robklurfield
eclipse
How much insurance did you put on the gefilte fish??? homemade or store-bought??? horse radish, too???
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Moving to Israel - how to take lots of camera equipment?
- Thread starter Tuolumne
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mgd711
Medium Format Baby!!
One trick I also learnt was to wear a photographers vest. You can stuff lots of gear in those pockets and it often gets me round the weight restrictions.
kermaier
Well-known
1. Under no circumstance should you allow anything potentially attractive to thieves to be checked. Period.
2. Split the load into two medium-sized cases, rather than one big case. The probability of finding spaces in the overhead compartments improves.
3. Soft-sided cases are easier to fit into the luggage bins, and you won't need the protection of Pelicans for carry-on.
4. Scatter many fresh packets of silica-gel dessicant throughout your bags, as the wide swings of temperature and humidity between NJ, 30,000 feet altitude, Tel Aviv and the desert can easily result in condensation inside your gear.
5. Even Pelicans won't save your gear if they're dropped down a bomb disposal shaft and shot with rifles - so don't leave them unattended in Ben Gurion airport! 🙂
Ari
2. Split the load into two medium-sized cases, rather than one big case. The probability of finding spaces in the overhead compartments improves.
3. Soft-sided cases are easier to fit into the luggage bins, and you won't need the protection of Pelicans for carry-on.
4. Scatter many fresh packets of silica-gel dessicant throughout your bags, as the wide swings of temperature and humidity between NJ, 30,000 feet altitude, Tel Aviv and the desert can easily result in condensation inside your gear.
5. Even Pelicans won't save your gear if they're dropped down a bomb disposal shaft and shot with rifles - so don't leave them unattended in Ben Gurion airport! 🙂
Ari
alexz
Well-known
Just to note, contrary to what has been mentioned by sanmich, there is NO import TAX imposed in Israel on photo/video gear unless imported in commercial quantities. Nearly all my gear (be it in my SLR days or now with RFs) has been acquired from abroad (mainly from US) by online trading and then shipped to me. What you do pay is VAT (approx. 16%).
Having said that, this only applies (IMO) to the case when you live laready in the country and being it by shipment. When arriving (and in particular immigrating) - you'll be highly unlikely required to pay anything in this respect.
From my own, quite expensive online purchasing experience of the photo gear - nothing to fear from buying online and getting shipped over to Israel.
Just be straight with customs to pay VAT (account it into the final price you're willing to put up) and you're fine.
Having said that, this only applies (IMO) to the case when you live laready in the country and being it by shipment. When arriving (and in particular immigrating) - you'll be highly unlikely required to pay anything in this respect.
From my own, quite expensive online purchasing experience of the photo gear - nothing to fear from buying online and getting shipped over to Israel.
Just be straight with customs to pay VAT (account it into the final price you're willing to put up) and you're fine.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Alexz,
What about if he has purchased it while he lives in another country and can show prof? I'm wondering if he can bypass the VAT that way. I can understand the VAT while he lives there, but if it was purchased before that seems unfair (I know, we are talking government, two word do not always go together, but I have high hopes).
If that is the case he could ship the stuff he kept receipts for over without paying VAT. Be it duty or VAT it's still a lot of money for stuff he already owns.
B2
What about if he has purchased it while he lives in another country and can show prof? I'm wondering if he can bypass the VAT that way. I can understand the VAT while he lives there, but if it was purchased before that seems unfair (I know, we are talking government, two word do not always go together, but I have high hopes).
If that is the case he could ship the stuff he kept receipts for over without paying VAT. Be it duty or VAT it's still a lot of money for stuff he already owns.
B2
kully
Happy Snapper
If you get a '55cm' wheeled bag, I think you'll be able to get all your gear in it. You won't need a huge amount of padding as you'll have it with you - what padding you do pop in you can make up out of bits of foam.
Something like:
http://www.samsonite.co.uk/hardside...ch/product-en.htm?or=0101341299&od=2109932000
It's amazing how much you can put in to one of these things.
Something like:
http://www.samsonite.co.uk/hardside...ch/product-en.htm?or=0101341299&od=2109932000
It's amazing how much you can put in to one of these things.
Tuolumne
Veteran
marcr1230
Well-known
I have been there dozens of times over the years
airport customs is never a problem
I find that wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap and a goofy smile protect me from inspection, not that I'm carrying anything subject to tax/duties
there have been a lot of good suggestions , much depends on whether you need to take everything at once or anticipate multiple trips or visits from friends family
I try to travel light, you can't imagine how much carry on people take on these flights, then watch in horror as they smash you stuff to get their oversize and overweight bags into the overhead.
I like the idea of either a hard case for protection, or soft bags that you keep on your person, including the vest.
Good luck!
airport customs is never a problem
I find that wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt, a baseball cap and a goofy smile protect me from inspection, not that I'm carrying anything subject to tax/duties
there have been a lot of good suggestions , much depends on whether you need to take everything at once or anticipate multiple trips or visits from friends family
I try to travel light, you can't imagine how much carry on people take on these flights, then watch in horror as they smash you stuff to get their oversize and overweight bags into the overhead.
I like the idea of either a hard case for protection, or soft bags that you keep on your person, including the vest.
Good luck!
Merkin
For the Weekend
Take a look at the Pelican 1510 model, it is specifically designed to carry on as much equipment as is humanly possible within airplane size limits.
Tuolumne
Veteran
Since I am going to be living in the desert this may be good for long-term storage, too. I will definitely check it out. Perhaps I will get two and make my wife carry one!
/T
alexz
Well-known
That is exactly what I was talking about.
A tourists visiting the country are not subjected to any customs/VAT according to the law, unless they bring the brand new goods to the locals, but this is also very unlikely to be checked upon. He is immigrating and the general assumption he is bringing his own belongings so once again no customs/VAT apply. The classic case of VAT (yet again, no custom imposed in Israel for photo/video/computer gear unless in commercial quantities) is one is Israeli citizen living locally, purchasing he goods from abroad to be brought by freight (can be case of online shopping). I usually pay VAT for my camera gear when purchased over internet and brought by shipping, even on used one (then VAT gets calculated from the declared value unless that value looks unfair for the particular goods).
FS Vontz
Aspirer
I also recommend you wear a coat with lots of pockets, you'd be surprised how much you can fit into it.
Jonas
Established
Get two bags. Your wife doesnt need to carry at all. Just say that you are carrying it for her if anyone asks. Your allowed to be a gentleman ;-)
kully
Happy Snapper
Yes, that Samsonite is the right size for most airlines. Some airlines allow bigger carryon bags. Check your airline website to confirm.
JohnTF
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Airlines slightly reduced the carry on size last year, but no one seems to have noticed. Some airports in Europe will occasionally weigh carry on luggage and will require you to check it. Basically, the new rollers fit, look for ones that have maximum interior room, and bubble wrap your stuff, pack tight. Bring extra mylar tape to rewrap if necessary. Sounds as if your stuff will fit in two bags, but am not sure about the lighting equipment.
TSA?, a photographer's association and the Airlines have negotiated an agreement that allows photographers an extra carry on, so you have two carry-on's and a personal bag to fit your stuff, I normally use a roller carry-on. The personal bag for men is not defined. I use a duty free bag from the Paris airport, strong, good straps, cheap, and it says duty free. Some airports make more from duty free than from flights, so they don't mess with it.
If you have any connecting flights with the small planes, you will have to gate check your bags, picking them up when you deplane. I would do a search, print out the agreement, (may be on the TSA site) as people at airports are notorious for ignorance of the precise rules, and often make them up as you stand there, making it a power thing. Perhaps my opinion, but it is easier to show them a piece of paper. A copy in my carry on. Sucking up is a great asset when traveling, unfortunately.
I had a bag delayed, with items stolen, the airline send me a piece of paper saying that checked luggage is only for clothes, and nothing else is covered.
It may be possible to insure/register a checked bag, -- I have heard of this, but never done it. Certainly pros travel with expensive gear specially packed, I suspect special agreements and treatment are involved.
Certain credit cards may provide additional insurance for checked luggage.
If that fails, upgrade to business class, they generally allow perks to people with more expensive tickets. As Delta wanted $150 for an extra two kg, the upgrade might be cheaper.
Good luck in your travels.
John
TSA?, a photographer's association and the Airlines have negotiated an agreement that allows photographers an extra carry on, so you have two carry-on's and a personal bag to fit your stuff, I normally use a roller carry-on. The personal bag for men is not defined. I use a duty free bag from the Paris airport, strong, good straps, cheap, and it says duty free. Some airports make more from duty free than from flights, so they don't mess with it.
If you have any connecting flights with the small planes, you will have to gate check your bags, picking them up when you deplane. I would do a search, print out the agreement, (may be on the TSA site) as people at airports are notorious for ignorance of the precise rules, and often make them up as you stand there, making it a power thing. Perhaps my opinion, but it is easier to show them a piece of paper. A copy in my carry on. Sucking up is a great asset when traveling, unfortunately.
I had a bag delayed, with items stolen, the airline send me a piece of paper saying that checked luggage is only for clothes, and nothing else is covered.
It may be possible to insure/register a checked bag, -- I have heard of this, but never done it. Certainly pros travel with expensive gear specially packed, I suspect special agreements and treatment are involved.
Certain credit cards may provide additional insurance for checked luggage.
If that fails, upgrade to business class, they generally allow perks to people with more expensive tickets. As Delta wanted $150 for an extra two kg, the upgrade might be cheaper.
Good luck in your travels.
John
nksyoon
Well-known
While it's true you don't need the strength of a Pelican for carryon, if cabin crew thinks it's too heavy they will insist it goes in the hold in which case you'll be glad you used a Pelican.
JohnTF
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Sort of a Catch 22, I often pack cameras in carry cases, inside of a carry on, so I can pull them out if they insist on tossing the bag in the hold. I had this happen at Rossy, the guy said I looked professional and probably had insurance on the cameras so they should go in the hold. Today I might point out that I have insurance on my legs, but prefer them unbroken. He then checked the 9 lb. Carry on.
I pulled out everything I could, bought some bags in duty free, and carried them on board, repacked the carry on in NYC, and rolled it to the next flight. Of course anything left in the carry on was broken.
The actual limits for weight for carry on are pretty low, so I try not to be too obvious with my carry on luggage, and I try to keep it to something light enough to hoist in to the overhead.
A spare empty bag with handles inside your carry on can come in handy, I had to toss 4.5 lbs of clothes last trip to avoid the $150 surcharge, and had I a spare empty bag I could have checked it for free.
Rules seem to change every day, and at every stop.
One of the reasons I switched to 35mm.
My friend packed an onyx chess set in his bag, spent five minuted explaining in Mexico that the bag was fragile, so the guy put a huge orange fragile bumper sticker on it, then turned around and tossed it 15 feet to the conveyor belt.
Regards, John
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Tuolumne
Veteran
Thanks for all of your input. Here's what I'm thinking I'll do. Get 1 or 2 smaller Pelican bags to carry on the really valuable equipment, i.e. Leica and RF gear, and then get a larger Pelican to check the less valuable gear, i.e. some Nikon gear and the Panny gear. Also get a photographer's vest to maximize the amount of gear I can carry on my person.
I've read somewhere about "TSA locks". Does anyone know what those are? They sound like locks the TSA can open, but not anyone else. Sounds like a good way to protect from pilferage.
I'll keep you updated as things proceed.
/T
I've read somewhere about "TSA locks". Does anyone know what those are? They sound like locks the TSA can open, but not anyone else. Sounds like a good way to protect from pilferage.
I'll keep you updated as things proceed.
/T
kermaier
Well-known
TSA locks are ones that the TSA can open without breaking them, but that everyone else will break to open. 🙁
If you put cameras in checked luggage, the odds are north of 80% that they'll be stolen, no matter what sort of locks are on it. This because the baggage handlers, with access to secure areas of the airport, are the baggage thieves. (Convenient, eh?)
Please, I beg of you: Any photo gear you can't carry with you at all times should be sent via FedEx, insured for full value, and marked "Hold for pickup" - and be sure to photograph it all and record serial numbers.
Ari
uhligfd
Well-known
Are Israeli customs officials known to pilfer luggage?
Are Philadelphia check in personel known to pilfer luggage?
If you fly directly from the US to Tel Aviv, I think you can put everything into your suitcases.
Israel is not South Africa and Tel Aviv not Johanisburg, am I right here?
Or has Israel come that far, with theft, and apartheid etc?
Incidentally, household goods owned for maybe a year (*depends) are free of customs if you repatriate ... So no VAT on any stuff of your own on entering to live ...
TSA locks: go to your local luggage store and ask.
Are Philadelphia check in personel known to pilfer luggage?
If you fly directly from the US to Tel Aviv, I think you can put everything into your suitcases.
Israel is not South Africa and Tel Aviv not Johanisburg, am I right here?
Or has Israel come that far, with theft, and apartheid etc?
Incidentally, household goods owned for maybe a year (*depends) are free of customs if you repatriate ... So no VAT on any stuff of your own on entering to live ...
TSA locks: go to your local luggage store and ask.
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