I've never had loads of equipment, but when I get on a plane I probably have in my Tenba messenger bag: 1 body, 2 zooms (28mm-400mm EFL coverage), 1 flash, 2 filters, misc. accessories like lens pen along with a 10.1" Netbook. Then in my jacket pocket is an E-PL1 w/ 14-42 kit lens. A sling bag for use upon arrival is checked inside my bigger clothing luggage with a gorillapod w/ ballhead. The messenger bag usually fits nicely under the seat in front of me so that I can keep an eye on it the whole time.
Some of you guys are WAY more dedicated than I am when it comes to hauling gear around haha. I wouldn't even consider taking a 1kg+ lens. Seriously, if your gear is so huge that the case alone won't meet cabin requirements, then it needs to be checked along with other people's expensive items like rifles, snow boards, golf clubs, etc. That's what the giant pelican cases are for right? To be tossed around while protecting your gear inside.
So... if you've got a high end case with padding that you trust, I'd check that in and just keep a body w/ lens on you just in case the luggage gets lost.
EDIT: them pelican cases are pretty awesome and tough. They're used to ship rentals, demos, etc of mucho $$$, fairly fragile thermal cameras around on UPS, Fedex, ex. They're all cheapo plastic (non-metal) bodies with much more fragile germanium lenses. Your DSLR will be fine.
Last edited by ga16i; 02-29-2012 at 12:23 PM.
Someday we may need to activate the halo structure off Deerfoot and destroy the North East.