travelling with radioacvtive lenses

Ces1um · Feb 17, 2017

This is probably a silly question but I just found out that my smc pentax takumar 55mm f1.8 likely contains thorium and as such is slightly radioactive. From what I've read the health effects are negligible. What I'm concerned with is will TSA stop me at the border for suspected terrorist activities? All joking aside, I like to make my travels go very smoothly and I'd rather not have any issues. Anybody know the rules about travelling with these lenses?

Gerald C Koch · Feb 17, 2017

You need to ask the TSA they make the rules. Of course they may not even understand your question.

Old-N-Feeble · Feb 17, 2017

You will be shot and killed on sight... then tortured... then 'abused' in the worst way... then killed again. Prepare to suffer in the worst possible ways.

Theo Sulphate · Feb 17, 2017

Unless they have a Geiger Counter or somesuch instrument to detect the very minute amount of radiation from the lens and it exceeds a threshold, then I wouldn't worry about it. I think most people, including TSA agents, aren't even aware of radioactive lenses. You might want to carry some bananas to disguise the source of the radiation.

Or you could send me the lens in exchange for a different one.

Ces1um · Feb 17, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Unless they have a Geiger Counter or somesuch instrument to detect the very minute amount of radiation from the lens and it exceeds a threshold, then I wouldn't worry about it. I think most people, including TSA agents, aren't even aware of radioactive lenses. You might want to carry some bananas to disguise the source of the radiation.

Or you could send me the lens in exchange for a different one.

So you're suggesting I should import bananas across the border? I think that's a 100,000 fine. I'm safer with the lens!

Theo Sulphate · Feb 17, 2017

Ces1um said:
So you're suggesting I should import bananas across the border? I think that's a 100,000 fine. I'm safer with the lens!

Whoops. Ok, use bricks instead.

shutterfinger · Feb 17, 2017

Quit worrying about hear say. If you are concerned your lens is HOT then place it on some unexposed, unprocessed film in total darkness and leave it for 24 to 48 hours then process the film. If the lens is HOT it will fog the film, if it is not the film will be fb+f clear.

If its HOT ask the TSA as suggested in post #2.

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 17, 2017

Takumars with thorium elements (several now very ancient lenses had this), are good for a yarn around the table as novelty pieces. In practical use their performance is average, and there is no danger whatsoever to you or anybody else. FYI the Pentax 6x7 right angle viewing attachment had 2 thorium elements. As with early Takumars, the novelty value was dispensed with when the later Pentax 67 right angle viewing attachment came out in 1989, at the same time as the improved Pentax 67 body. All of the post-1986 SMC Pentax 67 lenses have nothing at all of thorium.

MattKing · Feb 17, 2017

I'm guessing that a watch with a luminous face will have the same or more radioactivity.

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 17, 2017

MattKing said:
I'm guessing that a watch with a luminous face will have the same or more radioactivity.

That's right Matt! My Tissot glows brightly in the dark and I have yet to see warts appear on my face or my eyes cloud over. All is good.

Sirius Glass · Feb 17, 2017

No worries.

Nodda Duma · Feb 18, 2017

Joking aside, I've travelled on multiple occasions recently with Olympus Om-1 and an early "silvernose" Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 that has thorium element. I had no issues with airport security.

removed account4 · Feb 18, 2017

i wonder if people at pottery/ceramics/vintage "fiesta ware " forums
have similar questions and concerns when bringing their cups and saucers through customs.

Skiver101 · Feb 18, 2017

Don't mention your APUG name, and you'll likely be fine.

Helinophoto · Feb 18, 2017

Guys like this doesn't help, and facts seem to be repelled like water on a goose, he seems to think beta and gamma automatically kills you or something =)

And he claims they make 'magical' pictures, since they are 'screaming radioactive' and that modern lenses with modern glass-blends etc etc is no way near etc.....hogwash, and his followers are like "really???? wow"

He needs to get his tinfoil hat on (ledfoil hat) and get proper equipment to measure stuff, or close down his youtube, deliver his internet modem and move out into the woods.

guangong · Feb 18, 2017

When a little kid I had my Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb ring. Removing the back of the ring in a completely dark room radiation struck a phosphorus film and is little kids could see flashes. None of us died from radiation poisoning. Contemporary snowflakes and greenies seem determined to be distressed by something, no matter how innocuous.

Helinophoto · Feb 18, 2017

guangong said:
One of us died from radiation poisoning

That's what I read, hahahahaha! =)

Glad I double checked ^^

pentaxuser · Feb 18, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Whoops. Ok, use bricks instead.

That's lead bricks by the way

pentaxuser

Ian Grant · Feb 18, 2017

You're worried about traveling with it then why re you suing it

There's never been issues just take it with you !

Ian

Sirius Glass · Feb 18, 2017

Helinophoto said:
Guys like this doesn't help, and facts seem to be repelled like water on a goose, he seems to think beta and gamma automatically kills you or something =)

And he claims they make 'magical' pictures, since they are 'screaming radioactive' and that modern lenses with modern glass-blends etc etc is no way near etc.....hogwash, and his followers are like "really???? wow"

He needs to get his tinfoil hat on (ledfoil hat) and get proper equipment to measure stuff, or close down his youtube, deliver his internet modem and move out into the woods.

As you pointed out stupid is as stupid does. Give stupid a chance to get on youtube and out comes the vomit.

Gerald C Koch · Feb 18, 2017

MattKing said:
I'm guessing that a watch with a luminous face will have the same or more radioactivity.

Very old watches had a luminous dial that used radium. I would hazard a guess that most such watches have disappeared into collections and are not worn. When the use of radium was banned later watches used tritium as the activation source for the phosphor. Tritium decays by emitting a beta particle (an electron) of low energy that is incapable of exiting the luminous paint matrix. So these dials pose no threat to the wearer. The down side is these dials are not as bright as the radium ones.

Gerald C Koch · Feb 18, 2017

guangong said:
When a little kid I had my Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb ring. Removing the back of the ring in a completely dark room radiation struck a phosphorus film and is little kids could see flashes. None of us died from radiation poisoning. Contemporary snowflakes and greenies seem determined to be distressed by something, no matter how innocuous.

I had one of these too. I think you had to send in a Wheeties box top. Of course you often topped the cereal with banana slices which allows me to seque into bananas. Potassium which is present in all vegetable products contains potassium-40 which is radioactive and decays to calcium forty. This element is an essential trace element. You can die from potassium levels in the blood that are either too high or too low. Good sources are bananas. oranges and brazil nuts. Brazil nuts contain so much potassium that it is recommended you limit intake to three per day.

Martin Rickards · Feb 18, 2017

Nigh on every place on Earth has some background radiation.

Eric Rose · Feb 18, 2017

Don't ask, don't tell

Sirius Glass · Feb 18, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
I had one of these too. I think you had to send in a Wheeties box top. Of course you often topped the cereal with banana slices which allows me to seque into bananas. Potassium which is present in all vegetable products contains potassium-40 which is radioactive and decays to calcium forty. This element is an essential trace element. You can die from potassium levels in the blood that are either too high or too low. Good sources are bananas. oranges and brazil nuts. Brazil nuts contain so much potassium that it is recommended you limit intake to three per day.

Hey, lets not go bananas on this thread.

travelling with radioacvtive lenses

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