Taking a camera on a long trip, tips?
With my experience taking a camera with me internationally/on a plane, I’ve only had trouble when traveling with it. On my trip to Guatemala, I took a disposable camera with me to save money which in the end ended up costing me more money because some of the photos got ruined when the cameras went through TSA through the x-ray thing. In Mexico and Ecuador, basically the same thing, except I lost all of my pictures, which really sucked.
So now, for my senior trip, environmental science is going to Hawaii and of course I want to take pictures, but this time I’m not taking disposable cameras. Of course I’ll have my phone with me which takes quality enough pictures, but I have an old camera that my aunt gave me a few years ago that takes film, and it takes amazing pictures but I’m concerned the same thing will happen again if it goes through the TSA x-ray machine and everything will be ruined, including my camera.
Any advice on what I should do? If it helps, the camera is specifically a Pentax ZX-10, and takes film and requires batteries. It’s a pretty quality camera, but I don’t have much of a frame of reference because I’m not an experienced photographer.
Should I just ditch the camera and trust in my cell phone?
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10 Answers
Get a relatively cheap digital camera – you can find Canon or FUji for $70.
When you get to security, take out the SD Card and put it in your wallet.
A digital camera (or phone) is so much more convenient and inexpensive (no film or developing) that the film camera may be a burden.
HOWEVER…
I absolutely understand the attraction. I was taking my pictures and developing film at the age of 12. I worked as photographer and ran a photo lab making museum-quality prints (sometimes for museums).
So, if you really want to do it, keep the film separate and don’t send it through the x-ray machine. Ask for it to be hand-checked.
Here’s a link with a lot more info: Traveling With Film
Does the camera have sentimental value? If it does, I’d think twice about taking it with me. Think too about why you’re taking the photos. Is it about practising photography or is it about capturing memories? If you can afford a cheap digital camera, I’d do that. You can then upload your photos to Dropbox/Flickr or other sites as you travel. That way even if you lose an SD card or worse your camera, you won’t lose all your photos. I upload my photos every day when I travel.
You could also just take photos on your phone, but do upload your photos as you go. My daughter just had a problem with her phone while travelling and thought she’d lost most of her images. She was lucky a friend was able to restore them.
The cameras in many of the phones today seriously rival 35 mm, high dollar camera quality. In fact, the only thing I use my digital 35 mm is for telephoto shots. People take just as nice snap shots with their cameras as I do with my Canon.
However, if you want to take the old film camera, I can’t imagine it has internal components that could hurt it, or the film.
Honestly, I don’t see how anyone can add much to @jaytkay‘s link, if you really want to use the camera your aunt gave you.
Perhaps buying the film on arrival at your destination and making sure all rolls you start are complete before you return double’s the safety.
Use your phone as backup and send the pictures to yourself daily.
Why not put the camera and film in your checked luggage so it doesn’t go through the X-Ray machine?
checked luggage so it doesn’t go through the X-Ray machine?
They scan checked luggage now.
@jaytkay Pretty sure not on the flights I’ve been on recently.
Buy your film on-site and mail it to either the developer, or yourself, from the airport as you depart.
Use your phone as back-up. Alternately you can buy great used digital cameras on eBay for nearly nothing, if you’re okay with yesterday’s technology.
When my $750 digital camera died after a few years, I bought it’s twin for $30.
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