Pentax 67 - USA hand luggage

[batwister]

Hello, not been here for some time, but still happily shooting film.

I'm about to head to the States for the first time and would like to take the Pentax 67 with hand grip. Needless to say, customs and immigration are getting stricter and I'm dreading the questioning plus general pandemonium of a relatively tight connection time. I'll be wanting to carry the camera on of course. The hand grip, being detachable, feels like it could throw up questions if inspected? I've been to Europe recently and security had a good look with furrowed brow.

What are your thoughts on my taking this camera?

 

[Tom Taylor]

I have carried the P67II in my onboard luggage with no problems (tripod with the checked baggage). However Heathrow will xray your film - no way of getting around it.

Thomas

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I've dragged a 5x7 field camera through US customs before, and TSA security on domestic flights, without a problem. Your Pentax won't raise an eyebrow.

 

[mweintraub]

I've carried on a Pentax 6x7 and Bronica SQ-A without concerns... questions about them, but nothing negative.

 

[moto-uno]

Just don't have film in it ! Something that large always looks like it can store something and you may be asked to open the back. Peter

 

[Sirius Glass]

Bring film although you can get it here. Carry on your camera and film. Enjoy yourself!

 

[Mike Bates]

The TSA security people won't bat an eye at a large camera. I've carried lots of large cameras through security. They'd be much more interested if it had a large battery pack because the the bad guys have a history of building bombs to look like laptop batteries.

I used to get film hand checked, but that turned out to be more of a hassle than it was worth. They often want to "sniff" each individual roll, just to piss me off. I let them scan it now. I've never had a problem with 400 speed film that has been scanned multiple times. 120 film is also readily available in every large city in the US if you want to buy some here.

I hope you have a fun trip. The US is a large, diverse country. Kansas is nothing at all like New York, which is nothing at all like Florida, and so on. Enjoy.

 

[mrosenlof]

TSA should be just fine with that camera. I've taken a big Mamiya TLR through airport security many times. You could always detach that hand grip and put it in your checked luggage, but it really should be fine as attached.

Enjoy your trip here. Don't try to see everything unless you have lots of time.

 

[TheRook]

You could put the hand grip into your check-in luggage if you are worried it may cause an issue as a carry on. Just wrap it up well so it won't get damaged - those baggage handlers can be real brutes at times.

 

[chuck94022]

I've carried on a Pentax 6x7 and Bronica SQ-A without concerns... questions about them, but nothing negative.

Load the camera with slide film. Then there's nothing negative inside.

 

[batwister]

Thanks for the responses. I'll put the grip with checked luggage. It does make the camera more awkward to pack when attached anyway.