Taking Video Housing abroad?

[e14724]

Ive recently purchased a new video camera and housing, and I would prefer to take it as hand luggage, how are these things usualy transported abroad? I am going to Sharm in the summer with Excel Air, has anyone done this with them?

Its a Seapro housing so is fairly heavy/bulky and wont fit in a laptop bag!!

Cheers

Nick

[PW1664]

Originally Posted by e14724

Ive recently purchased a new video camera and housing, and I would prefer to take it as hand luggage, how are these things usualy transported abroad? I am going to Sharm in the summer with Excel Air, has anyone done this with them?

Its a Seapro housing so is fairly heavy/bulky and wont fit in a laptop bag!!

Cheers

Nick

Medium size holdall bag.... handluggage...

[David P]

In a rigid suitcase, well wrapped in clothes and towels, should be pretty safe - most housings are pretty sturdy, they have to be...! I've carried a housing several times that way (hand baggage was already 12-15kg with cameras and laptop... ooh, er!)

[reef hook]

Another Seapro owner.I have used these housings for years,the current "beast" coming in at 9kilo without camera Several times I have considered changing to something less bulky/heavy (like Gates) but the "to date" total reliability and bomb proof build quality has kept me faithfull.Equaly the unique Optolite wide angle port is,as far as I know the best in the business and I would hate to lose it's huge advantages.
However with the increased pressure on check in staff to extract every last penny by way of excess baggage charges each trip becomes a major planning exercise in getting the beast through.Most charter flights (such as your's) limit hand luggage to 5kilo and it's a lottery as to if they will weigh it or not.I now pack the housing in my main luggage (main "O" ring out) wrapped up in my semi dry.I have only had to open to show once (Galapagos) and the case is tougher than the bag it,s in so no problems with damage.Camera and regs go in hand luggage.

[Cussy]

I'm not into video, but my stills setup weighs a ton (it's about 12kg). I got stung going out to the Red Sea earlier in the year to the tune of £65. All the budget airlines seem to weigh most hand luggage at East Midlands Airport and if your main bag is anywhere near the limit its an automatic weighing of your carry on bags as well. I know this wasn't your question, but if you can stay under the weight limit, all these cheapskate airlines will extract as much cash out of you as they can.
Rob

[yellowduke]

I use an old camera bag. Normally you can get away with a daysack and a camera case as hand luggage but of course size matters and if too big they will take an unhealthy interest at check in. I like to fill my jacket pockets up with as much as possible to make my daysack look half empty at check in. Then disgorge contents back into the bag before security.

Jim

[Mark C]

Photographers Jacket

Fill- it up and hang things off it - its no hand luggage if your wearing it.

Then dump it all into the bag the other side!!

[videogirl]

I have my underwater video kit in a cabin sized hprc case, with wheels (camersunderwater sell them). It weighs about 12kg in the case but so far no one has questioned it. It has however, without fail, been opened and checked and swabbed etc. every time I have taken it through security.

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by videogirl

I have my underwater video kit in a cabin sized hprc case, with wheels (camersunderwater sell them). It weighs about 12kg in the case but so far no one has questioned it. It has however, without fail, been opened and checked and swabbed etc. every time I have taken it through security.

I don't do video, I only do SLR still.

I also have a 17" MacBook Pro which is rather wider and deeper than most laptops and given that I'm rather old and frail I've researched what I want very carefully.

I now have a Tamrac | 5263 CyberPro Express Briefcase | 526301 | B&H Photo Camera Bag that takes the camera body with 50-150 lens attached, the 10-20 lens and the 18-50 lens, the computer (carefully inbuilt compartment) and all the associated bits and pieces. There is space to spare albeit not for a long lens but certainly for another couple or three of smaller ones.

The bag has a dragging handle and sturdy wheels, carrying handle and shoulder strap. As such things go it is bulletproof (and rainproof). It is also, as current things go, acceptable sizewise for cabin baggage.

Overall weight, excluding computer, is 8 kg (the camera system is metal, not plastic) including all associated bits and pieces, spare batteries etc, and the computer adds 3.3 kg.

Tip: never mind what it is, cabin baggage should be handled by you as if it were a lightweight nothingness when in front of the baggage Gestapo.