Film (not snakes) on a plane

ChrisP

Grain Lover
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Dec 24, 2010
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Alright,
I understand that high speed film can fog from the scanners used when getting on a plane, (due to the x-rays?).

My question is what speed film do I have to worry about? Does lower speed film pushed have the same effect (I assume it does), or would hp5+ pushed to 1600 be safer than neopan 1600? And is all film affected by this? (is my velvia safe?).

Also does anyone have experience with hand checking film? Are most airports cool with this? Is my girlfriend going to hate me for bringing film on trips and trying to explain to someone who only speaks broken english that I need them to hand check my film? And what about Americans (no offense but you guys are kind of airport Nazi's). Would they send me straight to jail just for suggesting they hand check it?

Does it matter whether the film is in my carry on or in my checked luggage? (I assume it doesn't), or is one scanner safer than the other?

And what about importing high speed film from other countries? Does it have to go threw scanners? I can save a few bucks getting stuff from the US but I'm kind of worried that shipping high speed (hp5+ that will be pushed and ilford 3200) will have to go through some kind of scanners and will get all fogged up before it makes it to Canada.

Thanks in advance,
Chris
 
1. In my limited experience, the airport security has been quite cooperative in New York JFK, Boston, LHR, Toronto and Moscow (SVO). Their published rules typically distinguish between "high speed" and other film, the threshold being the box speed of 1600. So, throw some Delta 3200 or Neopan 1600 in the bag along with others, and ask them to "hand check" the whole thing.

2. Another way is to tell them nothing, and buy one of those lead pouches impenetrable by x-rays. Chances are they will not notice the lead object 95% of the time. But if they do, you may have a harder time convincing them not to x-ray the contents.

3. The absolute worst thing to do is to put film in checked baggage. They use much more powerful scanning for most checked suitcases, and your film is almost guaranteed to be ruined or fogged significantly, even if it is lower speed.

PS The only thing they do not scan is live animals since these new scanners would kill them. So if you travel with a dog, the best place to put the film is the cage 🙂
 
x-rays

x-rays

Indeed put some high iso-film in there or at least tell you will push your film to 6400 iso, it sometimes helps. Use ziplog-baggs to show that you are willing to help, with offcourse the film out of the cannister. Ask politly. Wait for most of the line at the check is gone. And bring a leadbag if you are going to Dubai they are one of the worst.

Tip for going home: mark your film and pull it back out (if like it is unused) and mark it so you won't use it again!! this way you won't have any suspicion at all and have the risk of having it scanned.

In the end the doses are not very high and will properly do no harm at all. (had them checked at dubai 2 - times, no problem with foggs or whatever except for my own poor quality of photographing) Butt then again if you have it scanned a dozen times or more things may get worse, so every scan you skipp you won one!!
 
800 or slower is supposed to be OK going through the carry on scanner. I have had 1600 scanned twice (effects are cumulative) with no impact to the images. In my experience fewer airports are willing to hand check -- they flat out refused in Mexico City. I was once pulled out of line there because the girl working the scanner did not know what my film was; thought it was suspicious. Fortunately her supervisor was old enough to laugh about it.
 
Only place i've had an issue with request for a hand check was Rome, otherwise Paris, London Toronto (all recent) no issues with hand checks and i've even had one guy start up a conversation about different films he used himself in London
I keep it all in a zip-lock and pull it out to hand over before i get to security
Rome outright refused and told me no film could be damaged by their new scanners despite my having 3200 iso in the bag and explaining it to them. 3200 wasn't overly affected from observation with one scan done, but i wasn't overly happy with them. I've thought about processing as i travel but it really only works easily with c41 35mm, and medium format is more likely to be in my bag now. b/w is even worse unless i pack a tank and pick up chemicals locally (not my idea of a vacation then)
 
Do not check it in. Ask for a handcheck and say specifically "I need a hand check. This is PROFESSIONAL film". Ive never been refused in a US airport. Also, I was granted a hand check in Bogota, Colombia and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I was not granted a hand check both entering and departing Havana, Cuba. The film was fine. I dont bring anything higher than 400 iso, though.
 
1. In my limited experience, the airport security has been quite cooperative in New York JFK, Boston, LHR, Toronto and Moscow (SVO). Their published rules typically distinguish between "high speed" and other film, the threshold being the box speed of 1600. So, throw some Delta 3200 or Neopan 1600 in the bag along with others, and ask them to "hand check" the whole thing.

Indeed, I have had good luck at LAX as well. I throw in a box of Fuji FP-3000B, and when they ask me "what speed" I tell them and show them the big numbers on the box. They'll hand check the whole bag.
 
My question is what speed film do I have to worry about? Does lower speed film pushed have the same effect (I assume it does)

Lower speed film is lower speed film. The film does not know if it is underexposed.

As for worrying, it gives you premature aging so why bother?
 
3. The absolute worst thing to do is to put film in checked baggage. They use much more powerful scanning for most checked suitcases, and your film is almost guaranteed to be ruined or fogged significantly, even if it is lower speed.

While I wouldn't recommend it I've accidentally pack an entire brick of ISO 100 film in my luggage and it was absolutely fine.
 
I keep all film with me, and never place it in check-in luggage... All film inside a big ziplock bag without card and without plastic: just the rolls. Inside that bag I use a much smaller one (ziplock too) for TMZ... I take out the big bag, show it to the agent, and taking out the small bag, I say "aaaaaaaall this film can pass through the machine, except these few rolls that being 3200 would be burnt. Could you please inspect them?". I have had not a single problem in any airport in any country. I've found when they see a lot of bare rolls they get relaxed because "he's a photographer". Once (Europe and Egypt) I passed ISO400 film through 20+ machines before and after exposing it, and it was perfect after development and printing.

Cheers,

Juan
 
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