Hi

I am travelling to India and need some recommendations on camera bags. The current one I have is a cheapo Amvona bag off ebay for $45. It served well for 3 years and half a dozen flight travels in US, but started to . My equipment is below:

Canon 20D, 1D Mark2 (will be buying if wifey nods ), Sigma 500mm f/4.5, 100-400 IS, 100mm f/2.8 macro, 50mm 1.8 Mark1, 17-40mm f/4, Sigma 530 DG Super flash and a feisol CT-3471 tripod. In addition to these I have a 14" laptop.

I am looking for a strong bag that can hold all of the above stuff, meets International and domestic carry-on baggage rules and prefeably within $200. But if nothing the budget can be expanded.

I planning on using this bag as my primary camera bag when going for jungle safaris and other photography trips.

Appreciate your thoughts/ inputs.

Thanks
Anand

Think Tank Airport International.

Probably no bag together with that equipment will meet International and domestic carry-on baggage rules. Even if you can get it down in a bag or case, the weight limit will be a problem. And different airlines have different limits for size and weight also. But most airlines will probably let you take it on as carry-on. But you can never be sure.
Think Tank, LowePro are good. The Pelican cases even better if you like to really protect your gear

Thanks Jeffrey and Lars for directing me towards Think tank airport series. Since I am looking for something which doubles up as a photo backpack, will be buying Airport Accelerator instead. Will start looking for photovest to carry lenses that do not fit in it or exceed weight requirements.

Anand

You can run into trouble on any airline, any time, when it comes to carryon. You're at the whim of the crew. Several times I've been asked to check a bag--I've found that just leaning close and saying 'Miss, I've got 20G's worth of camera gear in that bag--I simply cannot check it', is all it ever took.

Also, carry a laptop in one of your carryon bags--as long as your second bag is a 'laptop' bag, you get less static about it, regardless of what else is in it. (It also works to just refer to it as 'my laptop bag' even if you don't have one in there.

Maybe you could split the weight with someone else you are travelling with. Not to curb your enthusiasm but how will you manage to get through the Indian customs at the airport with all that gear ?

I knew someone who went to India recently and was hassled about their 40D and was asked to pay either a bribe fee or duty. It's ridiculous but I guess one cant do much about it.