carry on for 8x10 gear

[severian]

Once again I am on a quest to find the perfect bag for my rig. Here is the recipe; 8x10 Zone VI ultralight, Gitzo 1228 and ball head, maybe six 8x10 holders ,darkcloth, changing bag, film and meter. All this must fit comfortably in a bag that I can check on and avoid the hassel of lost luggage. What are you using and what do you recommend. F64, surplus Alice bag or perhaps you have uncovered something else that meets my requirements. All other necessities, clothes, trail mix, cadbury chocolate, (yes cadbury chocolate is more important than clothes) go in a breifcase that I also can carry on. I fly about 6 times a year within the States and to Europe. Forgot to mention, the bag must be extremely light because I carry it around for about 12 hours a day. I await your wisdom.

 

[BradS]

I don't have an answer to your question. Rather, I have another question...do you carry on you tripod? Have you lately? Do you get any hassle about it?

I used a Land's End diaper bag to carry on my 4x5 kit once....but, I'm not sure if your 8x10 kit would all fit. I liked the bag very much as it allows one to maintain a very low profile at the airport and in the big cities. Which, I much prefer.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Do you consistently get your tripod on the plane? I do carry my 8x10" camera on, but I can't do it with everything I need. I use an 8x10" Gowland PocketView, and it fits in an ordinary knapsack made for laptop computers with 6 lenses, 5 holders, and the usuals, but when I fly, the holders go (empty) in my checked luggage, and the film and my laptop (alas, work follows me wherever I go) go in the filmholder pocket. My tripod is checked in a Tenba TTP case.

So what happens if my luggage is lost? If I'm shooting 8x10", it usually means I don't get to shoot for the first day, and my lost luggage gets delivered the next day, but fortunately, it's never happened when traveling with the 8x10" kit. On my last trip, my tripod case was delayed, but fortunately I had my 4x5" Tech V with me and one cammed lens (my other rangefinder cams were checked, because the inspectors are always suspicious about them, and they would be really expensive to replace if they were confiscated), so I could shoot handheld for the first day.

 

[photomc]

Have been looking at the Pelican 1510 for the 8x10 kit, claims to be largest legal carry on size. As to the tripod question, have read several comments in the past that the hard plastic golf culb cases (the ones you put the bag and all in) works quite well for tripods and that there is generally no additional charge for sporting equipment. Have considered picking one up anyway, becuase it would be a great way to store the tripod while traveling - plane or auto. Anyone have any experience with one of these?
Oh, yeah same question with the Pelican case...anyone using one.

 

[Nick Zentena]

Golf clubs can't be carried on either can they? I didn't think they allowed almost anything on today.

I think most airlines allow two pieces of carry on. One real carry on and one "camera case or briefcase" The size for the camera case is too small for a LF but it's big enough for film holders or film or lenses etc.

Camera should fit easily in the normal carry on. Spilt the rest of the stuff between the carry on and the briefcase. Tripod checked?

I just bought a metal briefcase off Ebay $0.01 plus shipping. Too bad shipping was $26-( Still should be big enough for film holders and box+ of film.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I've found that it is quite easy (especially on return trips) to have more bags in your carry-on than the prescribed limit, especially if the bags look like they are some kind of gift.

Back to the original question, I'm still looking for a good 8x10 camera bag. I'm in even worse shape than you, because I've got a Calumet C-1 which takes up a LOT of space. I have found a good carrying bag for a few film-holders though. Microsoft makes a carrying bag for the X-box game system which is large enough to hold NINE 8x10 film holders, plus a decent sized darkcloth and a modest- sized light meter. The x-box bag is also quite cheap - about $30 USD. Downsides are that it is all black, and it has a garish X-box logo on the front.

I don't currently have a tripod I'd be willing to travel with for my 8x10, but when I haul around my 4x5, I use a carbon-fiber Bogen tripod which goes nicely in my suitcase and gets checked into baggage. I'm looking into a bigger carbon-fiber or wood for the 8x10 that will handle it as well or better than my aluminum Bogen without the weight.

 

[matt miller]

In this thread: http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/503073.html someone claims to use an f64 backpack as a carry on for 8x10. In this thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists) Francesco says the same thing. I have the f64 bag and like it, but have never tried to use it as a carry-on. I'm not familiar with the C-1. How small does it fold down?

 

[TerryThomasAtlanta]

I read somewhere that either the US Federal Aviation Administration or US Transport Safety Administration has an exemption form for photographers. With it the photographer can carry on a 3rd bag.

If anyone has details, please post an update to my note.

Thanks.

PS
Don't let the security folks handle your cameras. 20+ years ago in Chicago a security lady dropped my Leica M3 on the concrete floor! "Sorry" she said as I cried softly.

-------------

See some of my stills for the forthcoming feature film "Psychopathia Sexualis" here: www.psychopathia.com

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

In this thread: http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/503073.html someone claims to use an f64 backpack as a carry on for 8x10. In this thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists) Francesco says the same thing. I have the f64 bag and like it, but have never tried to use it as a carry-on. I'm not familiar with the C-1. How small does it fold down?

Not very small. It's about 11x17x7 or thereabouts. With my 14" Commercial Ektar mounted, it adds about 1 1/2" to the depth. It's a tank too - weighs in by itself at 14#, no lens.

 

[Robert Hall]

I've used the F64 (acutally made just up the street in Morgan, Utah) for my 8x10. The lenses fit, a couple film holders fit, and I take the little bags off the side which I keep my lenses in and stuff them in the top of the bag.

I've used it like this ever since I read the article above (I believe it was that anyway).

No regrets. (except that the airlines wouldnt be more friendly to my camera equpment.)

For my 12x20, I just made a backpack ( http://www.roberthall.com/backpack.jpg ) and it acutally carries better than the 8x10. I would attribute that to my frame, not my great skills as a bag maker.

 

[matt miller]

Not very small. It's about 11x17x7 or thereabouts. With my 14" Commercial Ektar mounted, it adds about 1 1/2" to the depth. It's a tank too - weighs in by itself at 14#, no lens.

Doesn't sound like it would fit in the f64.

 

[Robert Hall]

Does the lens have to be mounted? My lenses sit in the side and top bags until needed.