Travelling with camera gear

[thegrandpoohbah]

I am flying to Vancouver next week and will be taking my DSLR with me. Is there anything I need to be aware of when travelling with camera gear? Is there anything sensitive enough in the camera (like the sensor or memory cards) that it shouldn't go through those big x-ray machines?

[Nicole]

Not really. Your camera will go through the xray machine fine and I've never had any issues with memory cards in my travels. I'd say the only thing you really need to be aware of is making sure your bag fits in the overhead / under the seat and that it's well padded if it's going in the overhead in case things shift and bang into it.

[OsmosisStudios]

Also be prepared to have a TSA agent inspect your camera and lenses by hand after the x-ray. I've been on a dozen flights with my gear and all but twice it hasnt been inspected again. They often want you to fire a few shots and do an explosives residue test.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by Nicole

well padded if it's going in the overhead in case things shift and bang into it.

I'd recommend not putting it in the overhead at all. The doors can sometimes open in heavy turbulence, and other passengers yank stuff out indiscriminately at times.

As my wife can testify, a fall from that height to the floor can easily be fatal to a camera, even when protected in a bag.

(Of course, your camera falling from that height onto someone's head won't make you any friends, either.)

[nathanbarlow]

I'd personally rather it was in the overhead than in the cargo hold. You can control who handles it, and how (aka you) ... baggage handlers dont give a toss about peoples luggage IMO

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by nathanbarlow

I'd personally rather it was in the overhead than in the cargo hold. You can control who handles it, and how (aka you) ... baggage handlers dont give a toss about peoples luggage IMO

I believe Doug was referring to putting it under the seat instead of overhead, as it has no chance of falling from the floor. I would NEVER put my camera gear in my checked luggage.

[Nicole]

My camera bag won't fit under the seat so it's not really an option to have it under there. But I agree, I'd never put it in my checked baggage.

[eric.carson]

I happen to be a rather expirenced photographer a travel! Unfortunately travelling is my job, not the photographing part, but I put up with it. Here are a few tips from my travels.

• Monopods Are Weapons - Or so the TSA think! Make sure its somewhere where they can get to it easily to show them it is, infact, not a billie club.
• Flash Memory and X-rays - Flash memory is very sensitive to high energy radiation, old X-ray machines are very capable of flipping flash memorys bits from 1 to 0 and vice versa. Easy fix, keep them empty when you go through and format them on the other side in camera.
• Cameras Are Laptops! - What? No their not! Sigh. Put the camera in its own plastic bin right off the bat and you save a world of hassles.
• Photo Vest! - Want everyting ready when you step off the plane? Carry on bursting from non-camera related items? Sacrificing toiletries for lenses? STOP! Just get a photo vest. It is laden with pockets for your body, lenses, chargers, filters, batteries, cleaning kits, and small mammals... When its security time just slip it off into its own bin, (removing the camera for its own bin) and put it back on on the other side!
• Cargo Pants - They may not be the height of fashon, but there is a reason mitarys across the world enjoy large pockets, things fit in them! Big Things!
• Cloth Baggies - TSA are nosy buggers, but thats their job! If you have everything in your camerabag in these neat baggies, not only will nothing get scratched, but they just open the top and look in. The alternative is a unsympathetic officer cramming your charger right across the preview screen! YIKES!
• Socks!If you are too cheap for the baggies (Like me) use socks! It is most decidedly ir-regular, but free!
• Don't be a Terrorist! - Try to avoid photos of incrimiating things, like the TSA stations, Fuel Depos, and things that make the security guards grab at their batons instinctivly. If you would like, put aside your pride and ASK. On a different note, remember that photos can be un-deleted later if you really, REALLY have to have that shot. *shhh!*