Film, airports and x-rays

[ugly bokeh]

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).

Jamie,

I am talking about exposed film but not yet processed (film still in the caniseter.) Now I know why some of pics came out not right. I thought I made a mistake.

Thanks,

 

[EmilGil]

I sent my slide films through multiple x-ray machines whilst in China 1.5 years ago. My first attempts to have it hand inspected failed but after having a guy write a long note in Chinese, I was treated most respectfully (usually a security officer with white cotton gloves inspected my rolls). Funny thing is I still don't know what that note says! 🙂

Well, even after a couple of more passes (Helsinki airport security was very, very stubborn) all films turned out perfectly fine. Most rolls were outdated Provia 100F but some tri-x and other ISO400+.

 

[peter_n]

Don't ever put film in checked luggage. My experience is no problems with carry-on, ask for hand checking and make it easy for the checker by having the rolls out of the canisters. Accept without arguement an x-ray check, your film is probably going to be alright so long as there aren't to many passes through x-ray. I've had NP1600 go through more than one x-ray pass and the film has been fine.

 

[40oz]

I've never had a problem asking for a hand-check of my film in a clear plastic bag. The film is always in the black film canisters, and often hand-rolled. Just explain that it will be exposed to many security scans before you get home, so it needs to be hand-inspected. Be polite and reasonable - hand inspection of five or ten rolls takes only a minute, but if you are carting around 50-100 rolls, you are being kind of unreasonable.

 

[Berliner]

Those lead lined bags (at least the one I got) does not work. I fly weekly for work, and the last time I had 800 speed film in my camera I used the lead bag. The tsa guy operating the x-ray machine told me I had a 'bad lead bag--nice camera though'--he could see right thru it...so maybe it helps, but not totally. Also, I usually have 400 loaded, and this routinely goes thru multiple checks. I HAVE noticed fogging on 400 film that has gone thru multiple times...now I do an internet search for the location for a well stocked film store where I can get xp2 at my destination. Depending on how caotic it is at the screening, I may ask for a hand inspection, but the standard answer, is "oh, you don't need a hand inspection..." Air travel for me, has always been a PITA, but it is now a nightmare, at least it is if you have to fly 3 or 4 times a week...Definitely do not check any speed film, consider buying/developing on site, or carry-on 100/125 speed film...

 

[40oz]

"oh, you don't need a hand inspection..."

I just say, "I'm afraid if the film is x-rayed, it will ruin my family pictures, and my mother will never forgive me." Works like a charm 🙂

 

[andrewmore]

Two things that may be of use:

(a) check the film packaging, even some very low speed film is specifically marked as X-ray sensitive for eaxample Fuji 'Fujichrome Velvia' (RVP 120 in this case) is rated at just ISO 50/18° but has 'PROTECT FROM HEAT AND X-RAY' in four languages in red on the box;

(b) when travelling from London Gatwick to Greece each year I ring up the airport and explain my requirement for a hand search in advance. Last year after several telephone transfers around their security system and some exchanges of e-mails I got a copy e-mail to present to the security inspecting staff in order to have the films examined by hand. This worked okay, even though the e-mail instruction from the security boss to the inspectors wasn't that well worded and left them slightly baffled as to what to do... Travelling back from Greece from the small island of Skiathos is somewhat easier as I get the tour rep. to explain to the security people that I required a hand search with no problems experinced so far.

Regards

Andrew More