packing and transporting my rig

16 hours ago, TimG said:

I don't disagree at all, but why do you think that?

Hi Tim

Strobes are much more fragile than the housing, both the shell and also the internal eletronics. Bumps and not the best for the eletronics.

Of course that if you use a sturdy case type Pelicase with internal foam, you can transport it in a more protected way. The internal foam of the hard cases like Pelicase are a better protection than the usual stuff used in a general purpose suitcase (clothes, wetsuits and so on), because all the volume  is occupied and a good amount of foam in between every part of the equipment.

15 hours ago, Nicool said:

Thanks, but wouldn't the housings be better protected with the handles on? Thinking of the levers on the sides.

For sure that if the handle is there, the levers are more protected. By that argument, you can dive with the housing without a handle, but you cannot use it with a lever pinion damaged, if the housing becomes not sealable. If the lever get broken but the pinion remains ok, it might be easier to find a workaround to be able to use it in the field.

But the handles seems to me that are a fragile point on the housings.  And it is more difficult to "embrace" the housing with "soft" protection with the handles on. Without the handles the housing becomes a more uniform "brick" an make it easier to protect it (even granting more protection  on the area of the levers).

Of course that if you are transporting it in a hard case with foam inside, wither way it is easy to have the housing secure (with or without handles).

I started a thread on this yesterday and am intrigued about which is more "fragile," strobes or housing.  I would love to understand more about this.  I am tempted to send an inquiry to Oskar on the topic.  With no basis to support the opinion, I would have guessed housings,with all their little levers and buttons and screws would be more susceptible to problems due to vibration, impact and physical shock.

At this very moment I'm in the process of packing for a dive trip and trying to figure out how on earth to get the cabin bag within the specified 7kgs. A first attempt with a Cinebags Grouper was a cool 12kgs. I've already discounted the Pelican! The Grouper has only got a housing with camera/lens inside, attached 180mm dome port, 2x Retra strobes and the Superchargers. And, errr, that's about it.

Usually my gear is packed in a Pelican 1512 with the arms and other hardware removed -  including the 45-viewfinder. The Grouper packed better armless. 

So I'm hoping I get the loaded Grouper in the cabin.... If anyone is inclined to light a candle/say a prayer/sacrifice a goat, then be my guest.

Yeah, I reckon the strobes, camera and housing are not things I'd want to holdload. Ports I'll take the risk if well-wrapped. Arms etc, no problem.

Tim:

Which airline?

35 minutes ago, Draq said:

Tim:

Which airline?

Ha! Well at the moment, InterCaribb and "Hahn Aviation"

I guess that explains the 7kg.  I gather they use a larger plane than the twin otter,  and the square grouper will fit somewhere.

53 minutes ago, Draq said:

I guess that explains the 7kg.  I gather they use a larger plane than the twin otter,  and the square grouper will fit somewhere.

Let’s hope so! 

2 hours ago, TimG said:

At this very moment I'm in the process of packing for a dive trip and trying to figure out how on earth to get the cabin bag within the specified 7kgs.

Hi Tim

There is a movie saga called "Mission Impossible". It is more feasible and realistic than an underwater photographer to be able to cope with the weight regulation for cabin bag.

That said, you can decide go over the weight limit and use your best smile and coolness to go under-the-radar through the checkpoints.

You can also try to do what I have read in this forum (and once saw it in an airport, but not in my flight) to take the camera rig mounted and taking it in your hand. It is a camera, you are allowed to take a camera. At first it seams a lit bit crazy and risky, but if we think about it, it is not much more risky than handling the equipment to the dive boat. It is not the most comfortable way to transport it, but the truth is that with the weight of the system, only a trolley can make it comfortable, but 15-16 kg total weight on the trolley is the "price"... 

Another way is to get a coat/vest with big pockets that allows you to fit the heavy stuff on the pockets. I believe the flight company can complain on what bags you are taking, but not on what you are dressing.... This vests are not cheap, but they look sturdy and have big pockets

https://thevestguy.com/collections/photography-vests/products/500262-the-traveler-photo-vest

I myself use a backpack, overweight, and a fishing vest inside if for some reason I need to reduce the weight of the backpack, I pass the housing + camera + strobes to the 2 big pockets of the vest... Not a TheVestGuy one...

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1 hour ago, pbalves said:

That said, you can decide go over the weight limit and use your best smile and coolness to go under-the-radar through the checkpoints.

Yep, that's my usual technique: a cheery smile, an innocent grin, a bit of chat.......

1 hour ago, pbalves said:

Another way is to get a coat/vest with big pockets that allows you to fit the heavy stuff on the pockets. I believe the flight company can complain on what bags you are taking, but not on what you are dressing

And that is Plan B. My Domke photo vest. Although the flight company might not complain about it, there are "Those" who do ("WHAT!! I'm not getting on a plane with you wearing THAT thing!) Sound familiar to anyone?

1 hour ago, pbalves said:

You can also try to do what I have read in this forum (and once saw it in an airport, but not in my flight) to take the camera rig mounted and taking it in your hand. It is a camera, you are allowed to take a camera.

And that could be Plan C.

Brilliant ideas - thanks 

There just has to be an easy way of having fun, right?

At this very moment I'm in the process of packing for a dive trip and trying to figure out how on earth to get the cabin bag within the specified 7kgs. A first attempt with a Cinebags Grouper was a cool 12kgs. I've already discounted the Pelican! The Grouper has only got a housing with camera/lens inside, attached 180mm dome port, 2x Retra strobes and the Superchargers. And, errr, that's about it.
Usually my gear is packed in a Pelican 1512 with the arms and other hardware removed -  including the 45-viewfinder. The Grouper packed better armless. 
So I'm hoping I get the loaded Grouper in the cabin.... If anyone is inclined to light a candle/say a prayer/sacrifice a goat, then be my guest.
Yeah, I reckon the strobes, camera and housing are not things I'd want to holdload. Ports I'll take the risk if well-wrapped. Arms etc, no problem.

11 minutes ago, Nicool said:

With the idea to carry assembled housing as a ‘camera’, I wish that was an option, but SQ corners their customers pretty well: the camera bag has to be 40x30x… only 10cm thick

Wow, crafty devils!

11 minutes ago, Nicool said:

With tbe vests… same thing, there is a limit to how much I am willing to compromise on style

Well me too, Nicool. But you might be starting from a higher level than me. 

On 5/16/2022 at 9:00 AM, Nicool said:

hi Chris, I've got my fair share of travel in previous job (probably 300-400 boarded aircrafts in 10 years) but I have never seen one of the fancy hard-shelled Samsonites cracked (i mean these). Not advertising them in particular, I don't even own one (yet?) but they have a reputation for being one of the very lightest and yet very sturdy.

Have you ever seen one of these cracked/burst open? 

 

-you fill both shells to their respective thickness, but then what happens when you lift-up the left shell to close?

Maybe I am over-thinking it... or not  

If I end-up embarrassing myself by taking 20kg of UWP gear in a travel shop and actually try... I'll report my findings here

I don't recall if was a samsonite, but I've seen a few of that style with cracks and also with substantial amount of gaffer tape applied to them.

I agree the 50/50 split of the hard cases is going to be an issue packing as I undersatnd it they have straps or covers to allow you pack each side - I think it woul be difficult to use with UW camera gear.  There is a hard shell case that is not 50/50 split more like 1/3 - 2/3 which might be a bit easier to pack that way. 

https://www.briggs-riley.com/collections/checked-luggage/products/torq-large-spinner-qu230sp

It's pricey but they are incredibly well made - their guarantee is they will repair anything even airline damage.  And the handle is outside - doesn't interfere with packing at all.

But realistically the base is still pretty flexy and will still need a shock absorbing layer before you add any camera gear - you might just as well use a quality ballistic nylon case, that will be easier to pack IMO. 

When are you flying? 

On 5/17/2022 at 7:43 AM, TimG said:

Wow, crafty devils!

Well me too, Nicool. But you might be starting from a higher level than me. 

For the next trip, i’ll go as far as wearing a - otherwise good looking Patagonia shorts, just realized it has 2 jumbo rear pockets, I can squeeze a lens in each while walking through the boarding gate

On 5/17/2022 at 1:23 PM, ChrisRoss said:

I don't recall if was a samsonite, but I've seen a few of that style with cracks and also with substantial amount of gaffer tape applied to them.

I agree the 50/50 split of the hard cases is going to be an issue packing as I undersatnd it they have straps or covers to allow you pack each side - I think it woul be difficult to use with UW camera gear.  There is a hard shell case that is not 50/50 split more like 1/3 - 2/3 which might be a bit easier to pack that way. 

https://www.briggs-riley.com/collections/checked-luggage/products/torq-large-spinner-qu230sp

It's pricey but they are incredibly well made - their guarantee is they will repair anything even airline damage.  And the handle is outside - doesn't interfere with packing at all.

But realistically the base is still pretty flexy and will still need a shock absorbing layer before you add any camera gear - you might just as well use a quality ballistic nylon case, that will be easier to pack IMO. 

When are you flying? 

Next Tuesday, so have ordersd a Pelican 1637… I’ll check the design you linked, perhaps for a subsequent trip.

Hello,

To anyone with a CB80 Square Grouper XL, are you able to measure and let me know the internal dimensions of the bag? Thanks!

The website lists 18" x 13" x 12" but unsure if these are external dimensions.

https://www.cinebags.com/cb80squaregrouperxl

Thanks,

P

In practice, the external/internal difference is minimal. The soft sides are maybe 1cm thick but all the sides - and top - are highly flexible and there is a good bit of "give" in them. I wouldn't worry about the potential difference.

Just as aside: I was able to carry my Grouper into an Embrarer on 4x flights between Sint Maarten and Providenciales via Santo Domingo. It contained a pair of Retras, a Subal ND500/45-degree finder with camera and DP-FE domeport, a bunch of accessories - and weighted about 8kgs. I was just about able to get it beneath the seat in front. Phew.

Thanks [mention]TimG [/mention]! I take that if not filled to the brim it’ll fit in carry-on requirements?

When using it as a boat bag, is your camera able to stay upright in the bag? Or do you need to contort it to fit?


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No, it wasn’t filled to the brim by any means. And, yes, deliberately so for airline space reasons. 
 

As a boat bag, no problem at all. You can flood the bag to use as a rinse tank or use it as a protective store for the system. I used it a fair bit as a store for my second port and lens so as to keep them in ambient temperature with the housing. It stays upright without a problem. 
 

The bags certainly aren’t inexpensive and I spent a long time umming and ahhing as to whether to buy one or not. It now dives with me once or twice a week on a smallish dive boat where it is very much in protection mode. It has stood up to those rigours extremely well and, pretty much, looks as good as new. I’d gone through several cheap and cheerful cooler bags all of which leaked/tore/zips corroded. I didn’t take my own advice: buy cheap, buy twice. 

21 minutes ago, TimG said:

No, it wasn’t filled to the brim by any means. And, yes, deliberately so for airline space reasons. 
 

As a boat bag, no problem at all. You can flood the bag to use as a rinse tank or use it as a protective store for the system. I used it a fair bit as a store for my second port and lens so as to keep them in ambient temperature with the housing. It stays upright without a problem. 
 

The bags certainly aren’t inexpensive and I spent a long time umming and ahhing as to whether to buy one or not. It now dives with me once or twice a week on a smallish dive boat where it is very much in protection mode. It has stood up to those rigours extremely well and, pretty much, looks as good as new. I’d gone through several cheap and cheerful cooler bags all of which leaked/tore/zips corroded. I didn’t take my own advice: buy cheap, buy twice. 

Good to hear, I am deciding on getting the CB80 Square Grouper XL. So far it is ticking my boxes: carry-on compatible, portable rinse tank, boat protection, and very durable. Now it just needs to fit my existing camera cube which is 18" x 13" x 7". I will visit my local store to check the fit. Hoping it does. The water bottle pockets are a plus for the Grouper bag. I really can't live without such a bag on the trips I take.

Sadly, my AO Cooler bag inner lining tore after about 2 years use and I now can't use it as a rinse tank. Sad because it still looks new expect for the torn lining. So I am looking for a replacement.

Thanks [mention]TimG [/mention] I went out and bought the Cinebag CB80. I am using the Peak Design Camera Cube large which is exactly 18 x 13 x 7 inches. The fit was perfection, so exact.



I also had space on top and the side for my other hardware.





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