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M240 and X1 dead after flight


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I believe, and I may be wrong, and if so apologies all round, that we have a member whose business works within the operation of airport baggage handling. Possibly he may be able to shed some light on what goes on, and what recourse exists, within the US at least.

 

I notice he has not posted to this thread, so maybe PM to "TANKS" and ask him.

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I checked our luggage. i.e. handed it in, but they do open some suitcases even then and inspect them. They leave a note saying they did so. That is why they would never steal anything, but who knows what type of radiation they put the luggage through before they decide to inspect it. Leicas appear as big black chunks of metal on detectors and always raise suspicion in those minds that are full of prejudice. A German aluminium suitcase with a piece of precision equipment inside seems to trigger all of them.

 

Enough TSA inspectors are arrested and convicted of baggage theft these days that I wouldn't put any valuables in checked luggage. And they won't bother with the "we took a look at your bag" notes if they loot it. If not the security types, the baggage handlers will get them.

 

Also, never put lithium/lithium-ion batts (cameras, laptops, etc.) in checked luggage, unless your idea of adventure includes watching the flight crew battle a fire in the cargo hold over the Canadian Arctic. If you put them in carry-on luggage, you have a fighting chance.

 

I believe there's a sticky around on "flying your digicam" that may have some useful info.

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If you’re moving between homes in Berlin and San Francisco with a vacation stop in between, hand luggage may not be enough. I also hate the competition for overhead luggage space and prefer not to carry my luggage through airports. Easy enough on short national trips, but not when you go long distance and change planes often.

 

I fit a complete double system (two bodies and lenses from 18 to 280/ and extenders) plus accessories and chargers/batteries in a small backpack like the LowePro Slingshot 202 or 102 . The Leica system is that small.It weighs about 9-10 kgs. It is no hassle and I often travel 24 hours on a combination of intercontinental/local/ Cessna flights and various transfers. My Macbook goes into a separate bag courier-style with its accessories. There has never been a single hassle from Security, not even at notorious airports like Heathrow or Nairobi. I would not dream of checking it….

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I never put batteries in checked luggage, that would be asking for trouble. Just the heavy M bodies and the lenses. After this, I obviously won't do that again and rather deal with the security peoples' curiosity. They are not used to heavy equipment like a camera made from metal and always want me to take it apart.

 

Where would i find the "stickie" you mention? I’m new here (if not to Leicas)

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Never had a problem with my Leica's - they often ask me to show them the camera but a quick glance and they're happy. Security people react to how people respond to them IMHO. If you're difficult in any way they're likely to be suspicious. Maybe you are put out by being asked to show them the cameras?

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I never put batteries in checked luggage, that would be asking for trouble. Just the heavy M bodies and the lenses. After this, I obviously won't do that again and rather deal with the security peoples' curiosity. They are not used to heavy equipment like a camera made from metal and always want me to take it apart.

 

Where would i find the "stickie" you mention? I’m new here (if not to Leicas)

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/201247-flying-your-digital-camera.html

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http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/201247-flying-your-digital-camera.html

"4. Most airlines allow a tripod in the handluggage, it counts as walking stick/umbrella, but make sure you have a note put into your reservation beforehand and have it tagged as cabin luggage at the check-in counter."

 

You're right.

South East Asia Airlines considers that the tripod is a weapon , :mad: as a "peak". They confiscated my tripod and monopod. To put in the cargo hold luggage when traveling there...

With all these stories, we do not know where to put its cameras : in cabin, in cargo hold ?

Sorry for your problem Espiekermann : perhaps cameras dropped or too much X-ray no ?

Best

Henry

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I never put batteries in checked luggage, that would be asking for trouble. Just the heavy M bodies and the lenses. After this, I obviously won't do that again and rather deal with the security peoples' curiosity. They are not used to heavy equipment like a camera made from metal and always want me to take it apart.

 

Where would i find the "stickie" you mention? I’m new here (if not to Leicas)

I have never experienced that. My camera bag always breezes through. Checked luggage, however, on international flights, will be zapped by strong X-rays, far more powerful than the ones used by hand luggage machines, at each transfer. It can be speculated that this will lead to a buildup of static electricity that may damage electronic equipment and certainly may damage SD cards.

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I never put batteries in checked luggage, that would be asking for trouble. Just the heavy M bodies and the lenses. After this, I obviously won't do that again and rather deal with the security peoples' curiosity. They are not used to heavy equipment like a camera made from metal and always want me to take it apart.

 

 

 

Where would i find the "stickie" you mention? I’m new here (if not to Leicas)

 

 

I travel with my M240 frequently and my M9 for 2 years before. Often with several lenses and a Nex all in the same backpack. I have never had them give it a 2nd look. And even if they did, it's only a camera, lenses and some batteries... It wouldn't slow you down more than a minute or so for them to check.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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The best is possible to ask Leica at the Mothership in Solms: Customer Service, cs-at-leica-camera.com (they are in the office in a few hours again as they are 6 hrs ahead New York and more hours ahead of the CA area).

 

As for traveling with cameras, I would always travel with cameras as hand-luggage. It varies what security want to see. Some times nothing, some times glass lenses, some times reflectors, some times bodies. But mostly never anything. The other day security in Hamburg Airport spent 15 minutes checking a couple in front of me for their baby mil in bottles. You never know.

 

If TSA checks luggage, they leave a note in it that they did. The will check luggage also just going via transit in the US (so if traveling from say Dutch Antilles via an airport in the US to Europe, TSA will check luggage and break up locks that may prevent them from it). But it is hardly the reason. Temperature, humidity, x-ray could be the cause.

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It's interesting that two different cameras have failed and it's likely the common process they have been through is to blame. It might be the level of x-rays they have been subjected to and since the M Typ 240 and X1 may use common parts, you can further speculate that one part common to both cameras is more susceptible than it should be.

 

You can think, for example, of zapped flash memory causing weird behaviour. Hopefully a firmware reload may bring them back to life, failing that I fear an expensive electronic repair. If so, Leica should learn from your experience, as will we.

 

Sorry it's happened to you, let us know how you get on.

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The TSA website is :

 

 

Packing Tip | Transportation Security Administration

 

 

The very first packing tip is:

 

Do not pack jewelry, cash, computers, electronics, or fragile items in your checked baggage.

 

I doubt that the Security Company or the Airline will take responsibility so you must notify your Insurance Company in case Leica regards this as a paid repair.

Which they well may do, as the damage was caused by outside influence.

 

On a side note: That TSA page was written by a humorist. Hoe can I “keep my belongings in sight during screening” without sticking my head inside the X-Ray machine?:eek::confused:.

Quite apart from the fact that I will probably be standing inside the body scan at the time…:rolleyes:

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What a terrible post to read. You mention that you are moving between homes in Germany and San Francisco, so I suspect you might already be familiar with Leica dealers in SF. If not, I highly recommend Fireside Cameras on Chestnut Street ( right next door to the Apple store). They are well connected to Leica and Tyler can help facilitate your camera repair especially if you are in the midst of settling in after a move and starting back up in a job.

 

On the other hand, if you are one of our many jet-setting residents with homes sprinkled about the world, then I am jealous, but still sad to read of your plight.

 

I fly through SFO frequently and they have always been on the leading edge of security technology, when airport security was first increased years ago they were one of the first to use electronic scanning for luggage when others were hand checking everything. I remember my battles for handling multiple zip locked bags of bulk rolled film. I even had to pop a random unexposed film cartridge to avoid scanning.

kaethe

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Is air freight subject to these security checks? If so, you would expect similar problems to arise in some of the many shipments of cameras, computers etc that are sent via air transport these days. Or don't they receive quite the same intensive X-ray treatment etc?

 

By the way, at first I thought the post said 'M240 and X1 dead after fight'….well, the text was very small on my screen!

 

Geoff

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