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Effect of Xray security check on films
- Thread starter robusto
- Start date
jsmisc
Well-Known Member
I think that the only option is to ask politely for a hand/manual search. They won't always agree in which case you just have to take your chances. I used to use a lead lined film safe but they just turn up the power so that is a bit self defeating. I must say that I have never noticed any deterioration after X-ray but I have not chanced high ISO film.
Hope this helps,
John
Hope this helps,
John
Put it in a clear plastic bag and hand it to the X-ray technician and politely demand a hand inspection. One pass through the average hand carry on doesn’t seem to cause a problem with low ISO films. HOWEVER, multiple passes or higher speed films will build up a background density resulting in lower saturation of colors. NEVER put luggage in checked luggage, it WILL be ruined. Best rule I found traveling around the US and world weekly is to have hand inspections of unloaded cameras and gear. The heavy duty plastic bag will show off the film cans. Often they ask me to remove a lens or to dry fire the camera which is fine. I haven't had a problem in the past dozen years when I ask with a big smile on my face.
> Hello, I would like to add my experience on this topic. I have been > traveling a lot internationally in the last 15 years and always used a 400 > ISO film. I never asked for a manual inspection (in some places is > difficult to get it) and it never happened to me that the film got damaged > by X rays. Now when I travel I feel pretty safe.
Just to add my 2 cents worth,
I travelled to Kunming in China from Manchester in the UK, earlier in the year. I took my N film equipment and a raft of film with me. I asked very politely for a hand search of my equipment and film and was told most unpolitely that they could hand check each roll of film by removing it from the cannister. I was then taken aside and my gear was removed and tested for drugs and explosives! In doing so they bust my N1 which I didn't find out until later on and I am sure that they would have denied having done so, thanks Manchester for the £400 bill. The film they then x-rayed as well and screwed some up. All the other airports along the way were great, Doha, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Kunming.
So much for being polite and nice to security staff, jobs worths! So now when I am going abroad it will be digital.
Paul
I travelled to Kunming in China from Manchester in the UK, earlier in the year. I took my N film equipment and a raft of film with me. I asked very politely for a hand search of my equipment and film and was told most unpolitely that they could hand check each roll of film by removing it from the cannister. I was then taken aside and my gear was removed and tested for drugs and explosives! In doing so they bust my N1 which I didn't find out until later on and I am sure that they would have denied having done so, thanks Manchester for the £400 bill. The film they then x-rayed as well and screwed some up. All the other airports along the way were great, Doha, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Kunming.
So much for being polite and nice to security staff, jobs worths! So now when I am going abroad it will be digital.
Paul
jsmisc
Well-Known Member
Hi Paul,
Very bad luck.
I had a similar although not as drastic, experience in Dublin this summer. Newcastle upon Tyne were fine although they did check for explosives but Dublin after much huffing and puffing and examination by the supervisor, became steely eyed and insisted on X-ray. Fortunately no harm done on this occasion. I once had my loaded Mamiya 6 scanned twice because the official couldn't quite make out what it was. I can't rememeber where that was but he was English speaking.
You just cannot rely on them allowing hand scanning. Certainly digital would take the worry out of it.
Dublin would also not allow us to take a jar of local honey through. We had to give it up and buy one on the other side of the barrier. I suppose I can see the logic but very annoying.
Very bad luck.
I had a similar although not as drastic, experience in Dublin this summer. Newcastle upon Tyne were fine although they did check for explosives but Dublin after much huffing and puffing and examination by the supervisor, became steely eyed and insisted on X-ray. Fortunately no harm done on this occasion. I once had my loaded Mamiya 6 scanned twice because the official couldn't quite make out what it was. I can't rememeber where that was but he was English speaking.
You just cannot rely on them allowing hand scanning. Certainly digital would take the worry out of it.
Dublin would also not allow us to take a jar of local honey through. We had to give it up and buy one on the other side of the barrier. I suppose I can see the logic but very annoying.
Hi John,
It all seems to pot luck, but you would expect "your own locals" to be a bit better. It does bug me that you can buy anything you want after check in as well. It can put you over the baggage allowance, but they don't really care!
Anyway a Panasonic L1 is on it's way soon (hopefully), until 20MP+ in and 139/RX type body (with proper controls) comes along. It seems there is no call for a digital camera without all the bells and whistles.
LONG LIVE FILM, IN ALL IT'S FORMATS!!!
Except 126 and 110
Paul
It all seems to pot luck, but you would expect "your own locals" to be a bit better. It does bug me that you can buy anything you want after check in as well. It can put you over the baggage allowance, but they don't really care!
Anyway a Panasonic L1 is on it's way soon (hopefully), until 20MP+ in and 139/RX type body (with proper controls) comes along. It seems there is no call for a digital camera without all the bells and whistles.
LONG LIVE FILM, IN ALL IT'S FORMATS!!!
Except 126 and 110
Paul