Air Travel with EX1 and Gear. Need help and advice!

[wing70301]

Hello everyone!

On April 6th, I will be travelling to Japan for a three-month trip. I will be taking my brand-new EX1 and gear. However, I'm having some trouble trying to decide how to bring this with me. Let me list the gear I have:

GEAR:
- EX1
- 2 SxS 8GB Cards
- BP-U30 Battery
- BP-U60 Battery
- Audio Technica Shotgun Mic
- Senheisser Lavelier Mics
- Letus Elite w/ Nikon mount
- Three Nikon Lenses (24mm, 50mm, 105mm)
- Red Rock Micro Follow Focus
- Cinevate Proteus Rail System
- Miller Tripod
- Misc. Camera-related Items

CASES:
- Kata CCC-1-A w/ Insertrolley
- Hardigg Storm Case iM2975

When I first bought this gear, I figured, "Oh, I'll just put everything into the Storm Case (which I have faith will protect my gear (no tripod)) and check it in." However, I just feel that even though the Storm Case can do an incredible job in protecting my gear, it won't do squat if security has to crack it open and look for the one thing that looks like a bomb.

I contemplated using the Kata CCC-1-A as a carry-on for all my gear, but I've read they are too big to fit into overhead compartments (even if they can fit into an international plane overhead, I still need to take two smaller "connecting flight" planes).

So I'm left in this conundrum:
Am I being paranoid in thinking that airport security is going to destroy all my gear to find the one thing that sets off the machine? If it is indeed wiser to bring some of my gear with me, what should it be (the most obvious in my opinion are the camera and letus). Do any of you have any tips for bringing all this stuff around?

Thanks so much!

[basspig]

I would NEVER check a camera as luggage. Airport baggage handlers steal stuff all the time. A camera would stand a high probability of being stolen at some airports like Bradley Int'l in Hartford, for example.
A good duffle bag may be preferable, also, carring the camera on your person. I would get a smaller rigid case that just fits the camera, if you intend to put it in the overhead. People tend to jam stuff in those overheads and a soft bag may not provide adequate protection.
Ultimately, I'd take a boat instead of a plane. ;-)

[wing70301]

I would NEVER check a camera as luggage. Airport baggage handlers steal stuff all the time. A camera would stand a high probability of being stolen at some airports like Bradley Int'l in Hartford, for example.
A good duffle bag may be preferable, also, carring the camera on your person. I would get a smaller rigid case that just fits the camera, if you intend to put it in the overhead. People tend to jam stuff in those overheads and a soft bag may not provide adequate protection.
Ultimately, I'd take a boat instead of a plane. ;-)

Hehehe. If only a boat were an option :) So I'm guessing that even with a TSA-approved lock on the storm case, it's still not a good idea to check the camera in? I think the two biggest items I'm worried about are the camera itself and the Letus. Do you think I should take the Letus with me as well? I'm not sure how many baggage handlers would know what a Letus is or the value of it.

I guess I should have asked this question a little sooner, so that I'd know to get a smaller bag just for the bare essentials!

[Bobonli]

Can you ship it to yourself via Fedex or DHL, thus avoiding the TSA issue?

I'd never check it for the reasons mentioned here and countless other travel threads. By the same token, trying to carry on the kitchen sink can be a real stinker, too.

[documaker]

My EX1 fits in a Porta Brace CS-DV4, I also carry an ME66 and 2 Sony lavs 4, 16Gb cards, a Zylight, and 3 Swit D-Tap batteries.

This bag fits fine in all small aircraft overhead bins. According to TSA you don't have to remove the camera any more from the bag (for screening) if it does not have a tape mechanism. Seems to be true on my last 5 flights in the US.

-Michael

[Damon Jamal]

I always keep my camera/laptop in my backpack (carry on) and stuff the letus/lenses in my suitcase (checked in) and never have had a problem. I travel and shot music videos frequently. The tripod you can check in too (seperately) and it's considered an oversized item so it goes through a different process...

[ben1000]

So... allow me to be the contrarian here...

I travel with my EX quite often, and I have always used a pelican case to hold the EX, bateries, a Nikon D300, and other gear... I have always checked this in, along with a tripod in another bag.

It's all insured, of course, although that doesn't help when you get to the shoot and things have been stolen, so I understand that insurance isn't the perfect solution.

I have a couple of portabrace cases, but I have a hard time thinking about carrying it all on. I already carry on a backpack with a laptop, HD, media, and a bunch of other stuff I will work on on the plane. Trying to carry on the EX1 and Nikon and related gear just sounds heavy and bothersome. I think it'd make me not want to travel as much as I do...

In the last year, I've probably gone on a dozen remote jobs, checking the pelican in every time. So far, I've never had my luggage lost, and always check inside the case as soon as I get it off the carousel to make sure it's still there.

Conversely, I FEDEX'd my old DSR-300 to job site a couple of years back, and FEDEX was a day late. Didn't charge me for shipping ($200) but did cost me a day on the job ($$$$). I have also seen MANY people with large bags get on full flights, get stressed about no overhead space, and eventually have to check the bag anyways right there...

I often see other pelican and ATA cases coming down the carousel. I assume there's other expensive equipment (mixers? displays? etc) in there. Maybe not as 'stealable' as a Nikon though....

I guess there's no perfect solution, but surely I'm not the ONLY one here to checks his camera?

-Ben

[MattDavis]

A couple of things to add to the mix.

I regularly fly around Europe with a full EX1 & Edit rig as carry-on baggage.

My bag (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26279436@N02/3241358834/in/set-72157613188131886/), and a gratuitous shot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26279436@N02/3240526051/in/set-72157613188131886/) of my editing in the Business Lounge in Barcelona airport.

It's all thanks to ThinkTank's bags. Specifically the Airport Accelleration, which is a backpack and therefore sacrifices wheels and pull-up handle for space. It also allows a 17" MacBook Pro in its own bag to go in its slip pocket for airports that only allow one bag as carry on, but separates for all airlines that allow a laptop or handbag as an under-seat option whilst using the skimpiest dimensions for the overhead storage.

As far as 35mm adaptors and tripods are concerned, they get checked in along with the toothbrush and underpants. I can make a film with my carry-on, but may smell a bit if all else is lost.