Does anyone know the stability of the data on SD memory cards as they go through airport metal detectors ?
I’d done some travelling some years ago and I passed through a scanner with my USB flash-drive, later finding to my horror that many files became corrupted in so doing. Well, at least I assume the scanner is what did it.
So I’m nervous now about having my camera go thorugh the same.
[FONT=“Georgia”]And yes, I do intend to take the cards out and put them in the little tray thing, but I’ve dealt with bone-headed airport security before and I’d like to avoid an incident where I can.
My cameras go through as carry-on several times a year (5-12 over the last 3-4 years). I have 2 cameras that use CF cards. The CF cards are usually in the cameras, but sometimes just in a backpack pocket.
I can safely say I have NEVER had an image be corrupted by going through the airport scanner.
I’ve also gone through airport security with CF cards in the camera and have not had a problem. I haven’t heard of any issues with SD cards going through airport security.
I recently went though customs and the usual stuff with my camera in my hand luggage: neither the SD card nor the USB drives I was carrying were corrupted I’m happy to say. The SD was in the camera, and was of course off, the usb’s were just in the same case.
yeah…i think the detector doesn’t affect anything with the USB or memory card…to do that…it will take a lot of external energy to affect the memory in it…
The X-ray machines used at airports–even the newer, more powerful machines–don’t affect memory cards like CompactFlash, Smartmedia, or Memory Stick. Film users aren’t so lucky.
I’ve heard stories of data on flash media being corrupted that way (as well as laptop screens), but had no bad experience with that - passed somewhat like 10 times with no problems… The only thing i may mention - a few times got the old 3.5 diskettes corrupted in the subway (probably passed near high-voltage sources or the train engine).