Packing a camera
 

Do you pack your camera and camera equipment in your suitcase or do you carry it on? Please don't call me a troll- I generally carry two cameras with me in my travels, but I'm worried about how much space they'll take up in my carry on bag. Is it safe to put them in my suitcase, or should I just bite the bullet and carry them on the plane with me?

I always take my cameras (an SLR and a waterproof compact) in my carry on bag. This is for two reasons: <BR> <BR>One, I know how badly baggage handlers treat checked bags and I don't want them doing that to my cameras. <BR> <BR>Two, I usually have a part-used film in at least one, if not both, of my cameras and I have no intention of letting this go through the stronger x-rays used for checked bags. <BR> <BR>The first reason is the primary one, though. I have now got the carry on packing down to a fine art - I have a small holdall that just has room for my camera bag (SLR camera, 2 lenses, film, etc), plus my compact camera and the other essential odds and ends - books, wash bag, change of undies (just in case that suitcase goes missing), bottle of water, migraine tablets, travel pillow, etc. It's amazing what you can get in quite a small space. <BR> <BR>If you have a compact camera that can be well protected by packing other things around it in your suitcase, then it's probably safe to do that. Otherwise, I would heartily recommend you take it in your carry on - just think how unhappy you'd be to arrive at your dream destination to find you can't take any pictures as your camera is broken. <BR> <BR>Whatever you decide to do with your camera, never, ever, pack any film in your checked bags. The x-rays used for checked baggage are much stronger than those used for hand baggage and WILL ruin your film.

We take our cameras in the carryons (well, we only have carryon so not much of a choice). Even if I check my bag on the homeward bound journey, I keep my camera with me. As AnnaC said, there's usually a partial roll in the camera - not only don't I want it nuked but those pictures are precious and I don't want them lost when the bag gets sent to Rwanda instead of Phoenix. <BR> <BR>If I do check a bag on the outward bound leg (like Christmas with the family), I still carry the camera. My checked bag never comes off the carousal, it's two days before I get it, and I do not want to be without my camera.

I would not put an expensive camera in my checked luggage for two reasons. <BR>1. A good camera is a relatively delicate instrument, and it is not designed to withstand the kind of impact that checked luggage sometimes receives. <BR> <BR>I know I would not put my SLR in a suitcase and drop it off the roof of my house. <BR>2. Cameras are quite visible on the xray screens, and expensive ones are very tempting to steal. <BR> <BR>I find room somehow in my carryon. <BR> <BR>

Thank you SO much for the quick replies! You've all brought some really good points to my attention! I'll definitely find a way to take it on board with me! :)

Always carry-on. This is one of the reasons I carry a small APS and not the SLR. <BR>

Since I carry a 35mm SLR and a Video camera AND a small 35mm Olympus Stylus, I have a seperate camera bag that I fit them all in as well as my film supplies. <BR>Is it a pain, well sometimes, but the videos and pictures are well worth it. <BR>Cheers, <BR>Art <BR>

Why run the risk of having it stolen or lost?. As a former airline employee, I would never put a good camera in my checked luggage. Bags do get lost and, regretably, items do occassionally get stolen by dishonest baggage handlers. <BR>

Be sure to NEVER put film into checked baggage. The film manufacturers issued warnings that the newer Xray equipment for checked baggage definitely FOGS FILM with only one pass, whereas the older equipment used up until recent years took over 100 passes to do anything visible. The security gate hand luggage is safe from this, as newer technology only is applied to checked luggage.