Posted by Bill Farnsworth on 08/05/06 08:36

<mv@movingvision.co.uk> wrote
>
> I fly to various parts of the World and have sometimes weighed over
> half a ton with my kit and a colleague. The last few projects to
> places like Saudi, Sudan, West Africa and the Gulf were shot on HDV.
> It was handy to have two cameras as hand luggage, a Z1 and an A1.
> The rest of the gear travelled in the hold in 'FLIGHT CASES'.
> Wonderful things they are. The only risk to any kit in a flight case
> is if they are badly packed (everything inside should be able to
> withstand a degree of violent handling and being stowed upside down
> or any which way) or if they get lost or misdirected. Theft from a
> large heavy flight case with strong locks has not happened to me
> yet, touch wood. Clearly other than compact types, most
> professional cameras are too big for hand luggage with the tighter
> rules these days and must travel in the hold, so properly designed
> and fitted flight cases are essential. Excess baggage negotiations
> have become a standard art for film makers!
> --
> John Lubran

Hey John. How's life on the right side of the pond?
Good advice.

To add my two cents.................
You know, in the thirty years I have been in production, I've logged
enough miles to circle the world four or five time times and all the
while carrying broadcast cameras.
And in all that time I have never, ever shipped a camera.
I alway carry 'em on. As a matter of fact, I don't KNOW anyone that
ships their camera.

As Dave mentioned, camera, one tape and two batteries are the standard
carry on. I also keep my camera in a Porta Brace body bag. And I
bring my rear lens cap and camera lens mount cap.
If it don't fit in the overhead, then take off the lens and
viewfinder. THEN it will fit. Put the other parts in your smaller
carry on bag.
If you must travel with a laptop, then put the laptop in a bag that is
big enough to hold the lens and viewfinder also.
Be prepared is the key.
If you don't have a body bag for your camera then a blanket from the
overhead and wrap it around the camera.
All of the above is the SOP for network news and broadcast video
documentary shooters.

There was a time that the networks allowed us to buy a seat on the
plane for the camera (they were half price), so we didn't have to put
up with that overhead compartment or under the seat crap.
But those days have been gone for about 25 years.

Bill F.
www.billfarnsworthvideo.com

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