Tight schedule -- ship or hand carry gear?
 

I have 2 shoots next week one in DC and one in Al. I need to bring my whole kit to both. Lights, Sound, Cameras, Stills, etc.... I'm FedExing most of it to each location, The still set up is in a KATA backpack so I'm carrying that. Now the lights I'm not so worried about they are in a Lowell hard case, but the HD100 is what worries me. It's in a Pelican hard case, but abusive Fed Ex people are of great concern. Would you pack it in the case and say see you in DC on Monday or send the case with the accessories and hand carry the HD100 also. The cases will be locked also.

Me? I would load them in the car and drive. Screw the airports! That is just sheer madness, especially these days! My wife thinks I'm afraid of flying, but I actually used to enjoy it. It's all the other garbage that kills it.

I would much rather drive than fly belive me, but I have to shoot in DC on Tuesday and then in AL on Wednesday

Yeah, that's doable, but you'd end up crashing towards the end. Just that 10 or 12 hour drive is tough on a person. Why schedule them so close together?

Hi Jerry,

My experience with FedEx has been pretty much positive over the years and I don't think any of their drivers or handlers are intentionally abusive with anything. Of course accidents and rough handling are always a possibility though. The general rule is, the less time a package is in transit, the less of a chance there is for something to go wrong. For this reason, overnight shipping is great. Since it gets there quick it's by far the safest way to ship. Also, go ahead and pay for the insurance, that way if something does go wrong then you're covered.

I think you should ship your HD100. The best way to do that is to find a good, sturdy cardboard box that's about four to six inches bigger all the way around than your Pelican case. But the Pelican case inside the box with plenty of styrofoam packing peanuts. Now you're completely double-boxed and good to go. With overnight shipping your camera is less exposed to theft and physical danger this way than it would be if you were hand carrying it. Hope this helps,

They got scheduled for me. I'm not my own boss :(

Thanks Chris yea overnight is the way to go.