Heading to Mexico - Gear ?

[bmattock]

My wife and I visited Cancun in 2003. We had no problem bringing in my rolling suitcase with seven camera bodies. However, I declared it, as that was the law as I understood it. They pulled me aside, asked me questions about the cameras and how I planned to use them, and then let me go. That was it. It was also WAY too many cameras. I did a horrible job at Chichen Itza because I carried way too much stuff. I learned.

That area is VERY VERY HOT and VERY VERY HUMID all the time. You get worn out quickly.

If I had a chance to go again, I'd take a single small rangefinder, probably a fixed-lens (my Oly RC was perfect) and an SLR for zoom-lens stuff. Lots of slide film. Don't forget the polarizer, the skies are WAY full of glare, as are the water and beaches. And an ND grad or two would not go amiss on an SLR. But under no circumstances would I take more than two cameras again. What a mistake!

Have fun!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[etrevino]

In any case... I'd be really screwed. When I travel on vacation, I only go with my wife (we're DINKs: double income, no kids). And she takes her own camera! 🙁 I guess I'll have to plan any trip to Mexico with this regulations in mind.

Eduardo... can they really confiscate a camera? Just wondering...

Francisco, the fine for bringing things without declaration can be anywhere from 80% to 120% of the value of the undeclared merchandise. The merchandise, baggage and car (if arriving by land) might be impounded temporarily to guarantee the payment of the fine but they're not confiscated if the fine is paid. The merchandise can be given away to the government as payment for part of the fine, but this is optional.

These draconian fines and measures are in place because it's so easy to smuggle things from the U.S. into Mexico, it's just a matter of putting them in the car trunk and that's it. Keep in mind that this is by far the busiest border in the world so authorities at both sides can't stop every car for inspection.

At all points of entry and about 15 miles from the border there's a traffic light which randomly lights the "green" or the "red" signal. Green means go ahead without stopping and no customs officer will bother you. Red means they'll check what you're bringing in and it's better that they don't find anything significant besides your baggage and personal exemption. So the heavy fines discourage us from playing roulette with the "semaforo fiscal" as the random traffic-light device is called.

Nonmexicans have to stop for some immigration paperwork and car permits, though, when traveling beyond the border cities.

Fortunately it seems that customs officers don't have much of a problem with foreign tourists who reasonably won't leave their cameras here. Just keep in mind that if you bring a lot of cameras you should tell the officer, like Bill did, to avoid any trouble. Probably that should be done when entering any country.

Eduardo

 

[Kevin]

If I had a chance to go again, I'd take a single small rangefinder, probably a fixed-lens (my Oly RC was perfect) ...

That is exactly what I did on my trip to Mexico. I brought my Hexar AF, flash and a few filters. +Film. That was it.

In Oaxaca a small minilab even sells b&w film from Ilford and Kodak.

Too much gear and you might not enjoy as much the trip -- lying in the sand, jumping into the refreshing tide, coming out for a beer, etc. If you have to constantly watch your gear our of fear of theft, you will be chained to it.

One camera is my recommendation. A fixed-lens or a cheaper rf with 2 lenses, a user is best.

Kevin

 

[Jungle Jim]

You will have a fun trip, Fredus. My wife and I did the pyramids tour in the Yucatan in October 2004. Flew into the city of Merida in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Had a Canon 1n body, a 28mm wide angle, and a 100mm lens. This was before my coversion to Leica! No problem with customs when we flew in. They were more concerned with any fruits you might have. All baggage had to be put through an xray machine (low intensity) before you cleared the customs area. They would not accept hand inspection of film but I was shooting low speed Provia 100F so it wasn't a problem. Be sure to bring rain gear because there were lots of sudden thundershowers in the afternoon.

Before you leave the US, go to US Customs and register your camera gear using Customs Form 4457. Anything you take out of country with a serial number on it can be registered. They will verify the gear and sign the form to show proof that you had your Leica equipment before leaving the US. Attach the form to your passport! When you return to the US, no problems as to ownership. If your Leicas get stolen (heaven forbid), the Customs form is accepted by Insurance companies as proof you had ownership of the missing equipment.

Be aware that the Yucatan is very humid so everytime you move from an air conditioned hotel/car to the outside, your equipment and lens will get fogged. Carry a cleaning cloth with you to wipe down your equipment.

Coba has the Pyramid of Magicians, which is still mainly jungle. Not too many tourists go there but it is beautiful. About 1 and a half hours by bus from Tulum. Chichen Itza is the most touristy but also the best site. Be sure to hook up with one of the tour guides to get the most information out of the Pyramids there. Wide angle lens are good if you are able to go inside the main pyramid (dark and very cramped passageways.) Tulum is very compact, with lots of cloudbursts in the afternoon.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

IMHO, it would be better to go to some other South American bean eating country. If Mexico makes it difficult to visit then do not go there. Instead go down to Costa Rica. I hear they just want you to come there and have a good time while spending lots of dollars and no pesky importation laws that are only there to rob the tourist before the street criminals get a go.

That's nice, egpj. I'd say something, pero nosotros los disque-come-frijoles somos mas decentes. I like Franklin, he said something about people living in crystal houses.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Eduardo... can they really confiscate a camera? Just wondering...

That mostly applies to Mexican citizens, and it's a law designed to crack down on illegal contraband, such as that that is meant to circumvent paying duty fees and such (like people like to do when they purchase from eBay and ask the seller to low-ball the purchase price when shipped internationally). If you're a tourist, they are not going to do anything. I've travelled with some rather expensive gear into Mexico, and they couldn't have cared less.

 

[egpj]

Ave Maria, yo vives aqui como 6 mesas del año. ¿Me ofendí? A mi no importa Mexico y especialmente cuando los ladrones trabajar en esso jodedo aduana! Lo siento que yo ofendi pero por favor. Mejor el visitar a Colombia y nos otros tiene un gringo para secuestre.

 

[Roger Hicks]

IMHO, it would be better to go to some other South American bean eating country. .

That's what I love about this forum. The multicultural, intellectual approach. And the opinion: as the writer said, so humble.

Cheers,

Rpger

 

[egpj]

Of course I'm being obtuse. :angel:

 

[bmattock]

Before you leave the US, go to US Customs and register your camera gear using Customs Form 4457. Anything you take out of country with a serial number on it can be registered. They will verify the gear and sign the form to show proof that you had your Leica equipment before leaving the US. Attach the form to your passport! When you return to the US, no problems as to ownership.

I agree, and I went to my Albuquerque Customs sub-station when I was living there and going to Cancun. The Customs agent flatly refused to give me a form 4457, told me I didn't need one, and then hung up on me when I called from home later on. There was no 'supervisor' to report him to - he was it. He told me I wouldn't need one. I didn't.

However, the rules do say you need one. Well, do what you can, I guess.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Doug]

We did the Form 4457 when heading out to Spain, and I gathered from the response at the Customs counter that this was a little unusual. So I filled in serial numbers for everything that had one, hearing aids included, already feeling hurried and harried in the airport. But I think showing that form smoothed things upon re-entry to the US.

 

[etrevino]

This is the webpage where you can find more about that form 4457:
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing_goods/certificate_of_registration.xml
There's a link to a PDF copy of the form, so maybe you can print your own or at least you have the opportunity of looking at the form so you know in advance what to write down...

Eduardo

 

[Doug]

Thanks for the link, Eduardo!

 

[peter_n]

Anybody figure out how to create fields on that form so that you can type in it and save the file? I've had it for a while and Acrobat won't edit it.

Looks to me like the form is secure so I'm wondering if there's an unlocked version someplace.

 

[Doug]

Anybody figure out how to create fields on that form so that you can type in it and save the file? I've had it for a while and Acrobat won't edit it.

Hi, Peter -- I just used the .pdf form as a background graphic and overlay the text... First I did it in Photoshop, then Illustrator, then Adobe's page layout program InDesign, then I created a FileMaker database with text fields on top of the background form. This last might be useful if your travel involves taking different packages of gear to different destinations repeatedly (though you can apparently re-use the form as long as it's legible.) So it can be done in various ways depending on your preferences and software. But probably the simplest way to use it would be to print out the .pdf and fill in the blanks by hand! 😀

 

[Bill58]

A 9/ 40 mm pistol and a disposable camera.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

A 9/ 40 mm pistol and a disposable camera.

So that's why Mexico has been having gun problems since 1994; wiseasses bringing them in from abroad. It is anticonstitutional for civilians to own anything like that in Mexico, btw.

 

[ch1]

Hi there,

Ok, My M6 is back from Sherry. She repaired the shutter curtain which was burnt and did a CLA. I should be ok for a few years 🙂 I'm heading to Mexico on Saturday and I'm scratching my head to find out what I'm going to take ... We're going to Tulum, 1 hour south of Cancun. Will be mainly landcape photography, ruins, portrait of my daughter and local people ... This is what I have available

- M6TTL - M3 - Canonet QL17 - Bessa L

- 15mm Heliar - VC 28mm f/3.5 - Summicron 35 - Summicron 50 - Nokton 50 - Tele-Elmarit 90

I shoot color (Reala 100, NPH 400 and Royal 400) and B&W (mainly Neopan) ... So was thinking 2 body probably M6 and M3 and 28, summicron 50 and TE 90.

Any tips ? Idea ?

Sorry if this is a boring thread. I'm at work thinking about that 🙂 Wanted to share.

Fred

I'd take the M6 and the Bessa. If either gets "damaged" you still have some good cameras "back home".

I'd figure more Reala than Neopan.

You're in pretty picture land - forget the B&W of the "grey latitiudes"

Good luck - send pics - have a great time!!!

George
copake_ham

 

[Bryan Lee]

Standard 35mm carry gear, 2 rangefinder bodys, A fast 35mm lense and a normal 35mm lense, A 75mm lense, A little digital light meter, spare batteries, cleaner, film picker, and lots of film. At times when nessecery a SLR body with a 180mm lense.

 

[Bill58]

Foreigners bringing guns into Mex? hahahahaha. They already had enough to equip the US Army BEFORE 1994. Maybe you ought to pay attention to the no. of people kidnapped (about 12,000) a year just in Mecico City alone as reported by the Discovery Channel recently and the thriving armored car business there. The only place worse for crime/ personal safety is maybe Africa.

Since you won't believe that crime there is out of sight there, maybe you should let me take out a $10.0 M life insurance policy on you, then you go strolling thru Mex w/ a Leica... or a disposable Kodak around your neck and I'll soon be a happy, rich man.

Where do you live anyway, New York or in some tree?

Wake up or die.