Carry-on Bag - Camera Bag

My incredible run of luck is intact. Not only did my doctor say "OK' but she says it is a great idea. And then this so prudent, so professional doctor listed shots I must get and then a list of shots for rural areas, like malaria and rabies. And offered to hook me up with the contagious disease crowd at the VA to facilitate the whole thing. Wow!

This doctor is just wonderful and so very, very professional. For those who did not read a previous post on this, she spotted a possible pre-cancerous growth on the back of my left hand. It was the size of the head of a pin and she spotted it from across the room. And she is a great person to boot. The VA has been good to me for 25 years now, Really good.

I have solved the carry-on problem. Now I have to talk to Singapore Airlines to find what they allow for underseat. This will determine what I will take for camera(s). In gratitude for all your generous help I promise to bore you endlessly with pics. You deserve it. ROTFLMAO

Thank you for all your help in this. I would not have a clue what to do without you folks so kindly offering your experience. I am truly grateful. Thanks!
 
OK, world travelers help me out here if you have traveled with the Domke F-2. Singapore allows a total of 80 cm outside dimensions. The F-2 adds up to 3.02 CM over that. Has anyone been stopped because of that?
 
If you stuff an F2 bag to the max with bulging side pockets, yes, you will be over 80 cm adding length + width + height. Mine is like that now with some medium format equipment and measures 90 cm total. I've not traveled with it on a plane, but most carry-on rolling cases and many backpacks are over 100 cm if measured that way. The F2 would still fit under a seat if filled with gear. If you want to stay under 80 cm, don't fill one of the side pockets, or leave the two front pockets empty. Either way, I'd be surprised if they would not allow that as a carrying-on bag.
 
ellisson said:
If you stuff an F2 bag to the max with bulging side pockets, yes, you will be over 80 cm adding length + width + height. Mine is like that now with some medium format equipment and measures 90 cm total. I've not traveled with it on a plane, but most carry-on rolling cases and many backpacks are over 100 cm if measured that way. The F2 would still fit under a seat if filled with gear. If you want to stay under 80 cm, don't fill one of the side pockets, or leave the two front pockets empty. Either way, I'd be surprised if they would not allow that as a carrying-on bag.
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Hey, thanks for that advice from experience. Yes, I can just leave side pockets empty and put that gear in my carry-on that goes in the overhead. I had a fear that I would be flagged by a counter agent with a tape measure. OK. looks like I will get the cheapest F2, one in OD. I am amazed at the price variation by color. I checked the 120 3.5 macro HB lens and it easily fits in the bag so as that is the largest lens I would be packing all my gear will fit into the bag.

Thanks for the help.
 
ellisson said:
If you stuff an F2 bag to the max with bulging side pockets, yes, you will be over 80 cm adding length + width + height. Mine is like that now with some medium format equipment and measures 90 cm total. I've not traveled with it on a plane, but most carry-on rolling cases and many backpacks are over 100 cm if measured that way. The F2 would still fit under a seat if filled with gear. If you want to stay under 80 cm, don't fill one of the side pockets, or leave the two front pockets empty. Either way, I'd be surprised if they would not allow that as a carrying-on bag.EE
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E, Since B asked about the dimensions for under-the-seat bags, I suspect he already has a primary carry-on. I've found that some airlines are very sticky about the size of carry-ons (for example in Europe flights) which others turn a blind eye (International flights)......
 
I haven't done any international travel in several years, so it sounds like things can be stricter. But on domestic flights, most recently Sept 2024, my travel backpack with dimensions of about 100 cm, mainly length and width, fit under the seat in front of me.
 
38Deardorff said:
E, Since B asked about the dimensions for under-the-seat bags, I suspect he already has a primary carry-on. I've found that some airlines are very sticky about the size of carry-ons (for example in Europe flights) which others turn a blind eye (International flights)......
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About a carry-on, I have found one which is a gnat's whisker under the regs on all three dimensions. I have seen folks arguing wth the counter attendants about luggage and all manner of things. I do not want to be one of those. I am already pushing it with a medical gear bag, airlines are obliged to allow it no-fee, so I just want to smile and slide on by the counter on my way to the gate and, drum roll, Hanoi!

I swear I am going to make all of you regret this help by posting photos, lots of them. ;o)
 
You can only post three photos in a message post on RFF.

Post your thousands of photos to Flickr.com and organize them into albums, then post a couple here with links back to the albums.

Regardless, post good photos and no one will regret anything. 🙂

G
 
In the Department of FWIW, here is the camera gear I am planning on. Sony A7 with 55mm 1.8 and 24 - 240 zoom, X2D with XCD 55V and 120 3.5 macro. Batteries and chargers, of course. A flash for each but do I need them? Nahhh. I started in the mid 50's believing in natural light and it is too late to change now. The Q3 43 is a temptation just because it is so easy. But so are the other cameras. The less I bring, the less I carry.

Laptop and a USB driven 4TB drive to load images onto. If I have a good connection in Hanoi I will U/L to Flickr, too. The 4TB USB drives are cheap so maybe a backup one, too. They are small, the size of a deck of cards.

Trung, who lives in Hanoi and who has the great Hanoi thread, has advised me that October can still be hot so it looks like Turkey Day for me will be in Hanoi. I bet that my turkey will look a lot like duck. Man, duck is so good! Good luck seems to chase me everywhere.
 
Just as a FWIW as well, this is my "big" bag these days: hxxps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CDS9HTM?th=1

It's perfect for the K-3, 4 lenses and edc needs...

and this is my small bag hxxps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894RH2L6?th=1

I took the Leica & 2 spare lenses to Memphis for my last trip in the small bag with a checked in bag for real luggage. I haven't travelled international since 2002. I also use it when I do film (Nikon RF or Rolleiflex). The previous trip to Memphis used a camera backpack. Overkill.

Pardon the links, the forum mangled them badly so this is better.
 
wlewisiii said:
Just as a FWIW as well, this is my "big" bag these days: hxxps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CDS9HTM?th=1

It's perfect for the K-3, 4 lenses and edc needs...

and this is my small bag hxxps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894RH2L6?th=1

I took the Leica & 2 spare lenses to Memphis for my last trip in the small bag with a checked in bag for real luggage. I haven't travelled international since 2002. I also use it when I do film (Nikon RF or Rolleiflex). The previous trip to Memphis used a camera backpack. Overkill.

Pardon the links, the forum mangled them badly so this is better.
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That's a nice bag and at a good price. But I would prefer a bag that would hold two cameras. I could carry both with me initially and then just one on an outing if I desired. But it is still in the air.
 
Hey, Domke question. B&H has the F-2 for sale at a number of different rices depending on color and pattern. Has anyone noted any other difference between the variously priced F-2's?
 
boojum said:
Hey, Domke question. B&H has the F-2 for sale at a number of different rices depending on color and pattern. Has anyone noted any other difference between the variously priced F-2's?
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None that i know of....but i've only bought black, tan, and grey ones of various sizes.
Back then all the colours were the same price.
 
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38Deardorff said:
None that i know of....but i've only bought black, tan, and grey ones of various sizes.
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Hey, thanks for that. I suspect there is no difference. But my suspicions are not 100% accurate. The sand is the least expensive by $2.50 below tan. Yeah, that's how cheap and chintzy I am. The upside of sand is that it looks ratty. And that is the look I want. I'll get it now and beat the crap out of it so it looks as tired as I do when I leave. Some stains will help. New and shiny just creams "Hey, look at me."

I want everything about me ignored except when ordering dinner. ;o)

Thank you.
 
OK, next question. I like to expose myself to as little risk as possible. I do not want to have to arm wrestle some CBP thug on return to get my gear back in the country. So I will fill out CBP-form-4455. This lists all my gear on the way out and hopefully on the way back. I'll keep a PDF copy on my phone along with a photo of it on my phone. So that is taken care of.

Tools and equipment insurance. I really would like coverage against the outside chance that something happens to this gear while I am away. Any experience there??
 
Mainly theft - there are some nicely produced and acted out scenarios, distractions aimed at getting to your gear, especially while dining out and eating. I never had a purely travel or vacation insurance policy for camera gear - one of limited duration, but I never asked about that. May be possible to get limited time coverage if you don't have your gear covered under another policy.
 
ellisson said:
Mainly theft - there are some nicely produced and acted out scenarios, distractions aimed at getting to your gear, especially while dining out and eating. I never had a purely travel or vacation insurance policy for camera gear - one of limited duration, but I never asked about that. May be possible to get limited time coverage if you don't have your gear covered under another policy.
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The gear I am taking is pretty pricey. The X2D and XCD 55V cost me two grandchildren and an ex-wife. LOL Add in the 120 3.5 macro tele and we are talking way more than I want to lose. I'd like to bring along an A7 III also with two lenses. Then the batteries, filters and so on, it is way more than I can afford to replace. That gear tapped me out. So insurance is a must. As it comes to more than $5K I think I have to get pro coverage. That's OK, call it duck if you want. Just cover me. ;o)

I am really trying to get all my ducks in a row way before I leave. Last minute stuff is terrifying. Yeah, I could do it with an M9 and three or four lenses, but . . .
 
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boojum said:
The gear I am taking is pretty pricey. The X2D and XCD 55V cost me two grandchildren and an ex-wife. LOL Add in the 120 3.5 macro tele and we are talking way more than I want to lose. I'd like to bring along an A7 III also with two lenses. Then the batteries, filters and so on, it is way more than I can afford to replace. That gear tapped me out. So insurance is a must. As it comes to more than $5K I think I have to get pro coverage. That's OK, call it duck if you want. Just cover me. ;o)

I am really trying to get all my ducks in a row way before I leave. Last minute stuff is terrifying. Yeah, I could do it with an M9 and three or four lenses, but . . .
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For sure, need coverage on that gear. I was robbed in Madrid about 20 years ago, losing a Minolta Maxxum 7 camera and a few lenses for shooting street scenes. A couple began fighting, yelling at each other in the street where I was enjoying dinner outdoors with some colleagues, my camera bag set down in front of me below my seat. The woman shrieks, slams down a heavy package, and the couple runs off, distraction accomplished. I look down and my camera bag is gone: A carefully coordinated theft. Lesson learned, but at a not-too-high price to replace my gear.
 
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