speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I always do both, take one on the plane and another one with cameras and lenses into he luggage, never experienced any issues!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I would never put my camera and lenses on a plane as checked baggage. My wife is the owner of her own travel agency and we sometimes travel for business. I end up being the photographer for resort properties and their rooms. The number of times we have opened our luggage and been met with the TSA paper flier stating the bags were opened and inspected. And if the lock cannot be opened (non TSA approved), they just cut it off (and no compensation for the lock). All it takes is one dishonest person and your camera equipment is gone. And there are horror stories about baggage being totally damaged. We've have even seen the torn open bags and all the bags contents delivered in a few garbage bags. You can do whatever you want, but for me, I will never put the camera and lenses under the plane. And that is why I brought my 4/3rds system. My camera, three lenses, and flash not only meet the carry-on requirements, but they meet the smaller personal carry-on requirements.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Some time ago I bought a backpack for this purpose. In addition to your carry-on luggage you are allowed a "personal" item of limited size so I made sure the back-pack was within that size limit. It's small but it can hold my A6000, three lenses, a 10" tablet and a few personal items I particularly don't want to lose or that I might need while traveling. I carry this on-board with me and don't let it out of my sight.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, put anything of value in your luggage. PERIOD.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Ditto.

Roger Lee

I’ve shot alongside many big and well known photographic names, both paid and unpaid. Regularly I am still in contact with most of these people. All they are, are what I will call my mentors as they have had a positive influence in my photographic endeavors. I should mention that nobility and fame are two things that won’t and don’t influence my photography, personal satisfactions and personal challenges do. Thus a claim to fame yearning is not consequential with what I do.



Joel Sartore, a respected and famous photographer best known for his National Geographic and Photo Arc work is perhaps #1 in molding my direction and desired output in photography. He has casually mentioned many antidotes and all are very good but one has stuck in my head and in turn has become a useful resource.



His traveling hints and experience have probably provided me with more resource than I had ever wanted or needed, yet very useful.



I’ve experienced many personal carryon nightmares, from 7kg carryon restrictions in Dubai, Abu Dabi, UAE. Mosul, Baghdad, Kabul along with many more. His insights and generous hints along with the shared experiences have helped me immensely.



Here is a quick quote from a webpage of his, hopefully this will be useful to some.



http://www.joelsartore.com/about-joel/common-questions/camera-equipment/



“I always carry more than one camera body, more than one lens, more than one battery and more than one charger. It
makes for a lot of extra baggage, but better that than a missed opportunity. When traveling by air, I take the minimum I
need to hit the ground and start shooting in a carryon.
That way if my checked baggage is lost, I can still accomplish the
mission.”



I should mention also that during a long lens class that he was sharing, he mentioned the difficulty of transporting gear on the local commuter jets (his local airport in Lincoln, NE only has small jets), as he has experienced a lack of overhead compartment space for his gear. Rather than risk checking in the expensive camera gear in, as his backpack wouldn’t fit, he has repeatedly carried his gear in his photo vest and around his neck, smashing the empty backpack in the small overhead bin for takeoff or seating. At first chance he will then replenish the backpack without further disruption or problems. This is a method that has worked for me also, many times. Although I don’t recommend it, it is an option that may be available at some airports.



Keep in mind that the tripod and monopod always goes into the check in luggage minimizing the carry on possible problems. For some reason a bulky tripod have not been easy pickings for some airport staff, so far.



By all means, check the airline’s website and their carryon restrictions. Being in compliance is probably your best bet. The aforementioned tips are only for if you may run into complications and not something that I recommend as a first line of strategy while transporting your valuable photographic gear.

Clauz Loc: MA

I Always use my camera bag as a carry on. I have seen to many bags dropped, thrown, etc. My equipment cost to much to take a chance... Have a safe trip.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I had a rather odd experience with this. I had picked up an off-brand electric shaver for travel and I had it along with the cord for charging in my bag. When I got to my destination the cord was gone but I still had the shaver which had a full charge that lasted for the trip.

I doubt that anyone would bother to steal the cord. It probably got in the way of someone going through my bag so it was set aside but never put back into the bag. I have to believe this was an accident. However, cords are not standardized so losing it meant the shaver became useless and I had to buy another. Now I travel without the cord.

AzShooter1 Loc: Surprise, Az.

Not only do I not put my camera and equipment into my luggage, I also put all my meds in my camera bag and carry it on the plane. This is all important stuff to me and I don't intend to lose any of it. I use a back-pack camera bag that also lets me carry my tripod for the shots I think I need it on. I bring three lenses but only take one camera with me, My D-800e.

EdnaK

I would NEVER put it in my luggage! I was planning on flying Etihad to India but because of their restrictions I'm flying Air India. Don't!!

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Even carry-on can be risky since you may be required to gate-check a carry-on bag. That is why I use a back-pack that the airlines treat the same as a woman's purse. I can keep it right with me.

jgunkler

Strangely enough, no, not at all. It was on the recommendation of a well-traveled pro photographer that I first tried it. Worked like a charm.

BB4A

Just my perspective (I may be wrong, I often am), but here's what I do when I travel. I average about 6 international assignments a year, with another 2 or 3 lower 48 flights where I have a shoot or am available for hire opportunities.

1. Unless you are lucky enough to have all the costs & risks built into a contract (unlikely, but possible), you might want to consider travel insurance for your camera gear, just in case anything happens on the trip? Airline "baggage insurance" is generally laughable; while its "free" it generally means you will get pennies back on the gear you lost.
2. Go as light as possible, to "get the job done", as you ALWAYS want to carry your camera gear, NEVER check it. For me, that's an absolute maximum of 2 bodies*, 2 lenses, 2 batteries, charger, double the cards I think I will need, a big thumb drive for backup, and a small cleaning kit, packed in the smallest, cheapest, but functional bag you can find. This doesn't draw attention at foreign airports & is light to carry around.
3. *For the #1 camera body think BLAT (Built Like A Tank). I only use Canon products, and I often now carry just one body, but it's a tough SOB; the 7D Mkii. This keeps my equipment insurance down, and it also means that If I need to borrow an additional lens from buddies while on location, that's generally not a problem (compatible with all EF & EF-S lenses).
4. Think "Gambling in Vegas" for everything that you take with you, if you are struggling with what gear you should leave behind. Mentally kiss goodbye to all the money you have invested in the gear you are traveling with; don't leave home with something that you can't replace through insurance or your own back pocket (if you decide to bear all the risk). Not much sense in saving up for $10-$20K of gear, then having to check half of it at the airport, and not being able to insure that half against loss or damage...
5. For a few bucks, I purchased a little item years ago, that has saved me having to lug tripods, monopods, and other long & bulky paraphernalia around. Here's the link: http://banktech.co.uk/products/bank-stick-adaptor/. This little gizmo converts any standard or extending fishing bankstick into a monopod, and likewise with a fishing tripod. So, anywhere in Europe I'm probably only a few yards from an Angler with a spare bankstick or tripod, if I need to take a slow shot. Or, I can buy one from any fishing tackle shop, for a few bucks, then return it at the end of the trip for a refund.

I hope this advice helps? I'm just about to leave for an assignment; the pic shows what I will be taking with me.

(Download)

Elsiss Loc: Bayside, NY, Boynton Beach, Fl.

Don't ever check valuable items. Always carry on the plane with you. I use a camera backpack when I travel-actually, even when I don't travel. Fits perfectly under the seat. Get one specifically for travel-not too big. I use a Lowepro Photo Hatchback. Works for me-holds a body with attached lens and another lens plus small jacket, etc., etc.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I would not put my camera gear in checked baggage ever. Carry it on. I have packed my travel tripod in checked luggage without a problem. If my tripod got stolen I would be pi$$ed, but my trip would not be ruined. If my camera gear was stolen -- well, you get the picture.