Nikon D90 Ikelite housing, 1 dome and 2 flat ports, 1 DS-125 strobe, tray, arms, spare parts go in a big Pelicase and the pelicase inside a old shabby case, weight approx. 23 Kilos
Patima Canon G11 housing, 2 ports, one Inon D2000 strobe, tray, flexarm, spare parts go in a suitcase size Pelicase and in another old, shabby case and will topped up with clothes.
Nikon D90, lenses, SB-800 strobe, teleconverter, 15'' laptop, various external disks, chargers, cables, cell phones go in a Loewepro photobackpack, weight approx. 12 Kilos
Canon G11 and other delicate objects go in my 100 pocket photographers vest, weight approx. 10 Kilos (i'm looking like a suicide bomber...)
The IATA rules say:
Carry-on baggage must be stowed in the aircraft cabin which limits baggage to a size, weight and shape to fit under a passenger seat or in a storage compartment.
Cabin baggage should have maximum length of 22 in (56 cm), width of 18 in (45 cm) and depth of 10 in (25 cm). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc.
Carry-on items must remain with the passenger at all times and are the responsibility of the passenger.
We have very severe carry-on luggage restrictions in Europe and it's normal to have troubles while checking in if the carry-on don't fit inside the test cage to be found on almost every European airport,
and the weight usually is restricted to 7-10 kilos.
I am to buy a new, bigger backpack/trolley as i got my D7000 camera and my photographic gear is growing and growing, but it will not fit the carry-on rules anymore...
Chris
P.S. The sense of travelling with the old, shabby cases is to camuflage the valuables inside.
The biggest error -from my point of view- while flying is to use a dive branded dive case/roller with a lot of diving stickers on it,
as this is like a big sign on it saying: EXPENSIVE DIVE GEAR AND UNDERWATER CAMERA INSIDE! STEAL ME!