Travelling with Camera Gear

Hello Everyone,

As I am currently planning a vacation to Boston in the coming week, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the TSA website and see what sort of requirements or restrictions are in place regarding camera equipment. I had heard a while back that they were banning Lithium Ion batteries in Carry-on baggage. After reviewing the website (link below) it turns out I was backwards. It's cool to keep extra batteries for you camera and other goodies in your Carry-ons, but not in checked baggage. Interesting...

As always it's a good idea to check the TSA info page before you fly and there are a number of great sites out there that give tips to we photographers on how to make sure your gear lands safely and in one piece.

(http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm)

Also, be sure to keep your camera good safe when you are at your vacation destination...a few good tips:

Don’t advertise your camera. Keep your camera in a bag, preferably a plain old run of the mill one, not the one that has Nikon, Canon or Kodak plastered all over it. It's much safer for the camera anyway.

Keep it on your body whenever possible. If it’s a book bag type you can sometimes keep it on you while you’re eating at a restaurant, or you can sit the bag down between your feet and put the chair leg through the back straps to give your bag a little more protection. (Just don't forget it when you leave!)

Don't just leave it dangling from your neck, either. A quick cut of a knife and the strap is worthless, the camera is gone.

Be aware of your surroundings. I always give a quick look around before I pull my camera out. Even then, I wrap the strap around my wrist a couple of times before the camera leaves my bag.

Insure it! All the prevention in the world cannot thwart the craftiest thieves. Your homeowner's or renter's insurance probably offers "scheduled coverage" for an added fee (your insurance otherwise will not cover it once you leave your home). Travel insurance policies also provide coverage, although read the fine print first to be sure the coverage is as valuable as the camera. If you're camera is quite valuable, or you are a pro or serious amateur with a lot of equipment, check into policies specifically for cameras and photo equipment.

Secure your images. No policy can replace those great shots of the family posing at the Grand Canyon, and imagine the expense to return later. While you are traveling, you can back up those images even without a laptop on hand. Look for hour-photo shops that will convert those images on your memory card to CD. Keep that CD somewhere safe.