FainaAgain

Hello, getting ready for a next trip, searching Frommer's I ran into this item on their checklist:

Did you invest in protective pouches to shild film form airport X-rays?

What are those pouches? Where are they sold? What else may be used for this purpose?

TravelFirst

Is it true speed under 800 are not affected by xray? Do you need to take protection?

Myer

This topic has been covered many times.

You will get a hundred responses that tell you to switch to a digital camera.

Yes, the signs say film under ASA 800 is fine in carry-on luggage. I don't go for that.

Go to a photography store and buy a bag/pouch that is intended to carry film through the xray machines.

I place my film in one and don't bother worrying. They only cost a few dollars and hold about 15 rolls of film.

beachbum

Faina,
Most folks not serious about photography will tell you that, as long as you're using films with ASA's of 400 or less, it'll not be damaged. Most folks serious about photography will tell you to either have your film hand-inspected (not passed thru x-ray), or buy a lead-lined pouch, which can be purchased at most camera stores.

I tried both approaches on a trip to Paris last fall. Security personnel in the USA were generally agreeable to hand-inspection; in Europe, they were much less so. So, I put the film in a lead lined pouch, where it wasn't questioned once, even after passing through x-ray.

Spygirl

For all aspects of transporting film through screening checkpoints-go to the TSA website below:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1035.xml

FainaAgain

Well... I flew San-Francisco-Boston last October, and both times asked to hand-inspect my camera. Obviously both airports were not ready for this, I had to wait for somebody to come, so for me such inspection was just unexpected delay. This and the looks they gave me (Huh? What? Why do you want THAT?)

Once, last year, I "forgot" the camera in the checked-in suitcase, I believe it was a 200 film, did not see any damages.

I just thought a pouch would be a worry-free "insurance" if it's readily available in the usual travel places, if I can pick it up at a corner pharmacy, like a money belt.

If this is only a few dollars... I just don't want to run around looking for a camera store (as lazy as I am

Mara

OTOH, the last time I flew internationally they searched my luggage - carry-on - both ways due to the way the film bag looked in the x-ray machine. And I am switching to a digital this time, mainly because it takes up much less space.
Mara

FainaAgain

Oh, I didn't realize this bag may look suspicious! I recall my question (used to recalls living in San Francisco

Michael

X-ray is said to be cumulative, with 5 the maximum number of passes. SF has been very unhelpful in hand-checking film, so I use a film bag. Chicago has been absolutely correct about the process, there was even a sign posted stating that we may ask for the film to be hand-checked.

Edward2005

People still use cameras that require film?

Michael

Edward,

I prefer projecting pictures on a screen even when for just my wife and me; they have a certian luminescence that prints lack. My old and small TV is not in a public space, so I could not show my pictures to friends unless I used slides.

FainaAgain

Edward, my son is still uses LPs - he collects them since he was a teenager.

And it may come as a shock, but people still read books! And go to stage theaters!

rkkwan

There are lots of inexpensive digital projector right now, which you can show you photos from your computer.

On the other hand, slide projectors are becoming harder to find.