Should I risk my equipment in my checked baggage?

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/01/2007 09:30:04 PM · #1

We are traveling from Guam to CO for a visit here in a week. I am bringing my 20d, 420ex, 70-200mm 2.8L IS, 24-70L, & 10-22mm with me.

Usually I tote my camera bag through the airports, but it is a royal PITA as we are traveling with our two young kids and lots of luggage.

I was considering wrapping my lenses in clothes and sending it off with my checked baggage.

Would it be too much of a risk??

pamelasue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/01/2007 09:32:20 PM · #2

Don't risk it ... think of how awful you'll feel if your gear is gone when you open your suitcase ...

Message edited by author 2007-06-01 21:32:55.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

06/01/2007 09:37:13 PM · #3

Pack the kids in the checked baggage and carry on the camera gear. :D

ordinaryangel

Nikon D80

06/01/2007 09:38:18 PM · #4

Don't even think about putting it in your checked baggage. The risk of damage or loss is just too high. When I travel I don't even put my equipment in the overhead compartments, it sits at my feet where I can keep a watchful eye on it!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/01/2007 09:40:37 PM · #5

Originally posted by Mick:

Pack the kids in the checked baggage and carry on the camera gear. :D

Even easier!!! Thanks for the tip ;)

ibkc

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/01/2007 09:41:26 PM · #6

Don't do it! I just got back from the Bahamas. I carried on my camera gear and everything else I had I could handle. I looked outside to where they were loading the cruise ship and noticed that there were a lot of baggage carts with passengers luggage piled on it left outside and being rained on. In all fairness, the rain showed up pretty randomly. But still, if I wouldn't have taken my camera gear carry-on, it would have at least gotten the bag rained on, if not the camera.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/01/2007 09:45:28 PM · #7

I would strongly recommend that you check with the airline in question to determine what the maximum size for carry on luggage is, and then strive to fit all the camera equipment in a camera bag meeting the specifications.

Judging by the items you wish to bring with you, I would not anticipate any problems with your bringing these items on board.

On a personal note, I would entrust my camera equipment to a baggage handler ONLY if I had absolutely no other alternative.

Good luck to you, and have a nice trip.

Ray

Beautiful-Joe

Olympus Stylus 770 SW

06/01/2007 09:53:59 PM · #8

Heh.. Had a camera majorly damaged that way.

I went to Florida with my relatives and took only one camera.. My favorite Canon at the time..

I put it in a rolling bag with my brother's video camera and after we got on the plane, we watched them load the bags from the window, and ours had a huge red button on it (so we knew which was ours) and we watched a guy throw it to another guy who missed it.. And it fell.

I started freaking out, but my mom told me to hush and that it was fine. We stopped once, but I didn't get to check on it. Then we arrived in Kissimee, and my brother's video camera was totalled.. My camera sort of bounced off of it inside of the bag.

Better safe than sorry.

chimericvisions

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

06/01/2007 10:00:29 PM · #9

Not unless you have a lockable, foam-filled airline hardcase.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/01/2007 10:12:30 PM · #10

I had a tripod damaged on the way to NM last Oct. It was in a bag, but one of the locking tabs was broken off when I arrived. I managed to get it locked in extended position and left it that way for the rest of the trip. I took two bags of gear with me on the plane, one with a couple of lenses, and the other with laptop, camera and a couple more lenses. No problem with getting it on the plane with me.
Safe travels, and good luck

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

06/01/2007 10:33:08 PM · #11

Thanks everyone. It seems like every says to just carry it on, and that is what I will do! I have travelled with the same camera bag in the past and have not had issues with it fitting anywhere.

Jenn

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

06/01/2007 10:55:37 PM · #12

If you're visiting someone you trust, you could send it UPS (insured of course).

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

06/02/2007 01:33:14 AM · #13

i use my lowepro sliplock tubes and do put my flashes in the checked luggage. And a lot of accessories, also in a tube. The primary lenses and cameras? Never.

(just back from Spain where we moved sites every day...still managed to kill the shutter on my 30D. Waaah.)

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

06/02/2007 02:29:04 AM · #14

Originally posted by hankk:

If you're visiting someone you trust, you could send it UPS (insured of course).

not sure if she can do that from guam but a good idea.

I would be less worried about them getting damaged then I would them not arriving at all. My luck the ONLY bag missing would be the one with my camera in it.

As chimericvisions mentioned, if you have a foam filled fitted suitcase you could probably get away with it...don't have one...make one.

Get that expanding spray insulation foam (I'm sure there are home do it yourself stores you can find it at), fill half the suitcase or whatever, with it and while still a bit soft wrap your equipment in plastic to protect it and place it half-way in the foam till it sets. Take a large trash bag and lay it over that layer it so it extends on all sides, then fill the other side and close it up. This will allow the equipment to be covered on all sides while closed but accessible when open. The trash bag will keep the two sides separate so you can re-open it after it all sets up.

I did this with a bowling ball, lol, I didn't have a bag and the box would still roll around so I took a boot box and filled it then placed the ball in it. Thing never moved.

BTW...enjoy your trip to colorado, I'm so jealous, say hi to the rockies for me k...oh and have a rocky mountain oyster for me too lol j/k! I hope to return for my high school reunion there next year but not sure if I'll get to. :(

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

06/02/2007 02:38:24 AM · #15

What a great idea for making your own case. I think I will just carry it on as I have in the past. The bag is just so heavy to lug around everything!

I was born and raised in Colorado. We haven't seen our family in nearly 2 years so we are going for a visit! I am so excited to have SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!..,.and Starbucks..LOL

dougi555

Nikon D800

06/02/2007 03:00:36 AM · #16

DO NOT put it in cheched in luggage...! I did, my case had padlocks and everything, but when i got to my destination hotel, all gone! Padlocks had even been replaced. Everything is x-rayed these days so they can see what's in there! A new canon 400d and lenses all gone! Thank g*d for insurance, and friends in camera shops!

riversong

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/02/2007 03:12:11 AM · #17

I know 2 people that had their cameras stolen from them! It's sad to say, but one can't trust the baggage handlers or the security people. I wouldn't risk it, but good luck to you if you do put your equipment on the plane .. I can't blame you, sounds like you have your hands full. Be sure to have a wonderful vacation!

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

06/02/2007 05:37:27 AM · #18

Originally posted by JRalston:

Shopping and Starbucks are definitely a blast:) I live in Brazil and was born in the States and get back every two or three years.

I would never check my camera equipment through, even with three kids (and a fourth arriving in July) and tons of carry on luggage. What you can do also, is decide if you want or need all of your equipment on the trip. I have a good backpack which works great for my traveling!

Have a great trip and a wonderful time with your family.