My Son and I are taking a trip at the end of May,via Air Canada. He will be leaving from Atlanta. He plans on using an Olympus E-20 with a fair supply of recording media. My question, "Is recording media affected in any way by X-Rays?". I apologize for flogging a dead horse! Incidentally, I have found a Store in YHZ that will order anything I need, and they say they do Custom B&W and Colour Developing I will be using A couple of Canon EOS bodies as I need an IS Lens due to "tempus fugiting" I realize this isn't a Leica Question, but I enjoy the erudition of respondents. Also using an Adorama Monopod. Tnx., Pete H

-- Peter J Harvey (nnn0lmt@worldnet.att.net), May 04, 2002

Answers

"Is recording media affected in any way by X-Rays?"

Not by any level of radiation permissible in a baggage scanner.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), May 04, 2002.

Be very careful here. No, X-Rays will not affect digital media, but in a notice in Shutterbug 2 months ago the body governing digital media quality in the US stated that the new machines already in place to scan mail for things such as anthrax will erase digital media completely. It probably hasn't happened yet, but in a followup article on the web they have said that the US does intend on placing these machines in select airports as well. I would think Atlanta would be high on the list, so I suggest you try and find more information.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.

I'm a working photojournalist and I've had no problems carrying digital gear through airports in the US, and I've done it many times since Sept 11th. I travel with D1's as well as Lexar CF cards. I've also had the cameras and media x-rayed at courthouses, sporting events, etc. with no problems whatsoever.

As with film, I'd recommend carrying the media onboard, instead of checking it with baggage. And it would be a good idea to check ahead of time to ensure none of those new machines are in use. If you're still nervous, pick up a small lead bag, such as the ones made by domke. They're good to have if the security agents won't hand check your film. Have a great trip.

-- Noah Addis (Naddis@starledger.com), May 04, 2002.

One more thing. The machines they use at the post office, as far as I know, are intended to kill the anthrax and other biological agents by irradiating the packages. If they're planning to use similar systems at airports, the lead bags probably won't help. I'm fairly sure that these systems would damage film as well.

-- Noah Addis (naddis@starledger.com), May 05, 2002.

I'm afraid we might be confusing two systems:

The ones for neutralising Anthrax germs are basically electron beam emitters, which happen to damage about anything, including fabric. (Washington D.C. residents: describe the condition of your mail.) Use that on luggage (whether checked or carry-on), and the lawsuits will start rolling, no matter that airports and airlines believe to stand above the law. If you can't even carry underwear aboard because it gets damaged beyond repair by the luggage scanner, no-one will fly any more.

The scanners we fear are CATscan systems, e.g. the notorious InVision CTX5000/CTX5500 models, which are in use for checked luggage in many airports and are to be installed for carry-on luggage. I'm not sure what they do to CF cards, so perhaps you should find them at the last moment in the pockets of your trousers (preferably in that clear plastic envelopes, to keep lint away). As hiding explosives or drugs in so small a package is virtually impossible, this might get you a hand inspection of them.

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), May 06, 2002.

I believe that metal detectors are capable of damaging laptops - presumably this would also affect smartcards and so on?

BTW - I travel quite a bit these days, often putting large amounts of film through lots of carry-on scanners and have yet to have any trouble. I've more or less relaxed about it now, but the news that the check-in scanners are to be installed for carry-on as well is pretty grim.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), May 06, 2002.

I have used virtually 95% digital for my working photography for the last 18 months now. And have flown many MANY times with smartcards, microdrives, compactflash, laptops, ect. I have never had any problems with any of it be caused by baggage checking machines (All of my gear is in carry-on).

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), May 06, 2002.