Lens in your check-in luggage?

In 3.5 weeks I fly to Africa. I am taking the 300 2.8 IS and two bodies, 24-105 and I would like to take the 100-400 too, for a second body as often animals are too close.(plus a netbook, cards filters etc..)
But I have a 7KG hand luggage limit. Anyone trust to put the 100-400 in hold luggage? Or do I just take the 70-300 IS instead?

I definitely wouldn't put anything I cared about in checked luggage. If you're just worried about the weight limit, if you're not too far over give it a shot anyway, they usually don't weigh them. Or if you're traveling with someone else you could give your lens to them to carry on.

Never ever put very valuable things in your check in luggage.

Had a very very bad experience many years before.

I checked a tripod once and the ball head was all mashed up when i got it back. how? I have no idea. It wasn't ruined, but clearly had taken a lot of abuse. Based on that, I would never ever put anything remotely fragile in checked luggage.

MCB wrote in post #8587955
I checked a tripod once and the ball head was all mashed up when i got it back. how? I have no idea. It wasn't ruined, but clearly had taken a lot of abuse. Based on that, I would never ever put anything remotely fragile in checked luggage.

You checked it in as it was, or you did place it inside your bag with other items? Anything checked in must be packaged so that it has no sharp corners damaging other items, and so that it can stand a big pressure or being tossed.

Double check your restrictions, most airlines do not count the camera you hang on your neck. I always pop a big zoom on and wear it onto the plane, in addition to the carryon bag--never been hassled.

The alternative is registered and insured mail to yourself at your destination, along with appropriate customs forms.

Neilyb wrote in post #8587855
In 3.5 weeks I fly to Africa. I am taking the 300 2.8 IS and two bodies, 24-105 and I would like to take the 100-400 too, for a second body as often animals are too close.(plus a netbook, cards filters etc..)
But I have a 7KG hand luggage limit. Anyone trust to put the 100-400 in hold luggage? Or do I just take the 70-300 IS instead?

The hand luggage is rarely weighed. Both times I have been to africa my backpack weighed well over the limit. Last time almost the double. But it was not weighed. Often the trick is to cary it on your back during checkin time and don't let it be seen that it is heavy. But the most important is probably to be damn sure the bag fits the size limit so you don't risk of having to measure it because obviously if they start handling your bag they will know it is too heavy and weigh it.

I don't have a 300 mm f/2.8L lens but I had following in my LowePro Vertex 200 on my last trip: 1D MK IIII, 5D, 400 mm f/5.6L, 70-200 mm f/2.8L, 24-105 f/4L, 85 mm f/1.8, laptop. I think the weigth was close to 14 or 15 kg.

I would definately not put lenses in my checked bag unless it is a pellicase.

pwm2 wrote in post #8587967
You checked it in as it was, or you did place it inside your bag with other items? Anything checked in must be packaged so that it has no sharp corners damaging other items, and so that it can stand a big pressure or being tossed.

It was inside a suitcase. (surrounded by clothes, etc)

MCB wrote in post #8588040
It was inside a suitcase. (surrounded by clothes, etc)

Bad luck then

I have seen people wrap a couple of turns of bubble plastic aruond their tripods, and I don't like that solution. The tripod cuts through the bubbles in no time, and then it is unprotected.

The trick with having things in a suitacase is to make maximum use of the clothes. But there is no way I would check in a camera body or lens in the suitcase.

If you are prepared to lose it without monetary compensation, put it in check in. I would never do that. I don't trust airport security in certain parts of the world, actually nowhere.

With that said, it is a real problem travelling with camera equipment which is why I have a, primarily, zoom lineup, trying to keep the number of lenses and weight down when I travel.

My wory is that with the best prime ever made I may not even use the zoom Wel see. Second poblem, Vertex 100 only holds 300 2.8, 2 bodies (5d, 50d), 24-105, small lappy and assorted small stuff....if I want to carry the zoom it is i a lens case attached might make it more bulky and noticable... arghh....

But not going in the hold, just remembered what happened flying to Vic Falls 3 years ago (suitcase jimmied open, not mine but the GFs). Yeh, too risky. But tripod has to go in as European ailines consider it a weapon.

never ever ever EVER put your camera gear in checked luggage. i frequenly exceed 10kgs with my hand luggage and these days it's routine to see folks shoving suitcases in the overhead storage compartment inside the airplane.

United Breaks Guitars

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

'nuff said. Lenses go on as carry-on all the time.

maybe consider a new bag. I have the ThinkTank Streetwalker HardDrive and it fits a LOT of gear and clears carry-on restrictions with flying colors.

For this week, it has the following in it, 40D + grip, 70-200 f/4L IS, 17-55IS, 11-16, 50/1.4, 50/1.2, 8mm fish, 7mm fish, (2) 580EXII's, ebay triggers, kenko tubes, SuperClamp, lightsphere, rayflash, and filters, memcards, chargers, batteries, and finally my Thinkpad T60.