Holidays, Airports and Camera Kit

[Biomech]

Morning all

I'll be taking a few holidays this year and I was looking for some advice on transport etc.
I've just bought an alpha200 with 2 lenses, flash etc. I'm planning to take it on holiday (UK->Spain and UK->Cuba) with me but have never done so before.

Reading around, alot of people carry it on the plane with them. My girlfriend has said that she had a compact in the luggage hold and the lens had cracked due to the low temperatures. My kit has cost me around £650 - which, where I'm at now, is alot of money. I'll also be looking at taking a small HD camcorder (Sony SR7) that was £800.

I'm wondering what the best way to transport these would be? I'm currently planning on taking as mush as possible in a sony LCSX30 case with a tripod or mini tripod in my main luggage.

What sort of things get checked? Do they start pulling the lens caps off the lenses and poking around etc? Does all travel insurance cover camera kit? Carry on or store in luggage? etc etc, all the usual questions I guess. Oh and general safety tips abroad, everywhere I've been that have had security boxes, I really couldnt imagine my camera kit fitting into.

Thanks in advance

Bio

[sk66]

Carry on....I'd probably skip the tripod.
Security? You take your chances...get insurance. I don't "think" travel insurance generally covers camera gear, but you can get it added....

[dcclark]

I've taken my D40 and lenses in carryon more than once. I've never had any problems with it. The tripod should almost certainly be checked, or perhaps not taken at all (unless you REALLY need one). But as far as carryon goes, don't worry -- I've never even had anyone look twice at the camera.

[inkista]

Carry-on. And if you have to check it, get a Pelican case. Some folks will further recommend shoving the Pelican inside something more non-descript, like a duffel, so it doesn't scream "camera equipment" at the luggage claim.

[fletch]

I've taken mine a few times and they have never even taken it out of the bag. Cameras obviously don't look like bombs when they are x-rayed! You wouldn't check it if you have ever seen them loading the bags onto the planes, they don't nickname baggage handlers "chuckers" for no reason!

[jdepould]

Tripod has to get checked, counts as a "club-like object." I'd strongly recommend taking the actual gear as carry-on.

[nowonder]

I love my pelican case for traveling with equipment... In fact, just ordered a bigger one.

Even with the Pelican, NEVER check anything of value, at least when traveling in the States. Here you aren't allowed to have a secure lock on the luggage, since the TSA inspects the bags, leaving your valuables free for the taking to an unscrupulous airline employee.

The pelican is really good for keeping all your equipment well organized, so going through x-ray is a breeze.

--nw

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by nowonder

Even with the Pelican, NEVER check anything of value, at least when traveling in the States. Here you aren't allowed to have a secure lock on the luggage, since the TSA inspects the bags, leaving your valuables free for the taking to an unscrupulous airline employee.

There are TSA approved locks that they can open with a universal super-key, and they show whether theyve been opened or not.

Ive taken all my gear on my carry-on several times. It takes some interesting packing, but it works. The most scrutiny Ive gotten was an explosives test, in which they swab the object with a cloth and test for explosives. Assuming you havent been near any substantial fireworks, explosives or combustibles, you'll be fine.

[MoggyLXIX]

I just returned from South Africa and took my camera (D60) as carry on. Never tried my tripod as it was already packed in my luggage (..I took quite a large suitcase.)

[Grumby]

I'd say take as much of the valuable (and delicate) stuff as possible in carry-on luggage - body and lenses at absolute minimum. Then charger, spare batteries, cables, flash, and stuff can go in your main luggage if you have limited space/weight allowance for carry-on. If you can get the body and lenses into a relatively compact camera bag, you can usually get away with keeping that seperate from your main carry-on luggage - most airlines allow a main carry-on piece (which has the size and weight restrictions) but also allow a second piece (such as a laptop bag, camera case, and so on) just as long as it isn't huge and/or heavy.