Traveling With Digital Gear

[Section 8]

Hello,

Is there anything to worry about when traveling with your digital gear? Such as when traveling with film, avoid the "X-ray" machines. Is there anything like that, or just standard equipment packing precautions?

Greg

[sp00g3]

Hello,

Is there anything to worry about when traveling with your digital gear? Such as when traveling with film, avoid the "X-ray" machines. Is there anything like that, or just standard equipment packing precautions?

Greg

Don't get it wet. And if in an airport, make sure it is available to turn on at security checkpoints.. i made the mistake once of going to an airport with a dead battery. Luckily I had a spare that had some charge.

[jimtfoto]

Also, open up your camera bag(s) yourself ... get ready to bring out the gear yourself, to avoid security personnel pawing all over it, and not really caring that they're handling delicate, and expensive equipment. One particularly inept security type droppped one of my lenses. Luckily it fell onto my winter jacket which was bundled up next to my camera bag. Whether or not security asks for electronics to be turned on is a bit hit and miss. Several years ago, it was taken for granted you'd have to turn on your laptop. In two recent trips, no one asked me to fire it up ... same with two digital bodies. All they did was fondle the lenses, remove the caps and take a look through!
jim

[Jesper]

...One particularly inept security type droppped one of my lenses.

Whoa! :shock: If he'd damaged it, would you have been able to claim the repair costs?

[JoeTampa]

I travel constantly (every week) with my 10D, lenses, etc in a carry-on bag. I have never been asked to open the bag, turn anything on, or anything similar. Just goes through the X-Ray. Every so often, the bag will be taken (but not opened) for the Explosive Trace Detector (ETD - the machine they stick that circular wipe in after they swab your bag). Never takes any more time than any other carry on.

I'll let you know how it goes in London (when I leave on Sunday), but I have never had a problem post-911 in the USA.

[robertwgross]

The old standard applies. Typically the checkers will want to see that your "camera" is really that and not a bomb. So, they typically want to either look through the lens or see the thing turned on and functioning. But they don't care about a high standard of function.

One time I turned my camera on for a checker and as I handed it to him, I said "You know, there has been just a little chromatic abberation when I go wide open to an f/1.4. What do you think?"

Then he shuts it up and hands it back.

---Bob Gross---

[cmM]

You know, there has been just a little chromatic abberation when I go wide open to an f/1.4. What do you think?"

:P lol
Did he ask for a translater ?

Actually, 2 years ago, in Munchen, Germany, I was asked at a security checkpoint not only to turn my camera on, but to take a picture as well :roll: ... I pointed the camera towards the guy to take a pic of him, but he wouldn't let me... so I had to take an abstract pic of the floor :))
Oh, and it was a film camera, too, so I wasted some negative there.

[Canuck]

I have not had a problem when travelling yet. I had brought the Canon EOS 50E, 2 lenses and some film x2 to Austria; The 10D and 2 lenses to Ireland about a month and a half ago; then this last week to Scotland with 3 lenses (but drove this time so really doesn't count). I had the FlashTrax Drive and 2x CF cards xrayed both at London Stanstead and then again at Shannon in Ireland and back in the film days 2x at London Stanstead and 2x in Austria. I have never been asked to take a pic or anything of the sort. This is all in Jan, 2002 onwards thru the Ireland trip which was about 6 weeks ago. I have had no problems. Hope this helps.

[Section 8]

Thanks for the replies.

The last two times I have traveled I had the imense pleasure of going to the head of the line. Unknown to me the first time is that it means that I was "randomly" selected for a much more close security check. The randomness is that apparently the tickets have a code on them that the person looking at your boarding pass tells you to go to the seperate line (straight from the person checking the tickets mouth). THe first time I was going on vacation and had all kinds of junk with me. It was quite a fiasco having to repack everything in a minimum ammount of time. The second time I was flying one way to go pick up my Jeep, and wasn't so bad, but jeez, do I have credit card numbers that look like a terrorist' numbers or something?

I kind of think that the code thing is bunk though. It is a really good explination to kep people from getting miffed at the security people. In that case I must look like a terrorist, so maybe I just like the other explination better. :roll:

Greg

[HKdom]

Does anyone know if tripods are allowed to be carried on airplanes?

-It's a tiny Gitzo 1128 and I don't have the spiked anchors fitted to the heels, just the regular stops... -Though I guess it could be used as a club :?

[DaveG]

Does anyone know if tripods are allowed to be carried on airplanes?

-It's a tiny Gitzo 1128 and I don't have the spiked anchors fitted to the heels, just the regular stops... -Though I guess it could be used as a club :?

I suspect that depending on the day will depend on the answer.

All of this is to keep the idiots from blowing us up so we should take it and smile. I either pack my tripod (that isn't small) in an airline supplied plastic bag or put it in a large suitcase. I also use bungy cord to secure my monopod to the tripod. The tripod head almost certainly gets packed in the luggage.

[Bruce Hamilton]

Last time I traveled with a camera, the security person took off the lens cap, looked through the viewfinder, then removed the lens... And this was in 1982, before airports even cared about security.

I finally took it away from her, saying "YES, it IS a camera!" :lol:

[HKdom]

I agree that for the sake of security we all have to sacrifice a little, I'll probably pack it in my check-in to be safe.

-If it comes down to the lens comming off, I'd hate to imagine how much dust might float in. I'll be the idiot at the end of the checkpoint pumping away with the blower as soon as I get my camera back! :lol:

[chris.bailey]

I would never put a camera in check in baggage. If you have ever spent any time in the baggage hall you would know why. Also it can get pretty cold in the baggage hold; they dont heat it unless there is baggage like live animals that needs it. I always make a point of declaring my camera bag (which with most airlines is not counted as your carry on bag) at check in and at security and have never had a problem