One Trip, Seven X-rays

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Vics

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At the middle of April, my wife and I are embarking on a six-week trip to France and the UK. The problem that has arisen is that we must board six different airplanes and the EuroStar train. That's seven trips through the X-Ray scanners. So far, all I can think of is to take a few rolls of C-41 color, ISO 200 if I can find it, have it developed (only) there (SW France) then replenish and develop as I travel. Any ideas from the expert traveleers here? We'll be in the Dordogne, the Pays Basque, Madrid, Suffolk, ansd Normandy, finishing with a week in Paris, then home. Format will be 35mm. Thanks in advance for any helpful ideas!
 
Most scans I've ever had in one trip is 4, even the 1600 ISO film did not show any problems that I could see. You could mail your film home as you shoot it maybe?

I do get paranoid about it though, but then I'd be paranoid about it getting lost in the post too.

I've asked for hand inspections a couple of times, never had a problem with that either.
 
I just had to go through the same scenario on my trip to Dubai and India. I had to go through security 12 times with a big ziplock bag full of C41 roll films. In almost all cases the security guys obliged to fore go x-ray scanners and check it instead with that swab thingy for explosives.

The worst case was the security at my hometown airport of Denver where the man in charge decided to take each roll film (50 in total) out of their wrappers and check it for fun! This went on for a while until his supervisor came over and told him that it was not necessary.

I do feel your anxiety of getting though the x-ray checkpoints with films during travel. As many have advised, even if you do get them scanned the effect may be minimal or insignificant. Relax and enjoy the trip.
 
Vics said:
At the middle of April, my wife and I are embarking on a six-week trip to France and the UK. The problem that has arisen is that we must board six different airplanes and the EuroStar train. That's seven trips through the X-Ray scanners. So far, all I can think of is to take a few rolls of C-41 color, ISO 200 if I can find it, have it developed (only) there (SW France) then replenish and develop as I travel. Any ideas from the expert traveleers here? We'll be in the Dordogne, the Pays Basque, Madrid, Suffolk, ansd Normandy, finishing with a week in Paris, then home. Format will be 35mm. Thanks in advance for any helpful ideas!
Click to expand...

First of all sounds like a great trip.

Second film availability in Europe is much the same as it is in North America. You can find it in most places although selection may be limited. Camera shops usually stock a reasonable range. Processing is also available in most towns.

Third don't be too worried about carrying undeveloped film through x-ray machines in airports etc. Keep it in your hand luggage and you should be fine. I regularly travel on business across Europe with multiple flights and usually carry a dozen or so rolls of film.. Slide, B&W and Colour Print along with my M3 and a couple of lenses. To date I have not had a problem.
 
StillKicking said:
First of all sounds like a great trip.

Second film availability in Europe is much the same as it is in North America. You can find it in most places although selection may be limited. Camera shops usually stock a reasonable range. Processing is also available in most towns.

Third don't be too worried about carrying undeveloped film through x-ray machines in airports etc. Keep it in your hand luggage and you should be fine. I regularly travel on business across Europe with multiple flights and usually carry a dozen or so rolls of film.. Slide, B&W and Colour Print along with my M3 and a couple of lenses. To date I have not had a problem.
Click to expand...
Well, If I thought I could get hand inspections even 3 out of the 7 times, I'd switch to my Rollei and bring Tri-X.
 
Obviously you are at the mercy of whoever is doing the screening at each airport you go through, but I've found that most will oblige you and hand-check them as long as you are polite and smile and make it clear to them that it really is important to you. I also always remove all packaging and plastic canisters and put all the film into a clear ziploc baggie so they can see what they are looking at. As they hand-check it, I usually get a small lecture about how the xrays don't affect low iso film, yadda, yadda. I don't care what the experts say, if I can avoid getting any film of any speed xrayed, I do.

As it turns out, the only place I've ever been that didn't give a damn how politely I asked was at the Vatican museum. Fortunately I only had a day's worth of film on me, and it was all Velvia 50, so nothing happened, but I was still miffed nonetheless.
 
I put everything in thick x-ray bags and when they found out at the airport, I simply show them the film inside. Worked for me 3 out of 3 times.
 
Xray bags, and when I can, two of them one inside the other.
Not because it protects the film (400 ASA), but because it improves my sleep quality.
 
Now I'm puzzled. I always heard that when you use those x-ray bags, they simply crank up the power on those scanners, sometimes going through multiple times. So I got the impression they should not be used. However, now y'all are saying it's actually better to use them. ????
 
Sparrow said:
... I thought c41 was a drugstore film?
Click to expand...

Those scanners make me nervous too. This showed nothing but it was only two scans. I love the drugstore look:

6756622687_39ce7a162c.jpg
 
I have had film go through a bunch of times, more than just 7. It was always fine. I am not sure about in Europe, but in the US you can request a hand check of your film. Just put it in a separate bag and ask nicely.
 
goo0h said:
Now I'm puzzled. I always heard that when you use those x-ray bags, they simply crank up the power on those scanners, sometimes going through multiple times. So I got the impression they should not be used. However, now y'all are saying it's actually better to use them. ????
Click to expand...

they won't crank up the power
they will simply call you over and ask you to open the bag and see what's inside

once they see it's film
they let you go

(at least that's my experience)
 
In short, relax, take the film with you (it's available, but I found very expensive - and 120 is another story... ) and don't fuss and worrying about getting it developed on the road.

On my return trip, going through Heathrow, I forgot about 12 unexposed rolls of 120 (100 and 400 speed) in my checked bag... I was pleasantly surprised to find no ill effects of my mistake - the film came out fine!

Oh, I bought one of those x-ray bags once. And only used it once. It caused a minor scene as the TSA agent with a worried look on her face called for a supervisor - the bag had fallen across part of my laptop and she thought I was smuggling something!
 
goo0h said:
Now I'm puzzled. I always heard that when you use those x-ray bags, they simply crank up the power on those scanners, sometimes going through multiple times. So I got the impression they should not be used. However, now y'all are saying it's actually better to use them. ????
Click to expand...
I don't think they can manually turn the scanners up and down.
 
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