Help me find a camera bag I can take as carry-on...

[Bob_McBob]

I'm going to be spending the holidays in England, and I need to find a camera bag to lug all my stuff over there that can be taken as carry-on. To start, here's a list of my gear:

Canon 40D w/BG-E2N
Tokina 12-24/4
Canon 50/1.8
Canon 70-200/2.8 IS
Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6 IS

Leica M6 TTL
2 tiny lenses

15" ThinkPad

Other bits and pieces

I have been having a hard time deciding whether I actually want to take all this stuff over. I'll probably be leaving the 100-400 behind, but it might be nice to take the 70-200 just so I have some sort of tele option available. I'll be staying with relatives, so leaving some or all of the gear at the house during the daytime will not be a problem. I'm not going to be lugging everything around with me wherever I go. I will probably take a separate smaller bag in my checked luggage to transfer items to for daily shooting.

I'm also undecided on the laptop -- they are living in the stone age and have no computer or internet, but I would like to be able to copy and edit/review photos while I'm there. Taking the laptop would also make dealing with storage much less of an issue (I only have one 4GB CF card). I have no idea how I would get the laptop over there if I didn't have a large laptop/camera bag. I think the only option would be to put all my photo gear in a big laptop case.

Someone suggested the Tamrac Adventure 9, which seems absolutely ideal. Unfortunately, it appears to be slightly larger than either the Heathrow or Air Canada carry-on restrictions:

Adventure 9: 20 x 13 x 11
Air Canada: 21.5 x 15.5 x 9
Heathrow: 22 x 17 x 10

Are the outer dimensions of the bag flexible at all? Could I squash it 2" to fit the Air Canada restriction? Can anyone suggest a different bag? Any thoughts on which gear I should take with me?

Thanks :)

[Jon]

Take a look at Domke's F-804 satchel with the 720-230 3-compartment insert. Get a separate insert for the laptop and you're good to go. I've taken the (narrower) F-802 (with an F-801 and 2x F-902s piggy-backed on it) through Heathrow when they'd only just started allowing carry-on again. One of the people said "One bag only", so I picked it all up by the F-802's handle and they let it go.

[Zonieart]

Are you looking for a bag with or without wheels? Also, soft side or hard side?

[SuzyView]

That is a serious bunch of gear. I'd listen to Jon, except, I don't have the back to hold it all. I like wheels. Consider the ThinkTank Airport Security and their laptop bag to go with it. That way you have 2 bags to hold camera equipment to carry on and one of them can fit a laptop.

I recently traveled with a lot of gear, got the Airport International and Adventure 9 bag for the 17 inch laptop. The backpack fit my 5D with 24-70, a few more lenses and a flash, while the ThinkTank had the 20D and all the other lenses and I put the cables for all the gear in the check-in. That helped a lot. The bags are not cheap, the Airport International was $359 and I had to wait for it. The other Security bag is a hot item, so locating one will be hard. I've seen photographers take large carrying bags onto planes. I think it's great, but I will spend more for a rolling bag to save myself a trip to the back doctor later.

[sunbeast]

Like Suzie, I traveled with the Airport International and was able to fit a 5D w/ grip, !D Mk II, Rebel XT, 6 lenses and assorted extras.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_ArprtInl.php

One on sale on FM

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/595287

[rhys]

I might be going to visit my parents in the UK so I might get myself a Pelican hard case - the 1514 because you never know whether everything's going to be chucked in the hold as cargo these days, what with bogus terror alerts etc.

[mdorroh]

I might be going to visit my parents in the UK so I might get myself a Pelican hard case - the 1514 because you never know whether everything's going to be chucked in the hold as cargo these days, what with bogus terror alerts etc.

I'm going to the dominican over christmas and I'll be taking a pelican for this exact reason. After all my carry-on luggage got thrown under on several flights this year I'm not taking any chances with my equipment.

[BearLeeAlive]

I prefer to use 2 smaller carry ons. The first is a backpack sized for carrying around all day. The second holds the laptop and all my camera accessories.

You also might consider dropping the 100-400 for the trip and getting a TC for your 70-200 to save some space and weight.

[Jon]

I prefer to use 2 smaller carry ons. The first is a backpack sized for carrying around all day. The second holds the laptop and all my camera accessories.

You also might consider dropping the 100-400 for the trip and getting a TC for your 70-200 to save some space and weight.Unfortunately, British Airports Authority is currently restricting passengers through their airports to a single carry-on (and no "personal items". They've announced plans to phase in a return to allowing 2 carry-ons, but it's not going to happen overnight.

[BearLeeAlive]

Unfortunately, British Airports Authority is currently restricting passengers through their airports to a single carry-on (and no "personal items". They've announced plans to phase in a return to allowing 2 carry-ons, but it's not going to happen overnight.
Good to know, I never realized this. 2 smaller carry ones are also way more flexible for stowing then one large one.
I should double check the limits flying outta Canada to the US just to be sure, it was always fine in the past, but things change.

[Ultimate CC]

I have near same gear and I use the lowepro computrekker aw and it works like a charm for travel...I can shoot a pic of it if you like later today...