How do you take your gear with you on vacation?

I'd only check my gear if I had no other option and only in a Pelican case. That'd be the only circumstances... or over my dead body.

RDKirk wrote in post #10317802
Well, now, wait a minute.

The specific statement, "I don't trust people & don't feel comfortable in foreign places" is not a statement about the places, it's a statement about the speaker.

I agree, had their been a tongue in cheek smilie I would have used it, as it was I had to rely on the good old standard smilie. < BIG GRIN>

neil_r wrote in post #10317934
I agree, had their been a tongue in cheek smilie I would have used it, as it was I had to rely on the good old standard smilie. < BIG GRIN>

I tend to use the tongue out smilie, as a tongue in cheek smilie. Never sure if anyone else gets it though....

i fly a lot and one thing i've noticed recently is that folks tend to try to bring in all their luggage to avoid baggage fees...

that basically means one thing...

all these folks are coming in with their rolling bags and duffel bags and all sorts of stuff that CLEARLY should not have been allowed according to the size restrictions... and they're cramming that bag in there regardless of what's up there.

some are as bold as to take out your gear, then put their bag in there safely, and rest your bag in front, hold and snap/push the lid close...

it's quite ridiculous...

1) when you are flying economy class... and have precious equipment up there, then put it in and keep an eye on it till boarding finishes.
2) put your jacket or anything near/around your bag to give impression of space being taken and being crowded.
3) do not let anyone handle your bag
4) hardcase ftw.

i purchased my Lowepro Pro Roller X100 exactly for this purpose.
and i will also fit in my 17" laptop in there and still have the security and protection of a semi-rigid case.

Taking your gear to Puerto Rico is safe as long as you use common sense. You can walk around the Old San Juan, Culebra, beaches, Cuevas de Camuy, Conquistador, Morro, Florescent Bay at Fajardo or Pargueras, Radar de Arecibo…. but try to be either around crowds or where you see a bunch of tourist. Don’t walk alone flashing your gear in dark alleys or you may lose your gear but then that is true here in the States or any place you travel.

JJD.Photography wrote in post #10316642
I work at the airport (not for the airline). I would never, ever, never ever.... again NEVER EVER check in my camera gear even if it were in my Pelican case! Not only are the bags treated like a bag of trash, but there are many thieves that handle those bags!!

Instead I carry all my gear on board and it stays with me 100% of the time! Well, not all because it will not all fit in my backpack.

I don't even like taking my 70-200 f/2.8L IS on trips because I don't trust people & don't feel comfortable in foreign places. With that being said, I will be carrying my 50Dw/10-22mm & 450Dw/50mm or 18-55mm to Puerto Rico in the near future with my newly purchased Cotton Carrier (in the mail as of now). I am most likely going to leave the battery grips at home as well for lighter weight & to avoid looking like the gear is that expensive.

BTW: Nice looking Photostream!

how about a tripod? will they let you carry-on a tripod?

Take the 50D, 17-55, 10-22, and if you know you're going to some awesome event that needs reach, 70-200 (optional).

Leave the 50 at home.

I brought the exact same lens kit for a 3 week trip. The 17-55 and 10-22 were on my camera 24/7. 70-200 was out once for the summer games opening ceremony. 50mm was sitting inside all day.
I did use my 580 flash a few times.

get a backpack carry on

You already have a decent Tamrac bag, so all gear should go with you as a carry-on.I mean, I wouldn't trust anyone handling my fragile lens/body like a piece of trash, throwing around, and then opening and stealing everything. So take it with you. It should fit well into the limit of carry-on.

You can carry a tripod as long as its strap to the bag or it will count as a handbag or a carry on.

Off topic, but your photos of the monkeys are absolutely adorable.

If you do carry on (I recommend it highly for anything semi-breakable), put it through the machine unzipped, open.

KinoC wrote in post #10318282
You can carry a tripod as long as its strap to the bag or it will count as a handbag or a carry on.

Depends on the airline...

These 'what can I take on board' etc. threads always amuse me - ASK THE AIRLINE! (or look at the airline's website for details) - They are the ones with the rules and most airlines have different rules - If they are anything like Ryaniar in the UK they will be pretty strict on enforcing them.

But yes, whatever you don't NEVER put anything valuable in the baggage hold EVER!

I also plan to travel oversea in September. I currently have a Lowepro Flipside 400. It seems that the backpack exceeds the personal article specification (I might carry a standard article along too). Anyone has experience with Flipside 400 and Air Canada? Thanks!

^ Muteki, I recently traveled to Aruba in April and I carried on with me a Lowepro Flipside 300 and a Jansport backpack. The 300 isn't that much smaller than the 400, they didn't have a problem with either bag. I didn't check the size requirements, but no one checked the size of my carry on bags anyways.

I flew Jet Blue by the way.