Digital Focus: Traveling With Your Digital Camera

Feature: Vacation With a Digital Camera

Now that both school and the sun are out, our thoughts invariably turn to summer vacation. With luck, you've scheduled a week or two of downtime, which means you can hop on a plane and jet off somewhere for some well-deserved leisure. No matter where you go, though, be sure to pack your digital camera.

If you've ever traveled with a 35mm camera, you know about some of the hassles of traveling with photo gear. The prognosis for digital is mixed: It's better, and it's worse.

Radiation Woes

Digital cameras tend to be smaller and more rugged, so they pack more easily. You don't have to worry about damage from X-rays, either.

Since September 11, security systems at airports have been upgraded, and that means higher doses of radiation for baggage. That's bad news for 35mm film, which can cloud over when hit by X-rays. The Transportation Security Administration's official position is that the radiation exposures are not harmful to film below ISO 800. Some trips involve repeated exposures at multiple airports, however, which could add up to ruined vacation photos. It's your right to ask for a hand check; but good luck with that one! In my experience, many security guards are unwilling to perform hand checks, and some screeners--such as at airports overseas--don't speak English. Hand checks there are virtually impossible.

But if you've got a digital camera, you're in luck. Digital cameras and memory cards are unaffected by the metal detectors and X-rays used at airports. You can pack memory cards in your carry-on or your checked baggage and not worry about damage in transit. That's quite a relief when you're traveling with 100 once-in-a-lifetime images.

One caveat: Think twice before you send CompactFlash media by mail. The CompactFlash Association warns that that mailing the cards can result in permanent damage from the irradiation process used by the U.S. Postal Service to sanitize the mail.

Security Concerns

But just because you don't have to worry about X-rays doesn't mean you're out of the woods. Not yet. When you travel with a digital camera, be prepared to demonstrate that it works. The more exotic and less camera-like it is in appearance, the more likely a security guard may ask you to turn it on and take a picture with it.

It's a good idea to take your camera's batteries out when you pack it, especially if you place it in checked luggage--otherwise, jostling in transit can accidentally turn on your camera, draining its batteries. It's okay to put the batteries nearby; I pack batteries in plastic bags near the camera so they're easy to access.

Finally, remember that security screeners now have authority to open your luggage behind closed doors, even when you're not present. These examinations may eventually be videotaped; for now, however, such invasions of privacy are not monitored. Be sure you write down the serial number of your digital camera and know exactly what you put in checked luggage--camera, accessories, memory cards, and so on. As a diver, I've already heard stories about expensive gear disappearing on some international flights, so it pays to be careful with your camera as well.