Q&A - How I Pack My Big Lenses | PhotoWILD
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- Опубліковано 31 сер 2021
- Of all the questions I get, one that keeps coming up over and over is how I travel with all my equipment.
A couple years back I wrote an extensive article on this (with step-by-step photos) on how I travel with gear called How to Pack Like the BBC.
I have worked with film crews from the BBC, Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, PBS, and many others. With natural history work, crews often show up on location with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. And it all goes in the belly of the plane as checked baggage.
Trust me. This stuff isn’t going on the plane as a carryon!
For those of you who may have missed that article in the Journal of Wildlife Photography, I threw together a quick video discussing the process.
Given the breadth of the work I do, especially when I’m working on conservation projects, I often travel with several different “kits.” One may be big lenses - 600mm and 200-400 + cameras. Another may be macro equipment. Then there may be lighting equipment: 5 flash bodies, various soft boxes, flash stands, clamps, chords, etc. And, of course, this says nothing of some of the other accessories like drones that may show up depending on the assignment or project.
Check out the video. Let me know what you think. And remember to send me any questions you would like to see me answer in these Questions & Action emails!
The equipment shown here:
Pelican Case 1560
Shinn 80L F-stop bag with Master Cine ICU (holds a 600mm w/ camera attached AND 200-400 w/ camera attached).
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You're absolutely right about the construction of these pelican cases.. Actually, the Canadian armed forces appoints every Canadian soldier with one of these cases to ship and store their valuables.
If they're trusted by the Canadian armed forces, they're definitely worth the $ although very expensive!
Jared- I thought I was the only one who left a note for TSA, along with the zip-ties, on top of my gear. Likewise, it's worked every time for me; they've re-secured it as requested, and never had an issue. Great tip for traveling with expensive gear of any kind...
I forget if it was John Brown from the BBC Natural History Unit or Tom Mangleson that first told me about the “note.” But it’s definitely a crucial part of the equation!
Jared,
Great information on how you travel, and usage of zip ties to lock the lid. I agree with protection that Pelican cases provide. But I believe the best protection is with foam or dividers inside the hard case to absorb the impact. I see in later responses you mention using the precut type of foam in other cases.
Very helpful with the zip ties. Thanks for the advice!
Great info, how about also doing a video on the bags you use (like the in the case) and what you have inside for different trip needs?
Great tip! I would never have thought of adding the zip ties! I have excellent Nanuk cases which are similar to the Pelican cases and I've checked very valuable cargo many times with (knock wood) very good experience. Never any damage or loss, so far. Do check your homeowner's insurance, but it probably covers your camera gear if the airlines lose it.
Hi David! Those Nanak cases are awesome. I have a few of them as well as the HPRC cases. It literally is an ever growing stack of these things!
@@JaredLloydPhotos I've also used mycasebuilder (there may be others that do this too) online to custom cut polyethylene foam for my gear. Their tools are good and PE foam is way better than pick and pluck. It is not an inexpensive solution but it works great. I have more than one PE insert configured for some of my cases depending on what I am carrying.
I will definitely check this out!
That's not a bad way with adding the zip ties and note but I still don't know if I could do it. I travel with a 600 F4 two R5 with grips and a 100-500 and two teleconverters in my backpack and it is heavy but I feel better knowing how it's handled and its with me. I also will fly first class so I know I'll have no problem with overhead bin space.
Great video. Which f-stop bag are you using?
Vito, thank you very much! I use the F-stop Shinn with Master Cine ICU so it holds both my 400 and 800 with camera bodies attached. shop.fstopgear.com/camera-bags/shinn-80l-duradiamond-adventure-and-cine-camera-backpack?rfsn=6966295.5a600a
if you don't need one quite so big, you might look at the ThinkTank Backlite Elite 45L: www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/backlight-series/products/backlight-elite-45l-backpack/?rfsn=6970405.618b12
@@JaredLloydPhotos thank you so much--I am going to look at both of those options
How to do you take your tripods ?
Do you insure your equipment through an independent insurance company or do you use the airline insurance? That's my concern with this type of travel.
Great thoughts, but....what if you don't have a place to leave the Pelican while you are on the trip?
As in, you won’t have a hotel room your staying at? I often have them stacked in the back of my vehicle
@@JaredLloydPhotos I was thinking of trips I've made to Africa. We have to keep everything with us all the time, and we move a good bit. Thx.