trueredsoxfan_58
Newbie
im going to be traveling next week with some portra 160 (135 format). Do i need to be worried about the X-Ray machine with this film (will be carry-on, not checked baggage). Should I ask the TSA to inspect it by hand (Id rather not as they are a hassle anyway?) I dont want the film to get damaged though
Thardy
Veteran
I found a cool link about how to handle film. It's written by someone at Yale. They're smart.
http://www.yale.edu/ytravel/airlines/film.html
http://www.yale.edu/ytravel/airlines/film.html
Jan Pedersen
Well-known
No need to worry, not even with Iso 400 film or faster. I have had film scanned at least 8 times with no signs of failure and that is all formats from 35mm to 8x10
Checked luggage is a no no but carry on is fine.
Checked luggage is a no no but carry on is fine.
helvetica
Well-known
I just put them in a clear zip-log bag and make them hand inspect them. It is pretty uncommon for them to do these days, so I often get a weird look! The way I see it... by the time I wait through the "cattle line", take off my shoes, belt, glasses, etc, go thought the full-body scanner and re-dress myself... they have plenty of time to do a swab-n-scan test on my film canisters.
I usually will have a stack of bulk-rolled Kentmere 400, and although it's below ISO 800.. why risk it? I don't want to ever look at a photo and wonder if it could be more clear if it had not been xray'd a few times.
I usually will have a stack of bulk-rolled Kentmere 400, and although it's below ISO 800.. why risk it? I don't want to ever look at a photo and wonder if it could be more clear if it had not been xray'd a few times.
trueredsoxfan_58
Newbie
ill just let them through the x-ray since its such a low ISO. However Ill mail them to be developed from the destination instead of letting them go through again
icebear
Veteran
Supposedly no damage up to ISO 800 but why risk anything, get a film safe bag.
Dana B.
Well-known
I presume by film safe bag you mean lead bag. They don't work, they're obsolete. The inspectors see a black blob, turn up the X-rays, then nuke your stuff. Better to hand a clear bag of film, sans packaging boxes, for a TSA hand check; the operators always seem happy to oblige. Foreign airports, however, are less friendly, and nearly always insist you pass your film through X-rays.
I recently left two rolls inside a checked bag; the higher X-rays fogged the hell out of my film. While some RFF members say there's no damage done by carry-on X-rays, I've had some tornado-like streaking issues I suspected was caused by them (though they could have been caused by development). X-rays are like Kryptonite for photographers; I'm scared to death of them.
Though I continue to fly with film, I finally broke down and bought an X100s as a back-up. I hear Salgado grew so tired of the X-ray hassle that he succombed to digital as well.
I recently left two rolls inside a checked bag; the higher X-rays fogged the hell out of my film. While some RFF members say there's no damage done by carry-on X-rays, I've had some tornado-like streaking issues I suspected was caused by them (though they could have been caused by development). X-rays are like Kryptonite for photographers; I'm scared to death of them.
Though I continue to fly with film, I finally broke down and bought an X100s as a back-up. I hear Salgado grew so tired of the X-ray hassle that he succombed to digital as well.
Lflex
Lflex
x-ray operators don't crank up the radiation, I am not even sure they can. They don't need to, because they can easily see through the lead material. It takes a significant mass of material to make anything invisible, and a lead bag of a few hundred grams is not going to do that.
Underaglassbell
Aerochromatic
The /only/ film I take care with when going overseas is Infrared film, the Kodak EIR/Aerochrome.
With that I put the rolls (120) in my pockets and just walk through the detector. Done this 5 times, and not (as yet) had an issue.
Contrary to the above however, I have had an issue with 800 film (Portra) which did fall foul of some colour casting.
Personally, I like it. but as you can see there is some clear discoloration.
***It is always worth noting, it was during a trip to NYC, and therefore it probably had 4/5 'scans' through the smaller baggage check machines. One scan there and back, and then a couple of scans in lobby checks for the likes of the Empire State and the Rockefeller centre, or should I say center
With that I put the rolls (120) in my pockets and just walk through the detector. Done this 5 times, and not (as yet) had an issue.
Contrary to the above however, I have had an issue with 800 film (Portra) which did fall foul of some colour casting.
Personally, I like it. but as you can see there is some clear discoloration.
***It is always worth noting, it was during a trip to NYC, and therefore it probably had 4/5 'scans' through the smaller baggage check machines. One scan there and back, and then a couple of scans in lobby checks for the likes of the Empire State and the Rockefeller centre, or should I say center
anjoca76
Well-known
Don't bother with film over 400. I remove it from all packaging, including the plastic canisters, and put everything in a clear zip-loc. Usually they will oblige you a hand check, but even if they don't your film will be fine. I fly with film all the time and haven't experienced any visible fogging, etc.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Useful but the source of the info is: Source: www.tsa.dot.gov. Yale guy is just a googler.
Sparrow
Veteran
... hand baggage scanners do not damage film.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19217760@N05/8588492409/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19217760@N05/8588492409/in/photostream
Underaglassbell
Aerochromatic
...But they do fog them...
Sparrow
Veteran
... theoretically ... but can you prove that with a negative? ... I think not
Underaglassbell
Aerochromatic
Hmm. Right. Well the above image is a scan from a XPan negative (V750) with some contrast adjustments, but the issue is absolutely there and that was the first time I have ever had negatives exhibit discoloration - Ergo, bit more then a coincidence that-that 800 ISO roll just so happened to have at least 4 /scans/.
Can /I/ personally prove it, yes, if you really-really-reaally wanted me to....
Can /I/ personally prove it, yes, if you really-really-reaally wanted me to....
Underaglassbell
Aerochromatic
OP: Your 160 Portra should be absolutely fine.
- Just be careful with higher ISO films 800+ having multiple scans.
- Just be careful with higher ISO films 800+ having multiple scans.
Sparrow
Veteran
Hmm. Right. Well the above image is a scan from a XPan negative (V750) with some contrast adjustments, but the issue is absolutely there and that was the first time I have ever had negatives exhibit discoloration - Ergo, bit more then a coincidence that-that 800 ISO roll just so happened to have at least 4 /scans/.
Can /I/ personally prove it, yes, if you really-really-reaally wanted me to....
... did the rest of the film look like that? ... if not, then why not?
meanstreetshooter
Established
I've done the same and no TSA Agent complained about the hand check. Just have a pleasant attitude. Now I just get film delivered via mail at my Florida home, and send it back to the lab same way.
Lauffray
Invisible Cities
I agree, just use a clear ziplock and ask politely. In my experience no TSA has ever refused to do so, surprisingly, last time I was in Stockholm some guy refused to check my film, when I asked a second time he threatened to call the police.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
This topic has been debated here at RFF before (hotly debated). I'm just going to share my own firsthand, empirical experience. I am a sample size of one.
I have had film fogged after going through about 8 (8+) carry-on scans during a trip to eastern Europe. During the same trip I reserved some of my rolls for hand inspection through most (perhaps all) of these checkpoints. Those rolls (hand checked) had no fogging at all. E-chrome 100 and 400, B+W 100 and 400, and a little C-41 of un-remembered speed. The scanned films were clearly fogged, often heavily. Consistent with what I have been shown as examples of airport x-ray scanner fogging of photographic films. I'm convinced about the cause of my fogging. I should mention that it is un-contended that checked luggage (that which goes in the cargo hold of the plane) is zapped at much higher x-ray intensities. Your film is almost certain to be affected if it goes this route!
I have since learned that film with speeds above 800 are considered susceptible, and most B+W of moderate speed and above is also susceptible. I can also say that the number of times your film goes through these "harmless" carry-on scanners will influence susceptibility too! As a second experience to share: I have had my film go through the scanner twice (once each way on a trip from Oregon to Everglades and back) because I was too lazy to pull it all out for a hand check (not to mention the treatment I get from grumpy security people; not all, but some). I had no noticeable effects with those film. The only issues with those shots were "operator induced" and included poor exposure choice, poor composition, and flare effects from too much Florida Sun.
I say proceed with caution and make best-informed choices. Its certainly possible to let some films go through the scanners (a minimum number of times) with no noticeable effect. The trick is to know which films and how many times through the machine before you go through the hassle of "hand check". Add to that the reason for the film and you have another layer of decision making; vacation snapshots or paid assignment? Lucky for me, I'm rarely paid for my photographs. Lucky?
Remember: travel should NOT discourage the use of film. Be smart and it becomes a non-issue.
I have had film fogged after going through about 8 (8+) carry-on scans during a trip to eastern Europe. During the same trip I reserved some of my rolls for hand inspection through most (perhaps all) of these checkpoints. Those rolls (hand checked) had no fogging at all. E-chrome 100 and 400, B+W 100 and 400, and a little C-41 of un-remembered speed. The scanned films were clearly fogged, often heavily. Consistent with what I have been shown as examples of airport x-ray scanner fogging of photographic films. I'm convinced about the cause of my fogging. I should mention that it is un-contended that checked luggage (that which goes in the cargo hold of the plane) is zapped at much higher x-ray intensities. Your film is almost certain to be affected if it goes this route!
I have since learned that film with speeds above 800 are considered susceptible, and most B+W of moderate speed and above is also susceptible. I can also say that the number of times your film goes through these "harmless" carry-on scanners will influence susceptibility too! As a second experience to share: I have had my film go through the scanner twice (once each way on a trip from Oregon to Everglades and back) because I was too lazy to pull it all out for a hand check (not to mention the treatment I get from grumpy security people; not all, but some). I had no noticeable effects with those film. The only issues with those shots were "operator induced" and included poor exposure choice, poor composition, and flare effects from too much Florida Sun.
I say proceed with caution and make best-informed choices. Its certainly possible to let some films go through the scanners (a minimum number of times) with no noticeable effect. The trick is to know which films and how many times through the machine before you go through the hassle of "hand check". Add to that the reason for the film and you have another layer of decision making; vacation snapshots or paid assignment? Lucky for me, I'm rarely paid for my photographs. Lucky?
Remember: travel should NOT discourage the use of film. Be smart and it becomes a non-issue.