backpack question from a newbie

[cotedenuits]

Hi folks,

I'm a diver who's recently decided that I need to carry much, much more gear around the world, so I've acquired a 20D, various lenses and a UW housing setup. I’ve made a couple of trips with Pelican and Storm cases doing much of the heavy lifting, and that’s the problem ― both brands make wonderful cases but even the empty weight of each is too high for my needs.

For my next trip I plan to use a Hartmann semi-hard rolling carry-on, for my housing, ports, strobes, strobe arms, adapters, chargers etc. I‘ll fill it with foam and use a hobby knife to customize these inserts. Weight will be an issue as much as size, though I’ve never had a carry-on forced into the hold based on weight. It’s likely this setup will change a bit with any upgrade to camera (and therefore housing) but with luck it will be evolutionary. I’ll hope this will be permitted as a carry-on as far as possible, though the last air legs in smaller planes may be unlikely. Depends on local conditions, carrier rules and rigidity, etc., etc.

A larger version of the Hartmann will be full of dive gear, batteries, and a toothbrush. These are OK suitcases if stuff inside is well-packed (the zippers could be better), and they don’t scream “steal me” in airports big or small (v. recent arrests in SJU and various FL airports – divers are always paranoid about places like these, with reason).

My question is about packing the camera and lenses themselves. I’ll probably use a camera/laptop backpack, a Kata RS101, for these, and wear it as a “personal item”.

Do photographers who travel like this wrap or encase their lenses and camera bodies before fitting them between the divider inserts in situations like these? I have a selection of RoadWired wraps for mine but they take up a lot of space. Should I just put in glass and bodies all naked, so to speak?

I’d be grateful for any comments.

Jake

[cyclohexane]

Do photographers who travel like this wrap or encase their lenses and camera bodies before fitting them between the divider inserts in situations like these? I have a selection of RoadWired wraps for mine but they take up a lot of space. Should I just put in glass and bodies all naked, so to speak?

You're putting the camera and lenses in the Kata backpack, right? I'd just carry them naked; the dividers should provide sufficient protection if you're careful. If you're going to overstuff the bag by stacking stuff on top of each other, then use wraps and cases on the stuff being stacked..

Just be aware of how you set the bag down. I was traveling with a backpack that was well-padded on three sides with less-padding on the side that opens, and of course that's the side the bag tips when it gets knocked around while I'm trying to get everything onto the conveyor belt........... ><


Have you thought of trying one of the ThinkTank roller bags?

Maker of pro photography equipment - camera bags, digital camera cases: Think Tank Photo