film through security
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film through security
Wondering what anyone could share regarding photographic film though any new security machines etc.
Ive heard it wont survive through the machine but on recent domestic (US) flight everything was ok. Im wondering about international travel.....more danger to film? Your experience would be helpful.
Ive heard it wont survive through the machine but on recent domestic (US) flight everything was ok. Im wondering about international travel.....more danger to film? Your experience would be helpful.
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My recent experience on international is that there has been no problem on hold or cabin baggage. However, I would suggest taking it easily accessible in your carry-on and reading carefully the notices on the machine - most of them say they are safe upto 400ASA at least, but I remember some places (DFW?) which say explicitly that all film will be fogged.
In this case for films in canisters there is no problem just taking them out and showing them to security who will let you take them round the x-ray machine. Film actually inside a camera may be more problematical.
In this case for films in canisters there is no problem just taking them out and showing them to security who will let you take them round the x-ray machine. Film actually inside a camera may be more problematical.
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Don't put it in your checked luggage
Many (most in Europe??) airports now routinely x-ray & explosive test all hold baggage. These machines will fog any film, so don't be tempted to put your spare film in the bags for the outbound, or exposed film in the bags for the return.
Some places have reminder warnings - some do not!
Some places have reminder warnings - some do not!
Paxing All Over The World
In 35 years of travel, with both exposed and non-exposed film in hold and hand baggafe, I have never had any problems of any kind. Incidentally, I oten carry film at 1600 and even 3200 ASA.
That does not mean that it won't happen next time!
That does not mean that it won't happen next time!
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Ive never had any problems with any film either. I was told that photographers have been complaining that they werent able to pass their film around the xray and it was ruined. So I ask because I have always taken it through anyway. Have the machines been stepped up? Do they truly let you pass canisters around the xray? Im only using 200asa anyway. I guess im curious if anyone has specifically zapped film on the round trip within the past few weeks /months and how did it develop? Thank you much for your responses.
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From the MAN website:
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/c...4!OpenDocument
'nuff said.
Please ensure that you carry any photographic film or magnetic tape in your hand baggage, as the hold baggage scanners may cause damage to them.
'nuff said.
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As a fairly serious photographer I always travel with film of one sort or another.
Never experienced 'fogging' as such but if you're fussy about quality, i.e. not just taking the normal holiday 'snapshots' then you might notice slight colour casts etc. These are usually very subtle and I've never be sure it was actually caused by the machines (perhaps something else caused it, or I'd stored the film too hot etc.)
I tend to notice this more with fast(ish) slide film (400ASA or over) and with the 'professional' emulsions - print film being less of a problem as by the time it has been 'messed with' by a cheap processing lab, any effects will probably be masked by the usually poor quality of developing/printing.
To re-iterate points in other posts - NEVER put either blank or exposed film of any speed in hold luggage - the machines they use are much stronger and will do damage. Also, remember that not all luggage holds are heated (I think) and the low temperature may cause more damage than x-rays. More important still - if the airline lose your bag you can buy new clothes but may NEVER be able to replace the photo-memories of you trip of a lifetime.
I ofter put the films in my pocket as malenda suggests but this only works with a small amount of film (I sometimes carry 30 or 40 rolls!) and if you're not the type of person who ALWAYS seems to set the damn thing off (like Mrs Knobby) and gets searched every time (I think she just likes being frisked, actually, hmmm...)
Also... many security points are now insisting on cameras being opened so try not to have film mid-roll at this point if possible and make sure you've got all the bits required to prove that the camera works (batteries, lens etc).
And another thing... don't forget that on a trip with a couple of connections you may have to pass through many security points between leaving home and returning and the effects of x-rays are cumulative (my record is 11 times with some Fuji RVP 50ASA slide film which SEEMED undamaged). Having the film processed/developed before your return trip will help (assuming you trust the quality of the foreign lab of course). Oh, and don't forget that except for really 'unusual' film you can usually buy it at your destination (and usually cheaper than in the UK).
Finally... you can buy lead-lined bags to put film in to protect them from x-rays, but I've never bothered as I would expect any security person to insist on their removal (i'd be very worried to think they'd let a bag through with an unidentified 'dark mass' in it!)
Sorry for the length of this post - hope it's of some use.
Never experienced 'fogging' as such but if you're fussy about quality, i.e. not just taking the normal holiday 'snapshots' then you might notice slight colour casts etc. These are usually very subtle and I've never be sure it was actually caused by the machines (perhaps something else caused it, or I'd stored the film too hot etc.)
I tend to notice this more with fast(ish) slide film (400ASA or over) and with the 'professional' emulsions - print film being less of a problem as by the time it has been 'messed with' by a cheap processing lab, any effects will probably be masked by the usually poor quality of developing/printing.
To re-iterate points in other posts - NEVER put either blank or exposed film of any speed in hold luggage - the machines they use are much stronger and will do damage. Also, remember that not all luggage holds are heated (I think) and the low temperature may cause more damage than x-rays. More important still - if the airline lose your bag you can buy new clothes but may NEVER be able to replace the photo-memories of you trip of a lifetime.
I ofter put the films in my pocket as malenda suggests but this only works with a small amount of film (I sometimes carry 30 or 40 rolls!) and if you're not the type of person who ALWAYS seems to set the damn thing off (like Mrs Knobby) and gets searched every time (I think she just likes being frisked, actually, hmmm...)
Also... many security points are now insisting on cameras being opened so try not to have film mid-roll at this point if possible and make sure you've got all the bits required to prove that the camera works (batteries, lens etc).
And another thing... don't forget that on a trip with a couple of connections you may have to pass through many security points between leaving home and returning and the effects of x-rays are cumulative (my record is 11 times with some Fuji RVP 50ASA slide film which SEEMED undamaged). Having the film processed/developed before your return trip will help (assuming you trust the quality of the foreign lab of course). Oh, and don't forget that except for really 'unusual' film you can usually buy it at your destination (and usually cheaper than in the UK).
Finally... you can buy lead-lined bags to put film in to protect them from x-rays, but I've never bothered as I would expect any security person to insist on their removal (i'd be very worried to think they'd let a bag through with an unidentified 'dark mass' in it!)
Sorry for the length of this post - hope it's of some use.
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... many security points are now insisting on cameras being opened
What ? Where ? Never happened to me, except for one dolt who was about to flip the catch out of ignorance. Film is too expensive to rewind just in case some fool feels entitled to open the camera.
What ? Where ? Never happened to me, except for one dolt who was about to flip the catch out of ignorance. Film is too expensive to rewind just in case some fool feels entitled to open the camera.
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PaperTiger, sorry 'many' was an exaggeration. It happened to me once only in ATL at the end of last September and from what I've read in security leaflets etc. I assumed it was happening elsewhere. I had to open 2 cameras (both were already empty) - or rather, they opened them - wouldn't let me touch anything in my bag! They also wanted to plug in/turn on anything electrical or battery operated to prove it all worked.
If you think about it a camera, expecially a large 'medium format' one that the security people are probably less familiar with would be a fairly good place to hide somthing so I thought it was quite reasonable in the circumstances although I'm glad this hasn't become a widespread practice - it could be a real pain.
If you think about it a camera, expecially a large 'medium format' one that the security people are probably less familiar with would be a fairly good place to hide somthing so I thought it was quite reasonable in the circumstances although I'm glad this hasn't become a widespread practice - it could be a real pain.
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Having to demonstate how the camera works, opening the back and so on is irksome, especially off the beaten track where differing languages are a problem and bribes are the regular proceedure. Decided to take the view that most film can take a little bit of xray, so now put my pocket camera in the flight bag and let it, along with the bag containing my SLR, go through the machine. The rest of the film goes in pockets, but I am then very careful that any other metal goes through the machine to avoid upsetting the metal detector. With a reasonable usage of film the probability therefore is that each film will only receive one of two doses of xrays. Thus far it seems to work.
For comparison perposes, my normal film is 400 ASA colour print for the pocket camera (Boots home brand for happy snapping!) and 200 ASA slide, usually Ektachrome, for the SLR (surveying). Mind, even through I carry a reasonable amount of film, goodness knows what to do if carrying the amount of film that knobbygb has to carry. Guess the best way is to keep track of each roll and let some sequentially go through to balance the xray load.
For comparison perposes, my normal film is 400 ASA colour print for the pocket camera (Boots home brand for happy snapping!) and 200 ASA slide, usually Ektachrome, for the SLR (surveying). Mind, even through I carry a reasonable amount of film, goodness knows what to do if carrying the amount of film that knobbygb has to carry. Guess the best way is to keep track of each roll and let some sequentially go through to balance the xray load.
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I don't usually carry that much - just occasionally. 120 format can be difficult to get in many places and at 10, 12 or 15 shots per roll depending on the camera, it gets used quite quickly. You're right about 'cycling' it - I make sure that any film I bring back is not taken again, although as I said before, I have taken a couple of 50ASA slide films through security over ten times without problem.
So, has anyone successfully used a lead-lined bag then?
So, has anyone successfully used a lead-lined bag then?
Last edited by knobbygb; 15th Apr 2002 at 09:30.
Has anyone had a problem with X ray machines wiping computer (or other electronic) memory? I've known it happen with the ones used for X raying mail - the package was marked 'Do Not x ray' and the security jobsworth said that all packages had to be x rayed. Only put us into the penalty clause........Anyway, especially if the X ray machines are a bit fierce, that could be a problem.
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...no point in using a lead-bag chaps. All that will happen is that your films get an extra dose that they would not have had if unprotected. (The x-rays need to pass through two layers of the bag to be registered by the equipment, whereas your films are only 'protected' by one layer. The extra dosage is that required to pass through the second layer of the bag).
Save your money and buy an extra couple of rolls of film instead !
Incidentally, whenever I have (politely) requested a hand search of films this has always been refused, regardless of airport location.
Mr. Fuji, Mr. Kodak et al - how about producing some of your wares in plastic rather than metal cassettes?
Save your money and buy an extra couple of rolls of film instead !
Incidentally, whenever I have (politely) requested a hand search of films this has always been refused, regardless of airport location.
Mr. Fuji, Mr. Kodak et al - how about producing some of your wares in plastic rather than metal cassettes?
I have done quite a lot of photography at airports through the years, over the last couple of years every time going through security the camera and film have been x-rayed, with no problems encountered. Film stock has been slow 50asa up to 3200asa, print and transparency, and predominantly 'pro-spec' films rather than regular over the counter supplies. Some of these films will have been through hand baggage x-ray machines several times. I have not heard of any of my friends encountering any problems either.
