Flying with the FX1 at DVinfo.net

Dan Robinson · January 24th, 2006, 11:09 PM

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.

Tom Roper · January 25th, 2006, 12:04 AM

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.

Mick Jenner · January 25th, 2006, 02:33 AM

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.

Boyd Ostroff · January 25th, 2006, 07:20 AM

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.

Mark Utley · January 25th, 2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Roper

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.

Chad Huntley · January 25th, 2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Utley

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.

Boyd Ostroff · January 25th, 2006, 12:59 PM

This has been discussed extensively in the tape forum:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray

Tom Roper · January 25th, 2006, 01:28 PM

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

Fred Foronda · January 25th, 2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Roper

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.

Georg Liigand · January 25th, 2006, 05:10 PM

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.

Ben Bixby · January 25th, 2006, 08:23 PM

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.

John McGinley · January 25th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Huntley

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.

Mike Tiffee · January 26th, 2006, 12:53 AM

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.

Sean Hansen · January 26th, 2006, 07:45 PM

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.

January 24th, 2006, 11:09 PM	#1
Dan Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, West Virginia Posts: 131	Flying with the FX1 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.

January 25th, 2006, 08:23 PM	#11
Ben Bixby Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 75	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. __________________ Ben Bixby benbixby@mac.com

January 26th, 2006, 07:45 PM	#14
Sean Hansen Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 50	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. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sean Hansen CMProductions http://pages.infinit.net/cybrmonk/ Montreal, Quebec ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 25th, 2006, 12:04 AM	#2
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	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.

January 25th, 2006, 02:33 AM	#3
Mick Jenner Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Sussex England Posts: 843	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.

January 25th, 2006, 07:20 AM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	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.

January 25th, 2006, 12:59 PM	#7
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	This has been discussed extensively in the tape forum: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...highlight=xray

January 25th, 2006, 01:28 PM	#8
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	FWIW, my tapes did go through the xray scanners, but no problems.

January 25th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#10
Georg Liigand Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Estonia Posts: 214	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.

January 26th, 2006, 12:53 AM	#13
Mike Tiffee Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 150	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.