Travel Show Equipment Checklist

HowdyDoo

HowdyDoo

Well-known member
I am going overseas to shoot a low budget PBS travel show. We will be going to Alaska, Australia, Thailand, and S. Africa.

I have never taken on a shoot like this so I'm trying to research what equipment I might need to bring a long.

If anyone has any experience on single camera shoots in foreign countries such as these, your input would be much appreciated.

Here is my list so far:

Sony EX1
3 Sony BPU-60 batteries
Sony Charger
Various AC - DC Voltage adapters.
3 16G SxS cards
3 16GB SD cards with KxS adapter
Miller Solo Carbon Fiber Sticks
Rain Jacket for Camera
El Cheapo Shoulder Support
Sanken CS1 Microphone (Just for back up audio, there will be a sound man)
LitePanels Micro Camera Light
Backpack

For Occasional B-Roll and Landscape Shots
Canon 5D MK II
Battery and Charger
Canon 24mm 1.4 L Lens
Nikon 50mm 1.4 Lens
 
Offloading? (Laptop, etc.)
Storage?
Filters (UV, Pol., etc.) and extra filters?
Misc. lighting gear? (Small gels, tape, pins, etc.)

It's always the little things that I wish I had on shoots like this that get me.

Oh, and make sure you have your tripod plate. Trust me on this one. :D
 
I have a laptop for offloading, I just forgot to put it on there.

I also added a polarizer and a lens cloth to the list.

Thanks. That's the kind of stuff I need to hear. It's the little things I always forget.
 
Good point, Nick. And don't forget to get whatever vaccinations are suggested/required for where you'll be going.
 
Toolkit: Screwdrivers, pliers, small wrench.
Power converters.

Assemble everything you have to make sure you have all the parts and that everything works properly.

You might need a carnet: a list of equipment you're bringing to clear customs.
http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=1843

Reflector? Small light stands? Wireless lav mic (check legal frequencies)?
 
DCSensui said:
You might need a carnet: a list of equipment you're bringing to clear customs.
Click to expand...

I've gone between countries with gear before without one. Am I just getting lucky? Is it at the discrepancy of the customs agent whether they bag me on this?

Never had any experience with them...
 
Matt T said:
I've gone between countries with gear before without one. Am I just getting lucky? Is it at the discrepancy of the customs agent whether they bag me on this?

Never had any experience with them...
Click to expand...

Better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it. If questions arise, and the customs agent is skeptical, you could get hit by significant fees.

A friend who works as a customs agent cautioned me about it when I got back from Japan on a vacation trip with an HVX-200. When I went to New Zealand on a business trip I had one and the agents referred to it briefly.
 
A carnet is always a good idea regardless of whether you need it or not. When I don't "need" mine, I use it as a checklist to make sure I've left nothing behind, even the small bits.
 
Can't you just get around the Carnet with a "Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad" form from your local customs office? The benefit is that this form is FREE, as compared to the Carnet. Correct? But I guess if it is a professional production, and not guerilla style then you might want the Carnet.

Just my 2 cents.
 
While you might be able to get around a carnet with some other list of equipment, it might save the day to have one.

I usually think it's better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it.

Here's a short article about traveling with equipment:

http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/2008/01/dealing-with-customs-immigrations-and.html

It's also good to check to see if a particular country might have certain restrictions. For example, Seychelles prohibits bringing in spearfishing equipment and restricts bringing in tea. Other countries may frown upon wireless mics -- certainly the frequencies need to be checked.
 
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