Film, airports and x-rays

[Dralowid]

I am after some advice.

We are off on our travels and will be taking the M with us as always. In light of the heightened security what should I do about film and x-rays?

I recently had a film affected by x-ray, I believe, because it had lain in the bottom of the bag from London to South Africa, then Washington and back. 200ASA.

Most security staff just stare at me when I ask to have the film passed round not through the machine.

I have been told that at London Heathrow they have turned up the power of the machines...is this an urban myth? Anyway, We are going from the UK to Auz, NZ and then on to the US before returning home.

What would you do? Shall I buy film and have it processed locally wherever I go?

Don't say it's time to go digital!

Michael

 

[micromoogman]

No problems if you have them in the cabin. I had a couple of films ruined when flying from New York when they were in my bag that was checked in. But the rays are much stronger for that luggage. There are film bags with a lead shield that should be safe too. The risk of damage is also higher with higher ISO-value. Check out Kodak's official page regarding this issue.

 

[mich8261]

The effect of x-ray is cumulative so even though the level of radiation is much less for the machines checking carry on luggage, since it is cumulative I wouldn't chance it. When they tell you that film below 800 or 1600 won't be affected, they are only talking about one or two passes. It must also be considered that some packages may get x-rayed several times at one check point. Whether they choose to throw the conveyor belt in reverse to double check someone else's bag or your own, each of those counts as one.

I suggest that you review the airport security organization's website for rules for each country you will visit and print them to show the security staff if you get someone uncooperative. The TSA, in the US, has been very good in my experience - www.tsa.gov.

Have a good trip.

 

[Rayt]

Don't worry about it and enjoy your trip. I prefer to have my film hand examined but don't always get my way. The net being what it is and everyone post over every little annoyance still I haven't seen one example of x-ray damage from carry on scans for an average trip which is around 4 to 8 scans.

 

[BudGreen]

I've never had a problem with scans of carry on bags, but the scans of checked luggage will most certainly ruin your film. These machines have all been upgraded since 9/11/2001 and from what I understand are now 300 times the power of the carry-on scanners. I don't use anything faster than 400 speed film but even with multiple passes through the carry-on scanner, no effects are visible to my eyes.

 

[mervynyan]

ISO 800 or higher you can ask for hand inspection, don't mix all speeds in one bag, they will have you to pick out the high ISOs on the spot. Put the films in two ziglock bags, high speed and low spped, scan them along with your wallet etc, which they tend to pass the scan faster.

Don't woory about it.

 

[ampguy]

If you have film in a camera, they may ask you to actuate the camera, so have batteries in it. I personally have not had problems with ASA 400 negative films going through the scanners, or asking them to hand check, just have it all ready for them.

 

[waileong]

1. Don't check in your film, always hand-carry.

2. Always try your luck and ask for film to be inspected by hand. Older airport security workers, who are more likely to know what film is, are likely to be more sympathetic.

3. Film-safe is film-safe. Don't worry too much about it if you're not using 800 or higher speed film. You can always buy and process locally if you wish. Some countries are a lot cheaper, and you may actually save money processing there. C-41 is very common, so no worries about overseas processing.

 

[Scarpia]

If you are coming to the Us where a Wal-Mart is located, five rolls of Kodak ISO 200 film in a five pack were $5.46 yesterday in the Queensbury NY store.Of course if you are going to have them developed back home you face the same problem. I rarely travel these days but am flying to Nashville next month from NYC and considering the same problem. I am thinking of going digital (perish the thought) in spite of the fact that I have a considerable stock of film rapidly going out of date. Best wishes on your trip.
Kurt M.

 

[kaiyen]

Interesting tid-bit - film gets more radiation while you're in-flight, at that altitude, than during the security screening.

allan

 

[popstar]

Kaiyen is right about the atmospheric radiation. Regardless, if possible, put the film in a clear ziploc bag out of the plastic case or box and ask for a hand inspection. Some security folks are more inclined to be helpful than others, but it is worth a shot.

Interestingly, in general I have found women to be more helpful than men. Many men just say that the x-rays won't hurt no matter the speed and put the whole kit on the belt to go through the machine. However, many of the women seem to be inclined to do a hand inspection. Massive generalization I know, but something I've observed.

In any case, asking for a hand inspection isn't yet illegal and usually yields positive results, so give it a shot. Just help them do their job by being prepared and you'll get better results!

 

[Dralowid]

Thanks everyone,

I will carry film and hand it to the security guys as I go by while smiling in a disarmingly honest manner.

I will not be taking 560mm Telyt/Viso and shoulder stock for fear of instant arrest.

The film that was fogged a while back was in checked baggage. All is explained.

Michael

 

[Ben Z]

In all the years I've been travelling I've never asked for a hand inspection and never seen any evidence of x-ray damage to film (up to 800, I don't carry faster) even though sometimes I go through a dozen airports on a trip and unused film goes back in the freezer and taken on a subsequent trip with more xrays.

The big problem, and it's becoming a huge one as almost nobody uses film cameras anymore, is having my camera bag turned inside out and the equipment manhandled by the security screeners. That alone is prompting me to buy a digital p&S for a few hundred bucks and not worry about it.

 

[usccharles]

buy a film bag! i'm not sure what its made of, but go to a local camera store and ask for film bags for airplane travel and its supposed to protect your film when it goes through the x-ray scanners.

i'm not sure it actually works, but i've never had any of my films go bad on me on any of my travels, so i'm positive atleast that it doesn't not work 🙂

 

[Topdog1]

Has anyone had any luck with the lead lined film bags sent through carry on x-rays? I always thought that was a good way to go, but have heard various positions on whether the lead lined bags really work or not.

Search for "Sima FilmShield" on your favorite photo store site.


Regards,
Ira

 

[gareth]

Check out this older thread http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28695

Also check out http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml#SEC43

Worth printing that out, highlighting the relevant parts and show it to the security staff if required.

Last time I passed through Heathrow in April 2006 it was no problem to get a hand check. They were set up to swab film for explosives. Have the film ready to check. In other words remove the cassettes from all packaging and place in clear plastic bags.

And don't miss your flight arguing for a hand check.

 

[kaiyen]

Here's the thing with those lead bags and passing them through carry-on x-ray machines. Theoretically, in order to protect your film from the x-rays, they must be opaque to them, indicating just a big black shape on the display. Now, TSA folks are _supposed_ to look inside your bag if such x-ray opaque objects are in your bag. It's why they have you take your laptop out - the HD's show up that way, but at least it's in your laptop and not just randomly in your bag.

So...either the TSA isn't doing their job (possible, but at a rate such that buying a lead bag for every trip makes sense?), or the bags aren't really opaque. Maybe they just reduce the amount of x-ray, which is still useful. But it doesn't make sense that they are an _absolute_ solution.

allan

 

[Stanton]

I have consistently used the lead lined film bags. The flim bag is never in checked luggage, but always in my carry on camera bag. My film cameras are emply when I fly. All of the film is in the bag(s). I have never had a problem with any fogging, notwithstanding that the film bag has been put through security devices numerous times on one trip. I use Fuji 400 film essentially exclusively. Often the camera bag goes through the scanner with the lead film bag in it and neither the camera bag nor the film bag are ever opened. Dave

 

[ugly bokeh]

When you refer to film in this thread, does it mean exposed and unexposed film? I am going on a trip too and will pass thru several airports. Is it safe to put all my exposed film in the checkin baggage or is it better to just hand carry it together with the unexposed ones? thank you all.

Regards,

Nelson

 

[Jamie123]

When you refer to film in this thread, does it mean exposed and unexposed film? I am going on a trip too and will pass thru several airports. Is it safe to put all my exposed film in the checkin baggage or is it better to just hand carry it together with the unexposed ones? thank you all.

Regards,

Nelson

Don't put the film (exposed or unexposed) in the checked baggage at all! Or are you talking about developed film? Developed negs or slides can be transported in the checked baggage without a problem (AFAIK).