Airport film mishap.

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orenrcohen

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At JFK this morning my zip lock bag full of film accidentally got pushed through the gate security X-ray machine as I was taking off my shoes and coat etc. Kills me because I had the film prepared for hand check. I had mostly rolls of tri-x 400 but also a few rolls of delta 3200 and neopan 1600. From what I've read the 400 film is probably going to be ok. The 3200 and 1600 though may be another story. Will I be wasting time shooting and processing this film? Anyone have a similar experience that can give me advice? Thanks in advance.

Oren
 
It will most likely be OK even the 1600 and 3200. I travel a lot and don't even bother with attempting to get the film hand checked. I've never seen any problems, even with 3200 and often the film goes through scanning multiple times for a trip. Did it that way on a trip to India, the film went through the scanners six times.
 
This is really good news to hear so many positive responses because I'm leaving Germany for America in a couple days and am hand carrying a bit of film myself.

Hope it works out well for you!
 
Your film is TOAST :D






Seriously though, as long as your film only went through the carry on baggage scanner and not the checked in baggage scanner, your film will be fine.

My Fuji Superia 1600 got toasted in Laos, but it went through a checked in baggage scanner.
 
I definitely will not worry about the ISO 400s.
Had my Tri-X accidentally packed with my check in luggage and scanned a few months ago.
The rolls have since been exposed and developed. Can't see any problems there.
No experience with higher ISOs but judging from the replies here.... seems like you will have nothing to worry as well :)
 
I had a roll of T-Max 3200 scanned at an airport (got it mixed up with the 400s) and absolutely nothing happened. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
I've had ISO 100 and 400 pass through gate scanners about 8-10 times with no ill effects as far as I could tell.

I've heard that faster film might get fogged. Good luck.
 
I've had NP1600 scanned with no problems. After reading the reports on the 3200 above I think you're going to be OK.
 
Even if you get some fog, you can print through it. You're going into a contrasty situation, some people try to add fog to improve their negatives, so win-win!
 
I see it this way, none of the fast and super-fast films reaches the box speed at all, under real world conditions they are maybe E.I. 800 to 1000 at best. Since the scanners are all usually rated at safe for films until 1600ISO (some have a sticker saying 800ISO) I would not worry about it. I just came back from a trip to Las Vegas, had three rolls of Fuji Natura N1600 (box speed 1600ISO) with me and to go through security check four times, no problem at all.
 
I had some 400 and 200 Fuji scanned about 6 times on a recent trip to Greece and Turkey. I was denied hand inspection at the first two gates, so I let it go through with the carry on stuff for the rest of the trip. No problems that I can tell that weren't my own misjudging of exposures.

Does anyone use the lead lined bags?

Steve
 
I also agree that you should not have a problem. I've had multiple passes with is0 400-3200 film and no problems at all. Good luck!
 
It'll be fine. I take TMZ to the UK/Euro all the time, and it routinely goes through a half-dozen scans (airport security over there tends to respond to visual-inspection checks with a hiss and a chop of the hand) without any problems.
 
As I recall the film may have been affected if it was scanned in your checked luggage. As it was scanned at the gate as carry on your film should be fine.

Best regards,

Bob
 
It' a crap shoot.

For years I had no issues, now on my last trip to and from the US I got several Plus-X and Tri-X film with x-ray damage (35&120)...Obviously this has not been everyone's experience...


radiocemetery said:
No problems that I can tell that weren't my own misjudging of exposures.
Click to expand...

You can tell x-ray damage right away. You will have a very nice and even wave going through the length of your film.

radiocemetery said:
Does anyone use the lead lined bags?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure that's a good idea at the airport...
 
Checked luggage scans are generally stronger than carry on passes. It adds up, try for carry-on scans if possible.

After you process your stuff, please post any comments on the effect of the scans.

Best of luck..
p.
 
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