Airport security in Moscow: any experience?

[dexdog]

I flew into and out of Domodedovo Airport in April 2009. Security folks were very professional. There were signs up stating that films rated 1600 iso or lower would not be affected by x-rays, so I did not ask for hand inspection. I had a couple of rolls of Fuji 1600, 4 rolls Fuji 400 and 2 Kodak 400CN. No problems with developed negatives

 

[Roma]

You can get these films in Moscow, but you should just take it with you because you'll pay almost twice as much over there.
My Tri-X has been scaned by all airports over there and never a problem.
If you show your Neopan to the security folks over there and they see that it's 1600, they will not scan it and hand-inspect it.
Have a great trip!

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

Interesting comments and experiences...😕 I have travelled a lot in and out from Sheremetyevo and other airports, although I am a Russian resident. Since I only shoot film, it was always ok up to 1600 ISO. I had a bad experice once in Ben Gurion (Tel-Aviv) airport with 3200 ISO. After processing my negs did show stripes (it looked like waves) of a grey color, so the film was spoiled.:bang:

In any case, I can advise a very good and unexpensive photography store in Moscow, where you can buy lots of various film including Neopan 1600.🙂

Pls check www.maxilab.ru

best regards,
Alex

 

[imush]

Thanks, but I am back home already.

They asked what film, saw Neopan 1600, and took the film through past the machine by hand, and even took the Tri-X along with the Neopan as well.

 

[Denis M.]

That's interesting. Personally I found that customs over there was less helpful if you actually spoke the language. So every time I went through security I'd try my best either to reply in English or just not to say anything and look like a tourist.

Of course this didn't work since at some point I had to show my passport.

 

[imush]

All the snide remarks to the dustbin of hatred.

Why hate, and so much is beyond me.

I went to Moskow 2 years ago with plenty of 400 ISO film. In and out, in my carry-on luggage: not a blemish when I developed them back home.

The high ISO film might fare worse, even at JFK. There are warning signs for high ISO film at every US airport ... even in carry-on. But you can always ask, be nice and hope ...

Russia is full of nice people unlike some of the posters before ... and it has its mean deviants, too, just as we have on this forum.

For many of the former Russians abroad, emigration bias comes into play. Some people always need to prove to others or themselves that they made the right decision and nothing good ever comes out of their native country other than themselves. Their kids will get over it.

Russians are not the immigrant population most afflicted by this, I think Cubans in US are the worst sufferers, they are the most vocal politically for the embargo etc.