I have two still cameras and one video camera. The rules say that you're only allowed to take in one still camera and one video.

The problem is that one of the still cameras is a pro-level digital SLR which is impossible to hide, but has all the pro-level manual controls I need for great picturetaking, and the other is a super-miniature unit that would be perfect for sneaking into termas. As you can see, both have their uses, and I'd like to take both.

What are the consequences of taking both? The SLR is pretty expensive - it's probably still worth around $1,500. The regular camera is worth around $300.

Many thanks for any thoughts.

D

I doubt you would have a problem because they are different types of cameras. So they wouldn't think you are trying to sell them in the country. If they are all the same cameras maybe a problem.

Davidd: You raise an issue that has troubled me on both my trips to Brazil; in my case I usually take a relatively high-end consumer digital (e.g., the Sony DSC-F717) and a Digital Elph (good for hiding in a terma robe). My impression is that it is rare that they go through your luggage on the way in so you are relatively safe. I suspect, but can't vouch for this, that Nyl12 is correct that even if they do inspect your luggage they will only give you trouble if they think you are bringing them in to sell; but, as you mention the regs are that you can only bring in one still camera and one video. Does anyone else have any experiences with this issue?

david! wrap the small one and say it is a present for someone.i dont think you would have any problem.last time i was there they went trough my luggage.the only thing they took was a finnish cheese.i had 3 different cameras.i think it can depend the guys mood for the day.have a blast.iggy sac

Wow...didn't even know about the reg. I usually enter with several cameras and have never been questioned. Last trip I went in with 4 (1 35MM and 3 digitals). You can carry in up to $500 worth of gifts so Iggys idea is a good one. I also think if they look used and not brand new, your likelihood of having a problem will be diminished.

I do carry a business card that states I work for a public relations and advertising firm and I tell them I am on assignment to take photos and write a travel article. Has worked everytime I get stopped (which is not often)no matter what country I am visiting. Make up a logo and have some cards printed up that establishes your credibility. You should not have a problem. Keep it all togehter in one bag as well. To most of those guys it looks like a bunch of cameras, cables, lenses. They probably don't know the difference.

Eggsactly. Either throw the minature unit in with the lenses, etc and tell anyone who wants to know that it is a light meter, or just put it in your pocket (after all it's minature). Nobody does body-searches in customs. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it, Brazilian customs just wants to make sure your not taking in anything to sell. In 35 years, I've been stopped by Brazilian customs maybe 3 times (out of 50+ trips) and really hassled only once (about a laptop, and anyway I only got a hard time becuase they had nothing better to do, it was a small airport, not GIG or GRU).

Don't sweat it. When are you getting to Rio?

BS

Find a similar camera on e-bay that is selling for less than $500 and print out a receipt, just in case.

Interesting coincidence: The smaller camera is in fact a Digital Elph (S200). I really love the jewel-like look and feel of it; a major reason I bought it was that I thought the terma girls might find its sleekness charming.

I'm a little leery about printing business cards, even though my equipment makes me look like a professional photographer. (I'm really not, I'm a fanatical hobbyist, but a lot of people would think I'm a professional if they saw my equipment). The reason I'm leery is that then it would seem like I should have requested a business visa instead of a tourist visa. Or do they care about anything other than attempts to find employment within Brazil?

I just sent my passport and Visa application via Priority Mail to the consulate. I would have enjoyed actually seeing the consulate, but I would have had to miss too much work to go there :-(.

Badseed, I'll be there from 2-6 July. it's my first Rio trip and I would really love to hook up with some hombres. I think I listed myself in trip buddies and on the calendar, but perhaps I did it too early for anyone to notice.

D

Davidd: You mentioned that you would have enjoyed actually seeing the consulate. I don't know which one you are near, but I find it rather funny (given our interests in Brazil) that the Brazilian consulate in LA is in the LARRY FLYNT office building!

Davidd: One other thing. I recently upgraded from the S200 to the S400 and am very happy with the new Elph. If you have cash to burn, it may be worth the upgrade as those terma girls look real good blown up (their pics I mean).
Since you are obviously a camera guy, I should share some advice on picture taking. On my first trip to Rio I would have my camera hidden and then before the session was over I would shyly ask if I could take some pictures. Worked most of the time but not the best strategy. On my last trip, I always asked the girls before committing to a session whether they would let me take pictures. Most said yes, and a few said no, in which case I moved on. What was cool, is that I started taking pics as soon as we were in the room together, while she was undressing, etc., and in a good number of the cases there was no problem continuing doing this while I was receiving a blow job, etc. So I have a pretty good collection of picture memories of my last trip to Rio (which, while I am torn about this, I feel uncomfortable posting and therefore won't--no flames about this please)

Don't think you probably missed much by not seeing the consulate. If was Houston or like Houston, you go up to a window, put your paperwork in the tray under the glass and some ugly Brazilian guy takes it and tells you to come back when it is ready. I forget, but think they took two days to process. Now, getting to see the Larry Flynt building might be worth the trip. LOL

Actually, I know the Larry Flynt building, which is one of the nicest office buildings in Beverly Hills, a city which has far better residential and retail structures than offices.

I would have stayed in Century Plaza Towers if I'd been Larry. He had a suite close to the top and must have had a really wonderful view. But I daresay he wanted the pseudo-respectability of being in Beverly Hills.

Sadly, I don't have cash to burn - see the post about my budget for some gruesome details. Hopefully when I pull some all-nighters I'll be able to use the digital SLR and the XL1 (3ccd miniDV camera).

When were you last there? I'm wondering about the comments I've heard regaring garotas being more reluctant to have pictures taken.

Did you use any strategies for bearing the 13+ hour flight? I'm fearing the tiresome nature of that a bit.

D

D:
Just got back a week ago so my info is current. Given some of the posts I saw before my trip, I was expecting greater reluctance to have pictures taken than I experienced. While some of the terma girls won't allow it, most I asked did. Many though made it clear that I could not post the pics on the internet, one of the reasons I haven't posted.
Since I was there only about 10 days, my impressions must be taken with a grain of salt. But it seemed as though the ratio of girls who would allow pictures was greater at quatro X quatro and luomo than at either Monte Carlo or Solarium (the latter two termas having common ownership). In fact, I also found that the girls at quatro and luomo seemed to be less inclined to have restrictions over all. Again, take these conclusions with a grain of salt since I was not there that long.
An interesting anecdote re Monte Carlo. I hooked up with a girl who had been working there for only 2 days. When I asked her about pictures she said it was probably okay with her but she had to ask one of the managers and think about it. I was there when she talked to the manager about it and the manager said it was entirely up to the girl so long as the pictures were not taken in the bar area. The manager then helped translate some of my comments to the girl about how I was taking pictures only for my personal use, etc. and she shouldn't be concerned about me taking them. In the past I always thought I had to "sneak" the camera into the terma robe pocket while changing in the locker room, but it is getting awfully common and doesn't seem to concern the terma management. In fact, I noticed a fair number of cameras "hidden" in other men's robes.
Back to the Elph. One of the great things about it is that it focuses in low light using what I believe is an infared beam. Make sure that option is on when you go to the terma. Not only does it help alot with the focus, but if you are taking pictures during the act and want to get a side shot, you can frame the picture without looking through the viewfinder by simply noting where the infrared beam is hitting (keep in mind though that one of the quality control problems with the most recent elphs is that on some of the cameras the beam is off-center; you may want to check this out on your camera before the trip; you may already know this, but, if not, I hope this is helpful).
As to the 13-hour trip, I have no real suggestions. I had it both good and bad in that regard: bad in that owing to a last-minute frequent flyer reservation my routing took 20 hours, good in that at least I was in first class and could sleep in the reclining seat. If you have any pimsleur portuguese (sp) CDs, this is a good time to listen to them (while on the airplane, but not while sleeping!)

love that canon s200 (s230 i the new model, which only differs in 3.2 vs. 2.1 mpixels, and video length capability). if you're not blowing up more than 8x10, you won't notice the difference of 3.2 vs. 2.1 mpixels.

that's not an infared, but a normal visual light (white). it main purpose is two-fold - to eliminate red-eye by 'conditioning' subjects eyes to the upcoming flash, and to allow for a focus lock which enables other picture taking strategies (playing with lighting, forcing the camera to focus on the background or foreground of a shot, etc).

but using that focus beam of white light as a tool for pointing the camera is awesome - my favorite feature of this camera!

i take photos in poor light conditions all the time in all situations (not just hobby!), like in a bar or party, and i never bother to look at the view finder or lcd - just point the beam and click!

Actually the S400 is a 4 megapixel camera; it is more recent than the S230 with many improvements (although they actually decreased the resolution of the "movies" while allowing them to be up to 3 minutes long). The auto-focus assist beam of light on the S400 is reddish, not white, but based on the manual I believe you are correct that it is not infrared. I don't remember what color the beam was on my S200; perhaps it was white.

This is more of a local brasil issue than a tourist problem.

Although I have never been to Brazil they have sort of the same laws going into Mexico. This prevents people from buying cheap elsewhere and selling in thier country.

I have taken many expensive cameras even one of my 3k cameras into MX with mulitple cameras to go along with that and have never been hassled.

NYL12 hit it on the little head as long as you do not havew multiples of the same camera or many in original boxes you should not have a problem

good luck
Milkman