X-Ray exposure - how bad is the damage?

[Bingley]

I'm traveling in Europe, and this morning stupidly forgot to take my film out of my bag before checking it on a flight. Argh! So both exposed and unexposed film have been x-rayed w/ the more powerful x-rays used on checked luggage. Should I assume that the unexposed film is ruined? What about the exposed film?

 

[Neare]

You won't know until you get it developed. It might be absolutely fine. The fogging chance is higher for higher iso's such as 3200 etc.
I don't know the details of the xray machines where I live compared to the US, but in NZ I've had 800iso films xrayed with no untoward effects. But it will also depend on the time they have spent under the scanner.

As for the effects on unexposed or exposed film, it will fog each the same way. Only processed film is completely immune.

 

[roadmouse]

I had my hand luggage x-rayed about 18 times traveling through Indonesia. But all the film was still fine. (400 iso)
It should still be okay.

 

[Sparrow]

If it's 135 I think the steel cassettes would offer some protection over 120

 

[rxmd]

Have the film developed and take a look at it to see what you'll do with the unexposed film. Don't worry too much; it's probably going to be all right, unless you plan to expose it at 3200 ASA or it's IR film or something.

 

[ChrisN]

Advice from Kodak: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

 

[Bingley]

Thanks. All of the film that went through the X-Ray is 35mm and iso 400 or less, so it sounds like there's a chance it could still be OK. I won't be near a place where I can get a roll processed for a few days, though, so I'll try to pick up a few rolls locally (I'm in Oslo) to tide me over. The Kodak info sounds ominous, but thanks for the link, Chris.

 

[cliveward]

I'm traveling in Europe, and this morning stupidly forgot to take my film out of my bag before checking it on a flight. Argh! So both exposed and unexposed film have been x-rayed w/ the more powerful x-rays used on checked luggage. Should I assume that the unexposed film is ruined? What about the exposed film?

Hi Steve,

I did exactly the same last month.

Mine was 120 film in 50 & 100 iso. No problems at all.


Cheers





Clive

 

[Freakscene]

If it has been x-rayed by the check-in scanners, it is probably ruined. The scanners used for check-in baggage such as the CTX-5000 http://tinyurl.com/ctx5000 are much higher intensity than the low-intensity machines used for carry-on luggage. But not all bags get scanned, and not all scanners home in on the film when a bag gets scanned, and there are two main kinds of scanners, one that uses an initial low-intensity pass with a higher intensity follow-up, and another that provides an instant high-intensity scan.

Don't check your film in again and try to get hand inspections from here on; x-ray damage is cumulative. If you are really worried, but new unexposed film and then use that, and only use the unexposed film that was potentially scanned after you have developed the exposed rolls and assessed if it's ruined.

Good luck.

Marty

 

[Disaster_Area]

I would agree and be on the safe side. Have all your film together in a clear ziploc bag in your carry-on, ask (politely) to have it hand inspected. There's three different ways I've had mine inspected:
- guy takes a quick look at them, says they're fine (least often)
- guy runs a swab over all of them, does a chemical scan on the swab (most often)
- guy picks a random sampling (1 in 5 roughly) does a thorough visual inspection, takes them out of the cardboard box (if they're still packaged) does a separate chemical swab for each (slightly more often than a quick visual, takes FOREVER)

To be safe, budget an extra 20 minutes to get through security if you're getting film hand inspected, I've only ever had it take that long once or twice, but better safe than sorry, it usually takes about 5-10 minutes depending on how busy they are (some airports, the security manager has to do all hand inspections, some will let any security officer do them)

Technically ISO 100-400 shouldn't be affected AT FIRST... the effect is cumulative though, so if you're going through scanners multiple times during one trip, or the film might last through a couple trips it'll add up. As long as you're polite and have it all ready for them, it shouldn't be a problem, they get testy if you're fishing around for stray rolls. And if they try to tell you "oh, it should be fine, you don't need to", just tell them you travel alot and it could be going through a lot of check points.

 

[willie_901]

Throw away and replace all the unexposed film. No matter what, it is fogged to some degree.

The exposed film is probably ruined as most airports use very high power X-Rays for checked luggage. It might only be lightly fogged of you are lucky and the airport had a lower power unit.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Are you sure it was x-rayed? Did you see it go through a machine? Checked luggage x-rays are bad for film, but they don't/can't scan 100% of checked bags. Don't toss any of your film until you've had a chance to develop it and see if it was really damaged. Might, however, want to pick up some fresh unexposed film and shoot it instead of the unexposed stuff that was in your checked bag.

 

[ferider]

Are you sure it was x-rayed? Did you see it go through a machine? Checked luggage x-rays are bad for film, but they don't/can't scan 100% of checked bags.

What he said - most likely you'll be OK, Steve. Bags are only X-ray'ed in samples.

In the worst case, your photos have a little lower contrast, much like using classic lenses - J/k.

 

[Bingley]

Thanks again, and good point, Chuck and Roland. The film was in checked luggage, but I don't know that it was X-Rayed, I'm only assuming that it was. The irony is that I did ask for hand inspection this morning of my iso 800 film, but didn't think about the rest until it was too late. :bang: These are the perils of early morning travel before coffee.🙁 I'll have it all hand inspected from here out, and will try to pick up some fresh film here in Oslo before moving on. I may be ble to shoot a roll from my checked luggage and get it developed in Bergen to see if there's damage. I'm shooting a lot w/ a Canon 35/1.8, Roland, so if the film's a little foggy the lens will be even more classic! 🙂

 

[Ronald M]

IF THE BAGGAGE SCANNERS got to it, it is ruined. Every roll.

Carry on scanners have less power and people claim no damage. I do not believe it, just figure people do not know what to look for. Look at film base compared to unexrayed film. It will be more dense.

 

[huntjump]

ive had my 400 35mm film scanned twice in the past month (USA). No noticeable problems. The faster your film, the more likely the scanners will damage it. Slower speeds remain unaffected. I wouldnt stress at all.

Next time during check on, if you take out your film and tell them, they will wipe it and do some chemical tests, and not scan it.


-Adam

 

[kdemas]

I'd pick up some local film if you possibly can Steve. It's not worth the risk of the film being shot when you're traveling so far from home. Despite this episode I hope you're having a terrific time!

 

[Rob-F]

Don't panic. Take it one step at a time, with common sense. Have a couple of exposed rolls developed and check them. Go from there.

 

[Bingley]

I just put one of the possibly affected rolls in my M2, and will shoot it up tomorrow and then get it processed as soon as I have access to a lab. I've also located a shop that may sell Portra and TMax films (my films of choice for this trip). With luck I shoukd know the extent of the damage (if any) within a few days, and have some fresh film to shoot in the meantime (we're headed into a particularly scenic part of the trip on Friday and I don't want to take a chance).

I take it that the already exposed film in my bag would not be affected by exposure to x-rays, right?

I appreciate the feedbck and advice from everyone.

Kent, the weather in Stockholm and Oslo has been glorious.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I take it that the already exposed film in my bag would not be affected by exposure to x-rays, right?

If it was x-rayed, it doesn't matter if it was already exposed or not. The checked-bag x-rays will just lay their own pattern of horrors on top of the images you shot.