Can you bring a camera/accesories w/bag as a carry-on, commercial flights?

[maveric]

I'm flying back east in June and am taking my new camera with lenses. I'd rather not pack it in my suitcase as a check-in.
Are cameras allowed as carry-ons?

[kick-ass-bob]

1. I believe this is fine.

They may make you open up something to make sure its really a camera if they are aggressive.

[Cannikin]

2. I carry my camera bag always as a carry-on

[democracyindanger]

3. Don't see why not

And ever since a friend got his checked video camera stolen on the way to his honeymoon, I'd NEVER check a camera.

[ohiosmith]

4. Yes

[Lex]

5. I flew a few months ago with my videocamera and accessories

in my carry-on. No problem.

Same with my laptop. (They will probably ask you to take it out of the bag so they can look at it.)

[maveric]

9. Cool! I'd rather not pack it for check-in. I dont trust the handlers.

I have $3000.00 worth of new equipment and would hate like hell to have it lost or damaged.

[KurtNYC]

6. Shouldn't be a problem at all

I have taken a medium backpack + a laptop frequently as carry on.

[librechik]

7. I recommend keeping it with you, if it passes

the size rule at your airline--I saw the TV news piece showing baggage handlers going through suitcases, and ever since then I don't put anything valuable in my checked luggage.

If it's really bulky, there's also the option of overnight fedexing the package to wherever you're staying. That way you can get insurance.

[maveric]

11. The bag its in is 18"x12"x10'.

Its a camera back pack.

[librechik]

20. I hope you meant 10 inches. Because 10 ' probably won't pass!

just kidding--each airline is different in what they'll accept, but that seems small enough. I believe 24" was the limit last time I flew.

[radwriter0555]

8. They will x-ray it and possibly physically inspect it, so be prepared to

put it in the plastic tray for the machine to scan.

It's routine for them.

[maveric]

13. Will the X-Ray damage my CF (memory) chip?

Its a 1 GB and cost me $150.00.

[Lex]

15. My digital camera and PDA and videocamera all have those memory

chips and no Xray they've been through has damaged them in any way.

[maveric]

16. Good! I feel much better now.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. No.

Digital memory is not affected by Xrays. The photons are too low power to affect them permanently. If the camera is on, some one bit errors can occur to whatever picture is in active memory. But, if it's off, that shouldn't happen at all. (I knew i took all those grad courses in quantum theory for something.)

Computers are run through that machine all the time (mine goes through there 40 times a year) and i've never had any issues with my PC cards, or hard drive or anything.

Hope that helps.
The Professor

[MADem]

10. You may have to tear the thing down, but yes, you can n/t

[progressoid]

12. Yep, no problem

Photographer here - I ALWAYS carry on the expensive stuff and the rest goes underneath.

[TheProphetess]

14. Yes, they allow 1 carry-on bag plus 1 "personal" item

The personal item is usually described as a purse, laptop, briefcase, or other "smaller" bag.

I took a small carry-on plus a small camcorder bag with me a few years ago and I was one of the lucky ones to get searched at the gate (this was during the post-9/11 freak out). The security agent made me turn on the camcorder to show that it really did work and then he hit the record button and actually recorded me for a few seconds. I wasn't expecting this to happen and had a tape inside of my best friend's newborn baby (the whole reason I had been flying was to visit them). I was really pissed that he recorded over my tape of the baby, even though it was just a few seconds. Anything for security, I suppose. :mad:

[ProfessorGAC]

17. Yes They Are

You will probably have to remove them from your case and put them in those table-bussing pans like with a laptop. Then they'll get run through the X-Ray machine.

Certain types of films don't like the X-rays, but most are ok. They have a list right at the security posts as to what kinds of films might get messed up by the inspection.

I've seen people have the camera get hand-inspected so you might want to be prepared for an extra half-minute of waiting.

But, i've taken them on the plane. (Digital, though.)
The Professor

[DrDebug]

19. Just take what ever you want with you

The best flight was when a lady just discovered that you can't take fruit into the US so she started to share the apples and pears and all kinds of fruit with the people next to her which included me. That was many times better than the food which the airline serves.

What's the point of this. Well, there is none...

[GOPisEvil]

21. No, they're not allowed. Send your camera to me for safe-keeping.

I promise I'll treat it as if it were my own. :evilgrin:

[RagingInMiami]

22. You won't have a problem

I've been traveling with a Lowepro camera backpack on airplanes for years, before and after 9/11, and never have had a problem.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

23. We use an old

camcorder case to hold Mr. 'pede's camera and lenses and my "camera for dummies." He likes to have the bag hand-checked as he heard that going through the X-ray might etch the lenses.