Fitting an 8x10 and 4x5 for air travel...

[Ari]

One large suitcase for 8x10 camera, reducing back, film holders, tripod, etc all wrapped in clothing; that suitcase gets checked.
In your carry-on take lenses and film, and whatever else you normally take with you.
One of the carry-ons mentioned by Noah or Frank is a very good choice.

It's one thing to get it all on a plane and land safely with everything intact, but it's another to move around by bus, taxi or train within a country with all that gear.
And it's another thing as well to figure out how you're going to work, how you will pack for day trips, etc so keep that in mind as you're planning all this.

[Frank Petronio]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._View_Air.html

I just bought another one of these again, for a 4x5 monorail system but there is no reason an 8x10 field wouldn't work in it or something similar. In any event, I flew around the US doing architecture with an Arca monorail, lenses, holders, and doodads all packed inside and checked through. It was easily under 50 lbs and the dimensional requirements.

Then you keep some personal items, boxes of film and your digital/roll film cameras in a modest carry-on and travel with a semblance of sanity. Tripod, lighting, grip and clothes go into another Lightware or Tenba cargo case. Rent a handcart or get one on location. Join an airline club or get their credit card so the bag goes for free, or you only pay for one extra checked bag.

Use TSA locks if you must but stealing large-format gear is not that attractive to most thieves... they want DSLRs, jewelry, etc.