DV tapes and airport scanners

[harmsway1976]

no doubt this has been asked here before, but i'll be flying to france in about a month and will have to take 6 flights total. i hadn't even thought about this topic until today, but i'm taking my minidv cam and about 40 tapes. is there any danger of the content on teh tapes being screwed up from going through the baggage scanner?

[daamon]

Hi harmsway1976,

I've taken my DV cam on flights on a number of times and never had any problems.

Disclaimer: If it does f*** up, don't blame me

[redwudz]

The level of magnetism is very low in those type of scanners. Xrays don't really bother tapes with the equipment they use.

There is always a very small risk, I would put them in carry on and ask for hand inspection if possible.

I would be more worried about them thinking you are smuggling illegal video tapes.

Actually, it's probably best to call the airlines and ask them what would be the best and safest way to transport video tapes through airline security.

I've put my mini voice recorder through quite a few airline scanners, both luggage and carry on and never had any problems.

[tonydead]

Agree, very very small risk to tapes, floppies, and high speed film. No danger to any other digital data. Your risk at loosing something is greater getting it hand searched and dropping/misplacing something.

[tonydead]

The hand held personnal scanners are magnetically more powerful. Don't forget and leave your high speed film role in your pocket.

[thecoalman]

The simple solution, don't take them on the plane. Fedex them to yourself.

[cpotoso]

No problems with x-rays and magnetic media. Magnetic scanners (like the ones used to scan your body) *may* damage the recording bits (but I seriously doubt it). BTW: I am a physicist.

[harmsway1976]

thanks for the replies. i knew the risk was pretty low, but it's always good to get some personal input from others with experience. this will be my first time flying, so i'm a complete noob when it comes to everything regarding airports. for carry on bags do they run them through a scanner typically, or do most airports allow you to have them hand searched? what i'll do is get a good sized camera bag and fit as many of the tapes in there as i can and split most of the rest between mine and my wife's carry on. i know the number of tapes i'm taking is probably excessive, but this is a once in a lifetime trip for me, so i don't want to risk missing anything. to make some of you jealous i'm going to paris for 6 days for free as a chaperone on a high school trip. round trip airfare, hotel, and 2 meals a day and all i had to do was pay for a passport. not a bad deal, eh? that's why i said it's a once in a lifetime chance.

[daamon]

Carry on bags typically go through a scanner. I don't see a problem with aslking for hand searches, if you explain why they should be OK. I don't if, on the return trip, the French authorities will be quite so caring / understanding / accommodating - my experience is they're quite aloof and dismissive.

Their attitude is "Even if I can speak English, why should I? I'm in France, I'll speak French and expect you to do so too."

Enjoy the trip, and take loads of money - Paris is very expensive, especially in the tourist areas. Even the price of a coffee is extortionate!

A few tips for your first flight:

1. Get there early and get a window seat.

2. If possible, get a seat that's next to an emergency exit - nothing to do with saving your own arse first - you get more leg room.

3. As you're climbing, regularly clear your ears so they can adjust to the pressure change. If left, it can get painful. Holding your nose and blowing (with your mouth shut) is one technique. Sucking a hard boiled sweet is another.

Same applies to landing.

4. If you hear any strange noises, particularly clunking or whirring, ignore them - it's the undercarriage and the flaps being retracted or deployed.

Unless of course the cabin crew look worried too.

5. If you're gonna film out of the window, make sure the camera is set so as not to focus on it's own reflection - blurry pictures of what you're really after.

6. Read up on DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and how to avert it's possible occurrence. Exercises and walking around also make you more comfortable during the flight.

7. Though unlikely post 9/11, see if you can visit the flight deck. Awesome!!!

[harmsway1976]

awesome. thanks a bunch for the good info. we will bring a decent amount of money and a newly paid off credit card. everything except one meal a day is paid for, so it will cost us significantly less than a normal trip.

i've also been told that chewing gum while making the ascent helps with your ears popping.

a good tip a friend gave about luggage is since my wife and i will both have a bag we should split our clothes between the 2 bags in the unlikely event that a bag gets lost. we were also told to bring a change of clothes and fresh underwear in our carry on in case we get stuck with no bag for a couple days.

i thought of something after the other replies. i said i'd be taking about 40 tapes which i know is excessive, but i want to make damn sure i don't miss anything. i'll also be taking two 6 hour batteries and two 2 hour batteries. will it look suspicious that i have that many tapes and batteries? on the way there all but a few of the tapes will still be sealed, so it should seem highly unlikely that i'd have anything except a videotape in teh packaging.

[daamon]

i thought of something after the other replies. i said i'd be taking about 40 tapes which i know is excessive, but i want to make damn sure i don't miss anything. i'll also be taking two 6 hour batteries and two 2 hour batteries. will it look suspicious that i have that many tapes and batteries?

I wouldn't have thought so. I'd say you'll be OK.

[tonydead]

BTW: I am a physicist.

Congradulations.

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning.
/ Moderator lordsmurf

[tonydead]

we were also told to bring a change of clothes and fresh underwear

Thank God!

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. BEHAVE!
/ Moderator lordsmurf

[tonydead]

i said i'd be taking about 40 tapes which i know is excessive, but i want to make damn sure i don't miss anything. i'll also be taking two 6 hour batteries and two 2 hour batteries. will it look suspicious that i have that many tapes and batteries?

Just buy a digital cam recorder for christ sakes. For all the trouble?

[lordsmurf]

For the record, a "digital cam recorder", or more properly a DV camera, still uses DV tapes to store information.

Back on topic, X-RAY is a VISUAL form of scanning. Data on tapes is MAGNETIC. You only need worry about FILM. Use a lead bag, visit any pro camera store. If you're feeling especially scared, put your tapes in the lead bag, and have the airport security hand-check the item. Never put tapes/film in suitcases, take it in carry-on.

Airport employees are usually stupid when it comes to film. ISO 200 and higher is technically "high speed" film, and is very easily damaged by an x-ray. Slide is also easily damaged. Lead bag it.

[guns1inger]

Another safe flying tip - if you stop off in kuala lumpur, and are approaching customs amongst all the 'smuggling drugs gets the death penalty' posters, for god sake do not say, out loud (and in an Australian accent) "Gee, you wouldn't want to get caught carrying any drugs in your luggage". If any of your party do this, keep a safe distance from them and pretend you don't know them. You don't all need to have an extended session with the lovely men from malaysian customs.

(not a slur on the country - had a great time there - I guess every group has it's moron)

[INFRATOM]

Don't worry just see what happens, I have gone to Paris before a lot and I have had very sensitive high speed films with me I could never reason with French airport police to hand check and my films mostly got a pinkish tint but now in digital era it may not be effected much there are some magnetic gates at airport and metro entrances but your main concern in traveling should be from pick pockets and thieves. Don't put any video equipment or expensive stuff in your luggage always use carry on with you , in Paris Don't let those gypsy begger children get close to you they are very sticky if they touch you consider your walet or precious things gone! in metro watch for pick pockets, don't look like tourist and look around joyful and aimless if someone bump in to you or press against you again consider walet passport money gone keep photos of your docs somewhere else and keep the list of credit cards you carry with you. Worrying about these are more important than other stuff. Bon Voyage and good luck.

[harmsway1976]

[quote="lordsmurf"]Back on topic, X-RAY is a VISUAL form of scanning. Data on tapes is MAGNETIC. You only need worry about FILM. Use a lead bag, visit any pro camera store. If you're feeling especially scared, put your tapes in the lead bag, and have the airport security hand-check the item. Never put tapes/film in suitcases, take it in carry-on.[quote]

i dount that i'll need to go to that extreme. i'm not terrified of anything happening. i was just wondering if i should have any concerns. thousands of people go through this every day, so i don't think i have a lot to worry about. i'll put all my tapes and cameras carry on and our camera is digital, so i won't need to worry about film.

[harmsway1976]

Don't worry just see what happens, I have gone to Paris before a lot and I have had very sensitive high speed films with me I could never reason with French airport police to hand check and my films mostly got a pinkish tint but now in digital era it may not be effected much there are some magnetic gates at airport and metro entrances but your main concern in traveling should be from pick pockets and thieves. Don't put any video equipment or expensive stuff in your luggage always use carry on with you , in Paris Don't let those gypsy begger children get close to you they are very sticky if they touch you consider your walet or precious things gone! in metro watch for pick pockets, don't look like tourist and look around joyful and aimless if someone bump in to you or press against you again consider walet passport money gone keep photos of your docs somewhere else and keep the list of credit cards you carry with you. Worrying about these are more important than other stuff. Bon Voyage and good luck.

all the important stuff will be in carry on. we'll be there 6 days. 4 days we'll be with an Explorca guided tour from the start to the finish of the day. one day we'll be in Disneyworld and the other day is free.

as far as pickpocketing goes we'll have those things that go around your neck and hold cards and money. i forget what they're called. my camera is my baby so i'll have it clutched tightly all the time. i'll also use a trick my dad tought me long ago that i've employed many times. it may sound a little nasty, but if you put most of your money in your shoe under your foot it stays pretty safe. you can always slip in teh rstroom if you need to take some out.

[edDV]

Your tapes are safer if you carry them on.

The checked luggage scanners are much higher power and use various detection technologies some of which may damage the tapes. Best to keep the tapes under your control.