Airport x-ray scanners: security f-ed up

[boffen]

So, I just came back from the US where I bought a Bessa R3M, a 40mm 1.4 and lots of film. I already knew about the "don't leave your film in your checked luggage" thing, so I brought it on the plane. The guards at the Newark security station had no problems with hand checking the film, but required me to put in the camera (which had film in it), but according to them, it shouldn't matter on film with a speed of under 800.

However, when I got to Schippol, the guard didn't understand my request or something (I asked, and he just said "yes yes" and sent the film through the machine along with my bag). For some reason, they didn't figure out the compartments in my bag and managed to send my bag, with all of my film, through the scanner at least three times until I intervened and showed them the item I assume they were looking for (Olympus 35RC), and then they sent it through yet another time and finally said that "everything is looking normal".

Should I expect the film to be damaged now?

 

[Roger Hicks]

So, I just came back from the US where I bought a Bessa R3M, a 40mm 1.4 and lots of film. I already knew about the "don't leave your film in your checked luggage" thing, so I brought it on the plane. The guards at the Newark security station had no problems with hand checking the film, but required me to put in the camera (which had film in it), but according to them, it shouldn't matter on film with a speed of under 800.

However, when I got to Schippol, the guard didn't understand my request or something (I asked, and he just said "yes yes" and sent the film through the machine along with my bag). For some reason, they didn't figure out the compartments in my bag and managed to send my bag, with all of my film, through the scanner at least three times until I intervened and showed them the item I assume they were looking for (Olympus 35RC), and then they sent it through yet another time and finally said that "everything is looking normal".

Should I expect the film to be damaged now?

No. I've put film through more scans than that, in less modern airports, with no problem. Including Delta 3200 and TMZ.

Cheers,

R.

 

[tjh]

I made multistop trips around the world in 1990 and 1992 and let my 100 and 400 speed film go through many airport scanners. I saw no effect. I won't claim that there was no effect, but I have never seen any X-ray damage from scanning carry-on baggage.

 

[andrewmore]

This does surely depend on the film? The boxes for many Fuji films (of various speeds) specifically warn against exposure to ANY x-rays. As the manufacturer has so warned against x-rays I'm not inclined to try this out. Other films seem okay. If you book in advance at Gatwick Airport here in the UK they will hand search film, but get somewhat upset if you just turn up. I haven't worked out how to book film searchs in advance with the Greek airports yet which means I don't take Fuji film with me on holiday which is a shame as I have a fridge full!!


Regards


Andrew More

 

[segedi]

I forgot 8 or so rolls of 120 film in my checked bag and it went through Heathrow with no ill effects! I was amazed, but the photos from it look fine to me.

 

[Rob-F]

On a trip to Europe (France and Finland) my films, mostly Tri-X and Delta 400, went through the X-Ray scanners at least 7 times. There was no damage. On a tip from St. Louis to Houston, I forgot to ask for my Delta 3200 to be hand checked. On the return, I forgot again! No damage.

No damage by scanners in Mexico City, nor in Ontario. In fact, I've never (s0 far) had a film harmed by X-Rays.

 

[flip]

I recently went to indonesia and australia. ~12 scans to film including color 800 and B/W 1600. Modern and prehistoric scanners. No problems. I had a bad experience with some self-loaded film in plastic spools some time back. I now believe it was either a loading problem or due to the plastic containers.

 

[Rob-F]

On a trip to Europe (France and Finland) my films, mostly Tri-X and Delta 400, went through the X-Ray scanners at least 7 times; some in the US; some at DeGaulle airport; and once in Helsinki. There was no damage. On a tip from St. Louis to Houston, I forgot to ask for my Delta 3200 to be hand checked. On the return, I forgot again! No damage.

No damage by scanners in the US; in Mexico City or Puebla; nor in Ontario. So far, I've never had a film harmed by X-Rays. Yes, it can happen: Kodak has illustrations of X-Ray damage on a website of theirs. But many of us have been lucky!

 

[Gumby]

This does surely depend on the film? The boxes for many Fuji films (of various speeds) specifically warn against exposure to ANY x-rays.

Fuji film is no more sensitive to xray than any other comparable film. Fuji lawyers, however, appear to be more cautious than other lawyers.

 

[blindrobert]

Why don't you shoot one roll and have it developed...or 4 rolls. If they aren't damaged, the others are probably fine too.

 

[kyler.]

Is there a difference with slide film?
Is that a problem putting it through the xray? or is it the same deal as negative film.

Thanks,
Kyle

 

[StillKicking]

I travel regularly on business and always carry at least one camera (either my Bessa R2A, Leica Iiic and / or M3) with me. I also carry at least 5 rolls of film, sometimes more.. and often buy film while I'm away.

Most of my trips involve multiple flights.. for example on my last trip in March I travelled through Victoria, Vancouver, Heathrow, Dublin, Rome and back again via Heathrow, Vancouver and Victoria. My camera's and film were x-rayed every step of the way!

Over the last 10 years or so I have not had any film damaged by x-ray machines in airports. Back in the 70's and 80's it was sometimes a problem.. particularly at smaller regional airports with older x-ray machines.

The biggest challenge I have faced recently was getting past a Swiss Leica buff working in security at Zurich airport.. he "needed" to inspect my M3 and lenses.. not a problem except for the people waiting in the line up behind me.

Marc

 

[Turtle]

Never had a problem with damage. I do try to get my 3200 film hand inspected and this has only ever been a problem at Dubai, where one security person refused point blank to hand search the high speed film. His staff knew he was wrong and directed me on another route thru the airport and this second security team hand searched the high speed stuff for me. Just remember, D3200 is really only a 1000 speed film so it stands to reason that it should also be OK.

I do ask for hand searches where possible for all the film when heading out on the trip, bec you can never be sure how many passes the film will get at some airports. Once on the home straight, I stop bothering even to ask bec I know it won't get more than a few more scans.

I have actually found travelling with film easier in the last few years than four or five years ago.

 

[boffen]

Ok, I guess it'll be fine then. Normally I wouldn't be worried, but I bought fifteen rolls for my friend, and I don't want those to be ruined. All of my developed films I put in my brothers bag, and those only went through twice in total, so I'm guessing at least those will be fine.

The reason I'm scared is because I read somewhere that anything between 5-10 times through a standard x-ray machine might damage most films.

 

[radiocemetery]

After a trip to Greece and having my Fuji film scanned 8 times, I couldn't tell that my pictures were any worse than usual.

I asked for hand check on the film at each customs point and was refused every time. "Everything slower than 800 will be fine", I was told.

 

[thegman]

I've had 1600 speed film go through many x-rays, no problems.

 

[furcafe]

No difference.

Is there a difference with slide film?
Is that a problem putting it through the xray? or is it the same deal as negative film.

Thanks,
Kyle

 

[furcafe]

All X-rays will cause some damage to film, there's no getting around that fact of physics/chemistry. But, then again, so will the cosmic rays & background radiation that you encounter while flying (& on the ground). All you can do is minimize exposure by asking for hand-checks, etc. This extends beyond airports because in many countries you will also encounter X-ray machines in museums, mass transit stations, etc.

I think over 10 times in a standard carry-on scanner would only cause visible problems if you're shooting ISO 3200 & above (including slower films that you're pushing). 5 times? Not in my experience. I've had rolls of Neopan 1600 (shot @ 1600) scanned around 10 times without visible (to me) effect; while I wouldn't want to make this a normal practice, I was relieved.

Ok, I guess it'll be fine then. Normally I wouldn't be worried, but I bought fifteen rolls for my friend, and I don't want those to be ruined. All of my developed films I put in my brothers bag, and those only went through twice in total, so I'm guessing at least those will be fine.

The reason I'm scared is because I read somewhere that anything between 5-10 times through a standard x-ray machine might damage most films.

 

[KenR]

Call me a chicken, but the only time somebody ever pointed an Uzi at me was a security guy in Rome airport after I requested my film be hand checked. Since then, I have placed my film on the scanner line with my hand luggage and have neither been threatened with bodily harm nor had any damage to the film.

 

[Turtle]

I should have added that I have no issue with 400 speed film getting scanned plenty. Scanners are generally getting more sophisticated and the old rust buckets that look like they were assembled from components originating in Chernobyl are rare now, even in poor countries.