FP3000b - buy from abroad/x-ray damage??

[Paulrave]

I've got a couple of Polaroid pack film cameras - a 600se and a 180 - and love shooting with the discontinued Fuji FP3000b. Obviously it's getting expensive as it becomes increasingly rare, but is a lot more reasonable bought from Europe or the U.S. (I live in the UK).

However I'm worried about the possibility of the film being ruined by security x-ray scanners in international transit.

Does anyone have any experience? Would I just be taking a gamble? Obviously I'd want to buy in bulk - 10-plus packs costing $150/£100 plus - which is quite an investment if I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping it arrives intact?

Regards
Paul

 

[Black]

Hi Paul,

It's risky. Airports themselves suggest a ceiling of 400 ASA before consideration of hand checks, so with 3000b being 3 stops faster, I wouldn't risk it, especially given the premium.

That's said, I do wonder how it's shipped from the place of manufacture to the UK (where I'm also from)?

There still seems to be plenty available in the UK for readable prices, if you do a bit of digging (but don't dig too much, as I want it all ;-))

 

[robert blu]

A couple of years ago I bough 20 packet of FP3000b from the USA, I'm living in Italy and I had them shipped by air mail. I had the same concerns you have.
I bought from this place which I contacted by mail expressing my doubts. They answered that their film shipping was specific labelled in order to avoid this kind of problems. Of course I do not know if things changed meantime but I had no problems with that films, they were ok.

I suggest you to contact the seller where you plan to buy and ask details about the shipping and this problem. A serious seller will give you a correct answer.
Regards

robert

 

[Ezzie]

I live in Norway and have bought FP3000B from FPP on several occasions, and they mark the contents as being photographic film. Never had an issue. But I have had issues with Instax bought from HK by way of ebay. Not as well marked (marked though it was), and all packs seemed to be damaged. Bought from same seller on several occasions, but just the one shipment that was impacted.