travel with film

boomguy57

boomguy57

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I'm incensed.

I travel regularly and all over the world, with film. I have had airports all over the world hand-check my film. I had 50 rolls with me, a mix of 400tx and delta 3200 (about half and half) in a big ziploc bag; I had the people in Minneapolis hand-check it for me before I left with no issue. I exposed some on the trip and coming home today was told that under no circumstances could I have my film hand-checked. The supervisor gave me a story about professional photographers coming with film all the time and never had an issue; I explained that if there was an issue, it's doubtful that anyone flew back over the Atlantic to tell her so. I've never had this issue before, and I'm furious. Now I'm assuming I have a bunch of fogged film to process. Naturally in the police-state, culture-of-fear atmosphere we live in, that's just my problem. After all, (in the states at least) it's a federal offense to argue with TSA.

Just venting. Maybe someone else can learn from my misfortune.
 
I've put Natura 1600 film throught a few X Rays, looked fine to me. But I agree, the terrorist-hysteria we have to put up with every time we travel gets quite old.
 
Your film should be fine. Ive encountered this problem, and my film went through 5 or 6 xrays atleast. Came out fine, including some rolls of 1600 and 3200.

I also hate having to put them through the machine but to be fair ive never had a film effected even after multiple screenings across most continents.
 
I've concluded that you have to be prepared to have your film scanned regardless of any stated policy - it all depends on the particular individuals at security. It doesn't even seem to depend on how busy they are. On a recent trip through the US (Phoenix) the security people were very courteous and did a hand check of my film without any issues. Other times I've had the same experience as you had. Sometimes they just look at the film, sometimes it is swabbed, a few times I've been asked to unwrap the foil package (120 film) on a random roll. It's always a risk with film. I hope your's isn't fogged.

Steve
 
print out TSA regulation on films and hand-inspection (I can't find the link at the moment), always separate the film bags and take it out before the x-ray. make a polite request to see the supervisor if the guards don't want to to hand-inspection. I travel often, no problem with films, including stack of 4x5s for hand-inspection when i asked.
 
It does seem that the actual rules and regulations, and the reason for them, are not relevant to the practice at ports of entry. There is absolutely nothing you can do about that, at the time (any sort of written procedure will complete long after the checking problem has occurred), so develop the film before flying back - and, if possible, you could arrange film supplies locally at your destination too.
 
MartinP said:
It does seem that the actual rules and regulations, and the reason for them, are not relevant to the practice at ports of entry. There is absolutely nothing you can do about that, at the time (any sort of written procedure will complete long after the checking problem has occurred), so develop the film before flying back - and, if possible, you could arrange film supplies locally at your destination too.
Click to expand...

I found myself having to do that a decade ago, the situation has only gotten worse since.

Which is why today I usually carry only digital cameras on any extended travel that involves airplanes. On the rare occasions I do carry film, I'm willing to take the trouble to find a decent processing lab and have it processed before going through the airport.

G
 
I also travel quite a bit through Germany, Russia and Ukraine with film, through the Balkans also previously, and I'm not sure if this helps or not, but I've had a lead lined bag to keep my film in and carry it in my carryon bag aloong with my cameras. Never had any problems, but the security wants to look in the bag to check it out.

One problem I've had is when the security doesn't zip my bag closed and tells me it's OK to take the bag. I did that in Frankfurt and everything went to the floor, broke my B&W Minolta Himatic S, a hand painted teapot given to me as a gift, etc. Now I double check to see if my bag is zipped shut.
 
Digital is the answer. You can not win an argument with a bureaucrat no matter what.

Or as was suggested, buy film there and process before return. It will cost a small fortune.

X ray damage is cumulative starting with the very first pass. You may not notice, but it IS there. Kodak will tell you as much.
 
Well, the processing option is not totally crazy as you would only need to process the high-speed rolls/sheets - unless there are likely to be a huge number of security checks, or some on antique machines.

Given sufficient time, a developing-tank + spare reel + dial-thermometer in the baggage and a few packets of dry chemicals (Xtol or Microphen, powder fixer, also neg sleeves etc.) posted to a suitable end-of-trip hotel, just before the return flight, could do the job adequately while reducing awkward questions over bags of white powder or unidentified liquids in hold-baggage. If chemical supplies can't be posted anymore, then it would be harder of course.
 
I find it's worse at Heathrow than anywhere else I've been. Once in France the lady said they could hand inspect, but only under the supervision of the police, but at other French airports they say no hand inspection. I just keep it under 400 iso. What else can we do?
 
I travel with film all the time through multiple airports most recently with Neopan 1600 with no problems. Don't scare people into shooting digital for imaginary reasons. Show me actual evidence of film damage as a result of airport carry on scanners please.
 
You'll be fine. I shoot a lot of TMZ on the road and it survives multiple passes through the carry-on scanners. Especially in Europe, where I tend to lose arguments with MP5-toting guards and don't even bother asking for a hand-check any more.
 
It was only the hand carry x-ray check and only one pass, so yeah you'll be fine.

I have had film (Natura 1600) x-ray damaged just the once, but that was because I mistakenly put my bag through the x-ray check for check-in baggage which uses more powerful x-rays than the carry-on baggage x-ray check. Even that time, the ISO 400 film I was also carrying was fine.
 
Rayt said:
I travel with film all the time through multiple airports most recently with Neopan 1600 with no problems. Don't scare people into shooting digital for imaginary reasons. Show me actual evidence of film damage as a result of airport carry on scanners please.
Click to expand...

Exactly... as I've mentioned else where before, I've had 400 film go through carry on scanners 16x which included flying from Asia to the US and back with no visible issues. I've also had 3200 go through 5x with no noticeable affect!
 
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