Film is Dead for Overseas Travel…

lamefrog said:
The only difficulty here is that you don’t seem willing to budget properly. There are clear logistical solutions to your problem -either shipping your film stock or purchase locally in Denmark - but they require a certain level of funding. You’d need to pass on the cost or commit personally. Once the project is budgeted properly all your problems go away. You could also sell off some of your current film stock in the u.s. to somewhat offset the cost of buying new film locally in dk. This assumes you believe you will not deplete your film stock in your lifetime. If your film stock will deplete in your lifetime the idea of saving money by using some of that stock now is silly as the film you’d buy in Denmark today is just an advance purchase of the new film you’d buy when the stock does run out . Hope this makes sense , it’s late here .
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I’m not sure if you read my other replies above but I now have a budget for moving my film in and out of the Faroe Islands. It took about two weeks of daily work to get real numbers, create spreadsheets, weigh all the pros and cons and commit to a decision.

You also have to realize that some of this came about not even a month ago when I was presented with the dilemma in that I have to be out of my home for up to 4 months.

The budget for shipping my film is set, it has wiggle room and I am now working on shifting from multiple accommodations across the 8 weeks to trying to find just one to work out of long term.

But the reason for the post is not to solve my problem but to engage people in what is a much larger problem in traveling with film.

I hope this makes sense to you.
 
Thanks for keeping us updated. I certainly don't travel with near the film you do and not at all since the new CT scanners started being used. Hope the hand carried rolls work out.

Also happy to hear that you figured out an in/out shipping solution that isn't *too* expensive. Was that some combination of Fedex and DHL?
 
Just to update this thread, this is what Birmingham airport replied:

Thank you for contacting Birmingham airport with your recent enquiry. I can confirm that we use x-rays and not CT scanners. When you approach the loading position, please speak to one of the officers who will assist you with your film canisters.

In the meantime, if you do have further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 
When I travel, it’s normally for leisure, and for a holiday with my wife. If I brought film I’d be stressing about getting a hand check (both directions) or devoting a portion of my holiday to getting some film, and then getting it developed.

Ultimately it’s a question of what’s important to me. Is shooting film more important, or is being relaxed on holiday and spending more time with my wife more important?
I bought a Fuji X100 series. They’re great travel cameras.
 
Clearly if someone has legitimate and serious commercial or artistic projects that require film, buying a digital is not the answer.
 
I recently took advantage of the lockdown to make FB darkroom wet prints of B&W photos I took on film during several trips to Italy from 2012 to 2019. I care very much about these photos, for me they are not just holidays snaps but the expression of how I could document what I was looking for during those trips to a country I am in love with (in spite of all its bad and sad sides). I see the world, photographically wise, in black and white and I have stuck to film for that because I never could catch it with a digital camera. I have stopped taking color pictures seriously long ago, when Kodachrome disappeared, and so B&W film has become my lone medium. I like to use all mechanical meterless RF and MF cameras and to travel with limited gear but with a large stock of film so that I can concentrate on photographying and looking at what surrounds me ; once back home, the trip goes on in the developing tanks, in front of the contact sheets, and in the darkroom. Do I have to let this important part of myself go away forever because of the new CT scanners and because I am "an amateur photographer" only ?
 
Highway 61 said:
Do I have to let this important part of myself go away forever because of the new CT scanners and because I am "an amateur photographer" only ?
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Flickr ...... Not a chance....
 
Ste_S said:
Sure. At no point did I say that though.
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I understand. I was just making a clarification to keep the thread on topic. I’m a digital user myself, especially when traveling, but the topic is about traveling with film.
 
I have found this thread slightly depressing. After 15 months or so of lockdown I had started polishing my film cameras, dusting off my light meter, pulling out my 82A filter, ready for a sortie into Europe, and now, instead, I have to longingly look at my old Olympus E-1 :(

Anyone know if there are these scanners on the Eurostar, maybe I can sneak into Europe through the tunnel, or go the old fashioned way - by ferry from Dover to Calais!
 
Spluff said:
Anyone know if there are these scanners on the Eurostar, maybe I can sneak into Europe through the tunnel, or go the old fashioned way - by ferry from Dover to Calais!
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Pre-pandemic I used to do annual trips across Europe, and every time I've made the trip across the channel by Eurostar (in the car, anyway) or ferry there have been absolutely no scanners of any kind. One year we did get stopped coming back on the French side, pulled aside and had our bags x-rayed; I'm blaming the fact we had a German and an American in the car with us that time round, though.

Whether or not protocol has changed due to Brexit remains to be seen, though.
 
jsrockit said:
Clearly if someone has legitimate and serious commercial or artistic projects that require film, buying a digital is not the answer.
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Film vs Digital never going to have any answer.

Serious, artistic and commercial or just because I don't want to deal with batteries and charger on the trip. Remember how Raid went to Europe and no charger?

I traveled in Canada, USA and Russia in recent years and M4-2 was the most peace of mind solution. One lens, dozen of 36+ rolls and S16 :). No batteries at all.
 
I think right now the pace of change and how widespread is in a bit of a state of flux due to Covid. People are just now starting to look at traveling again and there are other concerns to address that are not film related.

For example, in order to facilitate faster boarding and de-planing, SAS Airlines currently has a one carry on item only baggage restriction, that basically means nothing under the seat or in your lap, just in the overhead. When I spoke to SAS about it, they said it could very well lift by the time I travel. This affects all travelers and anyone who is considering a holiday or business trip abroad and they would be well advised to read any and all fine print.

I think reaching out directly to the airports you know you will be passing through is also a good bet, not just for film users but anyone. The effects of COVID will be felt well into next year at this point, especially considering how dire things are in other countries like India for example.

Based on my communication with airport security in Copenhagen, I feel pretty confident in taking 40 rolls of 120 through for a hand check and if it goes to crap, the majority of my film will be waiting for me at my destination. I have done all the planing I can do for now, time to just wait it out and see how travel changes as the year progresses.

Either way, it is a dynamic situation that for now will require a bit of effort and research on the part of each individual based on individual needs. It's not dead yet...
 
Question for getting 120 rolls hand checked - Do you crack open the seals(package) beforehand?
I would prefer not to but it seems like it would introduce another variable for the officer to question.
 
lazyhusky said:
Question for getting 120 rolls hand checked - Do you crack open the seals(package) beforehand?
I would prefer not to but it seems like it would introduce another variable for the officer to question.
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My plan is to do like I usually do and de-box the rolls but leave them in the wrappers. If they need to see a small number pulled out of the wrappers I can accommodate that too.
 
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