Do you use a film back traveling through airports?

[jcrutcher]

I've been using a 40 year old lead bag for years. Sometimes it causes a problem with the Airport Scanners (if they are under 30) not knowing what it is and then they want to do a bag check, even though I have it out of my bag. I rarely have any film faster than 400 in the bag. I'm thinking of stopping this practice. What do you do?

thanks
Jim

 

[GaryLH]

I use digital 90% of the time now, but back when I was using mostly film, I remember an article about using lead bags. The scanner operator will increase the X-ray strength in an attempt to c what is in there, before asking u to step aside and show them what is there.

Anyway, I used to just take all my film out of the boxes and put them in a zip lock bag. Max iso was always 400. Never had a problem even going thru multiple security check points on vacation.

These days I never bring film camera on vacation if I am flying.

Gary

 

[thegman]

I have put 1600 speed film through several X-Ray machines, and I cannot see any ill effects.

My first trip with film I requested a hand inspection, but I have found that airports, especially in the USA, are places where it's best just to do as you're told. Now I just put the film in a clear bag in my hand luggage. It goes through the machines, and looks fine to me.

 

[Lauffray]

Or try buying the film at your destination ?

 

[sepiareverb]

I just traveled to Seattle from New England and back, my film passed through two scanners, but in Seattle on the way back my bag went in right behind a bag that got heavily scrutinized, it went back and forth several times - four scans, each one longer than the last. I could see my bag right there on the screen: with the M7 and 16 rolls of film Silvermax, ORWO UN54 and N74. Films are fine. They were in a ziplock bag in my suitcase.

 

[séamuis]

Or try buying the film at your destination ?

thats not really very good advice given the state of film availability in the west, much less in other countries and parts of the world. and what if he uses professional grade film such as portra, etc.? that would be even harder to find, if at all.

my advice is that as long as you keep the number of times you put that undeveloped film through a carry on X-ray scanner, you should be fine. ive traveled for the past few years with film up to 1600 with no ill effects. ive recently traveled with fuji 3200 instant film, with no ill effects. even though it says right on the box, to avoid X-rays. and the fuji 3200 is known to be extremely sensitive. something like 400 film most certainly doesn’t need the use of a lead bag. its just unnecessary and will only lead to a higher possibility of hold ups and delays getting through security.

 

[GaryLH]

I just traveled to Seattle from New England and back, my film passed through two scanners, but in Seattle on the way back my bag went in right behind a bag that got heavily scrutinized, it went back and forth several times - four scans, each one longer than the last. I could see my bag right there on the screen: with the M7 and 16 rolls of film Silvermax, ORWO UN54 and N74. Films are fine. They were in a ziplock bag in my suitcase.

Still kind of nerve racking not knowing until u get it developed.

Gary

 

[sepiareverb]

That's the reason why I take the films out of the camera bag. I have to take out the electronic devices anyway.

Well they'd have been right next to that same concerning bag anyway.

I always used to Fed-Ex films ahead if possible, but always Fed-Exed them home. Fed-Ex 2-day or 3-day depending on travel plans getting home. No worries at all that way. Been hearing how modern scanners are fine and those who find xray damage are FOS so just didn;t bother with that this time. Films are all processed and look fine to my eye. Can't see any difference between rolls from the same 400' can that were or were not x-rayed and got developed in the same tank.

 

[Brian Legge]

Films 400 and slower go in a bag through the scanner as carry-on. Faster film I put in a small plastic bag and ask for it to be hand checked. I haven't had anyone complain about this yet, particularly if I mention it is 'fast film' when asking. I haven't had any problems yet with any rolls.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

If the person running the scanner doesn't want to take a look inside your lead bag, they aren't doing their job. If something shows up opaque on their screen, they are supposed to take a peak inside. And the operators *can't" boost the radiation to take a look. The machines aren't made that way, for a variety of occupational-health-and-safety reasons.

I haven't bothered with lead bags, or hand checks, in years. The hand-carry scanners don't harm film, even TMZ after multiple passes through several airports.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Or try buying the film at your destination ?

Um... How many countries have you visited?

And even in (say) Paris, where are you going to find (a) the films you want (b) in sensible quantities (c) at anything like the price you could buy them at home (unless of course home is Paris).

Cheers,

R.

 

[jcrutcher]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I shoot Tri-X, Portra and various Illford however 1/2 are 120 which seems impossible to find at my destination plus I don't want to waste the time going out of my way once i'm there. I'm leaning on stopping the lead bag (that will hurt it's been all over the world with me) and use clear zip lock bags in the tray with my shoes.

I always carry a digital in addition to the film BTW.

Last question for the zip bag crowd. 120 film; should I take it out of the wrapper or leave it unopened?

Thanks again.
Jim

 

[mbisc]

Last question for the zip bag crowd. 120 film; should I take it out of the wrapper or leave it unopened?

Definitely leave 120 film in the wrapper -- it protects the film from moisture etc. In the age of brainless airport security employees, it also means that you can't do hand-check for 120 film, since the folks will insist that they have to see what's inside...

 

[Johnmcd]

Just got back from overseas trip. 100 - 400 iso film 120 and 35mm. Must have gone through airport carry on 6 or so times, in plastic zip bag in my camera back pack. Just developing now. All good.

If you live in the US, buy your film there and bring it with you. You have the cheapest film in the world by far! 🙂 We pay three times more at least in Australia (hence my B&H orders). Film was also expensive where I visited in Europe.

Cheers - John

 

[Spicy]

i travel a fair amount and usually just put it in a clear plastic ziplock bag and ask for a hand check. the 120 needing to be opened is a little frustrating, though, as one time i was bringing maybe 20 rolls through and i left it in the boxes figuring that i would be able to ID it easily once i arrived at my destination. stood there for 10 minutes while the TSA person went through and opened each one. at least she was nice about it, though -- we stood and chatted cameras. she had a fair amount of experience w/ people coming through with old film cameras that i was a bit surprised about (i'm in my mid-20s).

 

[sanmich]

Usually I ask for a hand check, but last time, they took all my films away for 10 minutes and I could run in my head the scenario where one of the rolls is lost or something happens to them.

OTOH, I've had film passing in two lead bags (one inside the other) and they didn't ask anything.

I'm pretty sure that in the lead bag the film is safe.

My new concern is for using IXMOOs. I don't know what to do if they go "open the funky ammo here". Do I even have the right to refuse?

 

[KansanTim]

Um... How many countries have you visited?

And even in (say) Paris, where are you going to find (a) the films you want (b) in sensible quantities (c) at anything like the price you could buy them at home (unless of course home is Paris).

Cheers,

R.

Very much agree with this point. Best to bring your film from home when traveling unless you already know sources at your destination. Right now, Paris is home for me, but the most reasonably priced sources of film I've found are still through ordering online (either French or German sites, depending on what I'm getting). Between places like Arista, the larger FNAC stores, and others, (a) and (b) can be met easily in Paris with a little asking around, but (c) probably not so much. All of that is with Paris being very photographer-friendly. I rarely have run out of film while traveling, and have been lucky (Vienna) and unlucky (a random Slovenian village) finding something when it's happened. Especially with digital being the standard today, you can't count on good film supply being at the destination.

 

[clayne]

I've done both 1600 and 3200 speed films 10-15+ carry-on scans, multiple times. No issues.

The sky is not falling people. There's no need to truck around a digital camera because of fear of X-rays.

 

[Sparrow]

I've done both 1600 and 3200 speed films 10-15+ carry-on scans, multiple times. No issues.

The sky is not falling people. There's no need to truck around a digital camera because of fear of X-rays.

... what he said, I found one film that had been to Ireland, around the US and back then to Greece and back in my wife's handbag

 

[KansanTim]

I've done both 1600 and 3200 speed films 10-15+ carry-on scans, multiple times. No issues.

The sky is not falling people. There's no need to truck around a digital camera because of fear of X-rays.

I've never put such high speed film through quite so many scans, but I agree completely with the sentiment. There is no need to panic or switch to digital just because of X-rays scanning carry-on luggage. I've never noticed X-ray damage on anything I have ever shot.