checked baggage scanning effect on film

Checked bags have always been an issue the issue is carry on bags.

I've heard heathrow is a disaster when asking for hand checks, though.
 
The Ilford advisory says this affects CABIN baggage; there has always been a strong warning not to put film in checked luggage, as the scanning machines are much more powerful than the ones (at least previously) used for passenger/cabin baggage as you go thru the checkpoint.
 
ADVICE FOR AIRPORT X-RAY SCANNERS: FILM & PAPERS

We are working with the DFT and Heathrow airport in the UK and will shortly be updating our information relating to the new CT type x-ray scanners being installed at major airports worldwide.

Based on our initial testing it is almost certain the new CT type x-ray scanners for cabin baggage will be deemed unsafe for any of our ILFORD and KENTMERE film products irrespective of ISO speed rating.

You must therefore ask for hand inspection of your films if the airport is using one of the new type scanners. We will be issuing more specific advice as we complete our testing and evaluation.
 
Ilford's post was a response to a similar post by Kodak Alaris: Kodak Alaris has just done a test on the impact of CT scanners on film. A number of US airports recently installed CT scanners at the TSA security lines (i.e. where your carry-on luggage gets scanned).

The results are BAD, so please be careful. I am probably a week or two away from developing my negatives from a holiday trip, but I am not hopeful. A friend of mine just developed his batch of film, and it was pretty much ruined :(
 
I just put 40 rolls in with the lab that went through LAX last week. This has me very worried. LAX was so overcrowded and chaotic I find it hard to imagine a hand check would have been possible. Hopefully these scanners didn’t arrive there yet, nothing looked different.
 
Ilford's post was a response to a similar post by Kodak Alaris: Kodak Alaris has just done a test on the impact of CT scanners on film. A number of US airports recently installed CT scanners at the TSA security lines (i.e. where your carry-on luggage gets scanned).

The results are BAD, so please be careful. I am probably a week or two away from developing my negatives from a holiday trip, but I am not hopeful. A friend of mine just developed his batch of film, and it was pretty much ruined :(

Do you know in what way the film was ruined?
I've got a roll of Tmax 400 hung up drying currently that went through LAX, I can check more closely tonight when I get home. ( I didn't know about this issue when I developed the roll yesterday.)
 
Do you know in what way the film was ruined?
I've got a roll of Tmax 400 hung up drying currently that went through LAX, I can check more closely tonight when I get home. ( I didn't know about this issue when I developed the roll yesterday.)

I have not seen the new machines at lax i was there last week.
They are easily identifiable - they are big cylindrical tubes that look like/are catscan machines.

LAX has always been great for handchecks.
 
I just put 40 rolls in with the lab that went through LAX last week. This has me very worried. LAX was so overcrowded and chaotic I find it hard to imagine a hand check would have been possible. Hopefully these scanners didn’t arrive there yet, nothing looked different.

they still r the old ones.
 
Thanks guys, that is reassuring, I don't recall the machines looking anything other than normal.
I'm just back off a once in a lifetime 6 week road trip through 7 states that is all on film, so seeing this thread :O

I hope no one else is immediately effected and I hope these airports continue to ensure a hand inspection is always available if these machines become the status quo. Flying isn't much of a choice down here at the ends of the world.
 
I let a box of 4x5 TMY go through the new CRT scanners at SFO last year and they were ruined. The damage looks like a weird pattern on the negative and blotchy lost of details. The previous older scanners were perfectly safe and I have never seen damage even after a dozen scans on the same trip but the new CRT scanners will damage your film.

I understand the TSA will do hand inspections but when comes to sheet film I don’t expect people to know what that is and frankly care about it if there are long lines of travellers. Opening the box to take a peek is a perfectly reasonable request for non photographers. Anyway I won’t take that risk. So now I am more interested in what type of scanners FedEx or DHL uses when I courier my negatives home.
 
Same from Kodak re CT scanners: https://petapixel.com/2020/01/27/kodak-warns-users-new-ct-scanners-at-airports-will-ruin-your-film/

filmpsa_feat-800x420.jpg
 
sounds like buy local, dev local from now on. bad for those using more professional/rare films, or on a short & hurry trips.
 
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