Hard case for airline travel

I know there are many cases on the market but are there any recommendations to pack a Mark ll ID, a 20D and a few large lenses (300m 2.8 400mm 2.8 ) and monopod. Are there hard cases with adjustable padding?
Also as I will be taking the gear to Colorado for shooting some ski racing any suggestions for carrying the camera lens and monopod on the hill will be appreciated.
Thanks,
JS

The 'industry standard' option:

http://www.pelican.com​/cases/cases.html

I use their 1510 case: http://www.pelican.com​/pdfs_productes/1510.p​df with the adjustable divider set - this is also OK as hand luggage on a flight.

However, that would be too small for your requirements... but there are plenty of larger alternatives - just bear in mind that you will end up with a very heavy load if you put that gear in one case.

Maybe use a couple of 1510s? One as hand luggage and one in the hold.

---- Gavin

I've worked for the airlines for over 30 years and my experience tells me that when you start and check in a bag that looks like it has expensive equipment in it, it has a higher chance of going missing and never turning up. I am not saying that all airline employees are thieves but in large airports you have all sorts of other people that have acess to the baggage makeup areas.

I was faced with this dilema when I got my 500 f4 and the 300 f2.8. I researched a number of different cases and even looked into having one made. I ended up buying a simple hardsided Samsonite suitcase. In this I put the 500 which I have in a Lowepro softsided case, the 300, a variety of accessories and some clothes just to make sure that it is firmly enoug packed so that things don't move around. It has a key lock as well as a combination lock. This has made alot of trips and I have never had any trouble with it and it has always arrived with me. These suitcases are quite often as expensive as some of the pelican cases. One could always buy foam padding to put in there if they felt it didn't offer adequate protection.

Since doing this I have found a few other photographers that do the same thing and have had the same success rate that I have had.

One thing to note, airlines have a maximum liability on checked baggage so check with your homeowners insurance policy to see if this is covered while travelling (mine is). You can also declare additional value at the airport and pay an additional charge for this. The insurance is just peace of mind in case something does go wrong.

The airlines are getting real sticky about the amount of carryon baggage so don't try and take anything that is oversized. I hate to see people trying to board their aircraft and then are forced to check the item at the gate and it ends up in the baggage hold anyway.

Certainly sound advice to go with a non-descript bag if your bag is going to end up in the baggage hold. I usually only travel relatively light with my gear as hand luggage, so I'm able to keep an eye on it. A custom padded suitcase could be a wise solution if your equipment is out of sight.

Have a read of these threads as well:

http://www.sportsshoot​er.com …ge_display.html​?tid=17184
http://www.sportsshoot​er.com …ge_display.html​?tid=16377
http://www.sportsshoot​er.com …ge_display.html​?tid=11508
http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/message_display​.html?tid=8060

---- Gavin

I met a guy at a seminar that had, and loved one of these.

http://www.portercase.​com/

[QUOTE=ssim]I was faced with this dilema when I got my 500 f4 and the 300 f2.8. I researched a number of different cases and even looked into having one made. I ended up buying a simple hardsided Samsonite suitcase. In this I put the 500 which I have in a Lowepro softsided case, the 300, a variety of accessories and some clothes just to make sure that it is firmly enoug packed so that things don't move around. It has a key lock as well as a combination lock. This has made alot of trips and I have never had any trouble with it and it has always arrived with me. [/quote

Don't forget that now the TSA will not let you lock your checked luggage unless it is a certain kind of lock that they can unlock when needed. You could zip-strip it shut but then all that is needed to open is a knife.
I would never put anything that is really valuable in my checked luggage because too many people have access to it with nobody else around to watch. Carryon is really the way to go because you can have your eyes on it at all times. It might be awkward but is well worth it.

Thanks for the advice. I wonder what the Sports Illustrated folks use to transport all the gear required for the swimsuit issue shoots which always take place in an exotic locale. They have hundreds of pounds of cameras, lights, generators etc.
JS

The Best case for airline travel

Most photgraphers don't check their expensive gear if they can get away with it. The Think Tank Airport Addicted is a carry-on camera bag that will hold a 400 2.8. It is perfect for the sports shooting application you are talking about. You can even ski downhill with it (carefully because you will be really top heavy).
http://www.thinktankph​oto.com/ttp_product_Ar​prtAddctd.php
click on "Dowload additional information" to see the pdf showing examples of the 400 2.8 in the bag.
Mike K