RJames

We will be travelling in the US and Europe. We will have 800 speed film with us and are concerned that the airport x-rays could damage the film. What should we do? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

RufusTFirefly

Yes, high speed film can be affected.

I'd get a digital camera. I resisted giving up my 35mm cameras for quite some time, but after taking the plunge I'd never go back to film. With today's digitals, you can't detect any difference in quality with the naked eye.

rkkwan

Even though I usually use 400 films for travel right now, I used to use a lot of 800 films. Never had a problem in the US, Europe or Asia. However, that IS mostly before 9/11, and some airpots in the US may have turned up the power these days.

nkh

We took 400 speed film not 800 and as it turned out they were fine, but we took the following precaution:

Instead of the lead bags, we put our film in clear ziplocks (no cannisters) and fished them out of our hand luggage at the airport each time before going through security. At the very least they then went through X-rays separately and were clearly visible so took the minimum X-ray time, and several times (we had multiple connections) since they were so easy to look at the security staff didnt mind hand-checking them for us instead of them going through X-ray.

Whether the officials are willing to hand-check will depend on how busy they are, but it doesnt hurt to ask if they dont mind.

Marc_David_Miller

On one trip (2001) I went through 9 xrays with 800 speed film (mostly in Russia, including some old Siberian units), and didn't have any problems with approx. 75 rolls; I didn't ask for hand inspection.

You can try to ask for hand inspection, but don't count on it (my experiences in Russia were totally hit or miss, which is why I didn't bother that time).



Needless to say I now have a digital camera.

Marc_David_Miller

I also agree with NKH's suggestion if you are going to ask for hand-inspection.

jeorgiagirl

I couldn't help but notice this question about potential film damage. I was rather interested to find out from the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) web site that they actually advise passengers to request a hand inspection for film going through carry-on x-rays over 5 times or if your film speed is ASO/ISO 800 or higher. They definitely state that checked baggage x-rays WILL damage undeveloped film.

My dilemma is what to do about x-ray machines outside the U.S. where I do not know the policy of visual/hand inspections.

Kavey

An article I read recently in a photographic magazine related the results of experimentation on this very topic.

The conclusion was that, for regular film, it could pass through HAND LUGGAGE X-Rays at least 10 times before any noticable fogging.

The exception to this was fast films (and they mentioned 1600 and 3200 speeds here, not 800) and films requiring special storage conditions such as very cool temperatures.

They did remind readers not to pack film into checked luggage since the X-Rays used for this are stronger and can certainly cause problems.

I've certainly had my 400 speed print film go through numerous hand luggage scanners on a single trip and never had any problems.

I have not been able to persuade anyone to hand check the films for a long time though.

Kavey

HowardR

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had overseas security refuse to handcheck my 800-speed film. In the US, it's no problem. In fact, most American airports have sign warning about 800 and higher film psssing through the xray.

SalB

I've switched to digital, but when I used regular film, I went to my local camera store and got very heavy lead lined bags. I usually packed about 60 rolls of film so needed a couple bags. I then asked for hand checking and usually got it. When I didn't have it hand checked, I didn't worry so much because it was in the bags.

Put it in plastic ziplocks inside the lead bags. Pull it out at security and ask for a hand check. If they won't do it, put it back in the lead bag and put it through x-ray. They will then ask you to take it out so they can look at it.

They do not usually put it through the machine again although I did have them put the empty lead bag through the machine again. I'm sure as a 60-something gray-haired little old lady that I must look stunningly like some sort of terrorist carrying a film bomb! (I've never figured out the security system. It seems to be random checks of women with infants and the elderly. Obviously a strange profile!)

Doriana

Has anyone had a problem with exposed film (that is, film that's been shot but not developed yet) going through checked luggage? I thought that was fine, so on my way back from Europe last week I put the exposed film in my checked bag. I just picked up $120 worth of photos and the quality is terrible. I went back to the store and he said it's due to going through x-ray machines. Another customer said that he didn't think it was from the x-rays. I'm going to get reprints elsewhere of a couple of the shots to see how they come out. But at this point I guess I ought to succomb and get a digital camera.

janis

Doriana: Sorry about your disaster, but it makes no difference whether the film is exposed or not. The scanners used for checked luggage will ruin it. One should NEVER place film in checked bags -- EVER. I would not waste any more money on those pic.

Now, developed/printed photos are a different matter - they can go through the scanners just fine.

Marilyn

Ziplocks are good, but I will just add one suggestion. Put your 800 and faster film in a separate bag from the rest. We have been able to get hand checks on 800 and above, but not the rest, so separating it will just make the process quicker and easier.

As Janis said, whether unexposed or exposed, film is vulnerable until it is DEVELOPED. Xrays are one reason not to ever check your film; the possiblity of lost luggage is another.

Gretchen

Doriana, specifically why are your pictures "terrible"? Is it the color?

HowardR

Never put film--exposed or otherwise--in checked baggage, no matter what speed of the film is!

Doriana

Gretchen -- No, it's not the color that's off. Some of the pictures are very grainy. They look as if I printed them off the internet on a bad quality printer.