hahahahahahahahaha Love the picture
You keep making my face do this:
I want ocean and food and food and ocean (and food)!! Larger here.
I'm faced with a big decision. Lois and I are hoping to do some traveling later this year, and for a change, we will probably go by air instead of driving (it's just not as much fun as it used to be).
I'm really confused about all the new regulations regarding carry-on baggage, and how it relates to my camera equipment. From what I understand, we are allowed one roll-on bag, and one personal bag. The roll-on bag goes in the overhead compartment, and the personal bag has to fit under the seat in front of you. Of course, you're allowed one large checked bag.
Now, I am NOT going to check a bag with my camera equipment or my laptop, so they will have to be in my carry-on luggage, so that means I will have to severely limit what I take. Right now, I'm thinking the 5D2, 16-35L, 24-70L, and 70-300DO. That gives me continuous coverage from 16mm - 300mm, and that's good. The problem is, those lenses tend to be fairly heavy relative to their size. Then, I have to decide whether or not to take a flash for indoor shots. I would like to avoid having to carry the weight equivalent of a small bus around with me, but can't think of any better combination to cover all contingencies.
On the other hand, I have the 40D, 10-22 and 17-85 lenses. The IQ won't be as great as the 5D2, but still adequate, and I'll have continuous coverage from (equivalent) 16mm to 136mm. I'll be giving up the long end unless I decide to include the accursed 70-300DO lens. I'll also have a pop-up flash for emergencies.
Then there's the G10. Small, good IQ, inconspicuous, built-in flash, but limited focal range (28-140mm equivalent), and not-so-great noise handling.
I guess it ultimately depends on where we go, and whether or not there's likely to be something there worth taking pictures of.
I hate decisions like this. After I decide on the photo equipment, I have to decide whether I want to take my laptop, the iPad, both, or just a storage device for photos.
It probably will end up being something we'll have to figure out as we go. The luxury of having a car or truck with virtually unlimited space for toys is not likely to be the case from here on. I will miss those days.
Worry, worry. What to do.
Since the roller (or your larger carry-on, it needn't be a roller) has to go overhead, make sure that it's something you can lift up and down yourself. And, with "checked baggage" fees, more and more people are pushing the "carry-on" limits, so you may have to "gate-check" your roll-on. Two very good reasons to keep your camera/computer gear to one or two smaller bags that you could either fit overhead or under the seat. I've never taken a roll-on bag on board; the biggest carry-on bag I've ever carried was a Domke F-7, with 2 bodies and 4-5 lenses plus flash and a netbook (plus something to read on the flight). Remember, if one of your bags is a roller, you can sit the smaller bag on top of it as you move around the airport, etc. But the 5D2 combo you outlined, if you're not bothered by the weight, will fit into a small enough bag that you can stow it under your seat (if the overheads are full) with only minimal shuffling of your feet. Depending on the bag, you can probably fit a full-sized (15" or so) laptop in with the camera. I'd toss the G11 in with the rest of your gear though. And remember, a jacket doesn't count as one of your bags, so wearing a photographer's vest or even a suit coat/blazer (you'll have to take it off going through airport security) is another way of handling some of the smaller stuff (like the G10). I usually pack things like chargers and relatively unbreakable stuff in my checked bag.
Whatever you do, don't fly Spirit. They're charging for carry-ons as well as checked bags. But Southwest doesn't charge for either. Even if I don't need to check a bag, I'll choose them.
Pics later, as well as pix of the wicked cool Luna moth on our front door last night and dead (
) this am.
