Travel lite.

 > How do some of you guys get the long lenses aboard a plane.
 > My photovest will hold two houses and a couple of lenses and
 > such smaller items, but I don't know what to do with the 500mm,
 > what do you do?

A backpack like the LowePro Photo Trekker AW (or similar from other makers) is
carry-on legal and holds my 500 f/4 in the center, with room in the side panels
for four bodies or two longish lenses like a 70-200 f/2.8 or 300 f/4 and two
bodies or two bodies and four smaller lenses that can fit upright. Sometimes I
just wear a body with a shorter lens around my neck too. And you can put some
short lenses in your "personal bag" with film or in your vest. I can usually
carry 35 mm with flash, two bodies and long lenses for wildlife plus a 6x7 cm
rangefinder with 3 or 4 lenses for landscape, I've found.

 > checking them in just seems scarry to me.

I agree, I wouldn't fly with the 500 if I had to check it in.

Bill<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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max wrote:
 > I am packing and and thinking - hopeless - Help - I need
 > a couple of good tips. How do some of you guys get the long
 > lenses aboard a plane, checking them in just seems scarry to me.
 > My photovest wil hold two houses and a couple of lenses and
 > such smaller items, but I don't know what to do with the 500mm,
 > what do you do? ;o)-max-
 >

If it's a refractor (non-mirror), then your probably okay with it
checked, just make sure it's cushioned well, a hard but tight fitting
lens case would be good. Then put that in a case full of clothes, that
you can pack tight, with the lens centred in the case. Try shaking the
case, if anything moves, when you shake it, put more in it. Make sure
your insurance carrier covers items taken to your destination. You
could also ship it by over-night courier, before you leave, with a
pickup at your destination. If's it's a mirror lens, then leave it at
home....

Paul<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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"Bill Hilton"
  > > How do some of you guys get the long lenses aboard a plane.
  > > My photovest will hold two houses and a couple of lenses and
  > > such smaller items, but I don't know what to do with the 500mm,
  > > what do you do?
 >
 > A backpack like the LowePro Photo Trekker AW (or similar from other makers) is
 > carry-on legal and holds my 500 f/4 in the center, with room in the side panels
 > for four bodies or two longish lenses like a 70-200 f/2.8 or 300 f/4 and two
 > bodies or two bodies and four smaller lenses that can fit upright. Sometimes I
 > just wear a body with a shorter lens around my neck too. And you can put some
 > short lenses in your "personal bag" with film or in your vest. I can usually
 > carry 35 mm with flash, two bodies and long lenses for wildlife plus a 6x7 cm
 > rangefinder with 3 or 4 lenses for landscape, I've found.
 >
  > > checking them in just seems scarry to me.
 >
 > I agree, I wouldn't fly with the 500 if I had to check it in.
 >
 > Bill

I have the PhotoTrekker, but once I had to almost empty
it at the desk because of the carry on weight limit, most
of the lenses and cameras I was able to have in my vest,
so I managed to board, but with the 500mm it is not so
easy. I really want it on this trip.. Guess I'll have to rely
on chances and charm.
Any tips for Argentina and Chile are appreciated too. ;o)-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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 >From: "max" ma22x RemoveThis @hotmail.com

 >I have the PhotoTrekker, but once I had to almost empty
 >it at the desk because of the carry on weight limit

Was this with a US carrier or a foreign one? I've carried on the Photo Trekker
AW fully loaded (about 25-30 lbs) on US carriers numerous times and never heard
of a weight limit, just a size limit. Some of the foreign carriers are very
picky about this however, especially British Air, Air New Zealand and Air
Chile(LAN). I just avoid the ones with strict weight limits and fly
Continental or United or American for my foreign trips. Only got hassled once,
in Australia when we missed a United connecting flight from Sydney to LAX and
were put on Air New Zealand, which had a 7 kilo limit (about 15 lbs).

Bill<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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Bill Hilton wrote:

  >>From: "max" ma22x RemoveThis @hotmail.com
 >
 >
  >>I have the PhotoTrekker, but once I had to almost empty
  >>it at the desk because of the carry on weight limit
 >
 >
 > Was this with a US carrier or a foreign one? I've carried on the Photo Trekker
 > AW fully loaded (about 25-30 lbs)

I use the photo trekker AW:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/phototr.htm" target="_blank">http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/phototr.htm</a>

With a 500 f/4 L IS, 300 f/4 L IS, 24mm, 26-135 IS,
1.4x, 2x TCs, 2 DSLR bodies, 8 batteries, filters,
cleaning supplies, and a bunch of compact flash cards,
my carry-on size legal outfit weighs 33 pounds. I have to
put flash, computer, any other lenses etc into a
second carry on. You have to take off the side
pockets and tripod mount to make it legal.
I learned all this from Bill: he gives great advice.

Some airlines have a 40 pound limit, but I've never seen a US
carrier weigh bags.

In Europe, I just take less stuff. If you travel with spouse
and/or friend who does not carry camera gear, split the weight up.

Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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"Bill Hilton"
  > >From: "max"
 >
  > >I have the PhotoTrekker, but once I had to almost empty
  > >it at the desk because of the carry on weight limit
 >
 > Was this with a US carrier or a foreign one? I've carried on the Photo Trekker
 > AW fully loaded (about 25-30 lbs) on US carriers numerous times and never heard
 > of a weight limit, just a size limit. Some of the foreign carriers are very
 > picky about this however, especially British Air, Air New Zealand and Air
 > Chile(LAN). I just avoid the ones with strict weight limits and fly
 > Continental or United or American for my foreign trips. Only got hassled once,
 > in Australia when we missed a United connecting flight from Sydney to LAX and
 > were put on Air New Zealand, which had a 7 kilo limit (about 15 lbs).
 >
 > Bill

As I remember it was a small Danish carrier Maersk,
but most I have used have a clearly stated carry on
limit around 15-20lbs. I use European and Asian
carriers, we don't have too many US carriers here
in Denmark. Sometimes they are very strict and in
these times and with a stopover in Madrid - Maby
I better leave some of the heavy stuff behind. ;o)-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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"Paul Schmidt"
 > If it's a refractor (non-mirror), then your probably okay with it
 > checked, just make sure it's cushioned well, a hard but tight fitting
 > lens case would be good. Then put that in a case full of clothes, that
 > you can pack tight, with the lens centred in the case. Try shaking the
 > case, if anything moves, when you shake it, put more in it. Make sure
 > your insurance carrier covers items taken to your destination. You
 > could also ship it by over-night courier, before you leave, with a
 > pickup at your destination. If's it's a mirror lens, then leave it at
 > home....
 >
 > Paul

The main problem with checked luggage is that insurance
is very limited, limit is ca. 1000$, maby some pro insurance
is possible, I'll look into that. The other problem is when the
luggage is late or rerouted back home, a little depressing
when you are sitting in the Andes or the rainforrest half way
across the world. The Currier sounds like a good safe option,
Cheers Paul.. ;o)-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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"Roger N. Clark
 > Bill Hilton wrote:
 >
   > >>From: "max"
  > >
   > >>I have the PhotoTrekker, but once I had to almost empty
   > >>it at the desk because of the carry on weight limit
  > >
  > >
  > > Was this with a US carrier or a foreign one? I've carried on the Photo Trekker
  > > AW fully loaded (about 25-30 lbs)
 >
 > I use the photo trekker AW:
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/phototr.htm</font" target="_blank">http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/phototr.htm</font</a>>
 >
 > With a 500 f/4 L IS, 300 f/4 L IS, 24mm, 26-135 IS,
 > 1.4x, 2x TCs, 2 DSLR bodies, 8 batteries, filters,
 > cleaning supplies, and a bunch of compact flash cards,
 > my carry-on size legal outfit weighs 33 pounds. I have to
 > put flash, computer, any other lenses etc into a
 > second carry on. You have to take off the side
 > pockets and tripod mount to make it legal.
 > I learned all this from Bill: he gives great advice.
 >
 > Some airlines have a 40 pound limit, but I've never seen a US
 > carrier weigh bags.
 >
 > In Europe, I just take less stuff. If you travel with spouse
 > and/or friend who does not carry camera gear, split the weight up.
 >
 > Roger

Ok - I'll give it a try with the photo trekker AW.
The good news (not) is I am 6lbs. lighter, my D1X
suffered severe internal damage after a small fall last week,
so I'll be binging only a S2, I'll need more AA batteries,
if that is my main and only camera. It's a challange.
Cheers Roger & Bill. ;o))-max-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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 >From: "max" ma22x DeleteThis @hotmail.com

 >Ok - I'll give it a try with the photo trekker AW.

Max, if you're the guy from Europe you might verify that this bag is indeed
carry-on legal on the airlines that YOU will be flying on. I think it's around
7x12x19" or so and these dimensions are acceptable for US carriers but maybe
not for the more stringent European ones

Bill<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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