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?
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

Hi Mark,
Bill and I both use a Lowepro Phototrekker AW backpacks,
which I think is no longer available, but is replaced with the
Phototrekker AW II
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

The Phototrekker AW is the largest backpack that is
carry-on legal for typical US airlines (like United).
To make it legal, you have to take off the tripod support
(which was on the back of the AW, and appears on the
side of the AW II, I think)

I generally carry in a 1DII, 10D (now 30D), 500 f/4,
300 f/4, 70-200 f/4 L IS, 28-135 IS, 1.4x, 2x TCs,
24mm, filters, batteries and the stack
of CF cards. Not much room for much
else (maybe a P5000). A laptop will not fit,
and if you stick any material in the back pouches,
it is technically too thick to be legal.
I have had difficulty getting it in the overhead
bin on some small planes (but managed to do it).
This outfit weighs about 45 pounds.

I generally carry a second bag for the computer.
This can be a real problem on some airlines with
one bag limits. Also, many European airlines
have a low weight limit, typically 14 to 16 pounds.

When we went to Africa in January, we flew KLM from
Amsterdam to Arusha. KLM has a 16 pound limit (if I'm
remembering correctly--really low). We wore photo
vests and looked like stuffed turkeys (in more ways than
one), and were still over weight limits, but tried to
make the backpacks look light. I was really sweating, but Bill
looked cooler having done this other times. They pulled
a woman out of line in Amsterdam to weigh her very large bag,
so didn't bother us with our "smaller" looking bags.

I generally put flashes in checked luggage along with
some small lenses (like a 50 f/1.8).

So, in general, it can be tough and depends on how
much the airline enforces the weight restrictions
(which don't seem to be all that much in my experience).

I'm about to test Aegean Air, with a 1-bag 8 kg carry-on
limit.

Hope this helps,

Roger

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
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?
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.

Hi Mark,
Bill and I both use a Lowepro Phototrekker AW backpacks,
which I think is no longer available, but is replaced with the
Phototrekker AW II
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

The Phototrekker AW is the largest backpack that is
carry-on legal for typical US airlines (like United).
To make it legal, you have to take off the tripod support
(which was on the back of the AW, and appears on the
side of the AW II, I think)

I generally carry in a 1DII, 10D (now 30D), 500 f/4,
300 f/4, 70-200 f/4 L IS, 28-135 IS, 1.4x, 2x TCs,
24mm, filters, batteries and the stack
of CF cards. Not much room for much
else (maybe a P5000). A laptop will not fit,
and if you stick any material in the back pouches,
it is technically too thick to be legal.
I have had difficulty getting it in the overhead
bin on some small planes (but managed to do it).
This outfit weighs about 45 pounds.

I generally carry a second bag for the computer.
This can be a real problem on some airlines with
one bag limits. Also, many European airlines
have a low weight limit, typically 14 to 16 pounds.

When we went to Africa in January, we flew KLM from
Amsterdam to Arusha. KLM has a 16 pound limit (if I'm
remembering correctly--really low). We wore photo
vests and looked like stuffed turkeys (in more ways than
one), and were still over weight limits, but tried to
make the backpacks look light. I was really sweating, but Bill
looked cooler having done this other times. They pulled
a woman out of line in Amsterdam to weigh her very large bag,
so didn't bother us with our "smaller" looking bags.

I generally put flashes in checked luggage along with
some small lenses (like a 50 f/1.8).

So, in general, it can be tough and depends on how
much the airline enforces the weight restrictions
(which don't seem to be all that much in my experience).

I'm about to test Aegean Air, with a 1-bag 8 kg carry-on
limit.

Hope this helps,

Roger

So you stuffed your photo vest pockets with as many lenses and items as you
could...later placing them back into the LowePro? Is that right? I
considered trying that last summer...but didn't have to do it.

What did you do with the laptop when dealing with one-bag airlines??

Good info.
Thanks,

Mark

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

Mark² wrote:
Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
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?
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.

Hi Mark,
Bill and I both use a Lowepro Phototrekker AW backpacks,
which I think is no longer available, but is replaced with the
Phototrekker AW II
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

The Phototrekker AW is the largest backpack that is
carry-on legal for typical US airlines (like United).
To make it legal, you have to take off the tripod support
(which was on the back of the AW, and appears on the
side of the AW II, I think)

I generally carry in a 1DII, 10D (now 30D), 500 f/4,
300 f/4, 70-200 f/4 L IS, 28-135 IS, 1.4x, 2x TCs,
24mm, filters, batteries and the stack
of CF cards. Not much room for much
else (maybe a P5000). A laptop will not fit,
and if you stick any material in the back pouches,
it is technically too thick to be legal.
I have had difficulty getting it in the overhead
bin on some small planes (but managed to do it).
This outfit weighs about 45 pounds.

I generally carry a second bag for the computer.
This can be a real problem on some airlines with
one bag limits. Also, many European airlines
have a low weight limit, typically 14 to 16 pounds.

When we went to Africa in January, we flew KLM from
Amsterdam to Arusha. KLM has a 16 pound limit (if I'm
remembering correctly--really low). We wore photo
vests and looked like stuffed turkeys (in more ways than
one), and were still over weight limits, but tried to
make the backpacks look light. I was really sweating, but Bill
looked cooler having done this other times. They pulled
a woman out of line in Amsterdam to weigh her very large bag,
so didn't bother us with our "smaller" looking bags.

I generally put flashes in checked luggage along with
some small lenses (like a 50 f/1.8).

So, in general, it can be tough and depends on how
much the airline enforces the weight restrictions
(which don't seem to be all that much in my experience).

I'm about to test Aegean Air, with a 1-bag 8 kg carry-on
limit.

Hope this helps,

Roger

So you stuffed your photo vest pockets with as many lenses and items as you
could...later placing them back into the LowePro? Is that right? I
considered trying that last summer...but didn't have to do it.

Yes. I even stuffed the 1D2 and 10D in the photo vest.

What did you do with the laptop when dealing with one-bag airlines??

I haven't taken the 500, so I switch to the computrekker, and
again stuff lenses and camera bodies into the vest to
get within the weight limit. If you are wearing it, it
doesn't count toward the weight limit. Pretty stupid.

The other alternative is to travel with a companion who
is not a photographer, but is willing to help carry
gear.

Roger

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:

The other alternative is to travel with a companion who
is not a photographer, but is willing to help carry
gear.

Roger

OK. One more question...
I can't seem to figure out what lens hood the 500 comes with.
I see this very substantial hood pictured he
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx
....but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html

They list it at $519, but it appears to be no different than the cheaper
hoods made for the 100-400, etc. Is this simply the wrong picture?? I
would hope that $519 pays for a much more substantial piece of hardware,
like the one in first link, above.

What gives? Thanks again.

Mark

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

Mark² wrote:
Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:

The other alternative is to travel with a companion who
is not a photographer, but is willing to help carry
gear.

Roger

OK. One more question...
I can't seem to figure out what lens hood the 500 comes with.
I see this very substantial hood pictured he
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx
...but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html

Those links sort of got mucked up together...
Here they are again:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx

but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html

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

Mark² wrote:
Mark² wrote:
Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:

The other alternative is to travel with a companion who
is not a photographer, but is willing to help carry
gear.

Roger
OK. One more question...
I can't seem to figure out what lens hood the 500 comes with.
I see this very substantial hood pictured he
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx
...but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html

Those links sort of got mucked up together...
Here they are again:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx

but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html

Hmm, mine came with the substantial hood shown in the first
link. But I went to the B&H site and looked up the 500 and
see that the "item includes" section links to the hood
in your second link. Why not call them and if that is correct,
see they will go for the other lens hood. O maybe Canon
has stopped making the lens hood and the new one is the standard.
At $519 it must be more than plastic. To mee it appears
that the ET-138 black hood is not as long as the other
hood. The longer hood offers better protection from
stray light as well as dust, water spray, etc.

Roger

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
Mark² wrote:


http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx


but then B&H indicates this cheap looking hood:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Lens_Hood.html


Hmm, mine came with the substantial hood shown in the first
link. But I went to the B&H site and looked up the 500 and
see that the "item includes" section links to the hood
in your second link. Why not call them and if that is correct,
see they will go for the other lens hood. O maybe Canon
has stopped making the lens hood and the new one is the standard.
At $519 it must be more than plastic. To mee it appears
that the ET-138 black hood is not as long as the other
hood. The longer hood offers better protection from
stray light as well as dust, water spray, etc.

Dang! They are closed now for another day, are BnH. Almost bought the
lens, more than the first (new) car I bought, more than Porches sold for
in the early 60's.

You gotta get the white coated metal one. Or you could fabricate one by
cutting a beer keg in sections....

Good luck and can I borrow it soon??

--
john mcwilliams

"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