C200: Travelling with camera equipment

[npm]

Hey guys,

This may not be the perfect place to post this, but I am travelling with my C200 kit, so hopefully its allowed.

My checked Pelican case is getting monstrously heavy, so I was wondering if I could put my Sachtler FSB4 HEAD ONLY in my carry on backpack.

It's pretty heavy at 4.2lbs and am concerned TSA will try and confiscate it could be perceived as a bludgeon?

Anyone done this before?

 

[NorBro]

I've carried on mine many times, probably over 40 flights. No one's ever asked about it, but have questioned other production gear.

 

[Airwolf]

They won't care. I've loaded up both my carry-on case and my backpack full of hard drives and other bits. They may search it, but they'll let you through. Most airports don't blink at camera guys going through but the occasional small airport will search your bags because they haven't seen the expensive gear before. Make sure you get TSA pre-check to make your life easier, otherwise you have to take every electronic item out of your bags.

 

[Justin Kuhn]

Every time I go to the Atlanta airport I see production guys with carts full of cases. I shudder to think of the baggage fees.

 

[puredrifting]

My Sachtler DV6SB head weighs 13.2lbs, too heavy for flying when we are trying to keep bags under 50lbs. So I bought a travel tripod and head. Only rated to 11lbs but it's pretty decent, the Miller AIR.
Also, if my Sachtler is lost in transit, it's thousands of dollars lost, which insurance will cover, but they don't make my model head anymore so I would be bummed. Have you considered buying a travel tripod
and head that's decent but perhaps smaller, less hassle than bringing your Sachtler?

 

[npm]

Thanks for all the replies! Seems like it shouldn't be a problem to put it in my carry-on. Puredrifting—my FSB4 is only a pound heavier than the Miller AIR, and rated for about 9lbs. I wouldn't really want anything smaller, I've tried other heads and they just don't compare well.

I also have insurance for international travel but luckily they still make he FSB4 (although if somehow it got lost or stolen, I'd probably upgrde to the 6 or 8

My Sachtler DV6SB head weighs 13.2lbs, too heavy for flying when we are trying to keep bags under 50lbs. So I bought a travel tripod and head. Only rated to 11lbs but it's pretty decent, the Miller AIR.
Also, if my Sachtler is lost in transit, it's thousands of dollars lost, which insurance will cover, but they don't make my model head anymore so I would be bummed. Have you considered buying a travel tripod
and head that's decent but perhaps smaller, less hassle than bringing your Sachtler?

 

[NorBro]

If you're working smaller jobs here and there then it's probably worth bringing it, but if you have other gear you're bringing in checked luggage like light stands (etc), I find it so much easier to rent from a place like Lens Rentals and get everything shipped to a FedEx/UPS in the production town (or near by).

And if I do that, the order would include lights, tripods, cables (etc).

Probably not ideal for the little guy/gal that's working on a budget (even though you can rent a lot for little money), but it's really nice to be able to travel light with a camera(s), some lenses, audio gear, etc. Location is a factor too, but of course all major cities and the surrounding areas should not be a problem.

 

[npm]

Totally agree and these are valid points. In this scenario, I am shooting a documentary solo over 5-6 weeks and will be travelling a lot with my kit, and using my tripod a ton. The challenge is bringing everything needed (cameras, lenses, tripod, gimbal, drone, etc etc) while remaining as streamlined as possible ��

If you're working smaller jobs here and there then it's probably worth bringing it, but if you have other gear you're bringing in checked luggage like light stands (etc), I find it so much easier to rent from a place like Lens Rentals and get everything shipped to a FedEx/UPS in the production town (or near by).

And if I do that, the order would include lights, tripods, cables (etc).

Probably not ideal for the little guy/gal that's working on a budget (even though you can rent a lot for little money), but it's really nice to be able to travel light with a camera(s), some lenses, audio gear, etc. Location is a factor too, but of course all major cities and the surrounding areas should not be a problem.

 

[chris f]

My Sachtler DV6SB head weighs 13.2lbs, too heavy for flying when we are trying to keep bags under 50lbs. So I bought a travel tripod and head. Only rated to 11lbs but it's pretty decent, the Miller AIR.
Also, if my Sachtler is lost in transit, it's thousands of dollars lost, which insurance will cover, but they don't make my model head anymore so I would be bummed. Have you considered buying a travel tripod
and head that's decent but perhaps smaller, less hassle than bringing your Sachtler?

You know about the media badge right? Most airlines in the US will wave additional fees for bags over 50lbs if you have a media badge (you can make one yourself if you can make it look official enough...)

 

[New_Zealand]

I travel with my gear - New Zealand, Aussie and USA. C300 goes in the hard case design for the C300 and taken on the flight as my carry on bag. My Cine Lenses, Monitor, external hard-drive and any Misc items I need for the camera goes into the laptop bag as my personal carry on and the tripod (taken apart), matte box goes into my luggage bag with my clothes. no issues.

 

[Run&Gun]

Unless it's an ultra quick-turn, I try to ship my gear ahead. Of course, I'm talking about domestic travel.

 

[puredrifting]

I travel with my gear - New Zealand, Aussie and USA. C300 goes in the hard case design for the C300 and taken on the flight as my carry on bag. My Cine Lenses, Monitor, external hard-drive and any Misc items I need for the camera goes into the laptop bag as my personal carry on and the tripod (taken apart), matte box goes into my luggage bag with my clothes. no issues.

When I fly, I do the same thing. A carry on camera backpack and a Sachtler Dr. Bag. Tripod, lights, light stands, tripod head all go into a roller duffle. It's funny, people are obsessed by ultra heavy Pelican and Anvil type ATA cases. The problem with those is you use up your weight allowance with just the stupid cases and once you land, you don't need that level of protextion most of the time. I put a lot of stuff in with my clothes in the roller duffle and have never had anything stolen or damaged. I wrap the tripod legs and head in a couple of lens wraps, wrap that up in some clothes and everything is good and I've flown into some sketchy places on cheesy airlines in Africa, no problems. It really sucks we have to carry on our batteries now but two V mounts for lights plus my camera batteries all works out ok so far.

I woudn't bother carrying on my tripod head, what's the point if it's insured? I have rented from LensRentals and had them ship to location but that can be a pain to jump in the rental car and go to FedEx/DHL to pick it all up and drop off if you just spent 12 hours on a plane to London. But it works.

 

[Run&Gun]

I woudn't bother carrying on my tripod head, what's the point if it's insured? I have rented from LensRentals and had them ship to location but that can be a pain to jump in the rental car and go to FedEx/DHL to pick it all up and drop off if you just spent 12 hours on a plane tp London. But it works.

That’s why you ship it to your hotel or location and have them pick-it up on the back-end. They don’t charge extra for that. I’ve had FedEx, UPS and Couriers(man, I miss those days when the nets did that) pick my cases up at the hotel or location.

 

[rob norton]

That’s why you ship it to your hotel or location and have them pick-it up on the back-end. They don’t charge extra for that. I’ve had FedEx, UPS and Couriers(man, I miss those days when the nets did that) pick my cases up at the hotel or location.

Do you eat the shipping costs personally or is it normal to pass them on? I guess when compared with the alternatives (extra/oversize bags) it's a huge bargain. I've thought about getting a small storage unit in Sydney just to hold a basic interview kit. Flying with camera equipment is doable but it's always such a compromise trying to fly with lighting equipment.

Do you ship absolutely everything or always fly with camera/other items?

I'm sure you've mentioned this information before but I'm asking anyway. It'd be good to try your method.

 

[Run&Gun]

Do you eat the shipping costs personally or is it normal to pass them on? I guess when compared with the alternatives (extra/oversize bags) it's a huge bargain. I've thought about getting a small storage unit in Sydney just to hold a basic interview kit. Flying with camera equipment is doable but it's always such a compromise trying to fly with lighting equipment.

Do you ship absolutely everything or always fly with camera/other items?

I'm sure you've mentioned this information before but I'm asking anyway. It'd be good to try your method.

Client always pays for shipping. With one in-particular, sometimes I can get them to create the shipping labels up-front and email them to me to use. They get absolutely ridiculous rates with UPS. They can ship overnight for the same or usually less than I pay for ground shipping. So it benefits them, as well, because they're paying a lot less because of their discount than If I just passed along my shipping costs.

The last few times I've had to fly for shoots it's been mixed, I shipped everything ahead for one(lights, camera, audio, support) and the last I shipped support and lights(very minimal-2x ice lights) and carried my cam and batts on-board with me.

Support is very important, so I don't get why someone would use one tripod/head at home, but a lesser one when they travel, just because it's lighter and may save them on shipping/baggage charges. So the shoot your traveling for is not as important as shoots you do at home...? If the set-up isn't a compromise, then why aren't you shooting with it all the time at home, too?

 

[rob norton]

Client always pays for shipping. With one in-particular, sometimes I can get them to create the shipping labels up-front and email them to me to use. They get absolutely ridiculous rates with UPS. They can ship overnight for the same or usually less than I pay for ground shipping. So it benefits them, as well, because they're paying a lot less because of their discount than If I just passed along my shipping costs.

The last few times I've had to fly for shoots it's been mixed, I shipped everything ahead for one(lights, camera, audio, support) and the last I shipped support and lights(very minimal-2x ice lights) and carried my cam and batts on-board with me.

Support is very important, so I don't get why someone would use one tripod/head at home, but a lesser one when they travel, just because it's lighter and may save them on shipping/baggage charges. So the shoot your traveling for is not as important as shoots you do at home...? If the set-up isn't a compromise, then why aren't you shooting with it all the time at home, too?

It depends on the shoot I guess. For me, that's right i.e. if flying somewhere the shoot probably has lower expectations compared to a local shoot with much more equipment. Similarly, if you're being hired as more of a videographer doing corporate work then the tripod head is less important vs. needing a really good head for smooth movement during any live situations.

I've been a crew member on shoots out of town and thought the clients definitely should've hired locally instead of paying for us to fly!

 

[Run&Gun]

It depends on the shoot I guess. For me, that's right i.e. if flying somewhere the shoot probably has lower expectations compared to a local shoot with much more equipment. Similarly, if you're being hired as more of a videographer doing corporate work then the tripod head is less important vs. needing a really good head for smooth movement during any live situations.

I've been a crew member on shoots out of town and thought the clients definitely should've hired locally instead of paying for us to fly!

I don't get that. I see it all the time, but... Why bother with the trouble and expense of flying a crew in unless they are better than the local crew and the shoot is important?

 

[rob norton]

I don't get that. I see it all the time, but... Why bother with the trouble and expense of flying a crew in unless they are better than the local crew and the shoot is important?

These answers aren't me speaking down to you like you haven't thought of any of this and I know your question is more rhetorical i.e. "what's the point"? Here's a list anyway:

- Production person has an in with the client, who is happy to keep it in the family
- Clients are lazy and would rather pay for travel than look into a new set of local crew members
- Clients are busy and would rather spend time doing other things instead of looking into a new set of local crew members. Probably makes the most sense on a shoot with many different stops and finding multiple sets of crews would be a pain.
- They don't know otherwise and actually think it's the best way or believe their video person is that good
- taxes? Is it good for companies to spend on airlines? I don't know.

Most of us have probably been on both sides of the coin. You wouldn't want to be known as the person who's flown in and not good at the job.

 

[jb.]

The problem with those is you use up your weight allowance with just the stupid cases and once you land, you don't need that level of protextion most of the time.

If you show them a media pass (which you can have made for your own production company) most airlines have a "media rate" that removes the oversize and overweight fees up to something like 100 lbs. per piece. I don't travel Pelican cases (they are indeed too heavy), but I do travel with my Think Tank Production Manager 50 full of lights and such and an SKB rotomold tripod case with tripods and light stands. I have two different lengths of SKB case... one that will just fit my tripod and a few collapsible light stands. The other will fit broken-down C-stands and a larger tripod. They're actually remarkably light for being hard cases. I leave the heads on my sticks.

My cameras and lenses get broken down and packed into a Think Tank Airport Advantage roller case. The Airport Advantage has the advantage of fitting in every single overhead bin I've ever experienced... including some very small commuter and regional jets. I can get a pretty solid kit of gear into that bag too (C200, Z-Cam E2, several lenses, and batteries). If I'm really packing out, I'll swap my laptop messenger bag for a Think Tank Streetwalker Hard Drive backpack that will let me pack even more gear. Both of these bags have all the inserts removed and I wrap the gear in lens wraps and pack it tightly. The Streetwalker goes in the overhead and I can fit the Airport Advantage under the seat (though I try very hard for bulkhead so I can put them both up in the overheads).

Oh, and my clothes go into a suitcase that is nearly always checked. Sometimes I'll pack them in the Production Manager if there's room.

 

[Run&Gun]

These answers aren't me speaking down to you like you haven't thought of any of this and I know your question is more rhetorical i.e. "what's the point"? Here's a list anyway:

- Production person has an in with the client, who is happy to keep it in the family
- Clients are lazy and would rather pay for travel than look into a new set of local crew members
- Clients are busy and would rather spend time doing other things instead of looking into a new set of local crew members. Probably makes the most sense on a shoot with many different stops and finding multiple sets of crews would be a pain.
- They don't know otherwise and actually think it's the best way or believe their video person is that good
- taxes? Is it good for companies to spend on airlines? I don't know.

Most of us have probably been on both sides of the coin. You wouldn't want to be known as the person who's flown in and not good at the job.

Oh yeah, I get it and it was mostly rhetorical/me bitching, because I see it all the time and of course, have seen both sides of the coin, as well.