ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXAnyone have experience transporting camera gear on planes?
3 years, 3 months ago - Steven Jeram
We have our DOP flying in from Jordan, with camera and lenses. Wondering whether specific permits are needed or whether it can be carried as excess hand luggage? And/or what extra costs are incurred by transporting the gear? Anyone advice would be amazing (doesn't have to be Jordan specific). Cheers, Stevie
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3 years, 3 months ago - John Lubran
Depends on the size and weight of the equipment. Back in the days of megabuck and megalump cameras and equipment, flying incurred excess baggage costs not minimised by the weight and bulk of the armoured flight cases. Issues of temporary importation carnets being another matter.
My last few flights hedge hopping across USA and Africa have been much less hassle. I've been able to pack two broadcast standard camcorders in my cabin allowance and everything else in my normal personal luggage. It's also possible to declare such light and compact kit as non commercial personal equipment where appropriate.
Response from 3 years, 3 months ago - John Lubran SHOW
3 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Depends a heap on the kit - between weight and type you may find a local rental cheaper. Don't underestimate the cost of air freight - within the space of a year, sea freight costs rose by 5x and that pushed up air freight costs too.
There's also the question of tax/duty - if you're importing equipment technically it's due taxes on import and again on its way back to Jordan because there's nothing to separate it from retail imports. The way you would ensure there's no taxes due is with a "carnet", and they're non-trivial. I mean you may be fine bringing a single lens, loose in the bag, clearly used condition, but a whole shooting kit will likely lead to complications at one or both ends.
You can ask EFM or Rock-It Cargo for larger loads. They're global entertainment specialists, get volume rates, will do your carnets, etc., but honestly if you can hire locally you will probably save money and stress and surprises.
Response from 3 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
3 years, 3 months ago - Ian Allardyce
Quite apart from the Airline issues uou may have to look into 'carnet' for customs. All batteries MUST be carried in handluggage or you'll loose them.
Response from 3 years, 3 months ago - Ian Allardyce SHOW
3 years, 3 months ago - Steven Jeram
Thanks so much for your responses. That's definitely a good starting point. It's only likely to be camera and lenses, so should be doable without having to put it in cargo but may end up being cheaper to rent in the UK if there's import taxes etc. Unfortunately it looks like Jordan doesn't work on the "carnet" system at customs. I'll see whether we can get away with calling it non-commercial personal equipment if possible.
Response from 3 years, 3 months ago - Steven Jeram SHOW
3 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
That may depend somewhat on the camera and lenses - hard to claim an Alexa Mini is "personal, non-commercial" but on the other hand a DSLR is a cheap hire, so... Good luck finding the path through :)
Response from 3 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
2 years, 9 months ago - John Lubran
It's that divide between guerilla and conventional productions conundrum. Doing things by the institutionalised conventions of the place one is filming in benefits from being able to use lots of big and expensive equipment, at conciderable cost and palaver, no worries if one is a well heeled entity working on a project not obstructed by any onerous sociopolitical or socioeconomic authoritarianism at the desired location.
Guerilla filmmaking used to have to accept significant qualitative compromises limited by the specifications of compact cameras.
No need to compromise nearly as much today. Several high spec compact camcorders and DSR types are available that can be carried in cabin luggage sized bags which still leave room for ones personal traval items. I've managed to have two cameras in the cabin, one in the over head bag locker and the smaller one hanging from my neck, like a tourist. Light cameras allow light weight grips, audio, lighting kit and reflectors to be stowed neatly into the hold baggage. All at a minimum of 4K 100mbps and EBU broadcast standards. Whilst it's not rocket science, the common nouse required to pull such subterfuge off with minimal hassle is something else.
Response from 2 years, 9 months ago - John Lubran SHOW