[Leica] The Times Have Changed

[leicaluvr at comcast.net (Tom Schofield)]

I usually unload the cameras, put the film in a zip-lock bag, and let them 
x-ray the camera bag to their heart's content.  I can always reload on the 
plane if I want to take pics out the window.  I even put a roll or two of 
P3200 in the baggie to satisfy them when they get grumpy and ask if I have 
film over ISO 800.  They're pretty surprised I do.  But since 9/11 they seem 
to retaliate for requesting hand-inspection of even the film baggie by 
putting the rest of me through the detailed search 3 times.  Last time I 
used an old baggie which registered on the nitrate sniffer, so they 
re-sniffed each film can individually, and entered me into their database. 
I can't wait till the next time I fly.   ;-)

Tom


> The more I read about this more I feel that Sacramento is one of the
> great havens. I have had ZERO problems carrying my gear through either
> terminal at Sacramento: M's, R's, telephoto it doesn't even draw a
> comment although often they look at my bag a little longer and a
> couple of times the screener at the X-Ray machine used called over
> what I think was a trainee to show something (I say that because the
> body language and facial expression suggested that teaching was
> happening.) And I've not had a bad experience at Sky Harbor in Phoenix
> either.
>
> The eastern US seems different, however. Just after 9/11 I had to fly
> to the East and on that trip I had a security agent look through my M
> to make sure it was a camera. But I had a lot of time and there was no
> one in line behind me so I took the time to show her how it worked.
> She seemed nice, was a little defensive at first, but I showed the way
> to tell a range finder camera.
>
> I now never go to a security gate with film in my camera just in case
> I might need to demonstrate that it does, indeed, have all the parts.
>
> Adam
>
>
> On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 13:08:25 -0400, Scott McLoughlin
> <scott@adrenaline.com> wrote:
>> I have a friend. His career took a dive when his industry tanked. He
>> got a job in airport security. He says that his co-workers are 
>> un-educated,
>> low class thugs. You can't put stuff in the little locker room because 
>> stuff
>> is stolen (by employees) on a regular basis. Turnover, absentesim and
>> even fighting. You get the idea.
>>
>> Yes, there are alot of uncooperative passengers, but most of the security
>> staff is divided between agressive thugs who like to harass the 
>> passengers
>> and a much larger group who don't do their job at all.  Of course, there
>> are a few good apples in the basket.
>>
>> The security is actually incredibly lax. He reports that all you need is 
>> an
>> airport staff badge and you can walk right onto the tarmac with no
>> screening.
>> He figures that getting such a badge would be trivial if you had a mind
>> to go
>> and do some real damage. Go figure. Really sad.  Needless to say, he's
>> been looking for gainful employment elsewhere :-)
>>
>>
>>
>> Ted Grant wrote:
>>
>> > Leo offered:
>> >
>> >>> I went through an airport last week and they had me take the lenscap
>> >>> off of my noctilux so they could look through the lens of the M7.
>> >>> Didn't bother to explain that it didn't work that way.<<<<<<<<
>> >>
>> >
>> > Scary part about this is that we entrust our lives to these same
>> > people to keep us safe in the air! :-(
>> >
>> > I had a similar thing happen in Vancouver a year ago with an M7!. And
>> > neither did I say anything at first simply because, I figured they'd
>> > want to take the camera apart to make sure it was a camera. Along
>> > with  the same person telling me to "turn the camera on so she could
>> > look at the screen."
>> >
>> > OOPS!  "This camera doesn't have a screen." says I.  "Then what's
>> > behind this little door if there isn't a screen?".she says.:-(
>> >
>> > "Film!" says I. "And I can't open it or I'll spoil my pictures and the
>> > roll isn't finished yet."  "Just a minute." says she.
>> >
>> > And off she goes for the chief guy and as they return he says... .
>> > "What's the problem here that you can't turn the camera on and show
>> > the screen?" says the missing link of human kind.  "It's not an
>> > electronic digital camera because it uses film and there's nothing to
>> > turn on. But you can look through the view finder and see it's OK
>> > without spoiling the film." says I.
>> >
>> > Neanderthal man takes camera looks through view finder and says, "OK
>> > that's fine. have a good flight."
>> > At this point you keep your teeth clenched, sort of smile and move on.
>> >
>> > Security eh? Well OK if you say so.
>> >
>> > ted