish to shoot/visit. I

live in Bali part of the year and have a partner there who can provide you with assistance in that regard. If interested, you can email me

and I will put you in touch with him.

[henkelphoto]

Be aware that recently there have been some problems with customs in Bali. Here is a link to a thread on Wetpixel documenting the problems.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22814

 

Jerry

[dougolupski]

Thanks for the link Jerry. I went through all five pages and at least now I know what to expect. The only problem is now I will be sweating bullets waiting in line so they will think I am guilty of bringing something in any ways. Damned if I do Damned if I dont.

 

If it does happen I will leave the 40D unless the "fee/bribe" is really low.

[glenn_holden]

I know that Bali x-rays luggage bags on the way in. If you have an X on it, you are in trouble. Never had trouble with photo gear however, and I did have a couple of camera bodies, but they were in carry on. I don't think they x-ray your carry on yet, but I could be wrong there.

 

LGH

[tony novak-clifford]

In response to the issue of bringing in gear and dealing with Customs at Ngurah Rai airport... there is no x-ray of carry-on gear upon

arrival. The chalked X marks on luggage upon arrival is simply a pre-screen by visual inspection when you arrive at customs and may or

may not mean that you will be pulled aside a closer look. I travel to Bali several times a year and have been doing so for many years.

Many times my luggage has been marked with the X... only occasionally has it been opened for closer inspection. I was just there in

May. With me was a large Lowell Pro bag with 3 bodies, 8 lenses, accessories, etc. On my entry declaration form, I always list

"commercial photographer" as my occupation and only once have I ever been dragged off to the room, many years ago, for the

"deposit/bribe" thing. In that instance, I was coming in to do an assignment for a hotel and had 6 cases of lighting & grip gear plus a

cooler full of film with me and only a tourist visa on arrival. I was initially asked for a deposit of roughly $1500usd at the time. Because I

was in a hurry and didn't feel like pressing the matter, I negotiated a fee of $75 usd with the officials in the room and was sent on my

way without further hassle.

 

More often the case has been (and this includes my last trip in May) that I am never even given more than a quick look up & down by

customs and sent on my way. Granted, I have a passport full of Indonesian entry/exit stamps and speak the language well enough to

get by passably and I do think this helps. The odd times in recent years when I have been stopped and questioned upon entry has been

simply to inquire if I had "pornography". My other frequent experience when bringing in lots of film has been a request by the inspector

for a roll or two for "good luck" (you will hear this often when negotiating anything in Bali). For that reason, I always carry a couple of

extra outdated rolls of film and gladly hand them over in order to expedite the entry process. As I said before, more often than not, I

pass thru customs without even a cursory glance or inspection.

 

Simply declare on your entry papers that your are visiting for holiday. Customs inspections seem to occur arbitrarily and the deposit

thing seems to have more to do with how the inspector did at last night's cockfight than with anything else. There is corruption and there

are regular attempts to bribe incoming visitors. My best advice is to be polite, smile profusely, but also be firm if you smell something

fishy. At customs and even at the typical "roadblock" scenarios described in that thread at the other website, I always make it a point to

pull out a pen & paper and carefully examine the name badge of the offending officer, making a bit of a show of writing down his name

and badge# or any other visible identification. That usually puts an end to any illegal bribe scenario in a hurry.

 

If you are really concerned about being stopped by customs and having them demand a deposit on your gear, you may wish to consider

purchasing an " ATA Carnet", basically, a passport for your gear. For gear valued up to $50,000usd, the cost of the Carnet is roughly

$230usd. I believe Indonesia has recently begun to accept these documents. Personally, I think you can easily get by without one, but

for your own peace of mind, you might want to consider such a thing. For info about Carnets, how to apply, etc.:

 

http://www.atacarnet.com

[dougolupski]

I have all but my Lomo fisheye with underwater housing in my carry on. I am just going to roll the dice. My 40D is

purely a back up so if it has to stay then it will. If some thing happens to my 1D I will go and negotiate my 40D out of

limbo land. No big deal. I am just worn out at this point. I am done with work for the week but I have to drive three

hours away tomorrow for a three day wedding that ends on sunday afternoon. Then I have to drive three hours back

home to get the bus down to LAX for my flight at 1:00am. Man I cant wait to get there. <BR><BR>

 

Bonus, work just told me that I am going to Romania when I get back. So I was in China a week ago now off to Bali

for two weeks then three days after I get back off to Romania and possibly Russia. Some months it just doesn't stop.

<BR><BR>

Thank you all for all of the help. Final run down of all the camera gear going is as follows.<BR>

1D MKII<BR>

40d<BR>

ef 300 2.8L<BR>

ef 17-40 4L<BR>

ef 70-200 2.8L<BR>

ef 50 1.4<BR>

ef 1.4x TC<BR>

Lomo fisheye w/ underwater housing<BR><BR>

 

The leica didn't make the cut only because of no more space in my carry on. If I happen to find a small Pelican I may

pack it in there then throw it in a suit case. I still cant decide. I love my Leica.<BR><BR>

 

Again Thank you all and I look forward to posting some pics.<BR><BR>