RE: speaking of digital: Xrays !

Many thanks, Schuyler, for the info... guess I can relax somewhat. I
don't think in this case thievery is a great problem, since I walk through
the metal detector right next to the conveyor belt -- they'd have to be
super slick to pull something off during those 5 seconds right under my
nose (tho maybe I shouldn't tempt fate by saying so..?).

I've also had the thought of a variables test -- one day take it out, come
back later with same image on a card and go through with it in. Tho that
test is a ways down the pike, if ever, given the backlog.

Interestingly, I do worry about losing the memory card more than I ever
worried about film... maybe because it takes so many more pictures...

Meanwhile, thanks again for info...

Judy

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004, Schuyler Grace wrote:

> Contrary to once-popular belief, x-ray machines don't harm electronic
> equipment. To do any harm, they'd have to either physically damage a
> component or a low frequency electromagnetic emission would have to corrupt
> the magnetic storage (a hard or floppy disk). You need something big, like
> alpha particles (which aren't emitted to any degree by an x-ray machine), to
> do physical damage to the electronic components, and these machines don't
> put out a strong enough magnetic field to screw up the disks.
>
> So, don't worry about the machine killing your camera; worry about someone
> pocketing it as it comes out of the x-ray machine while you're trying to get
> through the metal detector. That's also why you might want to hang onto the
> memory card, anyway. It's easier to replace a camera than your photos.
>
> -Schuyler
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Judy Seigel [mailto:jseigel@panix.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 6:55 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: speaking of digital: Xrays !
>
> Dear List,
>
> I've been entering a number of NYC government offices carrying my camera
> bag, which has to be put through the baggage Xray, or whatever the beams
> in the dark space the belt gets transported through. I recall a long
> discussion on the list about film and airport screening, but I don't
> recall any mention of digital.
>
> To be on the safe side I've removed the memory card each time, since there
> were a fair number of frames on it I didn't want to compromise and it's
> easy enough. But I'm wondering if anyone knows if that's a good idea, or
> meaningless.
>
> TIA,
>
> Judy
>
Received on Sun Aug 22 20:20:54 2004