Traveling with gear can be just as nerve-wracking as moving house! I first experienced it when flying with my first 600f4, over three decades ago. Back then there weren’t any photopacks that fit into an overhead bin, creating added anxiety. Therefore, I designed and manufactured the MP-1. MindShift and I then designed and manufactured an updated model known as MP-1v2 (pictured above, now sold out) specifically to take on big glasses like you see here. It was made to fly! Here we see a Z9/Z600f4TC in its long lens compartment. When flying regional jets, I often opt for LensCoat Flex Shade instead of hard lens shade to provide additional padding around lens’ bell. A Z 8 also travels in this compartment with both Z24-120f4 attached and Z14-24f2.8 attached as it fits within this compartment. At the top of my vehicle is my Z400f4.5 while at the bottom is a Z1.4x (For projects where I need additional gear, I will sometimes use my thinkTank Airport Security V3 gear locker. See updated page).
As I was younger, my MP-1v2 would become overstuffed with gear I rarely needed and never pulled out and used. Since becoming wiser, I now give my back a break by leaving that gear at home – the Profoto A10 now goes in checked luggage along with RRS flash arms used with Z600f4TC and Z400f4.5 flash heads; once at my destination these items get transferred into the MP-1v2, and back into check luggage when returning home – hopefully this information has helped those asking or curious about traveling with large format glass lenses!
