I am planning on taking my FX1 on several flights during a trip next month. I will be carrying it on board with me. Checking it in a case is not a practical option for this trip. Has anyone ran into problems taking this larger camera through security and on board a plane?

The only reason I ask this question is that at some airports, there are signs at the security checkpoints that say that broadcast cameras are not permitted as carry-ons. I've been able to take smaller cameras on planes with me, but since the FX1 is fairly large I'm concerned that the security staff may think differently about it.

I carried my Z1U with me on a recent domestic flight. I had the lens shroud and viewfinder removed so it packed into a smaller soft bag that stowed under the seat. I had no security issues per se, except they did make me remove the cam from the bag and run it through the xray.

In the last two months I have traveled from the Uk to North and South America and Africa (10 different flights in all) with my Z1+ accesories in a Petrol wheelie case designed for it. No problems whatsoever taking it as hand luugage.

I've traveled with my Z1 domestically and internationally and no problem whatsoever. At all the checkpoints in the US they've asked everyone to remove camcorders and computers from carry-on bags and send them through in a plastic tray. If they aren't allowing "broadcast" cameras then it's probably on the assumption they're too large to fit into one of those trays. So it's probably the size and not the video quality that they're concerned with.

except they did make me remove the cam from the bag and run it through the xray.
A local production company here in town shot a music video then took the film to Vancouver to have it edited. The x-ray scanner things ruined the film and they ended up having to reshoot everything. I don't know if tape would react the exact same way but I'd be careful.

A local production company here in town shot a music video then took the film to Vancouver to have it edited. The x-ray scanner things ruined the film and they ended up having to reshoot everything. I don't know if tape would react the exact same way but I'd be careful.

Everytime I've had to go through security they've asked if I had any film in any of the bags that were going through the x-ray scanners. Make sure you have the tapes out and they always omit them from the x-ray scans.

This has been discussed extensively in the tape forum:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=51553&highlight=xray
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=7592&highlight=xray
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=12821&highlight=xray

FWIW, my tapes did go through the xray scanners, but no problems.

FWIW, my tapes did go through the xray scanners, but no problems.


I took it only on domestic flights so far, I use a non hard case from Sony. No problems. For your tape its okay in the xray machine but not the big xray machine the CTX ones.

As I film a lot of flying and all related, I run my camera with tapes and stuff through the X-ray all the time, sometimes even several times a week and nothing has happened so far. I think it's safe.

Just have to remove it from the case for the X-ray thing-a-ma-bob. I've flown 3 times with it in the past month. No problems yet.

Make sure you have the tapes out and they always omit them from the x-ray scans.


This is not always the case, Flying back from my brother's wedding in Portland,OR they forced me to put my tapes through.

I knew the risk was low, but I had filmed my brother's wedding and didn't want to take the chance, but the security guy and his superior were not very nice about it. I had no problem flying out of Burbank, they checked each tape by hand.

I've taken this camera on well over 100 commercial flights including 6 international round trips. I travel it in a Petrol case. I always try to simply open the case all the way and let the camera ride through in the case- this works about 40% of the time. I always ask the TSA person to please catch my video camera before it goes bouncing along down the belt.

The case fits in all overhead bins except the CRJs- but it will fit under the seat in front of you- but you have to open the black handles.

Traveled over Canada, and most of South East Asia with my FX1. Never a problem. Sometimes they make you put the tapes through (guess for drug stashes in them as a possibility). Other times they don't. As long as the bag is within required dimensions. You'll do alright.