Air travel and Double X/5222, experiences?

[blindguy]

Hi,
I'm new to Double X and am thinking I should take some for a trip to California. I seem to recall it being mentioned that movie stock is more sensitive than standard B&W stills film like Tri-X when it comes to security scanners and other things film is exposed to during air travel.

Anyone have experience with taking Double X traveling by air?

Thanks,
Carl

 

[varjag]

No problem for me, and I sometimes had in on trips with 6 consecutive carry-on scans.

 

[Freakscene]

I seem to recall it being mentioned that movie stock is more sensitive than standard B&W stills film like Tri-X when it comes to security scanners and other things film is exposed to during air travel.

In general terms that is incorrect. The main determinant of impact from scanners is film speed. To some extent "speed" under exposure outside normal visible light varies away from the ISO speed, but that speed is still your best determinant of sensitivity to x-rays. The ISO standards for B&W print and motion picture stock differ, but those differences are negligible for this purpose.

How the results of the exposure look depends on the film.

Marty

 

[blindguy]

Thanks. Just being paranoid. Your comments are much appreciated.
Carl

 

[juBadub]

Just a few weeks back I flew from Los Angeles to London Heathrow with a 400ft can of Double-x (and four 100ft Tri-x, two 100ft Arista Premium and 100ft of Kentmere). I was lucky to have the nicest guy on the security check, and no problems, they didn't scan any of my film and I had a nice twenty minute chat with the guy (turned out that he had shot film too but all of his gear was stolen a while back). But if you're flying from outside USA, then it will be scanned. What I've heard, US airports are pretty happy to hand check film and film cameras but I don't know how often it happens outside US. In Europe, never, unless you have ISO3200 film. But as said above, there shouldn't be any problems if they get scanned. I wouldn't suggest pushing it to 800 or 1600... Does anybody, I don't know?

Enjoy your time in California!

 

[Nokton48]

I wouldn't suggest pushing it to 800 or 1600... Does anybody, I don't know?

Sure ISO 800 is do-able, with extreme development. I've not done it myself (yet), but I know a Guy who uses XX and Fuji1600 interchangably, depending on whether he wants "big grain" or "small grain". Results are outstanding with both, including shadow detail.