SD Cards and Airport Screeners

[Philinflash]

Thank God digital photogs don't have to worry about airport departure lounge fogging their high-ISO film! But what about SD cards? They seem to pass fine in one's carry-on luggage.

Does anyone have experience going through the "metal detectors" on departure with SD cards ON THEIR BODIES? Like, in your pocket? Does it set off the alarms? Subject you to a full body strip search?? Get you re-routed to Guantanamo Bay? Any sensitivities on quantities of SD cards?

Philip

 

[anselwannab]

I'd minimize the other metal that I had on my body, plus maybe keep them in a shirt pocket so you can take them out easily and put them in a tray if need be.

My belt never trips it, and glasses usually don't either.

X-ray machines can hurt SD cards?

That's why I shoot film with reloadable plastic film contianers. No problem with a few rolls like that.

Mark

 

[kaiyen]

x-ray machines can't hurt SC cards. And why bother putting them in your pocket? Do you carry all of your camera equipment through the metal detector?

allan

 

[georgefspencer]

x-ray machines can't hurt SC cards. And why bother putting them in your pocket? Do you carry all of your camera equipment through the metal detector?

allan

Allan is right. x-ray machines aren't going to hurt your SC cards. My cards are in my camera bag. My camera bag and computer go through the x-ray machine.

I've been through dozens of airport screenings in the last few years. I've never had a problem with an SC card.

 

[RML]

Dunno. They never set off any bells when I was carrying them but who knows what may happen in the future. The scanners will not hurt your cards or the data on them.

 

[furcafe]

X-rays don't harm SD/CF cards, but I've read of concern that the magnetometers could, @ least theoretically.

x-ray machines can't hurt SC cards. And why bother putting them in your pocket? Do you carry all of your camera equipment through the metal detector?

allan

 

[Philinflash]

Sorry, but I certainly did not mean to imply that screening machines "harmed" SD (or CF) cards; I don't believe they do.

The reason I would want to carry the SD cards on my body is that I am concerned about losing them in those brief seconds when my hand luggage is out of my control. It is a well-known scan for thugs to pick up other people's hand luggage on the out-end of the magnatometer belt whilst the true owner is delayed going through. It may be one thing to lose my laptop and brief case and it may be another thing to lose the content on my storage cards. I am sure you can appreciate that.

My concern was whether or not their presence on my body would set off alarms going through the metal detector. I do not want to incur the rath of the authorities by turning their little diodes red from green.

I agree with Mark's suggestion about keeping them handy on my person (thanks for understanding the question!), but I would still like to hear from anyone with real experience.

Philip

 

[saxshooter]

My concern was whether or not their presence on my body would set off alarms going through the metal detector.

I've gone through metal detectors at government agencies around Washington with a CF card inadvertantly left in a pocket and it did not set the detector off. There is metal in it, but seemingly not enough to set it off.

 

[Philinflash]

Thanks, that's good to know.

P.

 

[kaiyen]

I don't mean any of my posts in an combative way, just to be clear. But...you're okay with your M8 or other digital camera, plus perhaps a laptop and whatnot going through the carryon screener, but not your memory cards?

Unless I took a photo that was the kind that the NGS would hire me for, I personally am, I guess, more relaxed about the contents of my memory cards.

allan

 

[georgefspencer]

The reason I would want to carry the SD cards on my body is that I am concerned about losing them in those brief seconds when my hand luggage is out of my control. It is a well-known scan for thugs to pick up other people's hand luggage on the out-end of the magnatometer belt whilst the true owner is delayed going through. It may be one thing to lose my laptop and brief case and it may be another thing to lose the content on my storage cards. I am sure you can appreciate that.Philip

If I am traveling with my wife I send my her ahead of me. She watches the "stuff" go through. But lately I think people are too concerned about their things to worry about stealing mine. Anyway, I always get through the metal detector before my bags get through the x-ray machine.

My concern was whether or not their presence on my body would set off alarms going through the metal detector. I do not want to incur the rath of the authorities by turning their little diodes red from green. Philip

I doubt that a card would set off a metal detector but I don't know. I've never tried it.

 

[Philinflash]

But...you're okay with your M8 or other digital camera, plus perhaps a laptop and whatnot going through the carryon screener, but not your memory cards?

Unless I took a photo that was the kind that the NGS would hire me for, I personally am, I guess, more relaxed about the contents of my memory cards.

allan

Allan, it is simply a matter of risk management. No, I don't want to lose either my M8, my Olympus, my laptop or even my dirty mackintosh. I just don't want to lose both the above and the content on my memory cards.

And of the two, there are times when the content of the memory cards is more valuable than replaceable hardward.

P.