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checking a Varicam as luggage
Greetings
I’ve been carrying my camera(s) onto planes for years, but lately the airlines are so crowded I’m thinking about checking my Varicam with all my other gear.
Anyone have any experiences where their pro video camera was damaged due to baggage handling?
thanks
Dave Linstrom
Los Osos, CA -
8 Replies
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Would never, ever recommend anything other than carry-on for the Varicam.
Noah
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I travel with over 10 cases and I check my Varicam all the time. Overhead compartments are too small, and planes are too crowded. Passengers jam their bags into the overhead without regard to your $100K camerea. I have had TSA agents deny me access because my soft camera bag exceeded the allowed width for carry on baggage (by an inch or two). It’s simply not worth it.
I have custom cases made from Thermoclear and ABS. I keep all of my cases under 50lbs so I don’t get dinged for excess weight. Be sure you carry proper all-risk insurance, and clearly mark your cases with your name/address. My cases are all black… stealth mode!
Honestly, I worry mostly about my Magliner when checking baggage.
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Not that it has anything to do with original question but, I’ve heard several people suggest getting the brightest colored cases you can rather then dark or stealthy ones.
That way you can see the second anyone grabs your case and it is a lot harder to hide a bright fluorescent orange case then a matte black one.
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Hey David:
Make sure you have a good padded case and good insurance. I’ve carried my cameras for a long time, but ended up checking them over the last 10 years. I got tired of worrying about overhead space. I’ve never had a damaged or lost a camera. I’ve also made sure all my cases had large common idenity markings, but non-detailed about the contents. I try to keep the thiefs honest. I also put large numbers on all my cases and keep a separate notebook listing what’s inside each.
Safe travels,
Dusty Powers
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Try the Pelican 1650 it works charms.
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Sorry, but I think checking the Varicam as luggage is a big mistake.
I’ve traveled the day before a shoot only to find the camera got lost in transit. What a hassel!
The other posts are right — it is a pain to carry on the camera, find room to stow it overhead, etc. But at least you know it’s headed where you are. Also, I find that, once folks know you’ve got an expensive camera, they are careful with their own stuff.
It gets down to what you’re comfortale with.
Cheers,
Thomas Kaufman, DP
Washington, DC -
It should also be noted that if you travel to rural areas, the overhead bins on small planes are tiny. I seem to recall a story about a cameraman who was forced to gate check his Varicam and watched it being thrown to the ground by the destination crew.
Use a well made case, and make sure your insurance is paid up.
Chris Bell
PS: I require all of my clients to provide me with a certificate of insurance and I have them sign a seven page contract so their insurance company can’t weasel out of the claim. Make sure you are made the “additional insured and loss payee” on the cert.
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Chris,
Seven page contract that sound like alot. The major rental house and myself all use a one page contract with small print to cover all the details necessary for the equipment rental to be binding.
What font size are you using 100 pt?
Tony Salgado
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