Hand luggage?

Vertigo · 7 Oct 2016 at 20:49

I'm looking for a bag to use as airline carry-on hand luggage which can hold some camera gear (DSLR, three lenses) but also other general stuff too.

Whilst there are dedicated photography kit bags designed as hand luggage, they all seem to be designed to hold camera gear and nothing else. Wondering if there's something out there which is dual-purpose and fits the bill.

vanandjuanunited · 7 Oct 2016 at 20:59

What lenses and camera. How much other stuff are we talking

Raymond Lin · 7 Oct 2016 at 21:12

Just throw it in with your regular hand luggage, wrap the 2 lenses (1 of them attaching to the camera) with T-shirts.

Job done?

Vertigo · 7 Oct 2016 at 21:18

TBH not taking that much - gripped 5D3, 24-70, 70-200, 16-35, batteries/cards/etc.

I'm wondering whether a nice messenger type bag might be a better bet, both for the plane and also to walk around with generally. Quite like the Think Tank Urban Disguise.

EDIT: Failing that, yes using a general bag and just wrapping everything would work.

Vertigo · 7 Oct 2016 at 21:24

Actually that raises another question - would you take the grip?

All my bodies have been gripped for as long as I can remember. I find the handling far more natural and using a body without one feels weird.

That said, would you leave the grip behind if going on holiday, just to save weight/bulk?

Raymond Lin · 7 Oct 2016 at 21:37

I've left the grip behind since the 5D2, never bought one for my 5D3 because

1 - it was expensive
2 - it doesn't make my photos better
3 - it does nothing to the FPS (which was the reason in the film age to get the grip).

I don't miss it, my bag is lighter, my camera is smaller, I shoot photos just the same as before.

Vertigo · 7 Oct 2016 at 21:52

I'm just used to the handling with one but guess I can live without it for a short period whilst on holiday as it does seriously reduce bulk and most messenger style bags aren't really designed with gripped or pro bodies in mind and bulk out a lot.

Clum · 7 Oct 2016 at 23:00

You could probably get a padded insert for your gear and just put it inside a regular bag. Id just wrap in clothes, assuming you'll have some in your hand luggage.

Ive learned to stop babying my gear recently, and it feels great. Seems like im getting much more use out of it now as well.

Craig321 · 7 Oct 2016 at 23:07

Vertigo1 said:
I'm looking for a bag to use as airline carry-on hand luggage which can hold some camera gear (DSLR, three lenses) but also other general stuff too.

Whilst there are dedicated photography kit bags designed as hand luggage, they all seem to be designed to hold camera gear and nothing else. Wondering if there's something out there which is dual-purpose and fits the bill.

I would just get carry on hard luggage. Camera wrapped in clothes, in a hard luggage case isn't going to get damaged.

Clum said:
Ive learned to stop babying my gear recently, and it feels great. Seems like im getting much more use out of it now as well.

Yup, I used suffer from that as well and that like you, I wasn't getting proper use out of something new or enjoying it as much as I could, but have learnt to let go and use stuff properly now

When it comes to expensive stuff (e.g. my phone, or if I owned proper cameras), just get accidental damage on your home insurance. I always have in the back of my mind, if something bad happens, I just have to pay a relatively small excess and I'll get another one!

Raymond Lin · 8 Oct 2016 at 01:41

Clum said:
You could probably get a padded insert for your gear and just put it inside a regular bag. Id just wrap in clothes, assuming you'll have some in your hand luggage.

Ive learned to stop babying my gear recently, and it feels great. Seems like im getting much more use out of it now as well.

I don't even take a case when i go on non-job related trips.

A girl once said to me at the airport "I can't believe you just put that camera in there", pointing to my regular, unpadded hand luggage. It was just wedge between some boxes of biscuits, my macbook and charger.

I said it's not going anywhere and i don't plan to drop it. Its a roller case so how far can it fall being on the floor the whole time.

macuser · 8 Oct 2016 at 10:14

I use a Tenba Tools BYOB 10 Case and put that in an Eastpak messenger bag. Holds an XT1 and 3/4 lenses no problem. Plenty space for iPad and Bose headphones as well inside the messenger bag.

Genoma · 10 Oct 2016 at 18:01

Camera, lenses, laptop, chargers, cables, batteries all travel with me in my regular wheeled carry on luggage bag, saves a ton off weight off the hold bag. I just use neoprene cases for the lenses and away we go.