Foam padding to covert any bag into a camera bag?

[gjman]

I just got back from a back breaking 4 day trip with my LowePro CompuRover. Till now the CompuRover worked out great, but when travelling with family you really cannot be a "camera junkie" and I ended up trying to stuff non camera stuff into the CompuRover AW and it was aweful.

After evaluating whats fragile and whats not, I think I can safely tuck in my some of my lenses into my undies and t-shirts (or Tamrac padded lens cases, the L has its own bag) into any carry on bag with wheels, but I dont think I can do that same with the 20D body. I am looking for a custom foam pack/box that protects the body (or body with a short lens).

The other reason I wanted to take my camera in a normal cabin baggage is safety. After that "liquid bomb" fiasco, it is very much possible that you end up at the airport on the day that they ONLY allow you to take on what you can carry in clear ziplock bag and no soft camera bag will really come out alive after travelling as checked luggage, but any well built cabin baggage can.

Anybody know more about taking camera stuff in a NON Camera bag? I think it can be done with some foam padding, tamrac padded lens pouches, but the body is the issue.

Remember this is about carrying a camera with your undies, not about carry only the camera and lens as is.

[Wilt]

I have taken an ordinary daypack and used Domke padded dividers to turn it into a daypack for my medium format gear during my travels thru South America, to look like an ordinary tourist and not look too much like a photographer.

Domke also has 'wraps' which are akin to padded handkerchiefs that can be wrapped around any shape and close itself via hook and loop fasteners on it. That would work for the 20D body.

I would severely hesistate to pack ANY camera equipment (lenses, etc) in checked bags...too many stories of thefts from checked bags, even stories of theft rings at places like Heathrow Airport involving baggage handlers!

[gjman]

Originally Posted by Wilt

Domke also has 'wraps' which are akin to padded handkerchiefs that can be wrapped around any shape and close itself via hook and loop fasteners on it. That would work for the 20D body.....I would severely hesistate to pack ANY camera equipment (lenses, etc) in checked bags...

Thanks for the tip on the Domke Color Coded protective wraps I will see if they fit the bill.

I was not talking about intentionally checking in my camera gear, but I dont think anyone can predict when the next terrorist threat makes the airlines/airport jump out of their skin and ONLY ALLOW stuff that fits in clear plastic bag onto airplanes (thats what happened on the first day of the liquid bomb threats and they didnt allow ANYTHING: no laptops/wines/perfumes or anything in cabin baggage on UK-US flights) Everything had to go as checked baggage on that day and its impossible for you to predict when that happens.

Besides, I ve often had the misfortune of being one of the last to check in for a super crowded flights and when you are a in row 99, there is no overhead space left and they force you to "check in" your cabin baggage if its too big.

Thats why a lockable standard cabin baggage suitcase which "can" go as checked baggage and "can" protect my camera gear with padding/wraps is what I am looking for.

[Wilt]

what you said in the OP seems a bit different than in message 3. "The other reason I wanted to take my camera in a normal cabin baggage is safety." ('take it with you") vs. "Everything had to go as checked baggage on that day and its impossible for you to predict when that happens." (your're forced to check it").

If a camera bag has to get checked, in those extreme situations as you related, dropping the whole thing into an outer case that does not look photographic is what I would try first. If you had to put lenses and other items into checked luggage with underwear and shirts, etc. I would resort to first simply sticking each lens into multiple pairs of socks as cushioning and camoflage from someone who might open my checked luggage in inspect and 'tactically remove' selected pieces identified to be easy sales items on the street! What they cannot see immediately is less likely to vanish quickly.

My replies were about trying to take an ordinary case and turn it into a case suitable for photography. But they could also serve for sticking gear among the dirty underwear when the situation arises.

A lockable bag CANNOT BE LOCKED unless it has one of the TSA-approved locks, which TSA can open. (A lockable bag is useful to have in order to have some items a bit less accessible in a hotel room while you've gone to the restaurant or pool!)

I think if I were forced to check my photographic equipment, my last act before turning it over is to take out the camera and photograph all of the equipment I was checking, then removing the CF card and putting that in my pocket, as evidence of the inventory prior to any possible theft!

[bolantej]

tuck it in a small bag you can fit under the seat. at least if you have to check anything, the camera and lenses will be with you when the baggage handler steals your luggage. Seriously, I carry one small bag I can throw under the seat on a plane, and stuff that in my regular backpack when I'm out and about.

[gjman]

Originally Posted by Wilt

......I would resort to first simply sticking each lens into multiple pairs of socks as cushioning and camoflage ....... A lockable bag CANNOT BE LOCKED unless it has one of the TSA-approved locks, which TSA can open. (A lockable bag is useful to have in order to have some items a bit less accessible in a hotel room while you've gone to the restaurant or pool!).....my last act before turning it over is to take out the camera and photograph all of the equipment I was checking, then removing the CF card.....

I agree with the camoflage part and for domest air travel checked bags cannot be locked/must use TSA locks. For international air travel you have to get it screened by TSA first (you unlock it) and then ask them to lock it for you after its been screened and then take it over to the check in counter. On the other side of the pond, they do the same thing too...first screen your checked baggage (unlocked) and then they will lock it for you and then you take it to your airline counter.

When they off load cabin baggage (it usually happens when you reach your row 99 and find that all overhead space has been taken up by the folks in the first 98 rows) its already prescreened with you during your security check so they dont care whats it in it they just want to put in it in the baggage hold (with the baby strollers)

Anyway thats belabouring the point: the Domke wraps along with independent lens covers and undies should do the tricks.

Originally Posted by bolantej

tuck it in a small bag you can fit under the seat. at least if you have to check anything, the camera and lenses will be with you when the baggage handler steals your luggage.

Thats the problem my stuff wont fit in a "small bag" which inturn fits inside another bigger bag (with enough room for undies and such) which is cabin baggage speced. I have enough stuff for a LowePro MiniTrekker but if you put that inside another cabin bag thats big enough to hold that with other stuff you travel with most airlines wont let it fly (thought about it).

Besides if you happened to be there when they have a gas bomb threat all bets are off, its clear plastic ziplock bags.

[kram]

The key to not having non-camera stuff being packed inside the camera bag is to have enough camera stuff to fill the bag in the first place

Planning for a camera bag to be checked in is probably overkill. When it happens, I would just place the items inside my hard luggage between clothes and pray. Otherwise, you will have to plan on replacing your bag with a pelican case.

Even during the latest threat, the no carry-on rule was imposed for a very short time - and that too on UK-ES flights only.