X-Rays and the intrepid international traveler

[andrewmore]

Two points:

(i) some film (e.g. certain Fuji films) have the packaging specifically marked as being X-ray sensitive and must not X-rayed;
(ii) Gatwick airport will do hand searches, but only if booked in advance (phone their general number and ask for security at the relevant terminal ad they will take you through the process - works well). Skiathos in Greece will do hand searches too.

Regards

Andrew More

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I've flown internationally 40-50 times since 9-11. I keep all my film in a lead-lined bag, but essentially only for 'safety.' I always request hand-inspection, at EVERY security station. I've only been declined once. These flights are from New York to South and Central America.

Most recently, entering Costa Rica, i encountered a surly, disagreeable security chief. I made my request three times, feeling like my Spanish was failing me. i think it was just his mood/personality, though. Anyway, the first time i asked, he said No. Second time, when i explained that i use the film at ISO 1600, he mumbled something unintelligible. I asked for a clarification, and he just mumbled again and waved his arm. I put all my gear and luggage on the screening conveyor belt, and kept the film bag in my hand as i walked around the xray device. I think that's happened twice. Security in the smaller airports is a little 'different' from JFK, etc.

I've never been to DeGaulle. I'll probably be there in June, though. Good to know. I will (try to) insist on hand inspection. It sometimes helps to use the word "professional" when making the request. The security guys are reasonable people, usually. Smile, learn the language enough to make that request, and/or have it printed on a slip of paper you keep with the film. Unless you're fluent, don't bother to try to explain that you "push" your film to 1600+. Maybe just keep a roll or two of actual Delta 3200 in there to show them. Circle "3200" in fat red marker.... And, again, stress the "professional" aspect of things. No low-wage security guy wants to deal with potential financial liability issue coming back to him. From the way they all deal with my requests, it's a non-issue. Before you get to the xray machine, have your laptop out, shoes and jacket off, and watch and bling in the tray. There's usually a guy walking back and forth giving instruction and answering questions - ask him who to ask for the hand inspection.

 

[Olsen]

- I can't understand all those here who have had no damage to fast films from X-ray scanners.

It is now several years ago - possibly 2003, I brought with me my 905SWC and a package of Portra 400 VC to Singapore, travelling from Oslo. All the films bore marks of XR-radiation, except one, when coming home. Possibly the one I carried in the camera on the trip home. All films were marked with stripes and cloud-like images, repeated for every centimetres, typical of this kind of radiation. Some of the film I had carried in the hand luggage, but I was not allowed to hand carry it past the scanner. - This was when the typical post 9.11 scare raged at it's worst, and 'everything' had to be scanned. Some of the film was in my checked-in luggage. Even that film bore marks of scanning. After this trip I have stopped carrying film on international flights.

I have, by a few later occations, carried 100 ASA Portra film on domistic flights here in Norway, kept the film in the checked-in luggage, and it came out fine. - I don't know how, and if, domestic luggage is scanned or if it came out OK because of the low ASA number.

Tom,

You can be certain that any fast film you will carry, in hand luggage or in the checked in luggagare, will be damaged if you travel from USA to Europe. My advice is to take the film along as hand luggage. Then you ask the security people 'if' their scanner destroys film. If they answer positive to that, then ask for permission to carry the film past the scanner. I would not be too insistant on that, if you get a 'nay' - or you might end up at Guantanamo, but just cross your fingers and hope it goes OK.

Or....

Isn't this the ocation to cross over to digital...? The M8s hasn't been more reliable....

 

[Pablito]

These flights are from New York to South and Central America.

US airports will always agree to hand check, it's in the TSA regulations. Non-US airports you never know.

The real threat is not the scanners for carry on bags, it's the huge x-ray machines used by CUSTOMS when you arrive in certain countries. Did you say Central America? Beware too that some countries have tariffs on imported films. I recently had a job in one particular Central American country and brought a lot of film. When I asked if they would hand check to avoid the huge x-ray machine, they directed me to the Customs office, where I had to pay import tax on the film equal to the value of the film, all except for 6 rolls which was the allowance. Well, it did not get x-rayed anyway. (I was working for a government agency of that country and had the paperwork to prove it. I was accompanied by a high ranking member of the country's government - none of that made any difference)

 

[Tom A]

I haven't been through De Gaulle for a long time. It ranks up there with Heathrow as airports that I avoid. After having spent some times at either of these, you really pray for the demise of mankind and let the cockroaches start all over again!!!
As for X-rays, Tri X is fairly immune to it. I have dragged it through multiple scanners (12-15 of them) without any problem. Some Fuji emulsions can get a bit of fog (NP1600 in particular) after 4-5 exposures.
I always "de-can" my film and stick it into freezer ZipLoc bags, 20 rolls/bag. When I approach the scanning station I take them out and hold them in my hand and try to give them to the operator. Sometimes it works, sometimes they insist on putting them on the belt. The fact that the film is in clear plastic bag, no cans, they can easily see what it is and they dont have to unpack anything.
The lead shield bags doesn't work. It becomes a big "blob" on the screen and usually you have to take it out, empty the film and run it through, which of course defeats the purpose.
In 100's of flights I have only had one instance with obvious X ray damage. New Zealand - no hand inspection and definite "streaks" on the emulsion and also a pattern of "edge perforation" across some images!
Sounds like a great trip (apart from De Gaulle!). Both Provence and Helsinki should be interesting for pictures and Paris is of course a photographic paradise! I hope Helsinki is later in the spring - light is dim there until April!
You should have no problem with the slower speed film - and the Tri X will probably come through fine. Of course, this is all valid for handcarried film. Any film that goes through checked luggage will most likely glow in the dark. They truly "zap" that stuff.

 

[julio1fer]

FWIW, I passed several times through CDG airport, and every time I was denied a hand inspection, so my 400 ISO color film went through a carry-on scanner. No effect could be detected on the film.

On the other hand, the scanning equipment used for checked bagagge will fog the heck out of any film, in any airport. Don't ask how I know. :bang:

 

[Olsen]

I would not fear De Gaulle at all. It is a very efficient and pleasant part of France! My wife and I went through De Gaulle last November. But then I am all 'digital' these days. I carried my 1Ds III in a Lövepro Orion Trekker. It was a business trip at which my wife came along (she will not miss a trip to Paris). So, we stayed over the weekend. Paris is a fantastic photo opportunity! And nice restaurants too. We love Paris.

I was in Helsinki last week. But I went by car. First to Stockholm and then Viking Line to Helsinki. This boat trip is also a photo opportunity. Helsinki is a revelation when it comes to architecture. Parts of it looks how many German cities might have looked before they were bombed flat during WWII. I particularly like some of the small cafe's in the area on the stretch from Mannerheim street and right south to the seafront and all the smaller streets you find on this stretch.

I do a lot of business in Finland, - and must be one of the very few Norwegian Mannerheimofiliacs, and go to Finland 5 - 6 times a year. I have read all the biographies and visited all the important places. From his home in Helsinki to his WWII headquarters in Mikkeli.

 

[Svitantti]

There could be some interesting photography galleries in Helsinki too.. Of course the modern arts museum Kiasma could be a place to check out. The architecture is indeed nice in Helsinki.
I keep telling myself to visit there more often with more time to photography too, but I only tend to visit there when I have some other stuff to do.

Theres one great camera shop (EP Kamera, Uudenmaankatu 19-21), which is going to quit its business soon (official Leica dealer and a lot of used gear, good prices).
28. 2. there is a classical camera flee market / exhibition at Aleksanterinkatu 12 (very near to the big beautiful church, check: http://www.students.tut.fi/~hannine7/hki-kirkko.jpg). Some older cameras can be found there for great prices really.

Heres a link to the finnish museum of photography (in english): http://www.fmp.fi/fmp_fi/muvieras/english/index.htm

 

[Praxis Unitas]

I had some fogging on a trip to Damascus... lost a few frames or ISO 400 (Infra Red). Other than that, I've had no problems with the hand-carried lead bag.

 

[bmattock]

http://www.i3a.org/advocacy/itip/

 

[Olsen]

There could be some interesting photography galleries in Helsinki too.. Of course the modern arts museum Kiasma could be a place to check out. The architecture is indeed nice in Helsinki.
I keep telling myself to visit there more often with more time to photography too, but I only tend to visit there when I have some other stuff to do.

Theres one great camera shop (EP Kamera, Uudenmaankatu 19-21), which is going to quit its business soon (official Leica dealer and a lot of used gear, good prices).
28. 2. there is a classical camera flee market / exhibition at Aleksanterinkatu 12 (very near to the big beautiful church, check: http://www.students.tut.fi/~hannine7/hki-kirkko.jpg). Some older cameras can be found there for great prices really.

Heres a link to the finnish museum of photography (in english): http://www.fmp.fi/fmp_fi/muvieras/english/index.htm

I usually stay at Marski, but I am very busy during the day and get little opportunity to do shopping before 17.00. But I regularly go for a late evening walk before bunking in, in this area around EP Kamera, which is an excellent photo shop. - Wish we had something similar here in Oslo. EP Kamera even had a line-up of ZM lenses. A rare thing just anywhere. If it is going to quit it's business it would spell tragedy for the photo interested in Helsinki. Is this really so? In the same part of Helsinki there is several interesting antique shops and gallaries.

I did not know about the flee market nor the Finnish Museum of Photography. Thanks for the links!

 

[Olsen]

http://www.i3a.org/advocacy/itip/

yes, but....

Try to wave that in the face of just any security chief at any international airport today. The best that will happen to you is that you will miss your flight. A photographer using film today is a rare thing. Probably rarer than terrorists.

 

[Svitantti]

Yeah EP is going to quit. I guess it is mostly because the store keeper is getting old... and people are not that generally that interested in this kind of cameras. Maybe the internet has given so much opportunities to buy those cameras elsewhere. It is indeed a shame, but what can you do... There is 1-2 other used camera shops, but not like this.
I dont think anyone is taking over the store, even though I've heard it might have been an option. I guess that stuff will find its way to the other shops. Many customers really liked how Esko (the owner) really knew much of cameras, especially the finer ones (Leica, Hasselblad etc).

This "flee market" or actually I guess it should be called something like a sales exhibition (dont know an actual word for it) is once a year -thing and happens for one day only. Most great deals probably happen early when the place opens 🙂. The place is open 10-15 and it costs 5 euros to enter. Theres also a 3D-slideshow thing which I think I saw last year, great stuff really.

 

[Svitantti]

bmattocks link seems to show that less than 10 exposures shouldn't be too critical. I guess I have to admit I was a bit optimistic and really thought theres "no risk at all".
Well, its great to get some "official facts" instead of just rumors etc.

 

[bmattock]

bmattocks link seems to show that less than 10 exposures shouldn't be too critical. I guess I have to admit I was a bit optimistic and really thought theres "no risk at all".
Well, its great to get some "official facts" instead of just rumors etc.

I try to go to the source when possible.

All x-ray exposure damages unprocessed film. The only question is to what degree is it visible? And that is the variable part. It is also true that airplane travelers (and presumably, their film) are exposed to cosmic radiation during their flights that can exceed the x-ray dose the film got whilst going through security.

 

[Olsen]

Yeah EP is going to quit. I guess it is mostly because the store keeper is getting old... and people are not that generally that interested in this kind of cameras. Maybe the internet has given so much opportunities to buy those cameras elsewhere. It is indeed a shame, but what can you do... There is 1-2 other used camera shops, but not like this.
I dont think anyone is taking over the store, even though I've heard it might have been an option. I guess that stuff will find its way to the other shops. Many customers really liked how Esko (the owner) really knew much of cameras, especially the finer ones (Leica, Hasselblad etc).

This "flee market" or actually I guess it should be called something like a sales exhibition (dont know an actual word for it) is once a year -thing and happens for one day only. Most great deals probably happen early when the place opens 🙂. The place is open 10-15 and it costs 5 euros to enter. Theres also a 3D-slideshow thing which I think I saw last year, great stuff really.

If EP Kamera is going to quit it is utterly sad. Even if the guy running the place is old he obviously is up-to-date with what is 'really' happening in the photo world. No small thing.

 

[Svitantti]

If EP Kamera is going to quit it is utterly sad. Even if the guy running the place is old he obviously is up-to-date with what is 'really' happening in the photo world. No small thing.

True... The prices could mostly well compete with eBay etc. (especially given you can actually see and test the gear and get a warranty)... except for some "more special" stuff maybe.

I guess he just wants some more free time after a long career and now that the prices go down fast and people buy less (and some more from the internet).

 

[Haigh]

Film and X-rays

Film and X-rays

I have taken Tri-X on a round the world trip and put unprocessed and also unexposed film through many scanners with no problems. I put all film in their plastic containers in a ziplock bag and put the bag though separaterly from everything else. I take film out of my M4 and put that film through and not leave it in the camera.

Hope this helps.

Bon voyage,

Gary Haigh

South Austraklia

 

[Olsen]

Frantically, I searched my photo archive to find some of the pictures I have taken on any of the trips to Helsinki lately. Here are two.

1)
From the cabin window of the Viking Line Gabriella, just before swinging into Helsinki harbour.

2)
When leaving Helsinki, taken from the deck of Mariella. The ferry leaves 17.30 and this picture is taken minutes after departure. Just to indicate what the light condition is like in late this time of the year.

 

[Rob-F]

Thanks, Tom, and all who responded. Yes, we will get to Helsinki around April 10th. Hope that's late enough! Anyone have any idea if Delta 400 is "X-ray immune" like Tri-X?