Advice for UK shooter in the US at DVinfo.net

Graham Risdon · July 27th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Hi All

I have a great opportunity to shoot a road trip from Denver to San Francisco, taking in the Bonneville Salt flats for a major UK news organisation. I usually shoot with a DSR-450 but I'm planning to travel light and shoot on a Z1, a tripod, complemented with a few minicams and some mics. I'll be there for 8 days.

I'm going through the proper channels for a media visa and also a carnet for the gear, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on shooting in the US. It's my first time there and would really appreciate any tips/pitfalls I should be aware of before going. My chargers should be fine as they autosense power input from 100V/240V. As luck would have it, I already have some US-frequency radio mics!

Also, I've never flown with gear before so any tips on US airports/airlines would be really useful too. I thought the tripod and vehicle mounts could go in the hold, the minicams can be packed in my suitcase and I'll carry on the Z1...

Hope some of you chaps can help!

Lorinda Norton · July 27th, 2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Risdon

I've never flown with gear before so any tips on US airports/airlines would be really useful too.

Be sure and pack plenty of patience. Cross-country air travel here has been an absolute nightmare this summer; although, I heard from some of my frazzled east coast relatives that if you're heading west, the larger the airport the better your chances of not having horrible delays.

Before I switched cameras I encountered problems over the size of my camera bag. As long as I was on a bigger airplane I could stuff it under my seat, but on the smaller ones I got in trouble more than once for too much bag sticking out. I'd stay bent over pretending to cram that thing further under there until the flight attendants finally sat down for take-off. :) I hope your Z1 case is smaller.

Have a wonderful time in the States, Graham!

Michael Wisniewski · July 28th, 2008, 07:29 AM

There's a new rule that you're only allowed to carry on the battery that's in your camera. Spare batteries must be checked. You might still need UK to US plug adapters, even if your chargers can adapt to the voltage. If you immediately need to do any heavy-extended physical activity in Denver, remember your body has to adjust for the altitude.

Graham Risdon · July 29th, 2008, 01:27 AM

Thanks guys

Just got my iVisa approved yesterday at the US Embassy in London, so it looks like it's going ahead. I haven't seen the battery rule yet - is that part of the airline rules or a more general security issue?

I haven't been to the US before so I'm really looking forward to it, although I'm prepared for long delays at immigration....

Many thanks

Graham

Michael Wisniewski · July 29th, 2008, 08:25 AM

Whoops, I mispoke about the batteries, it's reversed, you should put batteries in your hand carry. Here are the TSA rules for batteries.

Jim Andrada · August 1st, 2008, 01:17 PM

According to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, I believe) web site, the carry on size restrictions are waived for "media cameras", but they still have to be capable of being stowed safely on the aircraft. I think this means that as long as it will fit in the overhead compartment you're OK even if the bag is larger than the official carry on size.

I carried my JVC 110 in a Camrade case on several flights in June and even though the case was a good four inches longer than the carry-on limit I had no problem except for having to sort of scrunch the bag down a bit to get it to slip though the opening of the overhead compartment. The Southwest flight attendant helped me squeeze it in, and the TSA security folks were actually quite helpful and hand checked it for me. Once I showed them what was in the bag they didn't require me to take the camera out and run it through the X-ray machine in a separate basket, even though the sign said video cams and laptops have to be removed from their bags. Your mileage may (and will!) vary

I think you're lucky to be arriving at Denver instead of boarding there as the Denver airport has one of the worst security setups I've seen in a lifetime of business travel. The problem is that there are basically just two sets of security lines for the entire airport and I've had waits of well over an hour in these lines. San Francisco is pretty easy because the terminals are separate so there are a lot of separate security stations scattered around the airport and you don't get 2 million people trying to squeeze through one or two checkpoints like Denver.

If you know which airports/airlines you'll be using, I'm sure somone here will have relevant experience and advice about each of them.

The situation really varies by airport and airline. For example, LA is generally OK, but the Southwest terminal is an absolute nightmare for checking things. In San Jose CA the American/Southwest terminal is also a horror show, but if you depart after 6 or 7 PM it's wide open.

FYI - this happened a few days back There are some good(???) videos floating around the web. Don't be surprised by anything.

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal...u-hits-a-2395/

Graham Risdon · August 2nd, 2008, 11:40 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Turns out the trip has been delayed, so I've got a bit more time to prepare!

Maybe it will be after the main holiday season which should make the flying bit a little easier...

Brian Boyko · August 4th, 2008, 09:55 AM

I'd avoid the U.S. entirely if at all possible, and hire a local crew with PAL cameras to do the shoot instead. Cameras and data can be confiscated indefinitely at the border.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/01/l...r-without-cau/

One of the reasons I've decided to hire local crews for any additional New Zealand footage I need for my documentary - despite the fact that I'd love to go back - is because the last thing I want to do is pay $2000 for a round-trip and have all the footage I worked on confiscated at the U.S. border.

Jim Andrada · August 4th, 2008, 11:43 AM

This might be just a bit of an overreaction. I think that well over 50% of international travelers carry laptops, at least judging by my experience in the maybe 300 or so cross ocean roundtrips I've made.

If Customs started grabbing laptops without any reason, they'd have to build a new warehouse at each airport. And the screaming from business travelers would get loud enough to be heard in the White House.

Brian Boyko · August 6th, 2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

This might be just a bit of an overreaction. I think that well over 50% of international travelers carry laptops, at least judging by my experience in the maybe 300 or so cross ocean roundtrips I've made.

If Customs started grabbing laptops without any reason, they'd have to build a new warehouse at each airport. And the screaming from business travelers would get loud enough to be heard in the White House.

The White House is deaf, and airports do indeed have warehouses the size of *cough* airplane hangers.

Jim Andrada · August 6th, 2008, 12:20 PM

I ran across a neat little book the other day. It had a title something like "1,000 Things that aren't going to happen to you"

Thinks like being attacked by a great white shark, having a piece of blue ice from an airplane lavatory land on your head, winning the Irish Sweepstakes, being elected president, etc etc.

I think having your stuff confiscated by US Customs is a candidate for inclusion on the list.

Does it ever happen? Of course. Do I think it's a good idea? Of course not. Do I worry myself into a froth about it every time I come though Customs - absolutely not. The odds of having your stuff stolen are astronomically higher than having Customs impound them.

Which is sort of the point of the book. Not to say that the bad things don't happen, but to say that the probability is so low that you shouldn't organize your life around avoiding them because the time spent worrying about them would be better spent worrying about that bad things that ARE going to happen to you. Like being audited by the IRS, having dropouts on your once-in-a-lifetime video, forgetting to white balance, recording over something important, going out for a day of large format photography with no film in your film holders, etc. (Happened to me!)

Or even missing out on an opportunity to take an 8 day video treck across the US Southwest

Lori Starfelt · August 20th, 2008, 01:38 AM

US airlines do not insure cameras, and you only receive $3000 worth of insurance per traveler anyway. You cannot lock your bags. If you can't carry your cameras on the plane with you (and the note above about media cameras is good to know), then you must have insurance with you.

We had our cameras in big Pelican cases. They were opened and checked before the flight and came down the luggage carousel looking in perfect order. We opened 'em up and no cameras. Sometime between checking them in and them being unloaded in Chicago, the cases were open, everything stolen and then sealed back up.

On another note, I'm purchasing a dolly that folds up to the size of a briefcase, and which unfolds to a platform 30" long that will hold 300 pounds of equipment. I can get three big Pelican cases, two tripods and my light kit on it and wheel it away on my own. I expect it to make life easier. :)

Jim Andrada · August 20th, 2008, 02:03 AM

WOW!!! What a terrible story. I feel bad for you - hopefully your insurance will cover them

But I think you CAN lock your bags if you use the TSA type locks that can be opened by TSA personnel. And I think you can lock them after they've been hand checked by TSA while you watch - not sure of the details, but I know folks who travel with musical instruments worth a lot more than cameras and they say there is a proceedure for having the bags checked and then locking them.

Next time I travel I think I'll talk to the TSA folks ad see what I can find out.

July 27th, 2008, 12:41 PM	#1
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	Advice for UK shooter in the US Hi All I have a great opportunity to shoot a road trip from Denver to San Francisco, taking in the Bonneville Salt flats for a major UK news organisation. I usually shoot with a DSR-450 but I'm planning to travel light and shoot on a Z1, a tripod, complemented with a few minicams and some mics. I'll be there for 8 days. I'm going through the proper channels for a media visa and also a carnet for the gear, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on shooting in the US. It's my first time there and would really appreciate any tips/pitfalls I should be aware of before going. My chargers should be fine as they autosense power input from 100V/240V. As luck would have it, I already have some US-frequency radio mics! Also, I've never flown with gear before so any tips on US airports/airlines would be really useful too. I thought the tripod and vehicle mounts could go in the hold, the minicams can be packed in my suitcase and I'll carry on the Z1... Hope some of you chaps can help!

July 28th, 2008, 07:29 AM	#3
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	There's a new rule that you're only allowed to carry on the battery that's in your camera. Spare batteries must be checked. You might still need UK to US plug adapters, even if your chargers can adapt to the voltage. If you immediately need to do any heavy-extended physical activity in Denver, remember your body has to adjust for the altitude. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

July 29th, 2008, 08:25 AM	#5
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Whoops, I mispoke about the batteries, it's reversed, you should put batteries in your hand carry. Here are the TSA rules for batteries. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

August 4th, 2008, 09:55 AM	#8
Brian Boyko Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 773	I'd avoid the U.S. entirely if at all possible, and hire a local crew with PAL cameras to do the shoot instead. Cameras and data can be confiscated indefinitely at the border. http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/01/l...r-without-cau/ One of the reasons I've decided to hire local crews for any additional New Zealand footage I need for my documentary - despite the fact that I'd love to go back - is because the last thing I want to do is pay $2000 for a round-trip and have all the footage I worked on confiscated at the U.S. border. __________________ Equip: Panny GH1, Canon HG20, Juicedlink, AT897, Sennh. EW/GW100, Zoom H2, Vegas 8.1

August 20th, 2008, 01:38 AM	#12
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	I just had $10k worth of cameras stolen in flight. US airlines do not insure cameras, and you only receive $3000 worth of insurance per traveler anyway. You cannot lock your bags. If you can't carry your cameras on the plane with you (and the note above about media cameras is good to know), then you must have insurance with you. We had our cameras in big Pelican cases. They were opened and checked before the flight and came down the luggage carousel looking in perfect order. We opened 'em up and no cameras. Sometime between checking them in and them being unloaded in Chicago, the cases were open, everything stolen and then sealed back up. On another note, I'm purchasing a dolly that folds up to the size of a briefcase, and which unfolds to a platform 30" long that will hold 300 pounds of equipment. I can get three big Pelican cases, two tripods and my light kit on it and wheel it away on my own. I expect it to make life easier. :)

July 29th, 2008, 01:27 AM	#4
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	Thanks guys Just got my iVisa approved yesterday at the US Embassy in London, so it looks like it's going ahead. I haven't seen the battery rule yet - is that part of the airline rules or a more general security issue? I haven't been to the US before so I'm really looking forward to it, although I'm prepared for long delays at immigration.... Many thanks Graham

August 1st, 2008, 01:17 PM	#6
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	According to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, I believe) web site, the carry on size restrictions are waived for "media cameras", but they still have to be capable of being stowed safely on the aircraft. I think this means that as long as it will fit in the overhead compartment you're OK even if the bag is larger than the official carry on size. I carried my JVC 110 in a Camrade case on several flights in June and even though the case was a good four inches longer than the carry-on limit I had no problem except for having to sort of scrunch the bag down a bit to get it to slip though the opening of the overhead compartment. The Southwest flight attendant helped me squeeze it in, and the TSA security folks were actually quite helpful and hand checked it for me. Once I showed them what was in the bag they didn't require me to take the camera out and run it through the X-ray machine in a separate basket, even though the sign said video cams and laptops have to be removed from their bags. Your mileage may (and will!) vary I think you're lucky to be arriving at Denver instead of boarding there as the Denver airport has one of the worst security setups I've seen in a lifetime of business travel. The problem is that there are basically just two sets of security lines for the entire airport and I've had waits of well over an hour in these lines. San Francisco is pretty easy because the terminals are separate so there are a lot of separate security stations scattered around the airport and you don't get 2 million people trying to squeeze through one or two checkpoints like Denver. If you know which airports/airlines you'll be using, I'm sure somone here will have relevant experience and advice about each of them. The situation really varies by airport and airline. For example, LA is generally OK, but the Southwest terminal is an absolute nightmare for checking things. In San Jose CA the American/Southwest terminal is also a horror show, but if you depart after 6 or 7 PM it's wide open. FYI - this happened a few days back There are some good(???) videos floating around the web. Don't be surprised by anything. http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal...u-hits-a-2395/

August 2nd, 2008, 11:40 PM	#7
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	Thanks for all the replies guys. Turns out the trip has been delayed, so I've got a bit more time to prepare! Maybe it will be after the main holiday season which should make the flying bit a little easier...

August 4th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#9
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	This might be just a bit of an overreaction. I think that well over 50% of international travelers carry laptops, at least judging by my experience in the maybe 300 or so cross ocean roundtrips I've made. If Customs started grabbing laptops without any reason, they'd have to build a new warehouse at each airport. And the screaming from business travelers would get loud enough to be heard in the White House.

August 6th, 2008, 12:20 PM	#11
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	I ran across a neat little book the other day. It had a title something like "1,000 Things that aren't going to happen to you" Thinks like being attacked by a great white shark, having a piece of blue ice from an airplane lavatory land on your head, winning the Irish Sweepstakes, being elected president, etc etc. I think having your stuff confiscated by US Customs is a candidate for inclusion on the list. Does it ever happen? Of course. Do I think it's a good idea? Of course not. Do I worry myself into a froth about it every time I come though Customs - absolutely not. The odds of having your stuff stolen are astronomically higher than having Customs impound them. Which is sort of the point of the book. Not to say that the bad things don't happen, but to say that the probability is so low that you shouldn't organize your life around avoiding them because the time spent worrying about them would be better spent worrying about that bad things that ARE going to happen to you. Like being audited by the IRS, having dropouts on your once-in-a-lifetime video, forgetting to white balance, recording over something important, going out for a day of large format photography with no film in your film holders, etc. (Happened to me!) Or even missing out on an opportunity to take an 8 day video treck across the US Southwest

August 20th, 2008, 02:03 AM	#13
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	WOW!!! What a terrible story. I feel bad for you - hopefully your insurance will cover them But I think you CAN lock your bags if you use the TSA type locks that can be opened by TSA personnel. And I think you can lock them after they've been hand checked by TSA while you watch - not sure of the details, but I know folks who travel with musical instruments worth a lot more than cameras and they say there is a proceedure for having the bags checked and then locking them. Next time I travel I think I'll talk to the TSA folks ad see what I can find out.