airport x rays

mattvillano · Dec 7, 2004

I'm going to be taking a trip soon and I haven't been on a plane in a while and I've never taken photo equipment as carry on (which I definately plan on doing). I know I have to protect film from the xray checks but what about the digital equipment, can xrays damage the sensors or memory cards?

DocFrankenstein · Dec 7, 2004

No the xrays can't damage the sensor or memore cards.

mrsid99 · Dec 7, 2004

DocFrankenstein said:
No the xrays can't damage the sensor or memore cards.

It is possible but very unlikely.
X-rays won't damage a sensor but they can change the state of cells in a memory card which might cause an odd pixel error in a stored image.
There's also a faint possibility the camera firmware which controls the camera function could be corrupted but again very unlikely.
For reference, I've taken my 10D through many airports with no problems.

DocFrankenstein · Dec 8, 2004

Well... theoretically, the micropocessors and memory cards could be permanently affected and even damaged by the radiation particles.

But it's not very probable.

Cheers

mrsid99 · Dec 8, 2004

DocFrankenstein said:
Well... theoretically, the micropocessors and memory cards could be permanently affected and even damaged by the radiation particles.

But it's not very probable.

Cheers

Gotta disagree again.
Changing the charge in a memory cell is quite possible with x-rays (I've seen it happen) but permanent damage is another story.
Beta radiation (x-rays) at the levels generated by x-ray machines just doesn't have the energy to displace enough large molecules to cause permanent damage, unless of course the damage is generated by secondary effects such as could occur with firmware changes. By this I mean such things as uncontrolled shutter operation possibly causing mechanical damage.

airgunr · Dec 8, 2004

From practical experience.

I took my Nikon F5, Sony DSC-V1 w/1 gig & 256 meg sticks, Sony TRV-??(forgot the numer) MiniDVD Camcorder w/8 128meg sticks to Spain last February.

All of them when through at least 4 airport x-ray machines and at least 8 or more in various museums, rail stations and other tourist type places.

Neither the film or the memory sticks suffered any ill effects. The film was mostly 200 to 400 ISO.

mad_malteaser · Dec 8, 2004

Personally, I've taken my digital camera through airports lots of times and never had a problem. For me, the biggest problem was waiting while they opened it up and checked it. They spend more time looking at the pictures you've already taken as part of their security checks! :lol:

DocFrankenstein · Dec 8, 2004

mrsid99 said:
Gotta disagree again.

You like disagreeing don't you?

You're probably a nikon fan too, eh? :lol:

walter23 · Dec 8, 2004

mad_malteaser said:
Personally, I've taken my digital camera through airports lots of times and never had a problem. For me, the biggest problem was waiting while they opened it up and checked it. They spend more time looking at the pictures you've already taken as part of their security checks!

I'll have to remember to photograph my anus next time I catch a flight with a digital camera..

mad_malteaser · Dec 8, 2004

walter23 said:
mad_malteaser said:

Personally, I've taken my digital camera through airports lots of times and never had a problem. For me, the biggest problem was waiting while they opened it up and checked it. They spend more time looking at the pictures you've already taken as part of their security checks!

Click to expand...

I'll have to remember to photograph my anus next time I catch a flight with a digital camera..

Oh to see the look on the security person's face when they see that one!

Nikon Fan · Dec 8, 2004

I'll be taking a trip soon as well in January, but dont' have digital. I thought that nowadays they MADE you put your film in checked luggage. Anyway I'm planning on carrying on the camera and other stuff, just not the film...unless it's possible to do so without it ruining. Is it????