KenR
Well-known
CT scanner update - no damage. As I posted a few weeks ago, I inadvertently put my film into the TSA scanner in Asheville, NC without realizing that it was a CT scanner and not the usual 2D scanner that the film had been scanned with while I was outbound from Newark to Asheville. After lots of delays in getting the film processed (work does get in the way), I took the film out of the wash and found - no damage. This was Tmax400 shot at box speed. Rather anticlimactic after all these weeks but there it is. I can also say that the TSA scanner in Roanoke, VA is also a CT scanner. Are they installing them first at smaller regional airports?
Asim
Well-known
Thank you for the update! Your update has really impacted my direction in photography. As a person that loves to travel and take travel photos, i was on the verge of actually considering a digital camera! 
You saved me!
I will continue with my 5 piece set up...
Leica MP
50 Lux asph
28 elmarit
Olympus 35RC
Rolleicord Vb
You saved me!
I will continue with my 5 piece set up...
Leica MP
50 Lux asph
28 elmarit
Olympus 35RC
Rolleicord Vb
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Thank you for your update, I was looking forwards to that. I would be great if more people update us with their experience if they have any film scanned with a CT machine.
I can also confirm that Midlands Birmingham airport is still using the old scanners - no damage on my films.
I can also confirm that Midlands Birmingham airport is still using the old scanners - no damage on my films.
hendriphile
Well-known
it's not just film.
Last week when I flew (within the U.S., Delta Airlines), the pre-board announcement stated that "any device with lithium ion batteries is not allowed."
So it looks like traveling with my Canon Eos-1 (and any other digital camera using a lithium Ion battery) is also dead.
Last week when I flew (within the U.S., Delta Airlines), the pre-board announcement stated that "any device with lithium ion batteries is not allowed."
So it looks like traveling with my Canon Eos-1 (and any other digital camera using a lithium Ion battery) is also dead.
Hmmm, so cellphones and tablets weren't allowed? I think they might have meant in checked baggage.
besk
Well-known
I believe that is in checked baggage.
Sean Moran
Established
At Dublin airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris) last week, there was ... absolutely no problem with film.
There are so few people using film nowadays that I was treated with great courtesy when I asked for a hand check. It seemed to be unusual for them to be asked, so they didn't revert to scripted speeches about "these scanners are safe for film" (though they probably were). At CdG they wouldn't hand check the loaded camera, but they waited patiently while I took the film out. Without my glasses, I couldn't see how many photographs I'd taken on the Leica M2, so they told me (of course you need to know this when you put the film back in the camera, so you can fire the right number of blanks - as it were) No problem.
Hats off to Dublin and Paris airports!
Seán in Tipperary
There are so few people using film nowadays that I was treated with great courtesy when I asked for a hand check. It seemed to be unusual for them to be asked, so they didn't revert to scripted speeches about "these scanners are safe for film" (though they probably were). At CdG they wouldn't hand check the loaded camera, but they waited patiently while I took the film out. Without my glasses, I couldn't see how many photographs I'd taken on the Leica M2, so they told me (of course you need to know this when you put the film back in the camera, so you can fire the right number of blanks - as it were) No problem.
Hats off to Dublin and Paris airports!
Seán in Tipperary
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D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Thanks Sean. That's good news!
zuikologist
.........................
Very encouraging. Will see how this works on flights to the Middle East coming up.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
KM-25
Well-known
I'm less than a month out from my trip now, so lots of prep. I ship 350 rolls of 120 film off in a week or so via Fedex and then get to packing. I might bring 20 rolls for carry on just to see how it goes...
vadvik
Newbie
Answer from Istanbul Airport about traveling with film:
Regarding your information request, In accordance with the National Civil Aviation Security Program, the professional motion-pictures possessed by the persons carrying along such motion-pictures are checked by means of the "Charge Tents" possessed by them. If there is no “Charge Tent”, it is necessary to scan the film by the security device under the approval of the person carrying the film; and if the person does not consent, this film is not allowed to pass. Submitted for your kindest information.
Regarding your information request, In accordance with the National Civil Aviation Security Program, the professional motion-pictures possessed by the persons carrying along such motion-pictures are checked by means of the "Charge Tents" possessed by them. If there is no “Charge Tent”, it is necessary to scan the film by the security device under the approval of the person carrying the film; and if the person does not consent, this film is not allowed to pass. Submitted for your kindest information.
KM-25
Well-known
Hi Everyone!
I got back from the Faroe Islands on November 19th and my film showed up on the 23rd. I sent 360 rolls to the Faroes using Fedex and installed an Apple Airtag for real time tracking and that worked wonderfully. I carried 15 with me on the flight and got hand checks everywhere but Vagar Airport in the Faroes on departure, they were insistent and the machine was the regular one. The bulk of the film was shipped home via DHL a couple days before I left, I held onto 15 rolls to get me by to shoot more images with.
I shot 237 rolls all told and once home immediately processed the 5 of 15 rolls I shot post shipment I carried on the flight and some other of the same kind of film I had in the queue at home to compare to. That processing batch showed no ill effects or differences in base fog with densitometer readings. DHL shifted the shipment to USPS once it hit Denver and I was able to track that really well and even retrieve it from my local post office when I showed them on my phone that the package was literally in the building.
I then picked 5 rolls from the various bags in the shipment and developed those. Again, no ill effects. So I went on to process 40-50 rolls a day in my Job CPP3 until all the film was done.
I am happy to report that the film did not have any signs of X-ray that I could tell. I even processed the other 30 or so rolls I had in the queue at home to further compare and the base fog was exactly the same with no artifacts to be found anywhere.
What I did to ensure the desire to not x-ray the film was paramount was put labeling all over the box in both english and danish and then give very specific instructions to not unroll the film but that one could inspect the film in the bags, especially on the return journey. On the return shipment the post office even put bigger Do Not X-ray labels on the outside of the box.
The box was a Fedex International Flat Rate 10KG and weighed that much, I stuffed that sucker full of film. It cost me $304 to ship it there and $586 to ship it back, well within my budget and expectations.
So for this trip to the Faroe Islands, it simply worked and the image making even though challenging at times due to weather was life and career affirming. I am going to be doing one trip a year like this for the next 5+ years so I am going to tailor my logistics according to the destination. Other places on the list are Greenland, Patagonia, Baffin Island, Iceland and perhaps even more remote areas that could require the use of a fixer and or the use of far less film but brought with me on the flight.
I have to do this for the next several years to build up strong bodies of work and I need to do it on film. As long as it continues to work, I am game.
I got back from the Faroe Islands on November 19th and my film showed up on the 23rd. I sent 360 rolls to the Faroes using Fedex and installed an Apple Airtag for real time tracking and that worked wonderfully. I carried 15 with me on the flight and got hand checks everywhere but Vagar Airport in the Faroes on departure, they were insistent and the machine was the regular one. The bulk of the film was shipped home via DHL a couple days before I left, I held onto 15 rolls to get me by to shoot more images with.
I shot 237 rolls all told and once home immediately processed the 5 of 15 rolls I shot post shipment I carried on the flight and some other of the same kind of film I had in the queue at home to compare to. That processing batch showed no ill effects or differences in base fog with densitometer readings. DHL shifted the shipment to USPS once it hit Denver and I was able to track that really well and even retrieve it from my local post office when I showed them on my phone that the package was literally in the building.
I then picked 5 rolls from the various bags in the shipment and developed those. Again, no ill effects. So I went on to process 40-50 rolls a day in my Job CPP3 until all the film was done.
I am happy to report that the film did not have any signs of X-ray that I could tell. I even processed the other 30 or so rolls I had in the queue at home to further compare and the base fog was exactly the same with no artifacts to be found anywhere.
What I did to ensure the desire to not x-ray the film was paramount was put labeling all over the box in both english and danish and then give very specific instructions to not unroll the film but that one could inspect the film in the bags, especially on the return journey. On the return shipment the post office even put bigger Do Not X-ray labels on the outside of the box.
The box was a Fedex International Flat Rate 10KG and weighed that much, I stuffed that sucker full of film. It cost me $304 to ship it there and $586 to ship it back, well within my budget and expectations.
So for this trip to the Faroe Islands, it simply worked and the image making even though challenging at times due to weather was life and career affirming. I am going to be doing one trip a year like this for the next 5+ years so I am going to tailor my logistics according to the destination. Other places on the list are Greenland, Patagonia, Baffin Island, Iceland and perhaps even more remote areas that could require the use of a fixer and or the use of far less film but brought with me on the flight.
I have to do this for the next several years to build up strong bodies of work and I need to do it on film. As long as it continues to work, I am game.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Thanks KM-25 for updating us. Nice everyting worked ok and no film was damaged.
I guess this journey was an amazing and intense experience...
I guess this journey was an amazing and intense experience...
Andy Kibber
Well-known
Yes, thanks for the update & I'm glad to hear the plan worked out!