Help, I'm lost!

Traveling with my photo gear for the first time ever on a plane (flying Southwest Airlines from Omaha to Orlando - DISNEY!!.) What are the restrictions? I don't even know where to start.

Can I carry on my gear? I really don't want to carry my 70-200 with me because we'll already have all the kids' 'stuff' but will probably bring along my 50D and 50mm to have something on the plane with us.

Do you put your camera on the belt scanner? Will that ruin the camera? (See totally dumb at this!)

How do I keep my 70-200 safe in my bag? It's insured but don't want to have to use the insurance.

Thanks!

50D + 70-200 is perfectly fine on a flight. Keep it on you (hand luggage), as you will be aware of it's whereabouts and minimise the risk of any damage from other people.

Deffo do not put it in your checked luggage. You have to put the camera + gear through the x-ray machine - it will not damage your camera.

Any camera gear carry on less likely to be damaged or stolen, toys in checked baggage not likely to be damaged or stolen

Ha! Didn't think anyone would answer my crazy post.

Thanks! That is exactly what I needed to know!

The only real restrictions for carrying on camera gear is that the bag needs to meet the carry-on size limits, and you need to be willing to carry it. Insurance or not, there's no way I would check that lens. If I weren't able to carry it on, I'd leave it at home and live without it at WDW. (That might be a valid option. Is the only day you plan to carry it your Animal Kingdom day? If you're never going to carry it in the parks, why carry it through the airports?)

You may want to check out a camera bag made specifically for travel. I really have my eye on one of ThinkTank's airport series. (I just wish the lid hinged on the long side.)

There are many other options. Check out this article on the Adorama Learning Center.

Another option if you really don't want to carry it on the flight with you might be to consider renting a lens. You can get the 70-200 f/2.8L for $70 for 3 days from Kingdom Camera, and they'll deliver it and pick it up from your WDW-area hotel.

not a bad idea about renting.

As for the "getting a camera bag specifically for travel" - I doubt she would get value for money from it. I just went back home to the UK with a kid and 6 bags of hand luggage (laptop bag, camera bag, nappy/diaper bag, backpack to carry kid in, wife's hand luggage and a bag for toys & books to entertain a 1 yr old). No way would I consider getting a bag like that for camera gear.

As Dave mentioned though, do check with southwest on the size of bags you can take with you - last thing you want is for them to say "waaaaaaaah, it's too big" - whilst you watch others jam in oversized bags in the overhead bins. I seriously doubt you'll have an issue if you are only taking a 50D, 70-200 and 50 with you (plus minor peripherals that go with it)

Even have taken my relevant gear on Jetblue, Southwest etc. never an issue.

Dave, all great points! Yeah, I was just bringing the 70-200 for Animal Kingdom only and specifically just the safari tour. With a toddler I probably won't be capturing anything amazing anyway.

You're also right Harm, not going to get the value from a travel case. I have a lowepro sling bag, might use that and put kid stuff in it too. OR get the purse type bag that I have been wanting forever anyway.

After thinking of the suggestions and knowing I shouldn't check any gear, I'm thinking I'll just bring the 50D (without the grip) and my 28-75mm and maybe my 50mm if I find that I don't even like toting the 28-75.

My youngest will be 20 months so we'll already have SO MUCH stuff with us. I'm trying to keep the camera gear to a minimum but still get the pictures I want.

I go with a camera/laptop bag that fits underneath the seat in front of me.

The other thing to consider is when you are in the park, how are you going to carry your camera gear with everything else? I go with a smaller camera bag (that's in my check-in luggage) in the parks. It's small enough that I can stuff it in one of the storage lockers and it has a reasonable chance of fitting in the storage baskets on some of the rides.

If you only got one or two lens, you could also get a thin neoprene bag/pouch that allows you to stuff your camera into another bag.

Also, I recommend that you put a small sticker on your camera bodies with your name and contact info (e.g., the size of a return address sticker). I once left my camera with 17-55/2.8 IS lens on a table and walked away; didn't notice it because the camera bag still had the heavy 70-200 in it. That sticker made it really easy to get the camera back. Over four trips to Disneyland, someone in my party lost three cameras and we always got them back thanks to proper markings.

marcosv wrote in post #15715090
Also, I recommend that you put a small sticker on your camera bodies with your name and contact info (e.g., the size of a return address sticker). I once left my camera with 17-55/2.8 IS lens on a table and walked away; didn't notice it because the camera bag still had the heavy 70-200 in it. That sticker made it really easy to get the camera back. Over four trips to Disneyland, someone in my party lost three cameras and we always got them back thanks to proper markings.

I actually use a dog collar tag (from a machine at Wal-Mart). They're just big enough for a name and phone number, and I like them because they're so durable.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …rdsofpreydave/8​487459742/

marcosv wrote in post #15715090
........
The other thing to consider is when you are in the park, how are you going to carry your camera gear with everything else? I go with a smaller camera bag (that's in my check-in luggage) in the parks. It's small enough that I can stuff it in one of the storage lockers and it has a reasonable chance of fitting in the storage baskets on some of the rides.

...........

Also, I recommend that you put a small sticker on your camera bodies with your name and contact info (e.g., the size of a return address sticker). ............

BirdsOfPreyDave wrote in post #15718404
I actually use a dog collar tag (from a machine at Wal-Mart). They're just big enough for a name and phone number, and I like them because they're so durable.

........

Brilliant idea, I think I may need to do this! Back in Dec I walked out of Innoventions and left my 5DII with 85L sitting on the floor. I thought I had put it back in my bag (which hangs on the stroller) but had actually set it on the floor while getting something for my daughter. Fortunately one of the employees dropped it at the customer service desk.

As to taking gear on a flight, I actually bought my Fastpack 350 because I knew it fit in the carry-ons. I've had two smaller commuter flights where it wouldn't fit but the stewardesses let me take it on anyway once I explained that it was full of expensive camera equipment. I was advised to put it under my feet.

I definitely wouldn't check any camera gear. No way.
As far as carrying a bag on the rides, I've not had any issues with my fastpack. Neither of my girls are big enough for roller coasters, so I usually leave the bag on the stroller with my wife for those, for all the other rides and shows it's not an issue.
I would also stress just how useful a stroller can be...........

BirdsOfPreyDave wrote in post #15718404
I actually use a dog collar tag (from a machine at Wal-Mart). They're just big enough for a name and phone number, and I like them because they're so durable.

I left my Rebel XT sitting on a chair at Sunshine Seasons Restaurant in Epcot's Land Pavillion one year, and didn't realize I was without it for about 20 minutes. I ran back, and when I got there, someone was just picking it up. Pfew!

The dog tag is an interesting idea. I take it you had no issues of scratching up the camera or things around it?

I would still use name stickers on things like lens barrels, flashes, etc. But, the dog tag would be cool for main pieces of equipment that have neck straps.

I left my camera at the World Show Case in Epcot, near the Greek food stands. I got an interesting lesson on how hard it can be to track items down in lost & found:
1) Item might be kept locally at a podium near where you lost the item, etc.
2) Item eventually makes its way to the main lost & found for that park --- have to check there right when the park closes
3) Item ultimately makes its way to the main lost & found that's next door to the kennel --- I called the main lost and found late that night to confirm they got the camera and picked it up first thing the next day...

marcosv wrote in post #15719306
The dog tag is an interesting idea. I take it you had no issues of scratching up the camera or things around it?

No, it's never given me any problems. I have one on every camera and lens bag.

On my camera bag, I have a laminated name tag that has my name, address, and cell phone number on one side, and a photo of myself on the other side. The thinking for the photo is that if I leave the bag sitting someone and someone finds it, they may spot me.