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Film in the xray machine at the airport
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Hi,
I know that the xray machines in airports all claim to be film safe – but are they really?
I’m bringing some film through the airport in a couple of days and I wonder if I should bring it in my hand luggage? I think it might be only the hand luggage machines that are film safe. Should I just ask for it to be hand checked, or will this cause problems in this hyper-security-sensitive era?
The film will be:
Fujifilm Superia 1600 ISO and
Neopan 1600 Professional (B&W)So what’s the verdict – hand check, carry on luggage and let it get xrayed, or just chuck it in my luggage for the hold and forget about it?
Thanks in advance,
Alan
Just put your film in your carry on bag and don’t worry, it will be perfectly safe. Don’t put it in the checked luggage.
THANKS FOR NOTHING RANDOMWAY! :D
THANKS FOR SOMETHING FIZZY! :D
I was worried mainly cos of the black and white as I know this has different sensitivities than colour film.
Cheers lads.
Alan
I was an importer for Konica film for a number of years and airport X-ray will damage film. In the old days you would get hot spots which would fog the film with moon shaped glows but on the newer equipment it is far less damaging and the effect is all over, a very slight fogging seen as a haze over the image. The higher the ISO the greater the effect and we had loads of problems in the past with Konica 3200 ISO colour film. The effect is cumulitave and more passes through X-ray mean more fogging.
With one pass through a system the effect will be probably not probably be visible but you should really have your film processed before you fly back if at all possible. The airlines will tell you it is safe but in reality it is having an effect.
Sheldon – are you talking hand luggage x-rays here or checked luggage x-rays?
Any X-rays. The problem appears to be that any X-ray strong enough to penetrate luggage is strong enough to slightly fog film. Lead bags are no longer allowed (we sell them) and hand searches probably will be met with “It’s film safe equipment” responses. The higher the ISO the greater the problem.
Don’t worry too much as the digital guys have just as much problems when flying as solar flares high up in the atmosphere can also damage CCD’s :lol: :lol:
Nnnnnnooooooooooooo!!!!
I’m a digital guy as well!
(I’ve never had my CCD showing damage though).
That’s bad news. Thanks for the information Sheldon.
I’ll try getting it hand checked.
I’m going to Egypt so can’t imagine it’ll be all that easy to find someone to process black and white film. Might try getting the colour stuff developed before flying back.
I’ll be pretty devestated if all my hard earned film is destroyed before I even get the chance to develop it.
edit: having said that I’m sure it won’t be too bad and “destroyed” is probably going a wee bit too far. :D
Sheldon wrote:
Any X-rays. The problem appears to be that any X-ray strong enough to penetrate luggage is strong enough to slightly fog film. Lead bags are no longer allowed (we sell them) and hand searches probably will be met with “It’s film safe equipment” responses. The higher the ISO the greater the problem.
Don’t worry too much as the digital guys have just as much problems when flying as solar flares high up in the atmosphere can also damage CCD’s :lol: :lol:
The usual advice is that the x-rays used for carry-on luggage are much weaker than those used for checked luggage so you are far better bringing your film in your hand luggage. I’ve never experienced fogged film by doing this and it often has involved multiple passes through machines. Having said that. the highest ISO we would be talking about here is 400.
I can confirm that it’s almost impossible to get airport staff to hand search. I just don’t worry about it anymore …
Yes the last tme I asked for a hand check of my film in Dublin Airport, they just laughed at me. Actually they never have done a hand check any time I asked so I don’t bother now.
I have never heard from anyone who actaully had the film fogged in their carry-on bags. But if I have a roll that is special and I want to be 100% safe, I just put it in my pocket and walk it through. Works fine with 120 as there are no metal parts :)
thefizz wrote:
Works fine with 120 as there are no metal parts :)
I thought it was silver (halide) :wink:
Could you put the film in a trouser or shirt pocket so it doesn’t go through the x-ray machine? Not much use if you have loads of rolls!
Sheldon wrote:
thefizz wrote:
Works fine with 120 as there are no metal parts :)
I thought it was silver (halide) :wink:
LOL :lol:
Anything over ISO1600 may get fogged depending on what XRay their using.
Request a hand inspection of the film (Have them out of the canisters) and carry a copy of the TSA regulations stating that photographers can and must be afforded this courtesy.
Has worked all over the world for me.masteroftherealm wrote:
TSA regulations .
I followed this up at the TSA website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm
It starts like this
“Traveling with Film
Never place undeveloped film in your checked baggage, our security equipment used for screening checked baggage will damage your undeveloped film. Place your film in your carry-on baggage or request a hand inspection. Please note that our carry-on security equipment might also damage certain film if the film passes through more than five times.
If your film cannot be cleared by X-ray inspection, or you desire to have it inspected by hand, you may be required to open the box, canister, or wrapper so our Security Officer can inspect it. We recommend leaving your film in the unopened manufacturer’s packaging.”
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