Taking Cameras & Film to Mexico

Michael W · Dec 11, 2007

I will be visiting Mexico very soon, flying in to Mexico City from the USA. In one guide book I read that you are only permitted to bring one camera & 12 rolls of film. Some Mexican Customs regulation apparently.
I'm planning to bring 4 cameras, a tripod & perhaps 40 rolls of film. Mind you the cameras are fairly small & just the usual things I take with me most days around Sydney.

Has anyone had any experience with bringing stuff like this into Mexico City? Is it something they take really seriously & I will end up having gear confiscated? Or is it just some obscure law that noone cares about? Must say that it strikes me as a silly one.

In case anyone is interested the cameras I want to take are
Leica M6 with 35mm lens
Nikon 28ti compact rangefinder
Voigtlander Avus with rollfilm back
Canon Super 8 camera

Would appreciate advice from anyone who has done something similar.

pauliej · Dec 11, 2007

I havent done this myself. You may wish to call the Mexican Consulate in Sydney and ask them about this. I think you would also want a complete copy of all the camera & equipment and serial numbers, etc. as needed to show ownership, in case of any missing or lost items during entry. I would think you could buy film in Mexico City, but your needs may require special or hard to get films, etc. I hope your trip to the northern hemisphere is very productive and successful.

I hope this helps you.

Paul

Dan Henderson · Dec 11, 2007

I flew into and out of the Mexico City airport several years ago with no trouble. As I recall, I packed up as much 35 mm film gear as I could carry in my backpack and carried it on. No trouble with security. Got some great images, too!

guissimo · Dec 11, 2007

I flew into Mexico City last year in December. I had two backpacks with me. One had a 35mm film body, two lenses, 20 rolls of b&w film. Most of the film was a gift for a friend. The other bag had a digital 35mm body, two lenses, a laptop and associated cables and gadgets. At customs my bags were inspected, I was only asked if I was planing on selling the laptop in Mexico. Nothing was asked about the camera gear and the customs officer certainly did not count the rolls of film. So, no problems.
Have a fun trip.

david b · Dec 11, 2007

I wrote about this a couple times here, but 2 years ago I went to Oaxaca and brought well over 200 rolls
of medium format film with me. When I was going through the Mexican airport, they checked my bag
and were more concerned about my Jobo developing tank than the film itself.

copake_ham · Dec 11, 2007

It's been a while since I was last down there - but I've never heard of such a regulation.

Mexico was once a highly-protectionist economic state and may have adopted such a reg - and it may still be "on the books". But even if that's the situation - I don't think anyone enforces it. If it exists, it's probably one of those forgotten about things.

Michael W · Dec 11, 2007

Thanks all. Sounds like it will be alright.
Stupid guide books.

Mateo · Dec 11, 2007

I think the 1 camera 12 rolls of film thing is actually true but it's very unlikely you'll have any trouble. I go back and forth between the US and Mexico several times a year and have never had any trouble. I've never brought 200 rolls of film on an airplane. I read somewhere that you should rough up the corners of some of the boxes so that no one would think you intend to resale the film.

I don't know about Mexico being highly protectionist economic thing, but I do know that tourism is a big deal there and foreigners get away with things that natives don't. I just would not worry about it. Oh, and if you use some common film like kodak gold 400 you could buy it there but if you want something special you gonna spend alot of time looking for it.

David Henderson · Dec 11, 2007

I have travelled to Mexico from the UK three times in the last five years- the last time three weeks ago into Mexico City. I am aware of the regulation you refer to but it does not seem to be enforced- I carried two systems and about 60 rolls of film in a big bag right through without comment - and bear in mind they X ray baggage on the way in on international flights. This means they had every opportunity to see what I was doing.

Overall I suspect that this issue is not enforced unless you attract their attention for another reason- a bit like getting pulled over because of a failed lightbulb then finding the cop checking your tyres as well.

Just as a matter of passing interest, the traffic in Mexico City is appalling, the congestion unbelievable and the road signs totally inadequate. I hope you have your exit well planned, and that its other than a bus to Avis to pick up a hire car. This goes double if you arrive after dark.

Michael W · Dec 14, 2007

While were on the subject, does anyone know of any reliable pro labs in Mexico City? It's not a big deal but I might want to get some E6 processed while I'm there. I'd also like to visit them out of curiosity, to compare with the places in Sydney.

juanito · Dec 21, 2007

Hi,
I live in Mexico city and for me the best pro lab here is LMI (laboratorio mexicano de imágenes), you can visiti their web site
www.lmi.com.mx

2 more pro labs you can visit are fotron (www.fotron.com.mx) and customcolor
(ww.customcolor.com.mx)

Juan Carlos

Michael W · Dec 21, 2007

Hi Juan Carlo & thanks for the comments about the labs. I´ve been in Mexico City for 2 days & today I took some film to LMI in Condesa. They had been recommended to me by a couple of other people. Nice looking facility & there is a shop next door that sells a good range of film.

Only one person there spoke a little bit of English so it was tricky getting my order across but we finally got there. The main thing I am concerned with is how my E6 gets ´presented. Ive found that most labs in the USA & Mexico want to mount it & that is the last thing I want. I managed to convince the lab I used in LA to cut & sleeve. I tried Camera #1 at Insurgentes but it was mounting or nothing. I cant see why cut & sleeve is so hard for them. I gót LMI to sleeve it uncut & I will buy some sleeves & cut it myself later.

They seem like a good lab but I am still interested to see what else is around. Ideally a place where someone can speak English & also they will finish the film the way I like. I know that I´m the one who should be speaking Spanish however I only decided on this trip 5 weeks ago so there wasn´t any time for that. I´m trying to pick it up as I go.

BTW - the rule about 12 rolls of film is correct, it is printed on the customs form you have to complete before entry. I just ignored it. No problems. Ive seen plenty of film for sale here. The only one I haven´t seen is Fuji Neopan 1600 which I would like to buy some of.

Michael W · Dec 21, 2007

Here is an interesting thing I´ve noticed in a few photo shops in Mexico City - there is a lot of B&W paper branded Kenford. I assume that is a combination of Kentmere & Ilford but I haven´t seen it anywhere else. Is this something new or just a Mexican thing?

mikeklensch · Dec 22, 2007

I also know that this regulation is true. I traveled to Baja 2 years ago, and the Customs Officer there told me that I was in violation of the rule, (I was traveling with three cameras and about 25 rolls). BUT... they let me slide, and I assured them that I would comply from then on. Which begs the question... even IF this rule is rarely enforced, is it worth the risk of having your equipment seized? I suppose whatever you're comfortable with.

Mike

jbj · Dec 28, 2007

I've been to Mexico on several occasions in the last few years and I always ask for hand inspection of film (more than 20 rolls 35mm in a ziplock bag) and never had a problem. Never heard of this rule before. good luck

trhull · Dec 31, 2007

Oaxaca Customs

I was "hassled arriving in Oaxaca two years ago because I took two Hassy cameras. I asked to see a supervisor who they couldn't find, so I was waved through.

Taking Cameras & Film to Mexico

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