How to protect viewfinder glass??

[Kit_L]

Happy New Year, all.

I need to tote my new 150 as carry-on luggage on planes. I will remove the lens hood and use a 72mm ordinary lens cap, but what can I use to cover the finder glass?

After removing the eyecup, I'd like to attach the equivalent of a lens cap to this end of the camera, too. cheers, kl

[RMJones]

I wouldn't use the clamp but you might be able to find some sort of rubber cap in the pluming section at any hardwsre store like this one:

http://plumbing.hardwarestore.com/52-300-pvc-pipe-repair-fittings/black-cap-117218.aspx

Find a size that will fit just snug on the end of the finder. Remove the metal clamp. buy a lens cleaning cloth (they are cheap)...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/376686-REG/Pentax_88205_Lens_Cleaning_Cloth.html

...and cut a small circle from in to insert into the inside of the rubber cap. Just so the rubber doesnt make any marks on the finder glass.

This would be a cheap but functional route to go.

[BrianMurphy]

I carry on my dvx and will carry on my hmc150. This is not a cheap soloution but, my dvx has been around the world in a Lowepro Commercial AV DV. In it I carry my dvx100b mounted on my Hyson Films baseplate,a telephoto extender lens, a .7wide angle lens,4 batteries, Hyson mattebox and two filters, 2 ew500 series sennheisr wireless kits, a sennheiser plug-on transmitter, 3 trams, 2-for the wireless and one for hard wire. A sennheiser shotgun and an akg handheld mic. My battery charger, a 12 foot xlr cable,rain cover for the camera and a large ziplock bag for dusty situations.
i worked an election recently and for that I left the mattebox at home and brought a matteblox so I would have room for the firestore fs 4.
If you don't need to get off the plane and shoot like I do then you would be wise to buy a hard case for the camera from BH for $179.00 I just ordered one and recently bought a used DVX hard case from one of our group. The hard cases are approved carrry-on size and the Lowepro Commercial AV DV is also if you don't stuff it too much. I have never been stopped. I should add I also carry a Targus backpack with my Macbook Pro 17 and a few other toys in it on board.
Best of luck and as we say here "bon voyage"

[Kit_L]

Thanks so much for these suggestions.

Brian, the weight limit here in Australia for carry on is 7Kg; unfortunately, it is ruthlessly enforced—sometimes! As the camera weighs ~4lbs, the combination is close to the limit. However, I like the idea of the case, and (having carried a GY-500 plus Canon wide zoom all around the world in a BIG hard case) I know the 150 would survive a trip in the hold IF I had to check it in.

Thanks for that suggestion.