Questions about my cameras

[Kim1964]

OK, guys, 4 days until we go to the World. This will be my first time taking a camera with me. I'm taking my digital and 2 memory cards. I also bought a disposable, waterproof camera that has film in it to take to Blizzard Beach. Will the memory cards be OK going through airport security both ways? How about the disposable camera? I was actually thinking I'd pack the disposable in the suitcase on the way, and bring it carry on for the return trip.

Now that I have this great scrapping hobby, I don't want to come home with no photos!

 

[Faerie]

Carry on all cameras! Film even more so than memory cards since the film will be damaged by the powerful x-ray used on the bags.

 

[KerTggr]

I agree that it is best to carry everything on. You should be fine with your memory cards & digital camera going through the x-ray machine. However, if your disposable is any higher than 400 speed, you should have the security people hand check it. (They just look at the camera to make sure it's a camera.) A few years back, before digital took off, my friend had a bunch of film from a vacation that was 800 and it went through the security x-ray. It all came out overexposed and blochy or completely ruined!

 

[New England Eeyore]

Carry on your digital - you don't want to take any chance of that getting lost! The security won't affect the memory cards.

The disposable camera is fine in your checked luggage before you use it. Once you've used it, they tell you that undeveloped film should never be checked because the X-rays for checked luggage will damage film while the carry-on X-ray machines are fine except for high speed film (although I have had 800 speed film go through the carry-on machines with no problem.)

I'm not recommending this, but just sharing my story - for my last trip I completely forgot about that rule since it's been awhile since I've traveled with film. I had a waterproof disposable and one disposable for DsD (that was 800 speed film) that I just tossed in the suitcase. When I got home, I thought for sure they'd be ruined but when I developed them both turned out fine. Maybe they didn't x-ray our luggage for that trip, I don't know!