Topic: Travelling to US with a bunch of cameras

[tinm@n]

I'm so excited.  Booked an impulse flight to LA for 12 days of fun and going to Topanga Days music festival in Topanga Canyon.  Naturally I will be wanting to take as many film cameras (including strange Russian stuff) as I can manage but am bit worried they might attract attention of immigration officials etc. 

Anyone had any experiences before  ?  Am I worrying about nothing ?

[Heather]

I travelled from the US with loads of cameras (that my parents collected from my relatives and bought for me, thanks) never noticed any problems with immigration.
Of course it depends on just how many and where you're keeping them. I'm going over to the US soon and I'm going to try to carry 3 cameras as carry-on but not sure if i can carry all the film i want in the carry-on as well... so I might put some empty cameras in the hold luggage.

[Skorj]

Camera import interdiction 101 says:

o 25x new in box, digital, SLR - smuggler.
o 10x funny, old, film camera loaded with film - otaku.

No issues.

[tinm@n]

ok folks thanks for the info. 

I'll probably take the more valuable lensed ones in my hand luggage and put the Smena, Holga etc in the hold luggage

[david b]

One thing you can do to save some hassle - preorder your film from Freestyle (they're on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood), and they can have it boxed up and ready to collect once you arrive.  They're nice people, and it's a nifty shop to look around.

[tinm@n]

Sunset Boulvd. sounds very familiar :-)
Duly noted, thanks