www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I am looking for some advice on travelling with my DSLR.
I am going to Mexico so need to get it through the Airport safely.
I have only ever had a cheap & cheerful camera for holidays so never had to do more than chuck it in my flight bag.
I promise to bring you some nice pics of Mexican Butterflies!

Angie

Angie
Back in the mid eighties I returned from a bird photography trip to Portugal, but my much loved bag of Olympus OM gear didn't!
I made the mistake of putting it in the hold of the aircraft.
Now, I carry my gear as hand luggage.
The size of bag you can carry-on (on most flights - but check!) is 56cm by 45cm by 25cm.
The most critical dimension is the 25cm as this is the height of the door of the overhead lockers!
However, a wheelie bag of this size is ample.
My bag is 55 by 35 by 24, and will carry two bodies, 3 or 4 lenses (including a 500mm f4.5), and a laptop.
I also pad it out with clothes, wrapping the individual items in shirts, pants etc.
Another tip is to take loads of (charged) batteries and loads of memory cards.
They can be bought very cheaply from e-bay nowadays. I also have a charger I purchased from an American website to cope with the plug/voltage diffrences.
If you can possibly avoid putting anything in the hold, you also avoid the carousel crush, and get out of the airport as quickly as possible.
For short trips, or trips to hot places, you can get away with very few clothes, and just use the carry-on baggage.
I have a friend who travels really light by buying cheap cloths on arrival and leaving them behind after - very useful for the inhabitants of some 3rd world countries!
Have a great trip.
Roger