Film and airport security

[rbiemer]

This past week end, I had to fly from Ithaca to Louisville, KY for some family stuff.
Brought my Bessa R (loaded with XP2), and a couple rolls of Ektar.
The TSA stuff was pretty quick and easy both flying out and this morning's return trip.
However, I had a short conversation with the TSA agent in Louisville that puzzled me some.

He noticed my camera, after going through the scanner, and said to me Him: "Nice camera, what kind of film is in it?"
Me: "Ektar 100."
Him: "Oh. You shouldn't have put it through, you should have told me about it first."
Me: "Really? Sorry. I thought film 400 or slower is supposed to be ok?"
Him: "Nope. Anything faster than 400 or slower than 100 isn't supposed to go through the machine. Your film's ruined, sorry. Any more in your bag?"
Me: "Another roll of Ektar that I didn't use and a roll of XP2 that I finished while I was here in louisville."
Him: "The XP2 should be ok but I wouldn't even bother with the other roll."


I know we've had threads about traveling with film here before but I sure don't recall ever reading that US machines would be a problem with slower films?

What I thought was that, most films are ok with single--and sometimes multiple--scans and that "most" equated to BW or color print or slide films below about 800 speed or so.

I'm not likely to have lost any photos--I loaded the Ektar early this morning and shot 1 or 2 before heading out and the XP2 is a film I've never had any problems with.

While I would hope the guy running the machine would know what to expect--and he was old enough and savvy enough to know what a film camera is and knew at least a little bit about different types of film🙂D)--it was just different than anything I've heard or read before.

I travel infrequently and usually by car, so I surely am not an expert but I also know that some of you do travel quite a lot.

Any one else heard this before?

I am traveling again in a couple weeks (and that trip is for fun) and I had planned on taking some Ektar with me--going to Miami and color just seemed to be the better choice.

Should I just take some TriX?

Rob

 

[Moto-Uno]

In the last few years I've traveled through quite a few airports and have to say that without exception ( even in Viet Nam ) they have all hand checked my film , I've never had any in the larger cameras , as they frequently want to see inside the cavernous space.
So I guess my only advice is to never have any in the camera and you're good to go . The film speed remark does strike me as mistaken . Peter

 

[Huss]

Never heard that, and I've traveled a lot with film. They always have said anything faster than 800 . Does not make sense slower than 100.
You're fine.

 

[pschauss]

I have never had a problem flying with any film in my carry-on luggage. The slowest film that I have ever traveled with was Kodachrome 64 (in 2003).

 

[BLKRCAT]

when I was flying to Vegas I brought APX 25 as well as delta 3200, FP4+ and Portra 160. Going there they were really nice and hand checked everything even though they said anything 400 or slower was ok but coming back they refused to hand check everything and only checked the fast speed film.

Never heard that anything slower than 100 would be effected. My 25 iso shots were fine.

 

[Bill Clark]

When I travel I sometimes will have 20 or so rolls of film with a couple of cameras in a fairly small bag. It easily fits under the seat in the airplane. I bulk load my film (only use black and white film anymore as color is with digital) so it is out in the open. I havent't been checked in years and haven't had any problems with the film going through the scanner, even several times. I use film from 50 to 400 speed.

Maybe It'll be my turn the next time.

 

[rbiemer]

Yeah, I'm not actually worried about the film I had with me--no checked bags, only a carry on, but the bit about slow films was odd. And, if I remember what little physics I learned, improbable at best. 🙂

Rob

 

[MikeMGB]

I throw everything through the scanners, including Fuji Instax, I've never had any problems. The last time I travelled my Instax was xrayed 3 times, no issues.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I have been through airport x-ray with Ektar 100 many times and it did NOT ruin my film.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

when I was flying to Vegas I brought APX 25 as well as delta 3200, FP4+ and Portra 160. Going there they were really nice and hand checked everything even though they said anything 400 or slower was ok but coming back they refused to hand check everything and only checked the fast speed film.

Never heard that anything slower than 100 would be effected. My 25 iso shots were fine.

If you were flying in North America, they cannot refuse a hand check.

 

[Darshan]

I fly a lot with film, most of the airport scanners are safe for <1600 ASA films and my experience proves it. Before, I used to get it hand checked every time; now, I don't bother.

 

[ktmrider]

Perhaps the TSA agent was confused about ISO numbers. Cannot think of any type of radiation which would affect slow film but not fast film.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Love when people say under 1600 is safe. I flew a total of four passes on trip through airport security. Ilford HP5, Portra 800 and Provia 400 showed changes in density from fogging. I have experienced it...so I know better than to claim it is safe...because it is not.