I just received the Canon 400mm f/2.8 L lens, all ten pounds of it. I really didn't appreciate its size before I ordered it. It comes with its own hard lens case which looks like a small carry-on bag. I need hints about how one travels with such a lens. For example:
1. Does one just check this lens case along with your other bags?
2. Does one need a fold-up carrier with wheels to carry this lens along with a camera bag containing a 1Ds Mark2, a 24-70mm lens, and a 70-200mm lens?
3. Does one hire an assistant to carry this gear or can it be done solo?
4. In short, did I make a big mistake? Photography is my hobby, not my livelyhood. How do you professionals do it?

Letcher
Tulsa

The problem I've most often run into is the weight of the carry on and the 1 personal item - in Canada limited to 10 kg each. I'd check out the large lens cases at Kinesis - www.kgear.com. I just ordered the L311 for use with a 300 2.8, and Canon 1d2, that's under the weight, then in a knapsack, a 16-35, 24-70, 70-200 plus hyperdrive. I don't travel with a laptop. If you start to use a wheeled carry on you end up chewing through a significant amount of weight just in the empty luggage.

I sure wouldn't check my gear.

Michael has recently posted some other tips (eg wear a photo vest and transfer lenses to the pockets while you check in then back into the carry on).

Hi

I use a hardcover suitcase, which I have padded. I works well. at least a lot better then when I had to dismantle my camera bag and fill it all in three large plastic bags as carry-on.

I also use this kind of bag, because it doesn't look like a camera bag!!!

good luck

Henrik

I can only speak for US travel with long lenses.

I long ago ditched the hard cases for trips, relying on a camera pack instead. The cases are simply too heavy and bulky, plus they are inconvenient to carrry on hikes through terminals. My pack is a Tamrac 787, but there are lots of other worthy ones. I rearrange/remove the internal dividers to suit my needs trip by trip. Worst case, I carry both my 500 f/4 and 300 f/2.8 at the same time, along with a body and smaller lenses in the 787. Additional gear and my laptop goes into a Tamrac Photo Messenger bag.

I've never had beef from any US airline about the load, but I'm careful about overall dimensions. I have no doubt that they wouldn't like the weight, but I'm also careful not to act like it's heavy so that no one is inspired to look closer.

"I use a hardcover suitcase, which I have padded. I works well. at least a lot better then when I had to dismantle my camera bag and fill it all in three large plastic bags as carry-on."


Misshandling and loss of luggage, either temporary or permanent, is a hazard of airtravel. Additionally, baggage scanning and baggage-opening for inspection (with the risks of misshandling) often happen out of view of the traveler. I'm waiting now for word on a baggage trace for luggage lost on an international flight two weeks ago.

With the exception of tripods, my camera gear goes on-board with me. If I can't figure out how to do that, I rent equipment at the other end or ship fedex/UPS to the destination. Tripods have been stowed in my luggage - but only after I've decided I can accept the possible loss.