travel with film

[Pioneer]

I have traveled extensively with film and not experienced any trouble. If I know I will be doing a lot of low light work I typically try to carry Tri-X as my personal experience shows that I can push that film to 3200 with decent success. However, I have carried Fuji 1600 color as well with no noticeable bad effects. Have never tried Delta 3200, though I do use it quite a bit here at home. It will be interesting to see your results if you don't mind.

It is completely appropriate to ask to speak with a TSA supervisor, but be sure you have sufficient time before your flight leaves because they can be real stinkers and drag their feet. I have done this before and been successful in getting my film hand checked. But if I have close connections I typically will just cave and let them scan.

This is the unfortunate reality we live in, where we were willing to sacrifice some of our personal freedoms for supposed increased security for air travel.

 

[shadowfox]

Digital is fine if you don't like to print your photos in the darkroom.

The fastest film speed I'd carry is 400 with most of the others 100 ASA. So if those security people gave me a heartburn over hand-checking my films, I'd let them scan it. My photography is not that perfect that a little fogging would ruin it 😀

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I've never had an issue getting my film hand checked, but there have been a few occasions when I didn't have th time to wait for a hand check so I let the film go through...in those instances I've never had Tmax 3200 fog in th carry on X-rays

 

[santela]

When I was flying around Europe, this Italian guy agreed to check my film by hand, and ask me to keep moving through the security gate so I'm not holding up the line. As soon as I go through the gate he puts my film in the x-ray machine. I was pretty upset, but wasn't in the mood of arguing.

 

[Rogier]

I just returned from a trip to Myanmar with 4 internal flights and connecting flights from sfo - pkk - bkk - ygn - bkk - nrt - sfo
Often more than one security check per airport to go trough.
Packed 50 rolls of Fuji Reala in a transparent toilet bag with the cardboard cover from one of the boxes showing through. Also added sticker "FILM NO-RAY". Had an identical bag for the exposed film.

Handed the bag(s) with a big smile to the security person and kindly asked for hand check. 90% they gave it a quick glance and let he carry the bags through the metal detector. Or was passed to an other security person on the other side.
On a very few occasions (Tokyo) they very carefully emptied and repacked the bag nicely for me.

No problem at all 🙂


Packing Film by Rogier Diver, on Flickr