In case we need to check our cameras...

[handicap18]

The world is changing. Faster than we probably want it to. The reality of the Middle East has been moving on to the rest of the world. The only thing for us to do now is adapt so we can move on. There was a time after 9/11 that people were frustrated with travel issues. Remember that air travel was shut down for days. Having worked at the time on a water shuttle to Logan Airport in Boston, it was erie not to see a plane in the sky. Not to see the planes lined up waiting to land. Nothing but an empty sky. Slowly things got back. Inconveniences happen. Maybe it wasn't as bad back in 2001 because so many people actually died and airports were shut down so we knew why we had to coorporate. We had tangible evidence of why this extra security was needed. This time its only speculation as to what might have happened, nothing to show for it, yet the inconveniences are now back.

There are ways to get to places. If you don't want to fly anymore you can still see the world. Take a boat. It might be more expensive and will take a lot longer, but it can be done.

Carry on issues will reslove itself out once enough time has passed. Airlines will find that they will need to provide bigger and more water bottles especially for those with medial issues. You will be able once again to carry on your camera equipment. When, no one knows. It happened once before. We got though it.

Considering that a water bottle can be made to carry water in the top half and ingredients to create a liquid bomb in the bottom half, I see why no bottles at all. Who knows what is what. Did you see Jurasic Park? They smuggled dinasour embrio's (SP) in a can of shaving cream, yet the shaving cream can would still dispense shaving cream. How many times have we seen movies where people have smuggled packets of drugs in stuffed animals. How about the movies where they use cell phones or laptops to detinate (again, sp?) bombs. That happens in real life now too. Someone actually tried to light his shoe on fire in an airplane because it was a bomb! A shoe bomb! Who would have thought about something like 5 years ago!

War is hell. Terrorism is worse. I wish we had been able to have these problems on September 4, 2001. The way we travel has changed. How you change and adapt with it is up to you.

 

[Monte Cristo]

I can't believe what I've read here...IMO, whatever needs to be done to keep air travel safe is OK with me. Respectfully, IMO, I could care less about $10k worth of gear if it meant we were more safe when traveling.

I won't let terrorists ruin my travel, I'll still go, but if there are restrictions on that travel due to these wackos, that's fine with me.

 

[pxlbarrel]

No you read it wrong. She leaving FROM Pearson after her 2 weeks away from Manchester.

You can believe whatever you want to believe. I was there with the reporter to take videos for her report. We actually saw teddy bears being grabbed by the officer on duty and thrown to a bin and there was a lot of yelling (from the parents) and screaming (from the kids).

But hey, believe what you want. I'm just a worthless witness here. The video snippet was available online yesterday at City News for several hours until the editor decided to take it off the web.

Ok, y'know what...I'm not going to get into a pissing match about this BUT you read it wrong.

Is this the WHOLE snippet?


From the CityTV News site:

But bad as it was for Pearson passengers, things were far worse for those arriving from England.

After waits that lasted hours, people deplaning in Toronto were just glad their ordeal was over and that they made it here in one piece.

"It's very, very scary," notes a tired Christine Knight, whose family left Manchester for a two week stay in Toronto. "We didn't know what had happened until we got to the airport. We've had to put everything -- toys for the children, everything had to go into the bags.

And if you weren't prepared to pack it, it would be gone.

"When you went through security, if you had a toy, baby's comforters, they were just going in the bin," Knight continues. "You weren't allowed to bring anything on the plane."

As if that wasn't bad enough, the line-ups also taxed the patience of just about everyone flying here. "It was chaos, just lines and lines of travellers," recalls a passenger named Colin, who waited endlessly in one of them. "They're checking every piece of hand baggage. You can only take documentation and your wallet on the flight."



I don't think I read it wrong...I think you only read part of it. The video snippet is still on the City TV site:

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2610.aspx

Even the City TV site says that electronics are allowed on airplanes as long as you're not on a British carrier heading to the UK.

If you're going to quote something, quote the entire thing, not just a little piece.

I don't know what you saw but no news agency has reported what you saw at Pearson.

 

[fitzperry]

I've checked with TNT (the only company in Canada that deals with photography, filmography and videography equipments and fully insured) they quoted $700 to ship my gear from Toronto to California... each way. This is the same company used by movie and movie camera companies such as Fox, Panavision, Arriflex to ship their gears.

I just got a quick on-line quote from Fed Ex. Shipping $2000 worth of camera equipment from my home in the U.S. to Paris would run about $130 and take 2 days. I realize that may not be secure enough for you, but I'm merely an amateur who wants to be able to take nice pictures on my vacation. Honestly, if my homeowner's insurance covers me, I would check my camera gear if necessary. It would certainly be a bummer not to have my camera when I arrive at my destination, but not the end of the world. I don't have as much at stake as a professional photographer on his/her way to a location shoot. This is hugely inconvenient for all types of business travelers.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I can't believe what I've read here...IMO, whatever needs to be done to keep air travel safe is OK with me. Respectfully, IMO, I could care less about $10k worth of gear if it meant we were more safe when traveling.

I won't let terrorists ruin my travel, I'll still go, but if there are restrictions on that travel due to these wackos, that's fine with me.

Which is why I started this thread in the first place...to find out how we were going to cope with the possibility of having to check camera equipment rather than carry it on.

The original intent of this thread was to deal with what might become a reality for us in North America.

If you choose not to fly because you don't want to check your camera equipment...so be it but in the mean time, please let the rest of us know the best way to check a camera so it doesn't get damaged and the best way to hide it (in a regular, non-descript suitcase) so it doesn't get filched.

I didn't start this thread to debate what *may* occur in the future.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Which is why I started this thread in the first place...to find out how we were going to cope with the possibility of having to check camera equipment rather than carry it on.

The original intent of this thread was to deal with what might become a reality for us in North America.

If you choose not to fly because you don't want to check your camera equipment...so be it but in the mean time, please let the rest of us know the best way to check a camera so it doesn't get damaged and the best way to hide it (in a regular, non-descript suitcase) so it doesn't get filched.

I didn't start this thread to debate what *may* occur in the future.

Totally agree.

 

[WillCAD]

I can't believe what I've read here...IMO, whatever needs to be done to keep air travel safe is OK with me. Respectfully, IMO, I could care less about $10k worth of gear if it meant we were more safe when traveling.

I won't let terrorists ruin my travel, I'll still go, but if there are restrictions on that travel due to these wackos, that's fine with me.

Yeah, a lot of people have that attitude when the restrictions don't affect them personally, or don't affect them enough to really put them off.

Suppose the government decded that the only way to keep air travel safe was to subject everybody to mantatory strip searches? Mandatory medical exams?

Suppose the government decided to require a permit to travel by air, with a background check and a fee, just like they do when you want to buy a firearm?

At what point do "precautions" and "security measures" pass beyond inconvenience into actual invasions of privacy or violations of peoples' Constitutional rights?

The fact that air travel is voluntary is beside the point; even a voluntary action should not require anyone to give up basic rights and freedoms.

Sure, that hasn't happened yet, but every time someone says, "I don't care what the government does as long as it keeps me safe," we get one step closer further along that gradual slope from U.S. of A. to Fascism.

A journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step, so you better know which direction you're facing before you take that step.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Yeah, a lot of people have that attitude when the restrictions don't affect them personally, or don't affect them enough to really put them off.

Suppose the government decded that the only way to keep air travel safe was to subject everybody to mantatory strip searches? Mandatory medical exams?

Suppose the government decided to require a permit to travel by air, with a background check and a fee, just like they do when you want to buy a firearm?

At what point do "precautions" and "security measures" pass beyond inconvenience into actual invasions of privacy or violations of peoples' Constitutional rights?

The fact that air travel is voluntary is beside the point; even a voluntary action should not require anyone to give up basic rights and freedoms.

Sure, that hasn't happened yet, but every time someone says, "I don't care what the government does as long as it keeps me safe," we get one step closer further along that gradual slope from U.S. of A. to Fascism.

A journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step, so you better know which direction you're facing before you take that step.

Settle down....we're talking about CAMERAS. Last I checked, flying was still a luxury.

Let's get back to the OP's question. Since I just bought the Canon Rebel and the Kelly Sigma, I would like to know also.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I've done some googling and it would appear that you really have to make your camera look like it's a regular ole suitcase full of clothes. There's a fellow who, when unable to carry on his equipment, uses copious amounts of bubble wrap on his lens and his camera body (and anything else) and then throw it into a regular suitcase full of clothes.

Hmmmm...I think I'd rather spend the money on a Pelican or something and then throw that whole thing into a duffle or suitcase full of clothes. The problem with Pelicans big enough to hold a dSLR body and a lens is that they're heavy even before you put the stuff into it.

From what I've read always pack the the body with the lens detached. Never have the lens on the body or you may find the lens mount jarred enough that you'll never get the lens off. I guess it gets bent a bit if you leave it on and the case gets dropped...something also happens to the lens....Oh I wish I had bookmarked that site while surfing...maybe I can find it again.

And I also wonder if it's a good idea that once you've taken the photos, perhaps it's worth it to get them burned onto a cd before making the trip back...so that you can carry the cd onto the plane (that's not electronic...so maybe they'd allow that). If the camera did get stolen and all the memory cards with them (shudder), at least your photos are still safe. You can replace the cards and memory but not the memories. (ahhh...big buildup to a small pun...)

I think you can get photos burned onto cds almost anywhere. I even remember seeing that it at a Publix.

 

[caniswolfie]

I think a lot of problem with the enhanced security is the reluctance to check baggage. That is really aggravating the whole process. If the FAA or the government would make the airlines accountable for checked luggage lose and damage so that greater care would be taken. I think this would make people feel safer about checking items and cause a little less stress about having to check items. And by accountability I mean having stiff fines and reimbursing customers to completely replace/repair items. In some cases also setting a "replacement" fee for sentimental items as well that cannot be replaced.

I understand the need for greater security and I'm not saying that I won't fly ever. But it may cut down on those flying short distances when the security checkpoints and the hassle remove the advantage of the greater speed in the air.

At this point they need to act quickly while they come up with a better process for dealing with this new angle of threat. Just like the time when there was the shoe bomb. Everyone was taking their shoes for the scanner and now it seems like they are asking to do that a lot less.

 

[WillCAD]

Settle down....we're talking about CAMERAS. Last I checked, flying was still a luxury.

Let's get back to the OP's question. Since I just bought the Canon Rebel and the Kelly Sigma, I would like to know also.

The possible answers so far have been:

1) Pack valuable and fragile camera and computer equipment in unlockable checked bags and take your chances on having it lost, stolen, smashed to bits, or winding up in Cleaveland (this would not be so bad if you are actually going to Cleaveland, or if you come from Cleaveland in the first place).

2) Ship camera and computer equipment ahead by FedEx or UPS, then ship back at the end of your trip. CONS: Lots of added expense and time, plus the possibility of the package getting lost, stolen, smashed to bits, or winding up in Cleaveland (see answer 1).

3) Don't take any camera or computer equipment with you. Buy or rent digital cameras and laptops at the destination. CONS: Buying is too darn expensive, and there simply aren't places to rent high-end digital cameras or laptop computers everywhere.

3A) Buy disposable cameras at the destination (and develop before returning, since undeveloped disposable cameras of any film speed will ALWAYS be absolutely, totally, and in all other ways, ruined by the x-ray scans done on checked bags). CONS: Disposables have an incredibly limited range for taking pics.

4) Don't fly. Drive when possible, cancel trips when not. CONS: Lost business, extra travel time and fuel costs, and the roads are still WAY more dangerous than the friendly skies, despite what the panic-mongers in the media would have you believe.

None of these options are particularly appealing to me, but I think I'd either take 2 or 4.

By the way, we're not just talking about cameras here - we're talking about electronic equipment that is vital to the livlihood of many business travellers. Without the equipment, they can't do their jobs. How many gigs has Kelly lost so far? And she's just one photographer.

At least one business that I know of - InMotion Pictions - would be instantly wiped out if electronics were banned from US domestic flights. InMotion rents portable DVD players and movies that you can take on the plane to watch during the flight; they have pickup locations in several airports, and you drop the player and movies in the mail to return them if you are flying to an airport that doesn't have an InMotion location.

So NO, we're not just talking about cameras here, we're talking about a major restriction on business practices that could cost US businesses millions per year, if the US bans electronic carry-ons on domestic flights.

I've got my fingers crossed that someone, somewhere in the US government, is attached enough to their laptops and PDAs to prevent this from happening.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

The video snippet is still on the City TV site:

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2610.aspx

Even the City TV site says that electronics are allowed on airplanes as long as you're not on a British carrier heading to the UK.

I don't know what you saw but no news agency has reported what you saw at Pearson.

That is not the video originally posted there. Would you like the phone number and the badge number of the RCMP officer whom escorted us when we were filming the entire thing? Including talking to the lady from Manchester whom we talked to at the DEPARTURE gate at Pearson?

I'm not saying what you're reading is wrong, I deliberately cut and paste only parts of the news because the news have been skewed. There are other Canadian-based forums that are discussing this very matter for the past 24 hours (photography forum, film-company forum, theatre-company forum etc).
They are all aghast with the toning down of the information and moreso with the misinformation that's being spewed by the media.

 

[fitzperry]

Settle down....we're talking about CAMERAS. Last I checked, flying was still a luxury.

Let's get back to the OP's question. Since I just bought the Canon Rebel and the Kelly Sigma, I would like to know also.

Flying is far from a luxury for a great many people; it's a business necessity. And the concern about being carry-ons being banned is not merely about the possibility of loss, it's about time. People who fly several times a week for business don't have time to wait for checked baggage. And many of those people use their flight time to work. They can't do that if their laptops are in the cargo hold. If these restrictions are imposed long-term, it will have a significant impact on the way business is conducted in general, to say nothing of the effect it will have on the airline industry.

Willcad did a fine job of listing the possibilities that have been discussed wrt the original question, so I won't repeat them.

 

[fitzperry]

And I also wonder if it's a good idea that once you've taken the photos, perhaps it's worth it to get them burned onto a cd before making the trip back...so that you can carry the cd onto the plane (that's not electronic...so maybe they'd allow that). If the camera did get stolen and all the memory cards with them (shudder), at least your photos are still safe. You can replace the cards and memory but not the memories. (ahhh...big buildup to a small pun...)

I think you can get photos burned onto cds almost anywhere. I even remember seeing that it at a Publix.

That sounds like a good idea. And if you couldn't carry the cd on with you, at least you could mail it fairly inexpensively and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't get lost too.

 

[pxlbarrel]

That is not the video originally posted there. Would you like the phone number and the badge number of the RCMP officer whom escorted us when we were filming the entire thing? Including talking to the lady from Manchester whom we talked to at the DEPARTURE gate at Pearson?

I'm not saying what you're reading is wrong, I deliberately cut and paste only parts of the news because the news have been skewed. There are other Canadian-based forums that are discussing this very matter for the past 24 hours (photography forum, film-company forum, theatre-company forum etc).
They are all aghast with the toning down of the information and moreso with the misinformation that's being spewed by the media.

Y'know...whatever. If you want to private message me the phone number and the badge number of the mountie, go ahead. I'm not shy of cops...I work with a lot of them. I'm not getting into any conspiracy theories. I find it inconceivable that Pearson is not letting any electronics on board nor, if what you're saying is true, any carry on whatsoever on board ANY flights...yet there's nary a peep from anybody. And yet again, on the news tonight, they're telling people...electronics are allowed but they're encouraging people to check them. Skewing the news can be done in many ways...including editing the news in a way to fit your own conclusions....anybody can do it.

The fact of the matter is....I'm going on vacation in 1 week and I'd like to know what the heck I should be doing with my camera equipment. I intend to carry it on as I always do and as I am told I am allowed to at the moment. If this changes, I need to know how to prepare my equipment for travel because I'm not going on vacation without it or worse, I'm not going to ship it from Los Angeles or leave it behind. Worse comes to worse, I take my G5 instead of the dSLR. My insurance will cover the loss of any camera...that was a great weight off my back when I found out.

I don't have time for people to make noise and change the policies to their liking...I just want some advice on how to deal with it now...this week...when I'm travelling. This is a trip I've been planning for 3 years...and the photography aspect of it for months since I bought the slr...so I don't want to spend time arguing with you about how stupid it would be to not allow electronics, I need help and advice on how to solve this. I think we all agree the situation sucks...

And I don't think I'm the only one fretting about this. Vacations at Disney are all about capturing those special moments....not about wondering how to get your camera safely there and back. So let's have a useful discussion on the matter at hand so we can all benefit.

If we have to adapt, we have to adapt. If you want to make noise so that our politicians change policy...go ahead...but that ain't gonna help me next week. It's not gonna help the people who are travelling tomorrow, or Sunday, or next week.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

for personal trip, I really don't give a $#!+ where I put my camera. But because of this incident, I've lost a LOT of money.

Like I said, you can believe what you want to believe. That's fine by me.

Just another example before I'm leaving this thread for good: Do you know about the government-funded riot / genocide in Indonesia? I bet you don't, because the media don't tell you about it. It started in approx 1965 and reached its peak in 1998. Where Chinese descent were targeted. Women were raped, mutilated while their children and husband or father were forced to witness it. I was there covering the story for a certain news agency just to see all my tapes destroyed in front of me by that newsagency representative. I can't name names, I don't want to be sued. This does not only happen to me but to other videographers as well. In Canada, the entire riot (that lasted for MONTHS) was shown for about 5 minutes by CBC and they only shown the partly ruined building.

Also about the Tsunami in Aceh, do you know where all the money goes? Mostly to the so-called volunteer workers including World Vision and The Red Cross. 20% of all the money goes to their "administration fees" about 60% goes to their "operational cost" which includes flying over food from Jakarta to Aceh ( a 3-hour flight ) EVERY DAY for the workers. The rest of the money (if there is anything left) is being used to buy food and building shelters for the Aceh people.

You didn't hear about that either do you?

Do I sound angry? Maybe because I am. You don't know how the newsworld works yet you accused me of skewing the information when what I did was twisting it back to the fact (as opposed to deliberately skewed fact).

Oh, and please explain to my friend who just arrived from Vancouver today that he was told by AC representative at the airport that he should check in his PDA, cell phone and laptop. According to your logic, my friend must be wrong, right? he must be only dreaming because what happened to him didn't really hapen because it's not shown on TV and in the news.

PS: Even the bottled water he bought at the newsstand in the waiting area (this is AFTER passing the security check) couldn't be brought on board. He was instructed to either finish the drink before boarding the plane or throw it out. Of course, this must be wrong too because it's not on TV or on the news.

I'm tired of this, I'm unsubscribing myself from this thread.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I found a forum where they're actually discussing this, ie, dealing with the problems they're facing in the UK

http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/show/gear_in_checked_in_lugage

It's informative and it's actually encouraging to hear that some have checked camera equipment for a while and never had a problem. That doesn't cancel out the worry but it's encouraging.

And Pelican makes TSA compliant locks for their cases.

http://www.casesbypelican.com/pelilock-tsa.htm

Stuff to ponder...

 

[handicap18]

The bubble wrap idea is a good one. In the past I've packed bottles of alcohol in my check pieces wraped only in socks and didn't have any breakages. We don't have any travel plans till near the end of next year. Hopefully by then things will be settled and back to as close to norm as possible.

As for other things. The pelican might be good. You'll need a big suitcase because you'll also need another camera bag once you get to your destination.

In both directions I would keep the media cards with you in the carry on. I don't think that would cause a problem if their in your carry on. Either that or right before you leave mail the media cards or burned CD's back to you. It would be inexpensive to mail. Get a bubble envelope. Address it and also see if the post office will allow you to pay for posting ahead of time or at least have it weighed with the media cards/CD's in it to know how much it would be then put enough stamps on it. Any hotel shouldn't have a problem putting in their outgoing mail, though a lot of hotels have mail slots for general post right in the hotel.

On ebay a lot of places that sell lenses and camera's don't charge a lot for shipping. Granted its only going one way. But a camera body and 1 or 2 lenses mailed/shipped within the US shouldn't be much. Just pay the extra few $$ for insurance and have the package stamped/labeled FRAGILE at the post office.

 

[pxlbarrel]

As for other things. The pelican might be good. You'll need a big suitcase because you'll also need another camera bag once you get to your destination.

Yeah, I just thought of that...more stuff to pack. LOL

Well, I think I'm going to see if I can get a Pelican tomorrow. And it'll be my only carry on (as long as we're still allowed next Friday). There should be more than enough room to put a bottle of advil (not gelcaps!), 1 toothbrush and my camera/lenses/flash in it. Since everything will be organized and ready for inspection, it should actually be better than stuffing everything into my backpack. I'll just have to pack the softside bag in my regular suitcase...I guess I can fill it up with socks. LOL

If the rules change by the time I have to come home, I'll just buy a suitcase over there and throw the Pelican into it. Hmmmmmm....good excuse to load up on Disney souveniers too...I mean...the case can't come home half empty can it? I wonder how many pins I can stuff in a suitcase...

 

[handicap18]

I wonder how many pins I can stuff in a suitcase...

OMG! I would so love to carry that many pins. DW would probably have me hung by my toe nails if I did though. Interest rates are going up, but they're still pretty good, so you can still get a good rate on a personal loan. You don't have to tell them that your using the loan to buy Disney Pins!!