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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Transporting Lenses Do and Don't!!

I think the biggest killers of lenses (and cameras) are dust and moisture. For this reason I always use air/water tight Pelican cases containing desiccant.

I use padded dividers and wrap lenses in micro fibre cloth or extra foam.

I never check-in lenses, that's for sure.
 
Mitch Gross said:
RPPs would be front element facing up, although I might go for a case layout that had the two big ones on their side (so darn big). If an RPP was face down, then the first real grasp point would be the iris ring, and it would be used to lift about seven pounds of glass and metal. This on a ring that is being pulled laterally to its normal direction of turn, and one with fine thin mechanical blades attached within as well. Not a great idea.
Click to expand...

This would go for Master Primes as well.
 
Ciao Emanuel good to see you pop in here :)

You are right Pawel, and this is one of the reasons, I'm currently in the process of providing additional customized weatherized ATA cases from Innerspace, I have used Pelican for many years, and only recently switched to Storm's because of their better latch system, at list to me and to my uses, this cases provide the absolute best and superior protection against humidity and dust, but unfortunately they do not provide the much needed protection as the ATA hard cases do, like say when an Idiot on set decides to use the case as a chair with his lovely admirer sitting in his lap, and they sit right on the center of the case, inevitably Pelican/Storm cases do bend and the entire weight goes on to what ever you are carrying, NO GOOD!

NOnetheless we are also designing cutouts for the Storm cases, for lightweight and best weatherized protection on ocean and mountain excursions :)

I also always carry camera body and lenses on planes, always, even if I have to ask some one to help, which I did a lot :)

Never do the lenses and camera go below, never!

ciao
 
Steve Gibby said:
Very good advice Ketch, Harry, and others here...

Ahh... airline baggage handlers...

Me and my crews used to check cameras and lenses, and constantly had problems with equipment when we got on location. One day when I was sitting by the window on a flight while it was loading, I happened to watch some baggage handlers pull up with a loaded cart and proceed to put the bags on a conveyer belt which carried them up to the aircraft baggage compartment. To my utter horror I watched them drop on the concrete three of our camera and lens cases, one from as high as 5 feet! I was freaking out - nose against the window - waving and gesturing - to no avail!

You guessed it - on location we had a lot of equipment problems - but I'd finally figured out the source of them. Ever since then we carry-on camera bodies, and key lenses, and ship the other equipment to the location via FEDEX or UPS. The frequent equipment problems simply stopped.

Obviously in today's airline business carry-on baggage is limited in weight. I've found that airlines give me some slack when I tell them what I do, my hesitation to check delicate camera equipment into baggage, how much I fly with them, etc. If I do have to pay for excess weight of a carry-on item, I do so gladly. The cost of that is worth the peace of mind on location, and the savings in repair bills from my equipment being abused by airline baggage handlers.
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Once when boarding a plane in the lounge the bagage loading was in our view from the window, I saw our camera case 'loaded' from the truck on to the airplane conveyer. The case was thrown from the truck on to the conveyer about 8 feet along with the other equipment cases. The camera did survive but needed reline up, we replaced the case by reclaiming costs from the airline company. Regularly I've seen equipment clattering down the baggage reclaim conveyers at Heatherow which are devices known to damage kit as the case slides down a ramp stopped by the fence and then becomes congested with other equipment. Inspite of being marked fragile do not drop in big writing. These baggage handling companies are completely irresponsible.

My rule for packing is if you are not confident in droping the case from the rear of a truck to the ground then the contents most likely wont survive.
 
Dave Blackham said:
My rule for packing is if you are not confident in droping the case from the rear of a truck to the ground then the contents most likely wont survive.
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And that is the key point. If you are designing cases for delicate gear, you need to know just how fragile your gear is, and how cushioning materials actually work. Every type of foam has a certain amount of 'give' that absorbs impact to the gear it is protecting. Think about the possible bumps and drops your case will receive, and the physics of those impacts.


From: http://www.pelicancasesbycasescases.com/foam_cushion_systems.html

There are 4 variables that aid us in determining the appropriate cushion design for your equipment:

Fragility. The fragility is the level of shock in g's that your equipment can withstand. Often commercial electronic equipment can withstand a shock of approximately 30'gs. Optical equipment and space payloads can withstand shock levels of less than 10g's. Mechanical assemblies are often quite robust and can withstand much higher g inputs. Fragility is often not known and is estimated.

Drop height. Cases-Cases utilizes drop heights as one of the "available" variables in cushion system design. Many military programs and specifications detail the drop heights of certain items. The MIL-STD 810E details the drop height that a case must pass based on total case and equipment weight as well as container size. If your application is for shipping or use as checked baggage, we design for a 30" drop.

Sway Space/Cushion Thickness. In a perfect world, Cases-Cases could design containers and cushioning systems and not be limited by available case sizes, case weights, and limitations of how the cases are going to be shipped. Since those and other variables are involved in container design, we often have to compromise between case size and sway space or cushion complexity (cost) vs. case size.

Density of Equipment. The density of the equipment is the weight divided by the weight bearing surface. The density of the equipment aids us in determining the correct foam type to use as well as the correct amount of bearing surface. Foam cushioning materials have different optimum load ranges, as detailed in the custom case interiors section of Cases-Cases.com
​


People check camera gear as baggage all the time. If you are smart and careful with your case designs and understand how and why energy is dissipated by cushioning materials, you can safely check just about anything. I certainly don't want to be sitting beside you on an airplane with your camera and all of your lenses in carry-ons! (and no, you may not use the extra space under MY seat for your gear!) Traveling with gear is enough of a hassle already, I can't imagine needing to hump it all to the gate and into the airplane cabin!
 
Very Good points Brent, but I must say, even so I have been respecting carefully all the rules of packing, I still will not check them in, simply because in some country there is a notorious amount of stolen gear, electronics are at the highest!

Especially in today's regulatory scanning for explosive and other harmful items, and this check scans are done both at the origin and destination, what is worst is that there are some wireless portable units that airport workers use to check luggage that they might think contains valuables worth stilling, unfortunately I'm very sad to say that Italy, my own beloved country is one of such places were this happens.

So be very conscious of your decision, it will go smoothly for many shipping, and then it happens, and it is Game Over!

ciao
 
Steve Gibby said:
One day when I was sitting by the window on a flight while it was loading, I happened to watch some baggage handlers pull up with a loaded cart and proceed to put the bags on a conveyer belt which carried them up to the aircraft baggage compartment. To my utter horror I watched them drop on the concrete three of our camera and lens cases, one from as high as 5 feet! I was freaking out - nose against the window - waving and gesturing - to no avail!
Click to expand...
The exact same thing happened to me. If it was a shiny flight case they tossed it down the conveyer belt, if it was a peli case they threw it. They ignored all of out luggage though.

My advice pack your most expensive and fragile items in the most nondescript and unassuming case! I also recommend placing used underwear in your hand luggage, not because it will stop you getting searched but it sure will put a smile on your face when some over zealous, power crazed loon is abusing you at airport security.
 
United Breaks stuff (they are not the only ones)

United Breaks stuff (they are not the only ones)

Was this united by any chance? United breaks guitars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

I also bring camera and lens as carry on.

:-D
Radim

Steve Gibby said:
Very good advice Ketch, Harry, and others here...

Ahh... airline baggage handlers...

Me and my crews used to check cameras and lenses, and constantly had problems with equipment when we got on location. One day when I was sitting by the window on a flight while it was loading, I happened to watch some baggage handlers pull up with a loaded cart and proceed to put the bags on a conveyer belt which carried them up to the aircraft baggage compartment. To my utter horror I watched them drop on the concrete three of our camera and lens cases, one from as high as 5 feet! I was freaking out - nose against the window - waving and gesturing - to no avail!

You guessed it - on location we had a lot of equipment problems - but I'd finally figured out the source of them. Ever since then we carry-on camera bodies, and key lenses, and ship the other equipment to the location via FEDEX or UPS. The frequent equipment problems simply stopped.

Obviously in today's airline business carry-on baggage is limited in weight. I've found that airlines give me some slack when I tell them what I do, my hesitation to check delicate camera equipment into baggage, how much I fly with them, etc. If I do have to pay for excess weight of a carry-on item, I do so gladly. The cost of that is worth the peace of mind on location, and the savings in repair bills from my equipment being abused by airline baggage handlers.
Click to expand...
 
Miguel "Macgregor" De Olaso said:
Photography lenses should be stored with the front element facing down. This is to prevent the oil from the focusing rings to get into the iris blades.
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I hope that will not be a problem for RPPs. The Red case only allows for the front element facing up.
 
Can't imagine schlepping all that gear around on layovers going from terminals that are great distances apart. I think that is what flight cases and insurance is for.
 
Miguel "Macgregor" De Olaso said:
Photography lenses should be stored with the front element facing down. This is to prevent the oil from the focusing rings to get into the iris blades.
Click to expand...

Correct for Still lenses, but I have been tough that it is not so for Cine Lenses, an then again I continue to see Cine Lenses in both directions, this is why I posed the Q? I actually I did carry the Canon's "L" series facing up.

Frank Weeks said:
I hope that will not be a problem for RPPs. The Red case only allows for the front element facing up.
Click to expand...

Actually Frank if you see the various pics here of the RED Case all the RPP's are facing down, but also Mitch agrees that the RPP's should actually be facing UP. But in truth, I prefer them on their side.

Peter Strietmann said:
Can't imagine schlepping all that gear around on layovers going from terminals that are great distances apart. I think that is what flight cases and insurance is for.
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Sure Peter, but when you travel for a Job and your gear gets stolen or badly damaged, go and wait for the Insurance, and you will also have lost the JOb.

So Unless absolutely Impossible, I will always take Camera and Lenses in the Plane with me, and I recommend to any one to do the same.

ciao
 
Andrew clemson said:
Hi, quick question. Been on vacation for a few weeks, and when I got back into work and pulled out our 18-50 I found that it wont zoom past 25mm-ish. Anyone encountered this before? It had just come back from service at RED and hadnt been out on any jobs, could it be due to mishandling of cases? Our equipment store had been refitted while I was away and all the gear had been moved into other rooms. (apparently by the carpenters!)

Anyone have any ideas? Or should I send it to RED?
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As I mention here, all lenses during transport should always be put with focus to INFINITY, APERTURE WIDE OPEN, and ZOOMS zoomed al the way out.

sorry about your issue, but this is the wrong place to post, shoot RED an email, or start a post addressing your issue, so that people see the title and go in to that thread for your specific reason.

ciao
 
Andrew, we had that happen on initial shipment of our first 18-50 - if it's within warranty RED will fix it for free, otherwise any lens tech should be able to un-stick it.
 
Great thread Ketch!

I want to throw my 2 cents in for thought. I used to transport my lenses (20+) at infinity but I switched when a lens tech suggested I should. His reasoning was the internal rails or channels that the optics travel on, might get dinged with travel. He suggested to keep the zoom on the wide end because a bump in the travel might not be noticeable like it would be on the long end. Also keep the focus at minimum because it will probably be used a lot less that at infinity. His point was choose where you put the bump. Of course then get it repaired.

Also, I think cine lens grease can begin to move or flow if very hot. So if it's 110 degrees and the black lens is in the sun, I would be very worried about my lens and its grease moving.

Prost,
Rich
 
Thanks Rich, and also thanks for sharing your tough and experience, however I must insist that you do keep your Zoom to the minimum or maximum setting, preferably to the maximum, but some zooms that are not IF then will be set to the minimum, the aperture always wide open and at last the Focusing must be set to Infinity, as this far more protects the internal focusing elements then the opposite, for more then one technical reason.

So the best thing to do in order to make sure to do things right set the focus to Infinite, the zoom to the maximum, in my case the RPZ 18-85 will always sleep and transport set at its maximum zoom range of 85mm while its focus always set to infinity, and the Aperture must always and absolutely all ways be set to Wide open, as to insure that the petal blades are tucked away.


Above statement are not from personal opinion but from knowledge gained thru out my many years in the industry, never a professional AC nor have I held a position in any set, but I have been in so many and have had the pleasure to learn so much from some of the best in the business, which patiently answered the many questions I always had about everything, plus I did studied a tone too :)

Any way, I can't remember how long it has been since I first learned this stuff, but I do remember particularly to have also read it on a very popular and respected book in the business, to which I was recommended by many years ago, just can't recall the name of the book, sorry, but I followed this rules ever since.
 
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