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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 :)

Airline carryon case for RPPs?

Shawn Nelson

Shawn Nelson

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I'm getting quotes for people to fly with my RPPs and haven't a clue on how to safely outfit this.

It seems that the size of the Stormcase im2450 would easily hold two but safely hold 3 if you used high density foam and reinforced the dividers with corrogated plastic. But then I read that the carryon dimensions are usually 14.5x9.5 (rounded up to 15x10) and that case is 19.2x15.2x9. Though apparently some airlines want 14x9x22 or less.

Innerspace Cases makes a 2-lens RPP case thats 16"x9.5"x14.5" but it only holds two lenses and is $450, which I think is too much for such a small lens case, I'd pay maybe $295.

Has anyone taken RPPs on a plane? How did you solve this? I'd love to get three lenses to a case so it's only 2 carryons instead of 3, though if they weren't protected enough then 2 per case is the way to go I guess.
 
Yes, the Pelican 1510 is the biggest carry-on North American airlines allow, and it has wheels so it is nice to travel with.

Be warned that it weighs 12 lbs empty. With many airlines limiting hand luggage to 22 lbs, that leaves you 10 lbs for gear!

Don't be the guy that loads up 35 lbs in a carry-on and then expects to put it in my overhead bin or under my seat since you are in an exit row. I have said it before and I will say it again - just check your gear as baggage. If it's properly packaged and properly sealed it will arrive fine and you will have a more comfortable trip.

Are you going to carry on the camera body too? What about batteries? Basically if the airline loses any single case it can be a show-stopper and you just have to accept that. Lenses and a body aren't of much use if your batteries or media went to Bora Bora.
 
Brent J. Craig said:
I have said it before and I will say it again - just check your gear as baggage. If it's properly packaged and properly sealed it will arrive fine and you will have a more comfortable trip.
Click to expand...

Checking in lenses? Are you nuts? I've seen how airlines treat checkin, they huck and chuck and so forth. screw that.
 
Dustin Cross said:
Get a good case for your lenses and check them. Carrying everything on is not realistic.

Dusty
Click to expand...

What case do you propose could properly protect a set of RPPs from being chucked and abused the way checkin luggage is?

Carrying on body, RPPs and batteries is absolutely realistic
 
Brent J. Craig said:
Yes, the Pelican 1510 is the biggest carry-on North American airlines allow, and it has wheels so it is nice to travel with.

Be warned that it weighs 12 lbs empty. With many airlines limiting hand luggage to 22 lbs, that leaves you 10 lbs for gear!

Don't be the guy that loads up 35 lbs in a carry-on and then expects to put it in my overhead bin or under my seat since you are in an exit row. I have said it before and I will say it again - just check your gear as baggage. If it's properly packaged and properly sealed it will arrive fine and you will have a more comfortable trip.

Are you going to carry on the camera body too? What about batteries? Basically if the airline loses any single case it can be a show-stopper and you just have to accept that. Lenses and a body aren't of much use if your batteries or media went to Bora Bora.
Click to expand...

Great post Brent...

I always carry media on me.. empty or full.
 
Jarred Land said:
Great post Brent...

I always carry media on me.. empty or full.
Click to expand...

So what lens case do you feel will protect the RPPs from those airline guys throwing the cases? The Red case, the Innerspace alt case and the Masterspace case dont seem they'd shock protect enough to feel good about that happening everytime they got on a new plane

EDIT: I'm not critizing those cases, they seem well designed for their purpose of normal operations. It's the fact that airlines throw luggage. As far as I know, professional lenses internal elements are not designed for that sort of jostling. I'd HATE to check them in and then find out that the elements are loose. Oops, there goes another $1,000 per lens to get them fixed. Fuck me. I'd so much rather carry them on and feel good knowing they arent going to be tossed.
 
On a long job, I usually send all the camera gear ahead air freight. If you are flying in the day before a job, and taking all the camera gear with you, it's a gamble. If they loose one case you're screwed. I always make sure the client understands that, and that it's on them if they want to roll that way.

Nick
 
I think the original, extra-bulky RED lens case was made to be airline safe?
 
Dustin Cross said:
I am pretty sure people have been shipping lenses around the world in ATA style cases for years. My Superspeeds have flown that way several times without any problems.

Dusty
Click to expand...

I'd ship my lenses no problem, insure them for thousands with 'fragile' stickers on them and I'll trust FedEx. That's entirely different then the manners of the guys loading airline luggage.
 
Shawn Nelson said:
Checking in lenses? Are you nuts? I've seen how airlines treat checkin, they huck and chuck and so forth. screw that.
Click to expand...

I'm with you Shawn.

I wouldn't trust ANY lenses to the baggage handlers. Those goons remind me of this commercial from 1970. :smash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ZeIoLz8FE

I don't know how many of the RPPs you could get in this, but when I fly, this is how I carry my Nikon primes on the plane. It is super lightweight ... it has wheels ... and I can easily carry 10 large still lenses in there. Plus it meets all airline limitations. (By a centimeter of so ... he he) :thumbsup:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/370780-REG/Tamrac_555201_5552_SpeedRoller_2_Rolling.html
 
Jarred Land said:
I always carry media on me.. empty or full.
Click to expand...
OK then.
How do people carry their media. Are people using those pelican cases that have slots for bare drives? Drives in Firewire enclosures and tons of packing? How do others do it?
What is the industry standard, insurance acceptable way to ship drives and media?
 
Shawn

I recently traveled to Dakar, Senegal for a shoot. We had to travel extremely light. I went and bought a back pack/carry on combo (made to carry still camera equipment and lenses) from the local camera shop .

I packed the superspeeds and media in the camera case/back pack. Since I could move the dividers around, each item had its own cozy custom fit area.
I then packed my RED (inside my clothes) in the outer shell which also happened to be a rolling case. Both items fit in the overhead.

In the airport, I could extend the handle of the roller and place the back pack on on top for easy pedestrian travel. It was a great setup. While we were on the job, the camera stayed built the entire time and in my lap when not in use.

Because of their size, my setup wont work for RPPs. But, since you (the careful owner/operator) are carrying them on, why not consider a well padded backpack or camera lens case for that and then transfer to a normal cine lens case (which, incidentally, you could ship empty via fedex [or check] without feeling guilty)for the job?



Here's a tip/reminder for those of you who plan on carrying your gear on the plane. Try hard to get yourself on the plane ahead of the others seated in your area. When the overhead bins get full, guess where your stuff is gonna get put! :seeya:
 
Cses such as the ones from InnerSpace are designed for ATA standards -- that's the Airline Travel Association. It is not just a random pile of foam in there. Different layers of various densities are designed to protect the lenses while giving them just enough movement room to help absorb shocks. This is the job these cases are meant for.

I guess if you're all too concerned to do anything but bring your glass as carry-on, this makes for a great argument in favor of the petite and lightweight Zeiss Compact Primes!
 
Joe Kleber said:
Shawn

I recently traveled to Dakar, Senegal for a shoot. We had to travel extremely light. I went and bought a back pack/carry on combo (made to carry still camera equipment and lenses) from the local camera shop .

I packed the superspeeds and media in the camera case/back pack. Since I could move the dividers around, each item had its own cozy custom fit area.
I then packed my RED (inside my clothes) in the outer shell which also happened to be a rolling case. Both items fit in the overhead.

In the airport, I could extend the handle of the roller and place the back pack on on top for easy pedestrian travel. It was a great setup. While we were on the job, the camera stayed built the entire time and in my lap when not in use.

Because of their size, my setup wont work for RPPs. But, since you (the careful owner/operator) are carrying them on, why not consider a well padded backpack or camera lens case for that and then transfer to a normal cine lens case (which, incidentally, you could ship empty via fedex [or check] without feeling guilty)for the job?



Here's a tip/reminder for those of you who plan on carrying your gear on the plane. Try hard to get yourself on the plane ahead of the others seated in your area. When the overhead bins get full, guess where your stuff is gonna get put! :seeya:
Click to expand...

I really don't think you could use a backpack setup for the RPP's. They are that big and heavy.
 
LowePro Computrekker Plus AW.

I have two of these backpacks and it's amazing how much gear you can get into them and onto even a puddle jumper airplane as carry on. They don't look heavy but I carried on an entire 5 lens RPP set in one of these backpacks plus my laptop. It's heavy and you have to be careful of your back and the other passengers, but it is safe and no heavier than the rollaboards the business types use. It offers adequate but not extreme protection so use common sense and don't treat it like a hard case and you'll do fine.

lowepro-computrekker-plus-aw-lrg.jpg

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...P34705_PEF_CompuTrekker_Plus_AW_Backpack.html
 
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