Ping: Roger and Bill Hilton

I have a question for you regarding over-seas airline travel with the Canon
500 f4.

What carry-on do you use for this lens?
I'm hoping to find a bag that will accomodate this lens along with a number
of other kit items (2 bodies, multiple lenses, etc.), but I know size is
limited for international carry-ons.

You've both mentioned that the 500 was preferable to the 400 2.8 for
carry-on considerations, but I'm interested to hear your packing set-up.

My main question is:
What bag, and what ELSE can you fit with the lens?
Ideally I need something that will allow my small laptop (Sony SZ, 13"
screen, very small).
While the Computrekker will hold the lens...I'm concerned, as my **Rolling**
Computrakker is too large (too deep) to carry on. The non-rolling version
is somewhat thinner, and fits within the 45" limit.

In case it matters...my kit will include:

1D3 (if it arrives...if not, another body)
500 f4 (of course)
5D (with or without grip if necessary)
70-200 2.8 IS
16-35 2.8
24-105 IS
1.4x and 2x
Two 580EXs
100 2.8 macro
Batteries, chargers, etc.
50 1.4 (optional)
Epson P5000
Several small hard drives (small, laptop size)
Laptop

I'll check tripods and some other gear, and will assume I can get away with
the additional bag...my Orion AW for one body, the 70-200, 16-35, and a
mounted lens.

I'm also interested to hear which African airlines you flew with, and what
their carry-on restrictions were.

-I know you've both done this before so I value your input quite highly.
Thanks for any info/experience...

Mark

--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson

"Mark²" wrote:
I have a question for you regarding over-seas airline travel with the Canon
500 f4.

What carry-on do you use for this lens?

Hi Mark,

As Roger mentioned, the Lowe Pro PhotoTrekker AW is the one, the right
dimensions for carry-on-legal but still enough room for the 500 ...
the larger Lowe Pro bags will often get flagged at the gate since they
are too big.

You've both mentioned that the 500 was preferable to the 400 2.8 for
carry-on considerations, but I'm interested to hear your packing set-up.
My main question is:
What bag, and what ELSE can you fit with the lens?

Here are two photos I took for someone last year who had this same Q,
showing how much gear you can fit in ...
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1472.jpg
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1476.jpg

I have a separate hard case for the lens hoods for the 70-200's and
other lenses that I pack in checked baggage.

Ideally I need something that will allow my small laptop (Sony SZ, 13"
screen, very small).

The laptop will fit in the outside pocket but then the bag is too deep
to fit in the overhead, so I don't think you can fit a laptop and a
500 f/4 in one bag ...

In case it matters...my kit will include:

1D3 (if it arrives...if not, another body)
500 f4 (of course)
5D (with or without grip if necessary)
70-200 2.8 IS
16-35 2.8
24-105 IS
1.4x and 2x

You can get all the above in if you lay the converters on top of the
70-200 (in my pics I have one less lens and have a flash above the
70-200)

Two 580EXs
100 2.8 macro
Batteries, chargers, etc.
50 1.4 (optional)
Epson P5000
Several small hard drives (small, laptop size)
Laptop

You can get a couple more batteries in and the Epson P-5000, but not
the flashes or the extra lenses.

I'm also interested to hear which African airlines you flew with, and what
their carry-on restrictions were.

Which country are you visiting? If you go to Namibia or South Africa,
you can avoid flying in-country (or at least I did, I just rented a
car and took off ... driving on the wrong side of the road with jet
lag .

If you are going to Kenya or Tanzania then I suggest just taking the
major airlines to Nairobi or Arusha (where I've gone the last three
trips) and drive everywhere from there. Our safari outfitter offered
to fly us back from Serengeti to Arusha the last day, which saves 5-7
hours of dusty driving, but because of the weight restrictions we
avoid flying in-country. This simplifies things greatly, at the cost
of a bit more driving.

Botswana and Zambia are the two countries you may have to fly in-
country a lot because of the lack of roads. Many of the lodges have
charter flights on small planes and space is limited, so often the
guests are allowed only 33 lbs total for all their luggage ... the
guys I know who go to Bots often have to buy an extra seat on the
plane just for their gear, and sometimes even that isn't available.
This is one of the three reasons many long-lens photograpers avoid
Bots, as great as the photo opps are ...

Couple of other things ... you can bring a 2nd small bag for your
laptop in almost all European countries. The major exception to this
right now is flying via London because they are strictly limiting it
to one item (even a purse counts as the only allowable one item). But
from the other EU countries you can board with a normal bag and a
small bag for a laptop. I think London will have to conform to EU
rules next fall (not sure about all these details but I think that's
right).

Anyway, we always try to avoid London and go via Amsterdam, in part
for this reason.

Also, with all the gear in the LowePro bag you will be over-weight ...
at Amsterdam on the KLM flights to Arusha the limit was 10 kilos (22
lbs) and our camera bags were 30-35 lbs (wife's is lower). They had a
scale at the gate and were checking people with larger looking bags
but we managed to skate past this without getting weighed ... I had a
vest that I could use for 10 lbs of gear but didn't have to use it ...
but just to warn you, in case you get weighed.

-I know you've both done this before so I value your input quite highly.
Thanks for any info/experience...

Mark

Have a good trip.

Bill

Hi, Do you suggest a traveler use a photo vest and load it up to lighten the
carry-on bag(s)?

Three friends flew to Paris last year to shoot the 24 Hours of Le Mans and
all of them with 1D bodies, 500's and laptops in the Think Tank roller bag
and put nearly everything else (70-200, 16-35's, TC's and batts) in a photo
vest because of the very low weight limit on carry on bags while no limit on
what you can carry on your person.



"Bill Hilton" wrote in message
ups.com...
"Mark" wrote:
I have a question for you regarding over-seas airline travel with the
Canon
500 f4.

What carry-on do you use for this lens?

Hi Mark,

As Roger mentioned, the Lowe Pro PhotoTrekker AW is the one, the right
dimensions for carry-on-legal but still enough room for the 500 ...
the larger Lowe Pro bags will often get flagged at the gate since they
are too big.

You've both mentioned that the 500 was preferable to the 400 2.8 for
carry-on considerations, but I'm interested to hear your packing set-up.
My main question is:
What bag, and what ELSE can you fit with the lens?

Here are two photos I took for someone last year who had this same Q,
showing how much gear you can fit in ...
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1472.jpg
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1476.jpg

I have a separate hard case for the lens hoods for the 70-200's and
other lenses that I pack in checked baggage.

Ideally I need something that will allow my small laptop (Sony SZ, 13"
screen, very small).

The laptop will fit in the outside pocket but then the bag is too deep
to fit in the overhead, so I don't think you can fit a laptop and a
500 f/4 in one bag ...

In case it matters...my kit will include:

1D3 (if it arrives...if not, another body)
500 f4 (of course)
5D (with or without grip if necessary)
70-200 2.8 IS
16-35 2.8
24-105 IS
1.4x and 2x

You can get all the above in if you lay the converters on top of the
70-200 (in my pics I have one less lens and have a flash above the
70-200)

Two 580EXs
100 2.8 macro
Batteries, chargers, etc.
50 1.4 (optional)
Epson P5000
Several small hard drives (small, laptop size)
Laptop

You can get a couple more batteries in and the Epson P-5000, but not
the flashes or the extra lenses.

I'm also interested to hear which African airlines you flew with, and what
their carry-on restrictions were.

Which country are you visiting? If you go to Namibia or South Africa,
you can avoid flying in-country (or at least I did, I just rented a
car and took off ... driving on the wrong side of the road with jet
lag .

If you are going to Kenya or Tanzania then I suggest just taking the
major airlines to Nairobi or Arusha (where I've gone the last three
trips) and drive everywhere from there. Our safari outfitter offered
to fly us back from Serengeti to Arusha the last day, which saves 5-7
hours of dusty driving, but because of the weight restrictions we
avoid flying in-country. This simplifies things greatly, at the cost
of a bit more driving.

Botswana and Zambia are the two countries you may have to fly in-
country a lot because of the lack of roads. Many of the lodges have
charter flights on small planes and space is limited, so often the
guests are allowed only 33 lbs total for all their luggage ... the
guys I know who go to Bots often have to buy an extra seat on the
plane just for their gear, and sometimes even that isn't available.
This is one of the three reasons many long-lens photograpers avoid
Bots, as great as the photo opps are ...

Couple of other things ... you can bring a 2nd small bag for your
laptop in almost all European countries. The major exception to this
right now is flying via London because they are strictly limiting it
to one item (even a purse counts as the only allowable one item). But
from the other EU countries you can board with a normal bag and a
small bag for a laptop. I think London will have to conform to EU
rules next fall (not sure about all these details but I think that's
right).

Anyway, we always try to avoid London and go via Amsterdam, in part
for this reason.

Also, with all the gear in the LowePro bag you will be over-weight ...
at Amsterdam on the KLM flights to Arusha the limit was 10 kilos (22
lbs) and our camera bags were 30-35 lbs (wife's is lower). They had a
scale at the gate and were checking people with larger looking bags
but we managed to skate past this without getting weighed ... I had a
vest that I could use for 10 lbs of gear but didn't have to use it ...
but just to warn you, in case you get weighed.

-I know you've both done this before so I value your input quite highly.
Thanks for any info/experience...

Mark

Have a good trip.

Bill

Bill Hilton wrote:
"Mark" wrote:
I have a question for you regarding over-seas airline travel with
the Canon 500 f4.

What carry-on do you use for this lens?

Hi Mark,

As Roger mentioned, the Lowe Pro PhotoTrekker AW is the one, the right
dimensions for carry-on-legal but still enough room for the 500 ...
the larger Lowe Pro bags will often get flagged at the gate since they
are too big.

You've both mentioned that the 500 was preferable to the 400 2.8 for
carry-on considerations, but I'm interested to hear your packing
set-up. My main question is:
What bag, and what ELSE can you fit with the lens?

Here are two photos I took for someone last year who had this same Q,
showing how much gear you can fit in ...
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1472.jpg
http://members.aol.com/bhilton665/tests/W1476.jpg

I have a separate hard case for the lens hoods for the 70-200's and
other lenses that I pack in checked baggage.

Ideally I need something that will allow my small laptop (Sony SZ,
13" screen, very small).

The laptop will fit in the outside pocket but then the bag is too deep
to fit in the overhead, so I don't think you can fit a laptop and a
500 f/4 in one bag ...

In case it matters...my kit will include:

1D3 (if it arrives...if not, another body)
500 f4 (of course)
5D (with or without grip if necessary)
70-200 2.8 IS
16-35 2.8
24-105 IS
1.4x and 2x

You can get all the above in if you lay the converters on top of the
70-200 (in my pics I have one less lens and have a flash above the
70-200)

Two 580EXs
100 2.8 macro
Batteries, chargers, etc.
50 1.4 (optional)
Epson P5000
Several small hard drives (small, laptop size)
Laptop

You can get a couple more batteries in and the Epson P-5000, but not
the flashes or the extra lenses.

I'm also interested to hear which African airlines you flew with,
and what their carry-on restrictions were.

Which country are you visiting? If you go to Namibia or South Africa,
you can avoid flying in-country (or at least I did, I just rented a
car and took off ... driving on the wrong side of the road with jet
lag .

If you are going to Kenya or Tanzania then I suggest just taking the
major airlines to Nairobi or Arusha (where I've gone the last three
trips) and drive everywhere from there. Our safari outfitter offered
to fly us back from Serengeti to Arusha the last day, which saves 5-7
hours of dusty driving, but because of the weight restrictions we
avoid flying in-country. This simplifies things greatly, at the cost
of a bit more driving.

Botswana and Zambia are the two countries you may have to fly in-
country a lot because of the lack of roads. Many of the lodges have
charter flights on small planes and space is limited, so often the
guests are allowed only 33 lbs total for all their luggage ... the
guys I know who go to Bots often have to buy an extra seat on the
plane just for their gear, and sometimes even that isn't available.
This is one of the three reasons many long-lens photograpers avoid
Bots, as great as the photo opps are ...

Couple of other things ... you can bring a 2nd small bag for your
laptop in almost all European countries. The major exception to this
right now is flying via London because they are strictly limiting it
to one item (even a purse counts as the only allowable one item). But
from the other EU countries you can board with a normal bag and a
small bag for a laptop. I think London will have to conform to EU
rules next fall (not sure about all these details but I think that's
right).

Anyway, we always try to avoid London and go via Amsterdam, in part
for this reason.

Also, with all the gear in the LowePro bag you will be over-weight ...
at Amsterdam on the KLM flights to Arusha the limit was 10 kilos (22
lbs) and our camera bags were 30-35 lbs (wife's is lower). They had a
scale at the gate and were checking people with larger looking bags
but we managed to skate past this without getting weighed ... I had a
vest that I could use for 10 lbs of gear but didn't have to use it ...
but just to warn you, in case you get weighed.

-I know you've both done this before so I value your input quite
highly. Thanks for any info/experience...

Mark

Have a good trip.

Bill

Lots of great info, there, Bill. Thank you. The pictures are helpful as
well. I have that bag, though I don't often carry it any more. I'll have
to haul it out for this one...

I'll be in Swaziland, Mozambique and S. Africa... My first purpose for this
trip isn't photography, so some of my opportunities will be far more limited
that yours were, I'm afraid.

I'm concerned about a flight that connects through Paris, as I suspect they
may be pickier than other ports regarding carry-on weight. I've got a big
vest that I bought last summer for just such a use...so I'll be sure to
bring it along in case I need to stuff it to the gills. -Seems rather
ridiculous, but I guess you have to play their game sometimes...

I may choose to leave the 500 at home until a family member joins me in
Africa. They aren't photog types and might be willing to haul the big lens
for me. I won't need it in Ukraine, and it would likely be a liability/risk
there anyway.

At this point my concern is getting through Paris with the carry on...

What are your latest big-trip plans??

Thank you again for your help.

-Mark

--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson

On 23 May 2007 09:22:39 -0700, Bill Hilton
mentioned:


Couple of other things ... you can bring a 2nd small bag for your
laptop in almost all European countries. The major exception to this
right now is flying via London because they are strictly limiting it
to one item (even a purse counts as the only allowable one item). But
from the other EU countries you can board with a normal bag and a
small bag for a laptop. I think London will have to conform to EU
rules next fall (not sure about all these details but I think that's
right).

It's the other way round - the UK is ahead of the game, the date for
implementation was supposed to be last April but has been put back.
The rest of the EU will be falling in line soon, quite a few countries
already have a 1 item limit but with the old, larger size.

Brian

"just bob" kilbyfan@aoldotcom wrote:

Hi, Do you suggest a traveler use a photo vest and load it up to lighten the
carry-on bag(s)?

You can do it that way, a lot of photographers take advantage of this
loophole.

On these trips to Africa I wear the vest so I can temporarily move
enough gear
from the bag to the vest if I get weighed, but thus far I've skated
thru. The vest is useful
for carrying things like passports and tix in the zippered pockets and
books or magazines
in the bellows pockets, but they are kinda dorky looking

Three friends flew to Paris last year to shoot the 24 Hours of Le Mans and
all of them with 1D bodies, 500's and laptops in the Think Tank roller bag
and put nearly everything else (70-200, 16-35's, TC's and batts) in a photo
vest because of the very low weight limit on carry on bags while no limit on
what you can carry on your person.

Yeah, a lot of people do this ...

Bill

"Mark" wrote:

I'll be in Swaziland, Mozambique and S. Africa... My first purpose for this
trip isn't photography, so some of my opportunities will be far more limited
that yours were, I'm afraid.

I would just skip taking the 500 to these countries and almost all of
these weight problems go away ...

I'm concerned about a flight that connects through Paris, as I suspect they
may be pickier than other ports regarding carry-on weight.

I'll be flying to Paris in a few weeks so will check out their policy
first-hand. You can usually find the airlines' policy on carry-on
allowances on their web sites. Usually they are
not as tight-assed as the Brits ...

I may choose to leave the 500 at home ...

That's what I'd do ... I'll be in France for several weeks with just a
24-105 and 70-200, maybe splitting a 100 macro with my wife ...

At this point my concern is getting through Paris with the carry on...

Buzz me around the end of June when we get back and I'll know for
certain ...

Bill

On May 24, 7:38?am, Brian wrote:
On 23 May 2007 09:22:39 -0700, Bill Hilton
mentioned:



Couple of other things ... you can bring a 2nd small bag for your
laptop in almost all European countries. The major exception to this
right now is flying via London because they are strictly limiting it
to one item (even a purse counts as the only allowable one item). But
from the other EU countries you can board with a normal bag and a
small bag for a laptop. I think London will have to conform to EU
rules next fall (not sure about all these details but I think that's
right).

It's the other way round - the UK is ahead of the game, the date for
implementation was supposed to be last April but has been put back.
The rest of the EU will be falling in line soon, quite a few countries
already have a 1 item limit but with the old, larger size.

Brian

Hi Brian,

What I read is the date for one common EU policy has slipped to May
2008 at the earliest
and that the UK wants to go to a one-bag carry-on limit but many of
the other countries don't
like this because of all the problems it creates for business
travelers, who want a second
bag for a laptop. So it's still up in the air as to which policy will
win out and when it will be
implemented.

For sure Amsterdam allows two carry-ons (wife was there a few weeks
ago with a camera bag and a laptop bag) ... I'll see what the deal is
in Paris in a couple of weeks but I think London is still the main
connecting point with a firm single-bag rule.

Bill

Bill Hilton wrote:
"Mark" wrote:

I'll be in Swaziland, Mozambique and S. Africa... My first purpose
for this trip isn't photography, so some of my opportunities will be
far more limited that yours were, I'm afraid.

I would just skip taking the 500 to these countries and almost all of
these weight problems go away ...

I'm concerned about a flight that connects through Paris, as I
suspect they may be pickier than other ports regarding carry-on
weight.

I'll be flying to Paris in a few weeks so will check out their policy
first-hand. You can usually find the airlines' policy on carry-on
allowances on their web sites. Usually they are
not as tight-assed as the Brits ...

I may choose to leave the 500 at home ...

That's what I'd do ... I'll be in France for several weeks with just a
24-105 and 70-200, maybe splitting a 100 macro with my wife ...

You might...but I've never been to Africa, and don't know when I'll be
back...
In fact, it had a lot to do with why I'm buying the 500 at this particular
time (ordered it today).

At this point my concern is getting through Paris with the carry
on...

Buzz me around the end of June when we get back and I'll know for
certain ...

Wow! -Made-to-order backage confirmation!
Your timing is good.

I'll be itching for a trip to Alaska now that I won't be merely wishing for
the 500+.
Thanks again, Bill.

-Mark
--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson

On May 22, 11:06 pm, "Mark²" mjmorgan(lowest even number
wrote:

I have a question for you regarding over-seas airline travel with the Canon
500 f4.

What carry-on do you use for this lens?
I'm hoping to find a bag that will accomodate this lens along with a number
of other kit items (2 bodies, multiple lenses, etc.), but I know size is
limited for international carry-ons.

Seriously consider the Kinesis stuff. Not only is it excellent carry-
on, but it's just excellent in the field.

http://kgear.com/

I use their large lens pouch for the 500/4, and have various side
pouches for the body and some smaller lenses. The entire setup can be
quickly taken apart and individual items jammed -- even the 500/4 --
into even the tiny overheads on commuter jets or turbo-props. It's
even taken a ride on a twin-otter.

1D3 (if it arrives...if not, another body)
500 f4 (of course)
5D (with or without grip if necessary)
70-200 2.8 IS
16-35 2.8
24-105 IS
1.4x and 2x
Two 580EXs
100 2.8 macro
Batteries, chargers, etc.
50 1.4 (optional)
Epson P5000
Several small hard drives (small, laptop size)
Laptop

I'm similar, except I don't bother with the computer, or a 24-105.
The smaller lenses are checked with the tripod etc. When I enter the
plane, on my back and hips a

500/4 (large pouch, on back)
300/4 (hip)
180/3.5 (hip)
17-35/2.8 (pouch attached to 500/4 pouch)
1D2 (about to become a 1D3) (ditto)
1.4x and 2x (ditto)
Canon 15x50 IS binoculars

I have the backup HDD's and other items (e.g., flashes) in my vest.
The rest is checked in a nondescript duffel, with optics inside lens
pouches and carefully wrapped and re-wrapped. The above are also
carefully packed, with the 500/4's hood in the "stowed" position so to
speak (this gives lots of room for the binoculars). When you arrive,
you simply unpack the 500/4, flip hood around and go into "working
mode": the Kinesis large-lens pouch can hold the 500/4 with the hood
in the "shooting position".

So far I've had no problem, as the entire rig isn't much larger than a
daypack. The added flexibility has proven useful on one occasion when
dealing with airline personnel: had I been using a monolithic bag
then, it would probably have been checked against my wishes. But
note: I've never been to Europe nor Africa. And reading some of the
hassles you have to endure, I doubt I ever will...