film and X Rays

[hjfischer]

I just returned from a cruise tour in So. America and wanted to share my experience with airport/cruise ship security pertaining to my 25 rolls of 400 ASA film. I carried the film, no cannisters, in a clear zip lock bag and asked for its hand inspection because I wanted to avoid cumulative x rays. Each of the following required going through security due to trip initiation stopovers, embarcations, etc: Austin, TX; Washington DC; Baltimore, MD; Miami, FL; Santiago, Chile; Valpariso, Chile-Holland America Lines; Rio de Janiero, Brazil and return to Austin through Miami and Washington, DC. Each re-entry aboard ship also required x ray of any hand carried items. I asked for and received hand inspection of my films over 25 times. Only in Rio did they refuse, saying that ASA 400 film would be "no problem". I made sure to thank each inspector profusely. Incidentally, the beginning of my trip was the day before Thanksgiving-the busiest travel day.
In summary, don't expect a problem with your film getting fogged by airport X Rays, carry your film in a plastic bag and request hand inspection, and don't forget to express your appreciation. That will help the next film camera traveler! Have a great holiday season.

 

[bmattock]

I would like to add my experiences with hand inspection requests - as many of you know, I used to travel for a living, racking up in excess of 125,000 miles per year. I thankfully don't do that anymore...

Inside the USA, you can 'request' a hand-scan of your film. That does not mean that the TSA will do so, and it does not mean that they have to. The advice hjfischer gave above was good - clear plastic bags and being nice certainly help. Still, they might and they might not.

The TSA will tell you that x-rays do not harm film. This is a patent lie. All radiation that passes through unexposed or exposed but unprocessed film harms it. What they MEAN to say is that the x-ray radiation that they use won't harm it to the point where you will notice. They say you can pass it through up to five times without being able to notice the damage it does. In my experience, I have never noticed any actual damage - I think it is pretty safe. But I hate that they say it does not damage - it has to, it is a scientific fact. They can say it doesn't all they like - pure lies.

The TSA at some airports are doing hand-scans on request if the film is considered 'high speed', meaning ISO 800 or above. I always carried a roll of ISO 800 film with me for just that reason, which I never actually used. Faster film is harmed in a more visible way than slower film, so that's why they often agree to hand-inspect 800 speed or faster film.

Don't try to use lead-lined bags designed to protect against x-rays. These make your bag opaque to the scanners and the screeners, and they will stop your bag, take the film out, and then x-ray it by itself anyway. Not worth a penny, don't bother buying the things.

Don't put unprocessed film through checked luggage or it will be destroyed. By unprocessed, I mean unexposed OR exposed but not-yet-developed film. Once it is developed, then you can put it in your checked luggage and it will not be damaged.

Oh, and don't put your camera in your checked luggage - it is not covered by the airline insurance (check with them, it's not!) and the TSA has a bit of a problem with crooks who will steal anything not nailed down. You're not even allowed to lock your checked luggage anymore. Keep your camera with you.

Hope you find this helpful.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Doug]

Good advice all-round! And hjfischer that sounds like a terrific cruise experience! Hope you post some pictures.

I traveled about the same time, leaving a week before Thanksgiving and returning a week after. I only had to go through the xray inspections twice total, once in Seattle and once in Kahului Maui.

I had about 25 rolls of 220 film in a ziplock bag, 15 rolls of NPZ-800 and the rest NPS-160. I asked for a hand inspection. Two ladies cooperated on that chore, as each foil pouch had to be opened to see what was inside. They got each roll back into its original pouch in pretty good order and zipped things back up.

I didn't like the foil pouches being opened, but those are the rules... 🙁

I could just imagine a "customer" grinding his teeth in impatient frustration during this, but when the ladies were done I did not make some nasty comment (I expect they get some of those!) but rather, "Thank you for your dilligence", with a smile. No sense in making things any less pleasant.

On the way back, with only about half the film exposed, I forgot to ask for the hand inspection, so it all went through the scanner. No harm as far as I can see.

 

[That Guy]

I always carried a roll of ISO 800 film with me for just that reason, which I never actually used.

Oh, and don't put your camera in your checked luggage - it is not covered by the airline insurance (check with them, it's not!) and the TSA has a bit of a problem with crooks who will steal anything not nailed down.

Good idea on the 800 film, Bill. I hadn't thought of that. 😀

I wasn't aware that camera equipment isn't covered by airlines. I checked my camera case last time, zip tied, not locked, and didn't have a problem. But I'm a bit more hesitant this time since I've also heard that there's been a lot of theft within TSA. I'm travelling over X-mas and my Bessa kit will be staying with me during my travels.