OVERSEAS FLIGHT/ CHECKING A LONG PRIME

Any recommendations on travelling with and checking a 600 f/4? I figure a standard Pelican with very tight foam should be good enough. Is this what most of y'all do?

I would never check my camera gear. I use the Gura Gear Kiboko 30 L backpack. It fits 2 camera bodies, my 600II , my extenders, 100-400mm II and my 24-105 and battery charger. My lens hood, gimbal head and tripod get checked.
Gura Gear was bought out by Tamrac and I think the newer version is slightly bigger and has a spot for laptop. If you google gura gear the bag will come up. The backpack is heavy but fits in all overheads except DASH-8.
If you need /prefer to use a roller bag, then the think tank airport is excellent but it does not fit in overhead compartments of smaller planes. Hope this helps, Gail

That's what everyone says Gail! I figured this would be the best place to ask whether or not anyone checks their gear - sounds like nobody does. Anyway, I have a giant Tamrac backpack that fits my camera with the 600 and tc attached. I may just pack that bag empty in my checked luggage and get a Pelican 1535 Air to carry on. Seems like it will fit most of what I need it for.

I'm going to head out to Kushiro (Hokkaido) Japan in the early winter. I've been to Japan a bunch of times, but never for bird photography. Pretty excited!

Daniel Grossi said:

Any recommendations on travelling with and checking a 600 f/4? I figure a standard Pelican with very tight foam should be good enough. Is this what most of y'all do?

Click to expand...

that should be more than adequate.

i try to carry all camera gear onboard, but sometimes that is impossible due to traveling with a lot of gear. if i have to check it, i use a lightware z600 soft lens case packed with towels around the lens barrell to keep it stable and then pack that in a Tenba 3-head Air Case. then pack whatever else i need, monopod, clothes, fanny pack (no camera gear in it), etc...

happy travels.

Problem solved! Pelican Air 1535. It's meets carry-on dimensional requirements and weighs just shy of 30 LBS loaded. The airline I regularly fly on (American) doesn't have weight restriction for carry-ons (domestic or international) so as long as you're not trying to lug something like 50 LBS + on board. Fits my 600 with TC attached, and 3 lenses or 2 lenses + body.

The key is to know which airlines weigh your carry-on and which don't...