Realist and airport security

[Derek Gee <73157.2172@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter wrote:
>Have any of you had any trouble getting a Realist camera through
>airport security in the U.S.?  I'm going to be taking mine on its
>first cross-country trip this week, and I wondered if I need to take
>any precautions.  I've had no problems having my SLR inspected by hand
>in the past, but the Realist is old and "strange" looking, and I
>thought it might arouse some suspicion from stereo-ignorant security
>guards.   Also, with the SLR, they insist on looking through the
>viewfinder to verify that the device in indeed a camera (as if that
>proved anything!), and I'm not sure the Realist viewfinder would have
>the same effect.  Since I have film in the camera, I don't want to
>open it up.
>
>On the other hand, will Kodachrome 64 react to the X-rays at all, or
>should I just put the thing on the conveyer belt and let them scan it?

Funny you should ask that.  Yes, I've had several instances of airport
inspectors delaying me because they did not know what they were
looking at.  I keep my film in a cyclindrical, lead-lined carrier that
shows up as solid on the X-ray monitor.  If you pack that in the same
bag as your Revere, the guard thinks you have a weapon.  They will then
search everything.  These encounters have lead to my travel rules:

1)  Keep your camera seperate from the luggage.  If they see the
    camera in a case going through the X-ray machine they seem to
    more readily identify it as a camera.

2)  Keep your lead-lined film carrier with your checked luggage.
    I only carry a roll or two of low-speed film in my accessory pouch and
    put the rest in my checked baggage until I reach my destination.

Low-speed film such as Kodachrome 64 will not be affected by the
X-Ray machines in the US.  I usually let them X-ray in camera if
the speed is less than 200, although I have heard 400 will go
through OK.  I use my lead-lined carrier as much as possible
to avoid any problems.  I've carried my SLR through the
security and never once had anyone examine it to "verify"
it was a camera.  Hope this helps...
                           
                            Derek Gee


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