capitalK
Warrior Poet :P
I guess a lead film bag would be a perfect place to plant a bomb then?
Sparrow
Veteran
Most important to hang on to ones' towel
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
I carried slow and fast films, repeatedly, through big international airports like Houston, LAX, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Cairo, Johannesburg, Seoul, Sao Paulo and small shabby airports like Foz do Iguassu and numerous eastern european places where they rarely see 1600 speed film, if ever. I never never ever had any problem with carry-on packed film being damaged by x-ray.
Last year i went for work+holiday from Amsterdam to Sao Paulo - Foz do Iguassu - Rio - Houston - San Diego and back through Houston to Amsterdam, that's 7 scans in a row at least but i remember somewhere it was double checked. NONE of the film had any problem, including color slides 64 to 400 iso and BW film incl tri-x pushed to 3200.
The US is not the place where i'd bother asking for hand inspection, especially with an eastern european look and passport; the security checkpoints are always overcrowded, the people way too serious (signs hanging saying "no jokes please"). I pulled it off once in a while in Amsterdam, though (maybe that was more like flirting with the security girls?)
Last year i went for work+holiday from Amsterdam to Sao Paulo - Foz do Iguassu - Rio - Houston - San Diego and back through Houston to Amsterdam, that's 7 scans in a row at least but i remember somewhere it was double checked. NONE of the film had any problem, including color slides 64 to 400 iso and BW film incl tri-x pushed to 3200.
The US is not the place where i'd bother asking for hand inspection, especially with an eastern european look and passport; the security checkpoints are always overcrowded, the people way too serious (signs hanging saying "no jokes please"). I pulled it off once in a while in Amsterdam, though (maybe that was more like flirting with the security girls?)
Sparrow
Veteran
I got a lead bag two or three years ago. I’ve no idea if it works or not, I put the lead bag through with my watch and wallet; they clearly can’t see through it because they usually pick it up with a slightly puzzled expression, read the bit that says Hama Film-Safe on the bag and then pass it back to me.
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Pherdinand
the snow must go on
i guess it would, if you manage to pass the chemical test, i am not going to think about it seriously, though
Look, those dudes inspect thousands of bags a day, they have seen much more weird devices and boxes and bags than you could ever imagine. I don't know what they would do with something that is really opaque. All i'm saying is, the x-ray scanner intensity is not "crank-up"-able to make everything transparent. That's why you should take laptops out e.g. (they shield other electronic stuff very well).
You don't have to believe me. Go ask them next time you pass through whether that's what they do.
craygc
Well-known
Exactly, as Ive written here before;
Hand carry on x-ray scanner units perform a single scan with most machines today being dual-energy type scanners. Dual energy type scanners pass x-rays first through your bags, etc, then through 3 barriers which in turn filter out high, low and pass-through energy. The detection from these 3 filtrations are then compared in the system's computing modules for interpretation and display. Within these scanners the initial power level of the scan beam is usually within the range of 140 to 160 kilovolt peak. The colour changes you see on the screen are merely differing representations of metal, organic and inorganic objects achieved by performing additive and subtractive transformations on the different engergy levels calculated from the filterings at the 3 barriers of a single pass scan - although operators can reverse an object back into the beam for another scan. The scan energy level is set on these machines and cannot be arbitrarily increased by an operator.
The other note that others have made is that some of the airport exit xray machines designed for ALL your luggage to go through are potentially suspect of being the high power ones.
kywong
Established
Oh, very informative, thanks! Maybe the exit x-ray machine is how I got that white band on my film...
Gadge
Established
Craig
I have just had my first major film disaster and would like to know the cause.
On what will probably be my one and only Safari holiday to Kenya/Zanzibar, I shot nine rolls of film of 200 or 400 x 36 col neg and placed that and the unexposed rolls in my luggage due to lack of space out and back. I have never done that before, having always used carry hand luggae in the past to transport film.
On arrival home, I had all exposed film developed and the result was a disaster. I have many blank shots. Some rolls have only 5/6 shots that have come out on the negs. The shots that have come out look odd with weak colours etc. A lot of shots are totally blank on the negatives although some are cut off roughly half way with image on top and blank at the bottom. The shots which have come out are distributed through the negative strips seemingly quite randomly. The printed stuff top and bottom seems to have developed ok so douby that developers are at fault but it is the first time I have used this company. Some films seemed to have been almost unaffected with all shots coming out but arguably some quality loss.
I am managing to improve the developed shots with imaging software (from CD's also made) so still have some results to show but initial quality often looks quite poor before some work is done.
Does this sound like a bad case of fogging to you or should I get the camera checked out (an old EOS 630 with freshbatteries that sounded fine in use)?
Also should I throw away the unused film that also travelled in the suitcase or is it only the exposed film that will have been affected?
I have just had my first major film disaster and would like to know the cause.
On what will probably be my one and only Safari holiday to Kenya/Zanzibar, I shot nine rolls of film of 200 or 400 x 36 col neg and placed that and the unexposed rolls in my luggage due to lack of space out and back. I have never done that before, having always used carry hand luggae in the past to transport film.
On arrival home, I had all exposed film developed and the result was a disaster. I have many blank shots. Some rolls have only 5/6 shots that have come out on the negs. The shots that have come out look odd with weak colours etc. A lot of shots are totally blank on the negatives although some are cut off roughly half way with image on top and blank at the bottom. The shots which have come out are distributed through the negative strips seemingly quite randomly. The printed stuff top and bottom seems to have developed ok so douby that developers are at fault but it is the first time I have used this company. Some films seemed to have been almost unaffected with all shots coming out but arguably some quality loss.
I am managing to improve the developed shots with imaging software (from CD's also made) so still have some results to show but initial quality often looks quite poor before some work is done.
Does this sound like a bad case of fogging to you or should I get the camera checked out (an old EOS 630 with freshbatteries that sounded fine in use)?
Also should I throw away the unused film that also travelled in the suitcase or is it only the exposed film that will have been affected?
Gadge
Established
decided to post this as a fresh thread to make sure it is seen.
Please ignore above post
Please ignore above post
mccolalx
Member
I just got back from a European trip...
I carried 35 rolls of film in a Domke X-Ray bag in my carry-on. Every time I went through a security check, I would pull the bag out and set it in the container with my shoes and wallet. After passing through the personal metal detector, I would always make it through in time to look over the shoulder of the belt scanner operator and would see my stuff passing through the scanner. On each machine that I went through, I could see the individual film cassettes through the lead bag, and all of my film was fine (after at least six passes through x-ray machines).
I carried 35 rolls of film in a Domke X-Ray bag in my carry-on. Every time I went through a security check, I would pull the bag out and set it in the container with my shoes and wallet. After passing through the personal metal detector, I would always make it through in time to look over the shoulder of the belt scanner operator and would see my stuff passing through the scanner. On each machine that I went through, I could see the individual film cassettes through the lead bag, and all of my film was fine (after at least six passes through x-ray machines).
Roger Hicks
Veteran
You have been very, very lucky. Ilford has seen paper fogged by these machines.
Cheers,
R.
Phantomas
Well-known
I don't know about lucky, I almost always put my film in the check-in. So far, after many dozen trips, no problem.
mooge
Well-known
I went to Singapore-Penang-Phuket this summer, I had that same deal where they'd scan it if it wasn't over 1600asa, that kind of thing. in Canada, apparently the policy is that they will do a hand check if you request it- but some staff don't seem to know that. I got my film x-rayed a bunch of times, and it looks fine- not that I have processed any of the stuff I didn't get done in Singapore...
my travel kit was a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s, Canon FTb, 50-28-100, teleconverter, macro tube, fisheye adaptor, polarizer, graduated ND, two blowers of some kind, 40 rolls of film...
and guess what? I could have brought 20 rolls and the FTb with the 50 and I would have been fine. that bag with two lenses and some junk was too much to lug around in the heat.
my travel kit was a Minolta Hi-Matic 7s, Canon FTb, 50-28-100, teleconverter, macro tube, fisheye adaptor, polarizer, graduated ND, two blowers of some kind, 40 rolls of film...
and guess what? I could have brought 20 rolls and the FTb with the 50 and I would have been fine. that bag with two lenses and some junk was too much to lug around in the heat.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
I pack my film in clear "freezer bags" (zip-loc" style). Usually 3 bags with 20 rolls in each (all black/white). As a rule I dont take anything faster than 400 - but I have taken 1600 Neopan and though limited to 2 passes (departure/return) so far no problem with carry-on.
I never check luggage - haven't done it for the last 20 years. My rule is - if it cant go in the small bag for overhead or in my shoulder bag - it ain't coming along.
Usually I take 2 "main" bodies (M2/MP) and a special body (Bessa R4M, Bessa T) and at the most 4 lenses (21/35/50 and 75 or 90). The Bessa R4M has been the most travelled with either the 15f4.5 (m-mount version) or the 21f4.5 Biogon. That one is always along - the M bodies varies, sometimes a couple of M2's only, sometimes a Bessa R3M for the 75mm and a MP (0.58) for the 35.
It is rare that I miss a lens. Usually I can make a lens do what I want it to do - even if it isen't perfect for the job.
I can carry my bag all day long without listing heavily - and I find that not having to dig around for lenses also saves time. Occasionally I leave the 75 or 90 behind in the hotel - if I suspect that I am not going to need it.
Ten rolls of film goes in my left pocket of my vest in the morning - exposed film goes into the right pocket during the day. I might no use it all in a day - but back "home" (hotel) I refill the left pocket for the next day and tag what has been shot (just simple numerical sequence and sometimes a note as to who,when,where in a small cheap notebook).
I try to keep it light and simple, no lap-top, no chargers, no weird electrical cables, no SD cards etc.
I might take a couple of "contrast filters" for bl/w (yellow/red) - a small brush for dusting off cameras and lenses and a lenscloth ( freebie's from Leica/Pentax/Nikon etc).
Even in todays digital world you can usually restock with film if needed - at least in major cities.
Of course, I dream of the day when I will only take a M2 and the 40f1.4 and 50 rolls of TriX for a week long trip. So far I haven't gotten there yet!
I never check luggage - haven't done it for the last 20 years. My rule is - if it cant go in the small bag for overhead or in my shoulder bag - it ain't coming along.
Usually I take 2 "main" bodies (M2/MP) and a special body (Bessa R4M, Bessa T) and at the most 4 lenses (21/35/50 and 75 or 90). The Bessa R4M has been the most travelled with either the 15f4.5 (m-mount version) or the 21f4.5 Biogon. That one is always along - the M bodies varies, sometimes a couple of M2's only, sometimes a Bessa R3M for the 75mm and a MP (0.58) for the 35.
It is rare that I miss a lens. Usually I can make a lens do what I want it to do - even if it isen't perfect for the job.
I can carry my bag all day long without listing heavily - and I find that not having to dig around for lenses also saves time. Occasionally I leave the 75 or 90 behind in the hotel - if I suspect that I am not going to need it.
Ten rolls of film goes in my left pocket of my vest in the morning - exposed film goes into the right pocket during the day. I might no use it all in a day - but back "home" (hotel) I refill the left pocket for the next day and tag what has been shot (just simple numerical sequence and sometimes a note as to who,when,where in a small cheap notebook).
I try to keep it light and simple, no lap-top, no chargers, no weird electrical cables, no SD cards etc.
I might take a couple of "contrast filters" for bl/w (yellow/red) - a small brush for dusting off cameras and lenses and a lenscloth ( freebie's from Leica/Pentax/Nikon etc).
Even in todays digital world you can usually restock with film if needed - at least in major cities.
Of course, I dream of the day when I will only take a M2 and the 40f1.4 and 50 rolls of TriX for a week long trip. So far I haven't gotten there yet!
Nick De Marco
Well-known
Tom I like your travel kit! My problem is I am still wedded to using some digital on long journeys (eg my next planned to Burma). So I have to take my 5D II and at least two (bigish lenses) as well as two M bodies and let's say 4 lenses. hen there is either the laptop or portable image storer/reader, leads etc. The possibly two flashs, a remote, a tripod and maybe one or two small light stands for small flash (the latter can all go check in). I wish I could just limit it to film but because I feel like I might either want some high iso stuff, some tripod large landscape stuff or some semi-studio stuff with a model in my hotel room (even though 90% will be reportage for which the M bodies are best) I feel I have to take all this.
Becomes a bit much
Becomes a bit much
wgerrard
Veteran
Many airports post guidance about film on their websites. I've never seen one that says film is safe in checked baggage. Most say film at or below 800 (sometimes 400) is safe in carry-on luggage.
I did run across one airport -- forget where -- that said any b&w film was vulnerable, whether in checked or carry-on luggage.
Remember, too, that checked baggage is scanned with something much more powerful than mere x-rays.
Agree, too, that the agents can't just turn up the machine to peek inside an x-ay proof bag. I've never seen the point of those.
I did run across one airport -- forget where -- that said any b&w film was vulnerable, whether in checked or carry-on luggage.
Remember, too, that checked baggage is scanned with something much more powerful than mere x-rays.
Agree, too, that the agents can't just turn up the machine to peek inside an x-ay proof bag. I've never seen the point of those.
arunrajmohan
Established
What TSA says seems to agree with basically what is said in most of the posts. My films are always in my carry on and I have never had any issues.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm
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Arun
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http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm
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Arun
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FrankS
Registered User
My kit is usually like Tom's (when I'm not packing Nikon F3's or OM1+2). My special camera is usually a medium format, and I include a P+S for colour neg.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
That's my understanding also. But I'll tell you what they can (and do) do. They back up the conveyor belt and run the bag through a second time, if they want. That doubles the exposure, of course. With all the stuff I put in my carryon bag, they have done that, because it's too hard for them to tell what they are looking at. So here's what I do now. I put the film in a ziplock bag and lay it in the tray in plain sight. Now they know exactly what they are scanning, and it zips right though! That's what I do in Europe, where they won't hand-inspect. In the US, I just hand them the ziplock bag. I have an expensive Domke lead bag, but I leave it home now. It's just extra weight.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
FrankS, I am slowly revising my travel kit to include the Bessa III folder. It is not exactly small, but only weighs as much as a M2 with a 50f2 on it. Only problem is the size of the filmpacks. The lack of 220 Acros is aggravating. It would be nice to be able to use the III as a substitute for a 50, but at 3.5 it is a bit slow.
Next trip will probably be, R4M with the 21f4.5, M2 with 35f1.4 (VC Nokton), another M2 with the 50f1.1 and the Bessa III.
The 50f1.1 is a bit large - but it can be used as an allround 50 without any loss of image quality and the Bessa III would be the 100asa (acros) or possibly Tmax-2 400 camera for more contemplative shooting!
Next trip will probably be, R4M with the 21f4.5, M2 with 35f1.4 (VC Nokton), another M2 with the 50f1.1 and the Bessa III.
The 50f1.1 is a bit large - but it can be used as an allround 50 without any loss of image quality and the Bessa III would be the 100asa (acros) or possibly Tmax-2 400 camera for more contemplative shooting!