Airport security checks on cameras likely to get stricter

According to <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/

story.jsp?story=429168">this article</a>, airlines have been warned by the CIA that

terrorists might use bombs or weapons concealed within cameras.<p>

We all know what this means. Unfortunately, but necessarily, controls will be more

stringent. If you are planning to travel soon, please allow for extra time to clear the

security checks.

There's already another thread about this going on three lines down by other paraniod photographers.

this is over the top guys!!! Just come through South Africa and Botswana, back into the UK and not a sniff of a problem - all right, US may be tighter, don't know. Everywhere they all kindly hand inspected my exposed film too without batting an eyelid! Allowing extra time to clear is silly!!!

I just returned from Las Vegas and asked for a hand inspection of film (this wasn't a "shooting" trip and I only had ten rolls). The inspector said it would go through the X-ray OK and I pointed out that I had some pushed rolls of Ektachrome 1600 in the zip lock (hadn't shot them). So he agreed to a hand inspection and swabbed EVERY ROLL! It didn't take that long....but I would hate to have been on assignment (I'm a pro photog.) and might have shot 50-100 rolls!

 

My camera bag with a Leica and three lenses was swabbed, but not visually inspected.

 

Given whats happened, I'd rather they be TOO careful than not. Get to the airport WAY early, be nice, and enjoy some cocktails while you wait for your flight!