was_a_guru

Planning on some international travel and want to take my D7500, Nikon lenses, Tamron 18-400 lens, tripod, etc. Given current airline restrictions on carry on, checking bags, any suggestions on best way to safely (theft, baggage handling) take expensive and fragile camera gear. Also safety of leaving in hotel rooms. Do I need to take it all with me everywhere I go?

Your advice and experience would be helpful. Thanks.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I travel light. One suitcase, carry-on size and a Think Tank Airport Essentials "personal item." It's the perfect size for my D7500, lenses, chargers, cables, etc. It has room for a small (13") laptop, plus iPad, batteries, SD cards, etc. It fits under the seat in front of me. All my clothes (I pack for travel, and have been doing it for years), plus my toiletries and tripod fit into the suitcase. TSA may not like the tripod, and I may have to open the suitcase (even though I'm TSA/PRE) but that's a small price to pay for convenience.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Airlines have recently changed the accepted size for carry on luggage to 22" x 14" x 9," so confirm that your current travel bag meets these restrictions.
Most hotels overseas have personal safes in the rooms; everything I do not bring with me goes in the safe when I am out of the room.
I would not bother with a tripod, as most international cities are too compact to make the use of one practical, and many tourist sites will charge you extra to use one. Tripod use in museums is forbidden all over the world.

repleo Loc: Boston

Experience has taught me to bring at least three days of clothes and essentials as carry-on luggage. If you are travelling to Europe, note that the discount airlines like Ryanair can be incredibly cheap but have very strict restrictions on luggage - carry on and checked. Some weigh your carry-on or make you fit the bag in a flimsy cardboard box. If it doesn't fit you get hit with a hefty charge. Some 'basic' fares don't include even 1 carry on. Restrictions can vary depending on airline, type of fare and length of flight. It is worth making a chart of the restrictions for the airlines you plan on flying like the one below for an upcoming trip. Most allow you a 'personal' item like a purse or laptop in addition to your carry-on. I use the personal item to bring a my Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20i which will hold my A6000; 12mm F2, 16-50, 18-105 and 55-210 (if I decide to bring it). I do bring a travel tripod in my checked bag if I am bringing one. You can also stuff a lens or two in a jacket pocket.



Carry On -Weight Carry On-Size Checked Weight Checked Size
Norwegian Air 10kg 55 x 40 x 23 cm 20 kg 250 x 79 x 112 cm
plus handbag or laptop
Aer Lingus 10kg 55 x 40 x 24 cm 20kg 158 cm unified
plus 25 x 33 x 20 cm

Ryanair 10kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm 20kg 89 x 119 x 119 cm ??
plus 25 x 20 x 20 cm

Alitalia 8 kg 55 x 35 x 25 cm 23 kg 158 cm unified
plus small bag

TAP 8 kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm 23 kg 158 cm unified
plus small bag 2 kg



IKEA Carry on Bag 50 x 40 x 20 cm
Mirrorless Mover 25i 28 x 15.5 x 12 cm
Morrorless Mover 20 22.5 x 15.5 x 11.5 cm

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I take a checked bag with all my personal "stuff" and a camera backpack with all my gear as a carry-on. No way will I ever check a bag with anything other than clothing an toiletries in it. At the destination, I leave my valuables either in the safe in the room, or with the concierge in the hotel's safe, or I take it with me. I do usually travel light, though.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

If I were going on a photo vacation, which I’ve never been on, I would take more.
But since I’m with my wife it’s her vacation too. So I take a body and a 50, 17-40, 24-105 and SOMETIMES my non-IS 70-200 f4 because it’s so small. But I don’t usually take the 70-200 and can still get 90% of everything. Next to stay home is the 17-40.
When I was young I used to take 4 week trips with just a 50 1.4 and STILL got almost anything worth shooting!
I also take an alloy 2.75lb tripod for night shots!
SS

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Taking an army of gear with you on a vacation is a sure fire way not to enjoy yourself and your trip. I went to France with a Fuji X-T20, the 16-50, 50-230 zooms and a 27mm prime. I used the 16-55 95% of the time, the 50-230 twice in 2 weeks, and the 27mm the rest.

Keep it simple, you do not want to piss off your traveling companions.

anotherview Loc: California

Some photographers use a shipping service for getting their gear to their destination.

Ask your travel agent about gear insurance and the safety of leaving your gear in a hotel room.

Note that the hotel may offer safekeeping in a storage area.

fotobyferg

I use a lockable Airport Extreme carry on and a backpack or sling bag for each day trip loaded with the camera and lense(s) I want to use on that day.

I also make use of the hotel or ship’s safe.

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

First, forget the tripod, you will regret it if you take it. Second, I use carry on for all of my equipment, that way my equipment is in my personal possession ALL the time. Third, most motels have little safes, use them, but at this point I am confused, if your leaving the room wouldn't you want to take your camera and lens with you?
Personally, I gave up carrying all that crap years ago. I take two Sony pocket camera's every where I travel, I have belt pouches for both. Travel right, travel lite. The Sony 50V and RX100M2.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Travel light! Take your favorite walk around lens and a fast prime and be done. You’ll be happier, your significant other will be happier. I took everything I had on a national parks tour and traded it all in for a micro 4/3s system when I got back. When traveling, the KISS system applies.

Ed Walker Loc: Eclectic, Alabama U.S.A.

I recently traveled to Europe using an Apache 3800 weatherproof case (available from Harbor Freight Tools for $42, but you can find it on sale). It is very similar to the Pelican cases, just cheaper. It has the removable foam so you can shape your own cavities for camera, lens, batteries, filters, etc. I took a Canon 5DSR with 28-135 and 70-300 lenses, 3 batteries and assorted filters. The security just runs it through the X-ray and never questioned or opened the case. It works as a carry-on, give the camera protection and me peace of mind.

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

Lessons learned: I flew 100K miles/year internationally before I retired. Most airlines allow 1 carry on bag and 1 personal item. My wife's personal item is a very large leather handbag. My personal item is my (not flashy) camera bag with D750 and 2/3 lenses. I agree with the advice to take 3 days clothing in your carry on bag. If check bag is lost, they will normally deliver it in 2 - 3 days, or you'll probably never see it again. Put your toiletries kit (cheap to replace) and clothes in your checked bag(s). Never, ever put anything of value in your checked bag(s). Check your airline's website for luggage allowances. Can vary widely. If you are changing airlines at a way point, be sure to check both airlines' luggage rules and use the lowest allowances.

If this is a serious photography trip, insure your stuff and put it in Pelican cases. If vacationing with my wife, I never carry a tripod. (People can easily trip on them and goodbye camera/lens.) In some countries/destinations, it isn't safe to carry high end camera gear openly. Be careful. Other places, no problem. Same with hotels. I've left camera gear in my room at 5-star hotels, use Do Not Disturb sign and never had a problem. But at economy hotels, I leave nothing of value in my room. And don't trust the safe. Recent report of a large amount of money and jewelry stolen from room safe. The technician disappeared the same day.

I always get on the airplane as soon as permitted, so that there is overhead storage for my carry on stuff. Get into my seat and don't get up unless directed by a flight attendant. If someone has a boarding pass with the same seat number (it happens), stay put and tell them to check with the flight attendant. Normally, they won't move the person who is already seated.

If I really want to do (semi-) serious photography, I leave my wife at home and travel alone. She is patient, but... why spoil her vacation. If she is with me, I don't want to ruin her vacation waiting for me to set up, shoot and do it all over again. So I usually only carry my 28 - 300mm, my 24 - 120, f4 zoom, and maybe my 50mm f1.8. I find I use a telephoto more than a wide angle, but other photographers use wide angle more. Depends on you.
Hope you have a great trip,
Don

knessr

Like a lot of the rest commenting here, I too travel light. I take my Canon M3 mirrorless with a 18-55mm and a 55-200mm lenses and that is it. It worked great both in Alaska and Australia/New Zealand. I did take a tripod to Australia and used it twice - both for the sunrise and sunset at Aker's Rock. Otherwise I would not have taken that either.

On the interior flights in Australia, we were limited to 15 lbs for the carry-on, so hence the light camera and lens. But the photos are just as good as they would be with my DSLR. Plus, my body just can't take carrying a lot of weight anymore.

Ron

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

You have had a lot of good ideas tossed at you. I would say, read your insurance policy to see what is covered and if you don't have coverage that is step 1. If something goes missing from your room and you did not use the safe, often they discount the loss. Additionally, although I have never lost anything from a room safe I have read that they are not that secure so if you have something really expensive, use the hotel safe while you are away from the hotel. Lots of luck in your travels!