300D through an x-ray?

[J___]

hey guys, i recently got back to vancouver from shanghai. and through the customs they had to xray all the bags as policy, i asked them if they could pass on the camera but they said they had to put it through. i know when i brought my slr film cameras they didnt put it through... my question is will it damage the 300D in anyway havent it gone through an x-ray machine? thnx

[Jon]

Not at all, unless they let it tumble off the conveyor at the end.

[Canuck]

No worries..
I sent my 10D and kit thru the xray several times and no harm done on holiday to Ireland (March, 04). They were in London (Stanstead Int'l) going to Ireland and Shannon (Ireland) on return. I also had a FlashTrax 40GB drive w/ me and still performs flawlessly.

[jrm]

I just put my DRebel through the "x-ray" at several airports - Vancouver included. No problems at all.

As was pointed out, the real danger is in falling off the conveyer belt, or being dropped by a security person during examination.

ALWAYS watch your stuff. Never let it out of your sight, and make any inspectors wait until you are present until they open and/or touch your stuff. (I almost had an argument in Vancouver over this. I refused to take my camera out for inspection until after they let me put my laptop away in the case. The people actually told me "that's why you should put your camera and laptop in "checked" baggage. I replied "Why? So it could get stolen after it was dropped by security?")

[J___]

ah thnx guys, that makes me feel at ease now

[Adam Hicks]

There's no reason to avoid sending a standard SLR through the XRAY unless it's loaded with film. Since we're not using film, we have nothing to worry about. You can't accidentally expose a CF card :-)

Adam

[theoldmoose]

Used to be, older X-ray machines at security checkpoints had unshielded magnetic fields, that could erase magnetic media of varous sorts. For a while, everyone had to have laptops hand-inspected because of this.

Now, all the current machines in use are quite nice to magnetic media, EXCEPT the ones they use to X-ray CHECKED baggage. So, if you are carrying image tanks of one sort or another that use magnetic media, DO NOT put them in checked baggage (aside from the usual theft-prone problems) if you intend to have anything readable on them when you get back home.

All in all, it's a much better idea to carry all photographic gear with you through security, and let them X-ray everything except sensitive (hi-speed) film. For that, most newer camera bags have see-through detachable film pouches, designed specifically for you to unhook them from the inside of the bag, and hand them over for hand inspection.

Also, recently the TSA put out a bulletin to the effect that, in their opinion, that a bag of photographic gear should NOT count against your carryon baggage allowance. They did not require you to have a bona fide photgrapher's pass, either. This was done in recognition of the problems involved with checking expensive photographic gear as baggage. HOWEVER, my one encounter with a U.S. airline, when I called ahead to check this out was something to the effect of, "The federal government goes around making up all these rules, but WE don't have to follow them. You bag counts. Period." I was able to discern, though, that they my LAPTOP bag did NOT count (it is treated like a purse, for some reason, by this particular airline), so I was still able to carry on a bag of photo grear, and my laptop, and have it count as only one carryon bag.

If you carry any thing away from this long-winded lecture -- call ahead, and ASK. Don't assume anything, especially if you will be traveling internationally.

[jrm]

I was able to discern, though, that they my LAPTOP bag did NOT count (it is treated like a purse, for some reason, by this particular airline), so I was still able to carry on a bag of photo grear, and my laptop, and have it count as only one carryon bag.

If you carry any thing away from this long-winded lecture -- call ahead, and ASK. Don't assume anything, especially if you will be traveling internationally.

In the US at least, this is true of most (if not all) airlines. The "one carry-on" (or two, depending on airline/flight) does NOT include your purse/pocketbook or briefcase/laptop bag. This is usually stated in the pre-board announcement. I have no idea how they handle a situation where a woman has both a purse and laptop bag... probably have to count one of them.

One thing to watch for is that not only to different countries, airports and airlines have different rules, but there is not always one policy for each airline.

Depending on the type of aircraft on how full a flight is, additional carry-on limitations (or freedoms) may apply. I have flown on some smaller aircraft where ALL carry-on baggage was taken from you on the runway and stored in a cargo compartment. It was returned on the runway after landing. (After some complaining, I was permitted to remove my laptop and carry that in my lap.) Also, if a flight is full, they will often change the carry-on limitation from two to one bag per person.

[DocFrankenstein]

So wait... if I am travelling to europe and have my laptop, rebel, big 70-200 and 2-3 small lenses. I may not be able to carry it with me? :?

[jrm]

So wait... if I am travelling to europe and have my laptop, rebel, big 70-200 and 2-3 small lenses. I may not be able to carry it with me? :?

I just flew NY to Vancouver and back with my family. Each of us had at least one carry-on bag.

I carried my briefcase with laptop inside. Over my shoulder, I carried LowePro Toploader75 with my Drebel/70-200/2.8L. The front pocket of the camera bag was bulging with the kit lens and 2x tele-extender. Strapped to the side of the bag was a monopod. In other words, heavy and bulky. In my other hand I usually carried some sort of carry-on bag.

Never even got a second look - and the flight was pretty full.

I fly around the US on a pretty frequent basis. It is rare that I see anyone questioned about carry-on bags.

Just keep the number and _size_ of the bags within reason and you shouldn't have a problem. (although I cannot guarantee anything).

If you think you may be pushing things, I usually look around at other passengers in the boarding area. Figure I can always try "but you let _him_ get on with those bags.. mine don't take up that much room." :)

[robertwgross]

Used to be, older X-ray machines at security checkpoints had unshielded magnetic fields, ...

Yes, I believe that was mostly in the motors that run the conveyor belts, rather than the actual inspection equipment. It could put a funny field into any sensitive magnetic media.

I think it is still possible to run into that stuff in third-world countries.

Yes, TSA sets safety rules and inspection rules, but the airlines decide how they want to fill the cabin with carryon bags. Each airline seems to have a different idea.

---Bob Gross---

[theoldmoose]

If I'm not mistaken, a lot of older X-ray equipment (and newer types?) use flyback transformers to produce the high voltage needed to get X-rays. Those transformers were probably close to the X-ray tubes (to minimize lead length), and thus, also, close to the articles being X-rayed.

Sufficient magnetic shielding would cure the problem, but is probably considered a luxury for the high-powered machines used in the baggage area, versus the passenger security checkpoints.

[Lurch77]

Hello everyone. New guy here, but I hope that does not discredit my opinion too much. :) My job has me working at an aviation operations center. One of my duties is scanning (x-ray) bags of passengers that will board military aircraft.

Now I can't say much for all the x-ray systems out there. So I guess it is case by case. And I would not trust systems used in some other countries. But the new systems, like the one (http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/66Zplus.asp) we use, will not hurt electronics, won't damage data saved on disks, and will not damage any film for film cameras. Even high speed. We run them all the time without any problems.

[Aylwin]

So wait... if I am travelling to europe and have my laptop, rebel, big 70-200 and 2-3 small lenses. I may not be able to carry it with me? :?

If you're flying Lufthansa with more than one hand-carry item then most likely not. If you're flying through Frankfurt airport then most definitely not.

Most other airlines aren't so strict. I fly a lot and I've only ever had problems with Lufthansa, and most especially through Frankfurt.

By the way, no problems with x-ray machines ever.

[Jon]

. . . , will not hurt electronics, won't damage data saved on disks, and will not damage any film for film cameras. Even high speed. We run them all the time without any problems.

X-ray's effect on film (not electronics) is cumulative.One pass may not cause any noticeable effect, but even the slowest film out there will show the effects of repeated or prolonged X-ray exposure. Here's (http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml) what Kodak has to say.