Camera Carry on luggage

[Hopkid]

Hi people...

I'm going away to Cambodia at the end of the year and wondered whether anyone had any experience with taking their camera equipment as carry on luggage?

Emirates & Air Asia state that the limit for weight is 7kg but my Canon 5D MKii with lens is 5kg by itself and I have other lenses and filters etc that I also keep in that bag! My total weight is closer to double the stated limit.

I really don't want to put any expensive lenses in checked in baggage leaving them open to getting thrown around like rag dolls!!

Can anyone help or advise?

Thanks in advance
Daniel

[RichardTaylor]

I havn't used those two airlines, however I have flown, in Asia, where the carry on limit was 7.5 kg.
I have had bags weighed and have seen bags being weighed again, in the boarding area, after check in.

Unless you are travelling with a partner, who can take some of the load as carry on, you will need to reconsider what gear you are taking and/or put thinks like filters etc in your checked baggage. The other possible alternative is to wear a jacket with big pockets (Domke vest?) so you can put a couple of lenses in the pockets at the airport... I havn't done this..

Also consider the weight of the bag itself. Some of them can be rather heavy.

I normally travel (carry on) with two bodies (5D & 40D) and two lenses (24-105 and a Canon 70-300) + memory cards + one battery charger (including adaptors and cords) + a small hard drive + battery charger for the small hard drive..I use a Lowepro fastpack 200 and it doesn't exceed the 7.5 kg limit. If I had to save a little weight I would leave the
I will have a 35mm F2 as a back lens (in its original box) in my checked baggage along with a backup battery charger.

I think it would be very easy to travel to SE Asia with just one camera and a couple of extra lenses with a 7kg limit.
Foe example
Bag - Lawepro Fastpack 200 - 1.2 kG
5DII body - 810g = 2.1kg total
Canon 24-70 F2.8 ~ 1kg = 3.1 kg.total
Canon 17-40 - 500g = 3.6 kg total
Canon 70-200 F4 L = 705G = 4.3kg total
That still leaves approx 2.7 Kg for batteries, + charger + adaptors + memory cards etc.

If you are on a vacation do you want to be carrying a 14kg camera bag?

[jdepould]

Wait, what? Regional jets in the US have like a 40lb carry-on weight limit. What's so different about Asia?

[RichardTaylor]

When we have flown in the USA we have been amazed at how much stuff passengers are allowed to bring aboard. It appears the US has very generous baggage allowances compared to some other parts of the world..

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

When we have flown in the USA we have been amazed at how much stuff passengers are allowed to bring aboard. It appears the US has very generous baggage allowances compared to some other parts of the world..

Often to the detriment of other passengers. Once had a guy nearly break the overhead bin door because he refused to gate-check (connecting flight). Nearly made everyone else miss their connecting flights because of FAA rules about the overhead bins being secured, even when empty.

Roller carry-on bags drive me nuts. Both of my camera bags fit perfectly on RJ145s and Dash-8s, which is about as small as they get.

[JFeinbergPhotography]

I don't have any lens since I just have a bridge camera, but I usually bring my Macbook, couple of books, my iPad, chargers and some headphones.

If I was in your situation, I would bring 2 lenses (two that I hope to buy once I get a DSLR), a 50mm prime and a 20-300mm lens. Unless I knew where I was going and wanted to bring a telephoto, I would keep it simple.

[Biomech]

I take my camera abroad a lot and ALWAYS take it as carryon luggage. I use a Flipside 200, which isn't the biggest of bags. Emirates are the only way to fly, I don't fly anyone else if I can help it and if you get the chance, get on one of the A380's ... they are awesome.

My main reason for carrying on was that I read the hold temperatures can cause the lenses to crack. Either way, have a word with Emirates, they are great and should be able to accomodate you no problem; great inflight entertainment systems with Emirates too.