Lyn

After reading all about people having their film destroyed in x-ray machines.... I definitely want a lead pouch to keep our film rolls in. Does anyone know of a website where these can be purchased ??

Alice

I think Magellans' sells them in a couple of sizes... www.magellans.com

jhm

Try doing a search for B&H photo suppliers -- they are the best in the business for everything photo-related.

rand

I used a lead pouch once. When my bag was in the x-ray machine I said to the guy that my film was in one. He replied 'That's ok, I just turn the power up'. Last time I bothered with the extra weight.

Artemis

If they can't x-ray through it they'll just want to open it anyway, so ... I'd recommend keeping all the film, exposed and unexposed, in clear canisters (Fuji) and in a zip-lock bag, then passing it through for a hand search. They'll want to open the canisters, and may make you take a picture with the camera to show that that's what it is, but it's the safest bet.

pam

Well, passing through CDG I had my film in my hand, in a zip-lock bag, in unopened cartons (outbound) and in no canisters (homeward bound), and both times the agents refused to hand inspect my film, throwing it in a bin to ride through the xray machine, and once telling me if I didn't like it I could stand there and miss my flight. Any suggestions what I might have done differently? (Film wasn't apparently harmed, but I felt as if I'd wasted a lot of effort trying to prevent the xraying of it.)

scigirl

I had the same experience as Pam. I always presented my film separately and was always told to just send it through the x-ray machine. There was an earlier thread about this a few months back - maybe in the grab bag forum - a few searches might bring up that useful thread. The damage to your film depends on film type (200, 400, etc.) with higher speeds being more susecptible to x-ray damage. The x-rays used on checked baggage is much stronger than on carry-on, so don't check film. Number of times being x-rayed also matters. That said, my unprotected carry-on film that was passed through x-ray about 4 times came out fine. (However, 1x through x-ray on a trip to the Bahamas it was ruined - different equpitment).

Walter

I look at it this way, I have to keep my film in something so why not a lead pouch. Before I knew better I sent my unexposed film in a lead pouch with my checked luggage from Boston to London. On my return I was pulled from line (it happens to me alot at LHR and had my luggage x-rayed thru I believe the "big bad x-ray machine" posters talk about located in a "special room" where my luggage was then hand searched. Then it was sent thru as checked luggage, and my 400 speed film was fine. I just feel more secure with my film in a lead pouch whether it's necessary or not, it makes me happy. Regards, Walter

Alice

Since my photos are my primary 'souvenir', I adopt both practices above. First, I approach the security person w/film in plastic bag and ask them to hand-check. If they refuse (and they have), I then put the rolls into the lead bag and pass them thru the conveyor. If they hand-check, it lessens the chances of ruin, espec. if having to go multiple checkins; if they won't I've got the lead bag. It is one time I recognize I might not be popular while in line, but gotta do what I gotta do. I never ever put film in checked baggage, as those xrays are much stronger.

howard

To: Pam and Scigirl
The answer is to buy the lead bags! First, that will save you an encounter with a rude security person. If you put your film in a lead bag in your carry-on luggage, one of two things will happen:
1. It'll go thru with no problem (which is what has happened to me every time), or..
2. They'll ask you to open up the lead bag and show them what's inside it!
Either way, your film is safe!