October 13 - 28 trip.Looking for recent updates for camera equip through security and photography

Mark, I'm no expert in travel photography but in June we went on an Azores and mainland Portugal trip. (We used Rick's book for Portugal and it was indispensable.) I traveled light with a 28-300 Nikon zoom and a 10-20 zoom wide-angle. I have gone on landscape photo workshops, a Moab, UT trip, and done local landscape photography and always have a good, sturdy tripod. But when we traveled to Portugal I left it home and was not upset that I didn't have it. I noticed this article by Scott Kelby a few weeks ago - https://scottkelby.com/perfect-lens-travel-photography/ He likes to travel with just one lens (just so happens he recommended for Nikon users the lens I have). I didn't use the 10-20 very much. It was a lot easier just to have one. I'll probably take only the 28-300 this time.
I saw your post because we have to cancel a trip to St. Martin (Irma destruction) and instead are quickly planning a France trip. We will be there about the same time as you, heading by car from the airport to Normandy/Mont St. Michel, back to Paris and turn in the car, see Paris a few days then take the train to Provence/Avignon and rent a car, see Provence and head back to Paris to fly home.
We purchased Rick Steve's "France" book and are expecting his "Provence" book in the mail today. I thought he was spot on with the Portugal trip so I'm relying on him again.

Safe travels and have a ball,

Dave

You shouldn't have any issues with carrying on your gear. As for hauling a tripod - you won't be able to use it inside any of the museums nor will you be able to use the flash. As for bringing the case logic backpack - you will have to check it at each of the museums since they don't allow large backpacks. Thus, you might want to re think your strategy for Paris - a good all around prime or mid range zoom should work fine for those venues so you can leave the backpack in your room.
As for bringing the 70 - 200 - it all depends on your style of shooting and what is important to you. Personally, I don't think you would really miss it - but only you can determine how much you want to carry. As a professional photographer, I've whittled my travel kit down substantially - switched to a mirrorless camera for travel and bring a mid range zoom and a good all around prime - no tripod, no flash - just batteries, cards and a couple of filters. To be honest, I don't miss hauling that gear in the least and I find that I take more photos - having a smaller range of choices has made for more interesting and spontaneous shots and forces me to be a bit more creative.

Dave,

Sorry about your trip to St. Martin but glad you had a backup plan that is working out for you. We are spending the first 4 full days in Paris before following along behind you. 4 full days in Paris that will include a day trip to Versailles. We rent a car at the airport and then head to Giverny, Rouen, then 2 nights near Normandy before a half day at Mont St-Michel. Then on to the Loire Valley for castles, Dordogne region for cave paintings and then we are not sure whether we'll wrap up in Nice or Provence before heading back to Paris for the flight home. I told myself over and over again I wouldn't try to do too much in the 13 full days we have in country but it sure looks like I didn't listen to myself....

Have a great trip!

Nancy, thank you for the insight. I checked out the museum notes in Rick's France and Paris guides and saw the info about the bags. I'm going to take my think tank sling bag to carry once in country so I should be able to get it in the museums. I've decided to take my Sony A6300 mirrorless APSC (1.5) body with the sony 1670 f4, 1018 f4 and the 32 1.8 prime. I'll have everything covered from a field of view perspective from 15 - 105. I'll leave the 70200 at home but I'll take my travel tripod in my checked bag. That's a pretty light kit and should be plenty. Thanks again.

The issue with rechargeable batteries is that you can't put them in checked baggage. you can take them in your carry-ons with no problems. (My last few flights, they were very emphatic about this; when they made announcements about gate checking luggage that didn't fit in overhead bins, they reminded everyone that before surrendering bags for check-in to remove medications, valuables, and batteries).

So you should be fine on that score. I can't address your other questions.

Hello,
don't know if this will help, but for the first time I'll be taking my DSLR rather than a small pocket digital camera. I'm not taking a tripod, taking a few SD cards, polarizer, ND filter, and my 18-250 lens. I have a hunch I'll miss my 10-20 lens, but so it goes. Personally, I think of that old maxim - "fill the frame" when I review my photos. My main concerns are getting the lens safely through security and backing up my SD cards since I'm not taking a laptop. Hopefully I'll be able to post any issues/tips after going through security. Best of luck,

I'm just returning from a trip to Paris and Normandy. Here are my thoughts:
All of the photo equipment you mentioned should be carried with you, except that they may not allow the tripod on the plane. I checked mine. The batteries must be in your carry-on if they are loose, or installed in an "approved device" (this includes a camera or a charger). I brought my 15–85mm walk-around lens, my 10–24mm and my 70–200mm. The latter two lenses I only used occasionally, but I like having a very wide lens for indoors or anywhere there are tight confines. It is debatable wither the longer and heavier lens is worthwhile. fwiw, I use an APS-C sized DSLR. I never ended up using my tripod this time (for the second trip to France in a row). I carried all of my camera gear on the plane, as well as a notebook in my LowePro Fastpack—except that the tripod was in my checked rollerboard luggage.

Just returned from Italy and Norway
Of course individual experiences are only that

For the first time I took my tripod (rather large RRS model, a good deal larger folded than yours) as a carry-on instead of wrapped in clothes inside my checked bag.
I had my camera backpack on my back and the tripod I just carried as a personal item and was never questioned on 5 different flights. Without the head it looks much less weapon like.
What I did was take off the head and packed that inside my carry-on.
Had a camera body, 4 lens, 4 batteries, extra SD cards, chargers, ipad, etc... all inside my carry-on backpack ; was no big deal and barely got any second glances.
I am certain my backpack exceeds one of the dimensions but didn't fly on WOW who might be more likely to measure something or limit you to one item not a bag plus a personal item.

At one of the multiple airport screeners I went through I had to remove the camera but never the lens or batteries and place the camera in a tray, other times only the Ipad did I have to remove.

So would not worry about that, the news rules meaning nothing new for us other than always having to remove Ipads.
In terms of lines the new rules mean an additional line before you board your flight back to the US. Which adds a good 30+ minutes for what at the time will seem like no reason. They don't look at your bags just ask you personal questions on this new line.

I was in Paris in the Fall of 2017 though and the backpack is going to be an issue there. I had my backpack but left it at the hotel and also packed a messenger style bag to hold my camera.
Tripods are not allowed much of anywhere indoors and should not be used outdoors in crowds.
Security is tight in Paris and backpacks are not allowed in most places. Even the McDonald's have their own security and bag checkers at the front door!
So not only can you not bring the tripod, the places you mention you likely cannot bring a backpack.
For Paris, a wide angle zoom is really all you need so leave that on the camera body inside a messenger bag and leave the tripod and other lens at the hotel. For the trips out too the countryside you can bring the rest of your gear.