Trip to Africa-Heavy photo gear

[Lorant Voros]

After my last trip to Africa I thought I post this thread about my question. I limited my gear to the minimum (:)), that meant 2 bodies, 500mm, 100-400mm, 17-40mm lenses, 1.4TC, tripod (in checked bag) and tripod head, charger for HDD and HDD that takes CF cards and plenty of CF cards, binoculars. Still, my back was overweight, since with it's 14kg passed the 8kg carry on limit. South African Airlines weighs all the carry on bags; they were very nice and let me go when I told them I was a photographer.

I wonder what you guys do when you fly with your heavy photo gear. I guess 1st class or bussiness class tickets would be an option, but I don't have the $ for that. Looking forward to read your thoughts on this subject.

Lorant

[Roger Clark]

Lorant,

I use a photo vest and look like a stuffed turkey.:)

Do you really use the 100-400 since you have the 500? I usually take 28-135 IS, 70-200 f/4 IS, and 500 f/4 IS. For my next trip I've decided to leave the 500 home and take a 300 f/2.8 in its place. Plus 1.4x and 2x TCs. I can stack the TCs (840 mm f/8), but have found I rarely need that much focal length in Africa.

Roger

[Lorant Voros]

Lorant,

I use a photo vest and look like a stuffed turkey.:)

Do you really use the 100-400 since you have the 500? I usually take 28-135 IS, 70-200 f/4 IS, and 500 f/4 IS. For my next trip I've decided to leave the 500 home and take a 300 f/2.8 in its place. Plus 1.4x and 2x TCs. I can stack the TCs (840 mm f/8), but have found I rarely need that much focal length in Africa.

Roger

Yeah, Roger. I didn't mention all the goods that were in my vest :-). I used the 100-400 more than the 500, but I am happy I didn't leave the big glass home. I don't own a 300 f:2.8 :-).

[Ken Watkins]

Lorant,

Flying with camera equipment is becoming more and more difficult.

Like Roger I use a vest, in this I carry two EOS 1D Bodies my back up Next To and epson, plus a 300 F4, I could take more this means my carry on bag has reduced in weight from 18 kg to around 10, this has a 500mm F4 plus 28-300 ,chargers and other bits and pieces.

It worked OK for internal flights in Africa, but you feel a bit silly taking your vest off and struggling to get in the overhead bin;)

[Declan Troy]

Any recommendations for vests from you intrepid travelers for wearing all this photo-gear?

[Roger Clark]

Any recommendations for vests from you intrepid travelers for wearing all this photo-gear?

Mine is kind of old (has film pouches that I use for batteries). What I looked for was a lot of pockets, not cotton (so dries fast), and has a mesh instead of solid cloth so it is cooler in a hot environment. Also light in color (not black).

Roger

[Ken Watkins]

Any recommendations for vests from you intrepid travelers for wearing all this photo-gear?

I got mine from Vested Interested and I can thoroghly recommend it

http://www.vestedinterest.com/

[Declan Troy]

Thanks for the vested tips.

[Johan Kruger]

Lorant, I live out here, so just leave your 500 with me then you dont have to fly it out here everytime ;) I will take good care of it , hehe :)

[Lorant Voros]

Lorant, I live out here, so just leave your 500 with me then you dont have to fly it out here everytime ;) I will take good care of it , hehe :)

Yeah, this is what all my South African friends suggested and offered...but no thanks :p.

[Doug Campbell]

Get the largest carry on bag allowed by the airline regs that will hold all your equipment. Take out whatever is necessary to make the weight requirements, put that stuff in your vest and then put it back in the bag once you get on.