Advice on airport carry on camera bags

stylgeo

stylgeo

Suspended / Banned
Messages
832
Edit My Images
Yes
As on title. What do you use to take your gear abroad.
I am looking to get a camera bag myself, looked at the Think Tank range but are frankly too expensive at £200-£300.

My largest lens is the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8,
other gear
Two Camera bodies, 4 more lenses, the widest being the 10-20, 2 flashguns, other bits and bobs, wireless transmitters, remote shutter release, my Cokin set, other filters, batteries, CFs etc.
What do you think would be best for me as a carry on bag for the airplane. Since I am mainly flying from Heathrow I can now carry two items with me, so I can take my 055xprob in its carrying case, since I don't think it would fit in any bag, or would that be a problem?
 
You'd best check the airline web site. Although there are some BAA recommendations some airlines do have their own rules and regs about carry on.
 
yeah, but the maximum size for carry on luggage is the same, it just has to fit in one of those cage thingys. Is there a camera bag that can fit in there, best with wheels of some sort and still cheap (around 100-150 quid)
 
I just carry my equipment in my rucksack, obviously not letting the stuff get damaged etc but it's easy to carry and also doesn't attract as much attention as a giant bag with "NIKON" written it :D
 
I bought myself a Kata R-103 for a trip later this year. Carries my gear and a laptop which is ideal for me. Its just within the current BAA regulations.. just hope that doesn't change anytime soon!
 
As an ex BAA Employee (boo hiss) I can give a good idea that the current bag sizing regs will not change for some considerable time. The sizing gauge accepts bags at 56x45x25cm and I recently bought a tamrac adventure 9 for my laptop / D80 and 3 lens kit. Its also handy because I am travelling on internal flights in the US that tamrac rate it as "carry on" compatible for the USA.

US tends to be a bit more lax than us here but I am not taking any chances!!!!
 
I am going to California on tuesday from heathrow with my tamrac back pack and that will be ok but tripod is going in the suit case. p.s photography equipment well cheap over there :)
 
Hmm when i got my phototrekker to carry my 500 F4 i read it was just under the limit for carry on. Not anymore :(
I think i'll leave getting a carry on size bag for it till just before i ever want to get on a flight with it!
 
One point to remember is that some airlines are weighing hand luggage now, and at 9 Euros per extra kilo, it can soon add up. Almost got caught out at Malaga airport on Tuesday, but as we were queuing to check in, I could see what was happening.
So out off the bag came 3 lenses, 1 in each pocket, and 1 in the wife's hand bag.
Checked in just under 5 kilo, then they went back in the bag. Felt really smug about that.
 
Gerods said:
One point to remember is that some airlines are weighing hand luggage now, and at 9 Euros per extra kilo, it can soon add up. Almost got caught out at Malaga airport on Tuesday, but as we were queuing to check in, I could see what was happening.
So out off the bag came 3 lenses, 1 in each pocket, and 1 in the wife's hand bag.
Checked in just under 5 kilo, then they went back in the bag. Felt really smug about that.
Click to expand...

Thats a good work around, trust me the number of people that check in with no hand luggage and then mysteriously turn up with 3 bags at the gate is scary!!!!
 
I've just been to Rome with a Lowepro Fastpack 250. I had my Sony Vaio, 40D, 17-40, 70-200 and 420ex in it, along with all th power supplies etc.

Worked a treat, very comfotable.
 
Chappers said:
You'd best check the airline web site. Although there are some BAA recommendations some airlines do have their own rules and regs about carry on.
Click to expand...
:agree:
PsiFox said:
see this chart http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/

to get an idea as to what size/no of bags allowed.
Click to expand...
:agree:

Carry-on baggage is an incredibly complex field and there is no simple answer. It depends critically on which airline(s) you fly with.

madferrit said:
I bought myself a Kata R-103 for a trip later this year.
Click to expand...
Hope you're not flying on Flybe, Qatar Airways or South African Airways, to name a few.
icecavern said:
The Lowepro mini-trekker AW fits fine.
Click to expand...
Actually it's deeper than the official BAA limit. If you get asked to fit it into one of those cages at a UK airport, you won't be able to.
natjag said:
I have a tamrac cyberpac 9 (5259). no problem going on airlines with that
Click to expand...
Au contraire, potentially lots of problems if you fly with RyanAir, Easyjet, Lufthansa, Delta, Emirates, ...

stylgeo: Don't take anybody's recommendations at face value. The only way to do this is to look at the specifications of the bags which interest you, and check carefully against the rules for the specific airline(s) you plan to use. If you try to find a solution that every airline will allow, it will be so small as to be useless.
 
i have used my lowpro vetex 100 to go to to italy and america. Had it as my carry on with all my stuff in. No one said anything.
 
I used a Lowepro Computrekker the other month on a Easyjet flight, i think the bag is slightly bigger than their restrictions but no one questioned it.
 
I must say that I agree with StewartR - check with each individual airline you will be flying with. They may not always restrict you to their maximum carry-on sizes, but I would hate to get to the airport and find that my bag is only slightly oversize, but they are having a "bad day". Note also that connecting flights can also have different rules.....
As for what I use, I have different sizes of Peli case.......Not cheap, but the contents do survive the other passengers' attempts at stowing their luggage.....

ps. A handy link for this sort of thing.......But still check with the airline!
http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/
 
Woops.......just remembered that PsiFox has already posted that link :bonk: ............but it is usefull........ :thumbs:
 
To me its not the bag thats the problem its the weight of the thing:bang:I am flying to Miami next week and the carry on baggage allowance is 6KG:'( so its the Lens trekker 600 with 300f2.8Lis and 1dsmk2 so thats 6KG gone,my wifes bag will be a slingshot 300 with 40d,70-200f2.8Lis and 24-70L. thats another 6KG and thats without spare battery's, chargers, flashgun and things.Now I have never had my hand luggage weighed but there will be a lot of stuff in my pockets before I get on the plane.
 
For me it is camera and lenses only ie. the important bits, in carry-on - everything else goes in main suitcase in the hold. Also, do not forget to take the lens hoods off either - when you are trying to get under the size limits every millimetre counts!
Re. Spare batteries, not sure what the (current) rules are on those, but I remember some rules were introduced recently....
 
They are all different. Easyjet from stansted allow ONE item of hand baggage and it is smaller depthwise than some other airlines.. (ie 20cm instead of 25) but there is no weight restriction on it (within reason!!)
 
StewartR said:
:agree:


stylgeo: Don't take anybody's recommendations at face value. The only way to do this is to look at the specifications of the bags which interest you, and check carefully against the rules for the specific airline(s) you plan to use. If you try to find a solution that every airline will allow, it will be so small as to be useless.
Click to expand...

:( i must say that I am more confused now than before. Stewart's comment above sums up what the bottom line is!

I think I'll just make a list of possible airlines i will be flying with and airports i will be flying from in the future. I don't use too many airlines, BA, Cyprus Airways, Olympic Airlines all from either Luton or Heathrow and all of which allowing good sized bags. Cyprus Airways is especially helpful, giving me as member 32kg of luggage and 2 handluggage of unlimited weight.
I also fly Easyjet, SwissAir and Lufthansa, from either Luton, Gatwick or Birmingham. These are more restrictive, and Luton airport only allows one hand baggage.

What to do what to do. I don't think I'll be using any of the cheap airlines in the near future, so I think I'll opt for a larger bag. I used to fit all of my equipment in my Slingshot 200, but after purchasing the Sigma 120-300 2.8, everything in my life seems more expensive :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top