Does air travel still affect digital cameras?

[Karim D. Ghantous]

A lot of DPs travel with their cameras, especially Red owners, given the size of the cameras. How many of you have seen damage from high altitude flight? What about your other cameras, like your phones, your photo cameras, etc?

 

[Phil Holland]

In terms of commercial flying, I've been around the globe way more than a few times with no issues. But I rarely check my camera and never my lenses. Those are all carried on. Occasionally I'll ship gear in advance to a location, which is freight or cargo. Haven't had issues there and that gets cold, but is insulated by containers or storage compartment + cases.

No issues on any other cameras that are traveling with me either. Checking gear is usually a recipe for disaster if you don't pack it well or friendly enough for TSA however.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Thanks, Phil. No sensor damage I assume? Like, hot pixels, dead lines, etc.?

 

[Zack Birlew]

I've heard of those issues, I've carried a 5D Mark II several times, Sony RX100, BM Pocket 4K, and Sony AX100, no problems and I've even filmed some stock footage with them too for my Pond5 page. Perhaps, if the sensor problem stories are true, there might be something to travel frequency and maybe frequent temperature and/or humidity fluctuations?

EDIT: Also, always carried on camera and everything, never have needed to store anything in cargo except for a tripod in the suitcase or had the need to load up for a long distance film shoot.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Thank you, Zack.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Do a blackshade. It's not scientifical but I have seen more dead pixel at arivals... (on all brands of cameras)

 

[Dominik Muench]

I've traveled extensively with my RED gear over the years as well as my Nikon stills package and never had any issues. Make sure you invest in decent cases and backpacks and there should be no trouble.

 

[PatrickWebb]

I´ve flown in the last year about 30 times with my Epic-X , Epic-W and Raven and have had no issues. I take them into the cabin with me. Often I´ve had them stuffed in a smallish camera backpack. I´ve gotten pretty good at packing, however, the cameras and lenses are pretty solid.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Thank you all for your replies.

Patrick Tresch, you say that you witness more dead pixels after air travel. It seems that you are the only person who has reported such a thing. I wonder why? Hmm...

 

[Phil Holland]

Thank you all for your replies.

Patrick Tresch, you say that you witness more dead pixels after air travel. It seems that you are the only person who has reported such a thing. I wonder why? Hmm...

Depends on conditions. If I were a betting man, if you checked your gear and it had to deal with a non-temperature controlled baggage stow, 100% I'd expect to see more hot pixels that will need to be Sensor Calibrated out.

To the extent of damaging a camera, no, I haven't. And personally, I don't check cameras or lenses if I can avoid it as I mentioned, which is the best recipe for no real chaos occurring, like landing after a 17 hour flight with an early call time and your checked bag is MIA.

But I can tell you the cameras I've sent up to the ISS over the years have experienced things that are awful, which comes with the reality of putting sensors in space for prolonged periods of time.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

But I can tell you the cameras I've sent up to the ISS over the years have experienced things that are awful, which comes with the reality of putting sensors in space for prolonged periods of time.

I am not surprised! Does it help if you encase them in lead shielding?