C100: How do you travel with your gear? Anyone avoiding airplane baggage fees?

JimmyMcV

JimmyMcV

Member
I'm going to start traveling with my video gear and needed some ideas about how to pack everything economically and efficiently, and hopefully avoid having to check bags (though that might be impossible).

I at least need to take my C100, 2 lenses, camera light, boom/lav mics. Also need my laptop. And whatever else is reasonable.
My tripod head/legs are kind of heavy and big. I wonder if I should buy a travel-friendly tripod solution, or simply rent one at the location.
As for my lights - Arri fresnels and LED panels - I don't think any one them can travel, but that's fine.

What gear bags do people like?

Thanks for travel tips of any sort!
Anyone travel with a slider?
 
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Use a backpack and a cabin luggage bag, you can take them on the plane for free (for most airlines).

I believe ARRI Basecamp 20L production bag can fit the overhead cabin.
 
I've made 10s of international flights with C100 and or 5D setup in a Lowepro vertex 300 aw backpack. Have you biggest lens on the camera and a shoulder strap attached. If there is a complaint about weight, take out the camera and hang it on your shoulder until you get on the plane. Have had to do this a few times and never a complaint from airport staff. Some airlines allow a case plus a laptop bag. If so, put some heavy stuff in the laptop bag; I put my 1x1 and battery in mine.
Tripod usually gets disassembled and goes in my suitcase. I have occasional taken it as carry on with the head and spiked feet removed.
 
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Pelican 1514 and Canon 200EG.

I can bring a bunch of lenses, 5D, and C100 plus support gear on a plane.
 
marvinhello said:
Use a backpack and a cabin luggage bag, you can take them on the plane for free (for most airlines).

I believe ARRI Basecamp 20L production bag can fit the overhead cabin.
Click to expand...
Can you post an image of the interior holding your stuff? I am looking for a bag which can hold my C300 with LCD and microphone, lens attached in ready to shoot manner
 
so the camera and laptop go on the plane with you.

The bag I check is a miller tripod bag which is really good and well made.

As well as my sticks (I often use a small 'frotto head to save mass on travel jobs) I can get other schlop in to my tripod bag..

Rig, a lightstand or two, some Vlocks, clothes, and also my new favorite toy a DEDO DLed 4.0 - this is a punchy little daylight source that is about the size of a coke can so can, unlike a panel, go in a sticks bag...

S
 
I pack cameras (C100 & 7D) lenses, mics, batteries, LED lights, storage media, etc. in a Pelican 1510 that I carry on. I pack tripod, light stands, green screen, XLR cables, prompter, etc. in a Pelican Storm iM2950 that I check. I often have to pay overw8 fees on the 2950 because it is usually at or just over 70 pounds. I carry on the laptop in a shoulder bag and clothes go in a checked duffel bag. It works for me.
 
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two words: Think Tank .
C300 4 batteries, charger, 3 lenses, media, a few radio mics, on board camera mic, and sometimes a sound devices 633. All in a think thank bag.
 
For US travel, here's a couple tips:
-Southwest Airlines allows two checked bags for no fee.
-Airline credit cards often give you at least one checked bag free. I have a United card just for this.
-Carry on your heavy/expensive/fragile stuff. The US airlines don't weigh carry ons (yet).

I have a Tenba Roadie II and I can fit my c100, 5D3, a ton of lenses, audio kit, and everything I need to shoot (except tripod). The bag then weighs a ton, but magically fits in the overhead bin. In practical use, the Tenba fits a shoot ready fully assembled c100 nicely with room for a couple lenses. The travel mode for me is everything taken apart and crammed in there.
 
Some great ideas in this thread!

I'm going to see if I can make my huge back-pack and a typical rolling suitcase work as my outer shells and get smaller more protective bags for inside. The backpack and suitcase are what I typically carry on a plane, the backpack remarkably fitting under the seat most of the time. Only American Airlines gives me crap about this set-up, which is why I rarely fly with them.

Here's the backpack I own. Jansport Driver 8. It's a monster when fully packed. I love the handle and wheels.

On any airline, my rolling suitcase is at the limit of what they allow in the overhead. The interior is 20 inches long.

So, I think I may need to get a tripod that will fold up to 20 inches or less. Any suggestions for a "B tripod" like that?
 
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I've got the CineBags CB25 and I love it.
http://www.cinebags.com/#!cb25b-revolution-backpack/c1y9n

It's fits in overhead compartments.

Here's what I normally have in it. *pops knuckles*

Main compartment:
C100 w/ side handle and Berkey Systems baseplate and Manfrotto long QR plate attached.
Top Handle (not attached)
Canon 24-105
Sigma 50-150
2x BP-970 batteries (can easily hold 2 more in it's slot)
Shotgun mic
5" Marshall Monitor w/ sunshade
Panasonic TM700 (backup cam) w/ Batteries and charger. [Could probably replaced that and fit a 5D or 7D in it's slot if I moved a couple things around]
2x 10" 15mm Rods
Petrol C100 LCD sunshade
Light Meter
Zoom H2 w/ deadcat

Main compartment inner flap pockets:
Short HDMI cables
Short XLR cables
LANC Cable
Gray chart
ColorChecker Passport Chart
C100 EVF cup
SD cards

Top pocket:
Genus 4x4 Mattebox
Laptop Mouse

Side Pockets:
Canon Charger
Apple MBP Charger

Other side Pocket:
Full sized Flat and philips screw drivers
Berkey Systems Alen key screw driver thing.
15mm Monitor mount

NOTE: Although when I fly I take all my tools and 15mm rods and put them in my check in suit case. Some people say you can get away with with tools under a certain length in your carry-on but I don't even want to take the chance of having to deal with TSA if they decide that day they are not allowing them. But I do have a stubby multi head screwdriver that I do keep in my bag even with carry-on.

Computer slot:
2010 17" MBP (it says on the site up to 15" laptops but my 17" fits fine, maybe its a typo or they recently redesigned it)
Mouse Pad
Mattebox Top Flag (wrapped so it doesn't scratch my Mac)

There are a couple other smaller pockets where I keep things like iPhone cables/chargers, and little bits and pieces like that.

My tripod and monopod go into my check in suitcase wrapped in clothes for protection.
 
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More than one major airline has a commercial film/tv crew baggage rate which is a significant saving, I've taken as many as 8 pieces on domestic and international flights. Poke around the airline websites and you will find the info. I Usually check tripod-head, lighting and audio along with one personal bag, I carry-on camera, lenses and laptop. I have 2 carry-on solutions, a Portabrace PB-2550 which is a hard-case with wheels like a pelican and then I also have a Petrol DSLR campack which is a really sturdy well padded backpack type unit, both are airline carry-on approved size. When I started I was taking Betacams in Portabrace bags as a carry-on, that continued with the Digibetas, HD 750s and 900s, moving to the AF100 and then F3 was luxurious, now you can just about carry everything on except the tripod and light kit. Be careful though, more than once I have had my carry-on gate checked by the airline because the flight was so full, fortunately this has never happened with a camera and I'm not sure what I would do if it happened, airlines will not pay for damage to pro equipment (or even non pro equipment) to my knowledge and they have demonstrated the ability to damage absolutely anything.
 
LyleGorch said:
they have demonstrated the ability to damage absolutely anything.
Click to expand...

Man is this ever true. I learned the hard way with a soft tote on a regional jet that forced me to check it at the gate. Ever since I went to Pelican cases, damage is virtually non-existent.
 
Another vote for the Thinktank Airport. I got the international version because certain airlines like India for example have a smaller carryon standard than North America. Fits C100, three lens, 60D, batteries, shotgun, lav, cards, headphone and tools. Could hold an iPad too on the outside. Took it to Kathmandu no problem. Tripod I stored in my luggage.
 
Slightly off topic, but does anyone do a Carnet with their gear? It's a document to declare all the gear you are traveling with is yours. In the mid-90s I had to fill one out for a trip to Scotland from the US. The TV station I worked at thought it was "a good idea" since the camera and lenses were @ $50,000. However, it turned out to be a monster pain in the ass. The few trips abroad I've done since with smaller cameras, I have just carried stuff on and didnt bother with getting one.
 
I've traveled internationally quite a bit and have never been asked to do a Carnet. A Visa is another story.
 
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