Importing film to Australia: X-ray damage?

[Jaans]

Hi,

I will be heading back to Aus soon and will probably be importing some film (TRI-X and Delta 3200) as the cost of film there is quite expensive. It works out cheaper if you purchase in bulk from Freestyle.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone from Australia has done this and is the film X-rayed or nuked with baggage scanners? Did your film turn out fine when processed?

I was wondering because I have some faster rolls of film and the X-ray could affect them with fog etc. Also, is it possible to leave a note for Freestyle to sign the package as film so it won't get these potential harmful rays?

Thanks for any information with this.

 

[shyoon]

I've ordered around 100 rolls of film from Freestyle, varying from ISO400 to ISO1600. Haven't had any problems yet.

 

[ChrisN]

I have had film carried in checked luggage damaged by x-rays. If you bring film with you keep it in your carry-on luggage.

Better yet, send it by post. I have imported hundreds of rolls by post with no problems.

 

[Jaans]

Thanks shyoon for that reassurance.

I have just come to realize how expensive everything is in Australia for film users. I purchased some RO9 from Vanbar in Melbourne 4 months ago and it was great - both quality (well Rodinal has legendary keeping abilities) and price was not too bad. The chemicals aren't too bad compared to the States in terms of price. But film is unfortunately a whole other story. Like one of the salesman in a Sydney shop said that there is just not the demand in Australia for film products to facilitate keeping prices low.

 

[Jaans]

ChrisN - thanks for the reply, I am ordering it by post from Freestyle. Does post not get checked in those amped X-ray machines like checked in baggage? I have always been curious about that. I do know that the post office in Aus X-rays some packages if not all, but I wonder if that is a less powerful than the airlines x-rays.

 

[sig]

I have never had any problems with the film I have imported to Australia. And when you think about it, all film is imported to Australia......

 

[mgd711]

When you mail film, it goes by plane which means it is x-rayed.

Maybe it does, but I’m not so sure about that, I’ve ordered hundreds off roll’s and had them shipped over air freight and have not seen any fogging on the films yet. If it is X rayed it must be fairly low dose.

 

[sevo]

When you mail film, it goes by plane which means it is x-rayed.

Wrong. Air freight is usually not x-rayed, unless it is regularly scheduled to go on a passenger flight, or if it is routed to Israel.

 

[sig]

Films damaged in x-rays can not be a big problem. Nobody would sell film to Australians from overseas if the film was destroyed on the flight, customs or elsewhere.