Traveling with DVX100 and accessories

[Guest]

Does anyone out there have ideas and experiences with traveling with the DVX100 and its accessories such as matte boxes etc. I am trying to find the best cases and methods for traveling with my considerable investment.

Since 9-11 I know many checked bags are opened and I have heard stories of gear disappearing. Do people check the DVX100 and if so, what type of case do you use and how do you pack it to insure safety and security? I would like to hear ideas, experiences and suggestions if anyone has them.

Thanks.

[Zoomforce]

pelican is the one of the best for sure.. you dont need to worry about it at all. I would never check my camera though, for gear put a lock on it.

[kai]

I've heard they'll just cut off locks on things (at least when traveling overseas) to check the contents.. any truth to this?

[Johan_Lundberg]

Yes, if your bag is locked and they feel like taking a look inside they will break the lock. Happend to one my bags when I traveled to Florida a few months ago. The airport people don't go easy on the baggage.

I guess the bottom line is, "if you don't want a broken lock, don't lock it".

-
Johan Lundberg
TECHCREW SWEDEN

[Zoomforce]

I would lock it... just buy a cheap luggage lock they are only $2.00 .. at least that will stop the casual theft along the line.. you can also just put a couple straps of gaffer tape as a half ass tampler seal.

[Barry_Green]

I would never check baggage with something like a DVX in it. Either get a Pelican or Kata bag that you can use as your carry-on, or consider shipping it via Airborne or UPS or someone like that, heavily insured, to your destination country.

[kai]

That's the dilemma i'll probably be in.. i'll have too much gear to carry-on, probably in a pelican 1650... and it's going to Iraq...

[Zoomforce]

first of all your nuts. (iraq?)

second, I would do the ship route, Fedex at least has insurance so if something happens to it before it gets to you at least you can get a new DVX100 (or A heh heh ) . good luck getting an airline to replace it.

[kai]

good point... or maybe i'll just ship the other gear and carry on just the dvx...

[David Jimerson]

Doesn't the DVX manual specifically warn against taking your camera into a sandy environment?

So much for the warranty . . . 8)

[Zoomforce]

screw the sand.. I would be more worried about the stray missles and bullets flying over your head.

[kai]

ha... that's why you always pack good running shoes ;)

[FlacaProductions]

if your'e shipping to iraq, check DHL - not sure if fed ex goes there. DHL rules that part of the world.

as for the DVX in sand - mine survived just fine during 3 weeks in afghanistan shooting the rebuilding of the kabul-kandahar road.

just use your head - change tapes IN the car AFTER you've brushed off the dust from the camera around the tape door. (you ARE taking a couple small paint brushes, aren't you?! yes....you ARE!)

you'll be fine. i wouldn't ship stuff, tho. (i had things take WEEKS to get to me in pakistan and then you have to pay a duty on it when it arrives...) carry your cam on. take the rest as excess baggage. bring cash to pay for excess baggage and prepare for it to be erratic - paying more going in than out, or vice versa...etc. they set the rules as they go in that corner of the world. be prepared to roll with it.

did i mention not to ship the stuff? paint brushes?
check and double-check.
;-)

[FlacaProductions]

kai,
maybe you and i should talk before you go. you're asking good questions, but i'm a little concerned that you might not get there with the things you need. not putting you down in any way, but i have a lot of experience in the middle east and with international travel - i'd like to offer some advice if you would like it. i'd be happy to talk with you on the phone if you wish - email me direct at flacaproductions@aol.com and we'll set something up. i want you to have a good experience.

[Guest]

What size pellican case is suggested? I was thinking the 1550 would work fine, but was also thingking along the lines of a 1600.

[Zoomforce]

1600 is huge.. you can get away with a 1500 or 1550 no problem.

[Barry_Green]

I have a 1620, which is I believe the 1600 plus wheels.

It is MASSIVE. It is absurdly huge. Sometimes I'm embarrassed by how big it is.

But oh, do I love them wheels! ;D

Right now it fits the DVX, with lens hood, the anamorphic adapter, the .6 wide-angle adapter, the battery charger and AC power supply, four batteries, some filters, room for 10 DV tapes, my FlareBuster, my Petrol LCD hood, and there's a big empty space just waiting for a telephoto converter (if a good one ever gets made). And there's lots of room left over. In short, the 1600 is huge, and you'd never be able to carry it on any airplane.

[kai]

Thanks for the help Flaca, I'll definitely get in touch with you soon to learn from your experiences. Thanks again!

[Guest]

Thanks for everyone's input. Its been enlightening for me.

Keene

[bugsbunny]

Are there any updates on traveling with the DVX? Are there better cases and smaller cases out on the market? What about when you go in the airport and they run the camera through the x-ray and then turn it upside down? Are they doing damage to my equipment? I always feel like they are going to break it. What if I am also traveling with my powerbook? They always x-ray that too. Everything is so crazy. I don't want them to break my stuff because they are so careless and it isn't their stuff so no worries.

I have a porta brace is that okay? Will the Pelican 1550 fit for the DVX 100b?

thank you ahead of time. :)
I am really worried about traveling far distances with my equipment.

[ullanta]

Are you traveling alone? There's probably some comaraderie in people going to Iraq; if alone, try to enlist a new friend for the following.

Anyway, separate your gear into the absolutely essential and the conveniences. Meaning, you can improvise a matte box; tapes are probably easier to find than batteries, etc. Get a carry-on bag with maximum storage capacity (minimum protective capacity... check the case you'll use there; and you're NOT LETTING GO of the bag you're carrying on... you can coddle it. Wrap the camera in a t-shirt or two.). Get all your essentials and as many conveniences as possible in there.

To get through security, take charge of all your stuff and your friend's stuff, and send your friend through first. Don't let go of your essentials until your friend is through and clear. Assign your friend to safeguard the stuff from the moment it comes out of the scanner until you get there (i.e., while security may be double-checking you). Don't go through the "people scanner" until all your stuff is deep in the "stuff scanner". Needless to say, make sure you don't have any pennies in your pocket or anything that will delay you in security.

Then, never let go of your precious camera. Eating? wrap the bag strap around your leg and hold the bag with both feet. Sleeping on the plane? With your camera bag in your arms (makes an OK headrest to lean forward on). Make sure to get on the plane early so you can put the bag right overhead if you have to during takeoff/landing...

I've never been to Iraq, but this is my standard procedure for ANY flight.

-Barry

[Rush]

Great advice ullanta, especially about never letting the cam out of sight.

I have done a lot of documentaries in Europe, and if I have to sleep in airports, I strap the camera bag to myself. I have a Kata Panda backpack, which is the best backpack for travelling incognito with a camera and laptop (looks like a hiking backpack), and it holds everything. I just flip it and make it face forward when I goto sleep in an airport. On the plane, it fits under the seat in front. It is uncomfortable, to not be able to get your feet in there, but it is safe. When I goto the bathroom, I always ask the passenger next to me to watch my bag, and I check it when I come back.

Bugs, to address your concern, the xray scanner can damage living tissue or chemically active compounds, like silver halides in film emulsion. It can't damage electronics.

[bugsbunny]

Thanks Rush.
So I should take my tapes out and check them, maybe.

Kata Panda does EVS sale that? Oh, I'll go check right now. Thank you.

[drivinhard]

I just got back from about 10 days in India with three DVX's. I put two of them in our production bag (the kata bag that comes with the 100B production kit) and put the 3rd in a smaller carry on bag. I carried everything on, and checked my bogen sticks and steadicam merlin and other misc gear in my suitcase. No locks on stuff these days, the TSA won't allow. Wrapping them for international stuff ain't a bad idea. Always keep insurance on your stuff though.

The kata bag that comes with the 100B production kit is a great bag. I had 2 DVX's, wireless mic, 50 tapes, 6 filters, tripod plate, headphones, charger(s) 1.6x tele lens, rocker zoom, and anything else I could stuff in there.

Hauling stuff around the world is a pain though, no way around it. Usually customs can be a pain, but this time no big deal.

Remember once your shoot is done and you are coming back, the most valuable thing is the footage (tapes). Everything else can be replaced...carry them on and keep them safe.

[bugsbunny]

The kata bag that comes with the 100B production kit is a great bag. I had 2 DVX's, wireless mic, 50 tapes, 6 filters, tripod plate, headphones, charger(s) 1.6x tele lens, rocker zoom, and anything else I could stuff in there.



Which Kata bag would you suggest? This one? The Kata Banana-3?


http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=KTVE3013

[bugsbunny]

Please anyone, I leave in two weeks for the Polynesian Islands. Then in May I leave for Taipei & Cambodia, by June I'll be in Laos. I want to make sure I get the right bag so I don't have to lug lots of bags all around the world.

Is this a good one for taking two Kata bags?

Maybe it will help if you know what types of equipment I plan to take.

1- DVX
2- Wireless mic systems
1- Powerbook G4
2- Shotgun mics
2- Photoflex type Reflectors
1- 35mm adapter
10- Filters
62 - mini DV tapes

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/m..._Code=KTVE3013 (http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=KTVE3013)

[drivinhard]

check this number at BH...this is the kata bag we have that came with the 100B kit. It will hold 2 DVX's and a bunch of tapes and extras

#PAEFPB

[HybridCreations]

Pelican has a new TSA lock that can only be opened by TSA screeners. I don't know if it really makes me feel that much safer, but I sprung for it anyway, just in case. It's probably the damn TSA that makes all that equipment "go missing" anyway. :nads: It was only a buck more than the regular lock.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/391999-REG/Pelican_PC1506TSA_TSA_Lock.html

-Ryan

[FatDaddy]

I am heading to Europe and Africa in May and have decided to drop an over the shoulder carry on to go with something like this:
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Rolling_Cases/backpack/Rolling_CompuTrekker_Plus_AW.aspx

I am looking for suggestions for something to carry my tripod/boom/stands. I have used a small tripod bag, which works fine, but I need to carry some more gear in this bag (looking for two carry on's). Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[mungk]

I know this is an old thread, but in terms of locking your bags, brookstone sells some that are supposedly airport friendly. Meaning these locks can be opened and closed by airport security so no more busted locks. Hope this helps to anyone worried about securing belongings in a suitcase.

[DerrickTempleton]

I'm going to Sri Lanka in a few weeks...carrying on the camera in a Kata R-103. Also gonna try to get carry-on for the tripod, otherwise it'd get banged up I bet. I'm going with several friends so they can help carry-on accessories, and things that I would normally carry on if not for the camera. This thread is really helpful though, I feel a lot safer after reading it.

[maestro1d]

if your'e shipping to iraq, check DHL - not sure if fed ex goes there. DHL rules that part of the world.

as for the DVX in sand - mine survived just fine during 3 weeks in afghanistan shooting the rebuilding of the kabul-kandahar road.

just use your head - change tapes IN the car AFTER you've brushed off the dust from the camera around the tape door. (you ARE taking a couple small paint brushes, aren't you?! yes....you ARE!)

you'll be fine. i wouldn't ship stuff, tho. (i had things take WEEKS to get to me in pakistan and then you have to pay a duty on it when it arrives...) carry your cam on. take the rest as excess baggage. bring cash to pay for excess baggage and prepare for it to be erratic - paying more going in than out, or vice versa...etc. they set the rules as they go in that corner of the world. be prepared to roll with it.

did i mention not to ship the stuff? paint brushes?
check and double-check.
;-)
Dude... Just checked out the reel at your website.

You rock. You walk it and talk it.

I'm up in O-Town- If we ever need a shooter (do you DP?) of your skills, we WILL call. That is unless you are shooting the running of the bulls in Spain or great white sharks off the Barrier Reef or something- lol.

Seriously though. Wow. Everyone should check his reels- great stuff.

[FlacaProductions]

Maestro - i'm coming back to this thread after a long lapse - but thanks for the kind words. if i can help you out - just let me know!
Brian