How can I safely pack a DSLR and lenses in checked luggage if carry-on is not allowed?
Asked 7/19/2020
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2 answers
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My airline says all cabin bags will be moved to the cargo hold, so I may have to check my DSLR and lenses. I normally never let camera gear out of my sight. If I cannot carry it on, what is the safest practical way to pack it in checked luggage? I do not currently have a hard protective case.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
5
Don't.
Seriously.
There's no reasonably safe way to place high-end camera gear in checked baggage without using a hardened, lockable container such as a Pelican or similar case. If the handling doesn't damage your gear, the handlers will almost certainly make off with it.
You could ship them ahead of time via another, more secure method with a small shipment specialist, but you're going to need to use the same kind of protective container to do that, too. FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. will probably provide some sort of protective container for an additional charge if you ship it via their service.
If you don't have any possibility of using a hardened case, then your only real option is to find another means of getting from wherever you are starting from to wherever you are going.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t a truly safe way to check DSLR bodies and lenses in normal luggage. Community consensus is that the only approach they would actually recommend is a hard, lockable protective case (for example, a Pelican-style case), because checked baggage can face heavy shock, rough handling, and theft risk.
Soft packing methods like wrapping gear in clothing may give some cushioning, but they are not considered reliable protection for modern DSLR equipment. That kind of improvised packing might be tolerable only for older, less fragile gear you can afford to risk.
If you cannot use a hard case, the safer alternatives suggested were:
- ship the gear separately with a secure carrier and proper protective packaging, or
- avoid taking your main camera kit and instead travel with cheaper/less critical equipment.
So the direct answer is: without a hard protective case, there is no recommended “safe” method for checked luggage.
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