via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

NO, not even when coming back in from Cuba.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Sorry my friend but your post makes no sense to me at all. I served two tours in Vietnam and sent or brought home numerous cameras, watches, and so on. Never had any problem with customs at all. Was never even asked for any paperwork. I would love to see your documentation of the customs agents having a license to kill though. I can just see some agent now, trying to shoot me because I brought a Rolex watch home without declaring anything at all.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Uh huh. What part of the Constitution are you referring to?

Dennis

sabfish

Years ago, I used to do this. I am retired and have made trips all over the world in the last 10 years: Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Croatia, Germany, etc. I typically traveled with a Nikon DSLR and a couple of lenses, plus a point and shoot. Not once has a customs officer asked me what was in my camera bag. I would not worry about. These days, they are worried about other things.

CaptainBobBrown

I have filled in the form for 3 bodies, lenses, tripod, etc and had it checked/signed by CBP at our airport but never had the form checked upon return from Africa, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, etc. However, I have had lengthy equipment checks done by LAX/TSA to ensure that all my lenses and bodies were what they purported to be rather than bombs. All stuff were in backpack and carried on board. The one time you don't fill out the form is probably the one time you'll have to prove you registered your gear before leaving the country.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I have heard of people being checked, but in all my international travels I have never had the equipment checked

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

When I traveled internationally with a lot of camera gear, I simply registered it with US Customs, prior to leaving. It wasn't a big deal.

Once the form is filled out and has been verified, it becomes part of your passport and makes re-entry with your gear a lot quicker and easier.

It was some years ago now, but back then they were primarily watching for people buying overseas to avoid import duties. You're allowed a certain dollar amount of duty free purchases... If I recall correctly, $1500 US... But that may have changed. (Keep your receipts, if you make a purchase.)

I don't think you'd have much trouble with a reasonably small kit of gear... one camera, a couple lenses and a few accessories. (I was carrying four or five cameras, around a dozen lenses, several flashes, 100 or more rolls of film, etc.)

You also won't likely have any problem if your gear shows some normal wear and tear. When it comes to import duties, they're looking for brand new items, in particular.

Whether or not you'll be questioned also depends upon the country you're coming from, as import duties vary. It might have changed, but at one time there was a 30% tariff on cameras being imported from Asia or Europe. But if bringing the item from Canada there was no tariff, even when it was an item made in Asia or Europe.

Even if it's registered, you still may need to prove that it's working camera equipment and not some sort of bomb in disguise, in today's world.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

We have a commerce clause in the constitution that would not allow the checkpoints on the state borders with very few exceptions ie; fruit brought to a state that could be damaged by pests or disease.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Exactly, such as bringing fruit into California from other states. But even at that, I travel into and out of California often and have never been stopped, just waved right through. The plates on my truck are from Idaho.

Dennis

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

In the old days, taking electronic equipment in and out of Mexico was a hassle but not more. In recent years, I have never had any issues with camera equipment upon return from outside the US of A.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Never had an issue. My gear always sails through customs and no one has ever asked me where I bought it.

LouV Loc: Juno Beach, FL

I just returned from the U.K. with a backpack full of camera equipment. None of my bags were checked. For what it’s worth I have Global Entry, which I very highly recommend, but even when I travelled internationally before I had it, I never had a problem.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

As a last resort you can refer to the model/serial number which will, unless you bought gray market gear, tell them that the item was sold in the US. The only exception I see would be if a member of the US Military or a dependent purchased gear in a PX. It would still bear a US export model/serial number. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

cascoly Loc: seattle

decades ago this was a problem, but nowadays it's no problem - I travel internationally 3-4 times a year and have never had a problem; they ask for laptops and phones to be x rayed separately, but camera in case just goes right thru w no questions.

Selene03

I have traveled many places with cameras and never been asked about them, but I don't take a lot of gear with me--at most a camera and a couple of lenses, maybe a gorilla pod. The only country where I have had any issues was Brazil, where they carefully note cameras and computers you have with you when arrive and then make sure you still have them when you leave. But that is a whole different issue--it was Brazil wanting to make sure you were not bringing anything in for Brazilians.