Airport Security Machines

[MerHearted]

I know the baggage x-ray machines in airports do damage to regular unused film. But do they damage digital memory cards in any way?

 

[cloudboy]

The high powered ones for the checked luggage are capable of doing that, but it is also possible that they will not. I would not risk it, myself.

The regular scanners for the carry-on (lower powered), for the most part will not. Send it through a few too many times and it will, unfortunately, but for the most part, you can put them through the belt.

 

[Erika]

I take them out and put them in my pocket, just to be safe. So far I have not had any problems.

 

[SirNim]

Just leave it in carry-on luggage. It won't be damaged... Mine hasn't (yet)... :lookaroun

 

[PhotoDave219]

No Vince, They don't affect memory cards at all, all of mine were fine every time ive flown.
Just make sure the camera is off and the card is out of the camera. If you still have worries, have em hand search it... of course they hand searched my camera bag but thats pretty much a given these days.

 

[MerHearted]

Thanks for the advice. When I went to Florida last year, I kept my film in my carry-on bag. So I guess I'll do the same with my memory cards when I go to California.

 

[The_CEO]

Just leave it in carry-on luggage. It won't be damaged... Mine hasn't (yet)... :lookaroun

Ditto mine hasn't ever.

 

[Al]

I always carry mine in my hand luggage and have never had any problems.

 

[Erika]

No Vince, They don't affect memory cards at all, all of mine were fine every time ive flown.
Just make sure the camera is off and the card is out of the camera. .

If the card is in the camera, can it get erased? I've had a couple of patients tell me that theirs were wiped going through security. That's why I keep mine in my pocket, just in case.

 

[cloudboy]

Unless the scanner is really low you will most likely have to take it out of your pocket - it will set off the alarm otherwise. Unless you have it pretty burried in there.

It doesn't matter so much if it is in the camera or not. It is more about how many times it is expossed to it, and how old the card is. I think the older cards were more susceptible to it. For the most part, if you are just going through once, you shouldn't have a problem. It's the people who for one reason or anothre are going through a couple of times that have problems.

 

[Erika]

Unless the scanner is really low you will most likely have to take it out of your pocket - it will set off the alarm otherwise. Unless you have it pretty burried in there.

It doesn't matter so much if it is in the camera or not. It is more about how many times it is expossed to it, and how old the card is. I think the older cards were more susceptible to it. For the most part, if you are just going through once, you shouldn't have a problem. It's the people who for one reason or anothre are going through a couple of times that have problems.

Good to know, thanks!! I had not even thought about the age of the card being a factor.

No problems thus far with setting off any scanners. But I will definitely keep that in mind. It's probably just as easy to hand it over to the security personnel.