kshapero
South Florida Man
"Film. Pack undeveloped film in your carry-on bag. If you have film that is faster than 800-speed, tell a TSA officer who will manually inspect the film instead of placing it through the X-ray."
Do you agree with this? Is this enough precaution?
And what about developed film? Check in or carry on?
Do you agree with this? Is this enough precaution?
And what about developed film? Check in or carry on?
mrksgrn
on your lawn.
Carry on always, never checked in. The checked baggage scanners are many times more powerful than those for carry on.
ktmrider
Well-known
Yes, the TSA is generally detested for trying their best. I have never had a problem when I have requested hand inspection. Indeed, I have never had a problem with film going through X-ray.
Why in the world would developed film be an issue?
Why in the world would developed film be an issue?
hamradio
Well-known
I went through a bunch of various airport screenings in and outside of the US this summer. I ended up just passing my undev'd film (all slower than 800 speed) through the carryon scanners at least five or six times with no effect on the film, as expected. My TSA experiences in the US were nice, fairly efficient, and pleasant.
Only twice did I request a hand check: Once for a very intimidating looking luggage scanner at the entrance of an airport not in the US (everyone/everything entering was scanned), and once while being detained in the US for accidentally almost sneaking a rotten apple through customs.
The first hand check of the film was done very pleasantly. The second––by the FDA or something else that wasn't the TSA––was performed rather begrudgingly. It was my own damned fault, for being stupid and forgetting about a little bruised up green apple that had been in my carryon for days. I stood in line, watching workers perform all sorts of tactics on those that had been taken aside and were not native to the US. It sometimes worked to get bundles of meat, spices, etc. out of luggage. For others, the doubting assumptions/shouting of the officers still didn't produce anything aside from the one illegal thing that the individual had tried to bring through, which had been discovered long before.
After this, it was time for my apple and me. A big luggage scanner was present, and I was told to throw my carryon/everything on the belt. I held my bag of film and cameras back, and told the guy I wasn't going to run it through the machine. After some audible groans, he asked me to just open up the domke bag. I flipped the top open, he barely glanced inside from a few feet away, and passed me along. Interesting.
Only twice did I request a hand check: Once for a very intimidating looking luggage scanner at the entrance of an airport not in the US (everyone/everything entering was scanned), and once while being detained in the US for accidentally almost sneaking a rotten apple through customs.
The first hand check of the film was done very pleasantly. The second––by the FDA or something else that wasn't the TSA––was performed rather begrudgingly. It was my own damned fault, for being stupid and forgetting about a little bruised up green apple that had been in my carryon for days. I stood in line, watching workers perform all sorts of tactics on those that had been taken aside and were not native to the US. It sometimes worked to get bundles of meat, spices, etc. out of luggage. For others, the doubting assumptions/shouting of the officers still didn't produce anything aside from the one illegal thing that the individual had tried to bring through, which had been discovered long before.
After this, it was time for my apple and me. A big luggage scanner was present, and I was told to throw my carryon/everything on the belt. I held my bag of film and cameras back, and told the guy I wasn't going to run it through the machine. After some audible groans, he asked me to just open up the domke bag. I flipped the top open, he barely glanced inside from a few feet away, and passed me along. Interesting.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I've had this little see through film pouch for decades and I always carry my film cans in that (no plastic containers, just the raw film rolls). Doesn't matter what speed the film is, I always have them hand check it. Never had a problem, or even a complaint. Always make sure my camera is empty before I get to the airport and let them carry-on scan that.
Pioneer
Veteran
Funny story. I was going through the luggage check in a very small airport in the high country of Peru. Not being certain how strong their xray machine was, I asked if they would hand check my film. They smiled and agreed. She took my film bag, opened it, looked through it and smiled at me.
To my horror the agent then to the bag around and put it on the belt!! She smiled and brought it back after having gone through xray. Quite obviously she knew better than I because the film was not effected at all.
To my horror the agent then to the bag around and put it on the belt!! She smiled and brought it back after having gone through xray. Quite obviously she knew better than I because the film was not effected at all.
Faintandfuzzy
Well-known
On US flights, TSA agents are required to allow for handchecks. They have no option. Outside USA and Canada...you are at the whim of the agents.
Pablito
coco frío
This must be RFF thread #977 about airport x rays. I wonder if someone has a new inisght? Or if we'll have the predictable sequence of replies.
1. Those who think TSA are humans just like them
2. Those who think TSA are fascist brutes
3. Those who say TSA must agree to hand check
4. Those who say TSA forced them to scan & would not play nice
5. Those who say 25 trips thru the x ray machine did no damage
6. Those who say 1 trip thru the x ray ruined their film
7. Those who post links to scientific studies
8. Those who tell you their stories of having foreign airport security folk deny or agree to hand check.
What I am leaving out?
Those who complain about too many repetitive threads about airport x rays...
1. Those who think TSA are humans just like them
2. Those who think TSA are fascist brutes
3. Those who say TSA must agree to hand check
4. Those who say TSA forced them to scan & would not play nice
5. Those who say 25 trips thru the x ray machine did no damage
6. Those who say 1 trip thru the x ray ruined their film
7. Those who post links to scientific studies
8. Those who tell you their stories of having foreign airport security folk deny or agree to hand check.
What I am leaving out?
Those who complain about too many repetitive threads about airport x rays...
Pioneer
Veteran
This must be RFF thread #977 about airport x rays. I wonder if someone has a new inisght? Or if we'll have the predictable sequence of replies.
1. Those who think TSA are humans just like them
2. Those who think TSA are fascist brutes
3. Those who say TSA must agree to hand check
4. Those who say TSA forced them to scan & would not play nice
5. Those who say 25 trips thru the x ray machine did no damage
6. Those who say 1 trip thru the x ray ruined their film
7. Those who post links to scientific studies
8. Those who tell you their stories of having foreign airport security folk deny or agree to hand check.
What I am leaving out?
Those who complain about too many repetitive threads about airport x rays...
Ahh Pablito, surely that cannot be. 977 posts and only 8 options? Your memory must be getting old.
zuiko85
Veteran
Aren't we glad they stopped making film base out of cellulose nitrate by the mid 1930's
Chuck Albertson
Well-known
This must be RFF thread #977 about airport x rays. I wonder if someone has a new inisght? Or if we'll have the predictable sequence of replies.
1. Those who think TSA are humans just like them
2. Those who think TSA are fascist brutes
3. Those who say TSA must agree to hand check
4. Those who say TSA forced them to scan & would not play nice
5. Those who say 25 trips thru the x ray machine did no damage
6. Those who say 1 trip thru the x ray ruined their film
7. Those who post links to scientific studies
8. Those who tell you their stories of having foreign airport security folk deny or agree to hand check.
What I am leaving out?
Those who complain about too many repetitive threads about airport x rays...
You left out the "TSA will just crank up the voltage on the scanners if you put your film in a lead-lined bag" crowd.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I accidentally left a roll of Delta 3200 in my carry-on on both the outbound and the return flight, St. Louis to Houston and Houston to St. Louis. It was fine.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
The umpteenth thread about a non-issue.
Yes it can go wrong and no that doesn't mean that it inevitably will go wrong. It just might. Sometime. Someday. If ever.
The anecdotes are entertaining to read. They are however only anecdotes.
Shoot digital if you worry too much and have airport staff X-ray-nuke the memory cards, you'll be fine.
Yes it can go wrong and no that doesn't mean that it inevitably will go wrong. It just might. Sometime. Someday. If ever.
The anecdotes are entertaining to read. They are however only anecdotes.
Shoot digital if you worry too much and have airport staff X-ray-nuke the memory cards, you'll be fine.
michaelwj
----------------
Darshan
Well-known
This must be RFF thread #977 about airport x rays. I wonder if someone has a new inisght? Or if we'll have the predictable sequence of replies.
1. Those who think TSA are humans just like them
2. Those who think TSA are fascist brutes
3. Those who say TSA must agree to hand check
4. Those who say TSA forced them to scan & would not play nice
5. Those who say 25 trips thru the x ray machine did no damage
6. Those who say 1 trip thru the x ray ruined their film
7. Those who post links to scientific studies
8. Those who tell you their stories of having foreign airport security folk deny or agree to hand check.
What I am leaving out?
Those who complain about too many repetitive threads about airport x rays...
You must work for the TSA!
OTOH, I have had film go through carry-on scanners many times, never had a problem, even with fast film.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I fly with sheet film. Try explaining to people what is sheet film. Instead of drawing attention to the film at risk of them opening a box or two I just let the film pass through the xray inside my carry on luggage.
rybolt
Well-known
I flew with film for many years. The last ten years or so I carried it in Pelican cases and outside the snap cans. I could get about 40 rolls of 35 or about 20 rolls of 120 in a case. The only issue that I ever had was in Toronto where an agent hand inspected the film and then didn't put it back in my case. I wound up in the UK with no black and white 35mm film. It was my own fault for not checking but I was stressed over a bad flight and a short connection. A month later, when I got back to Toronto, my film was waiting at lost and found.
bucs
Well-known
Airport
Airport
I brought over 100 rolls of Neopan with me last time I went home to the PHL because they weren't available in our country. Went through x ray and all were fine...
Customs however took a look at it and charged me import taxes :bang:
Airport
I brought over 100 rolls of Neopan with me last time I went home to the PHL because they weren't available in our country. Went through x ray and all were fine...
Customs however took a look at it and charged me import taxes :bang:
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I have had the occasion where upon reentering the US, Customs (not TSA) wanted to x-ray all my baggage, including carry-on with film, using a cargo hold baggage scanner. A polite but firm refusal to allow them to x-ray my film eventually resulted in being excluded from the x-ray process.
Moto-Uno
Moto-Uno
I've had the good fortune to pretty well always have an old ( Very Old ) camera with me
that always started an entertaining discussion and have never been questioned about my desire for a hand check ! Peter
that always started an entertaining discussion and have never been questioned about my desire for a hand check ! Peter