I've been to Europe twice in the last five years, the last time for a month
in Ireland starting on Sept. 20, 2001. Both times my film was sent through
the hand luggage scanners. The last trip the film saw three scans. The
first trip in Sept. 1997, the film saw 9 scans (yes, lots of short flights
and a ride on the chunnel train). There was NO fogging or damage. I shoot
Velvia, E100S/SW/VS, and HP5+ sheet film. Furthermore, I know of no
professional or amateur photographer that has had his film fogged by the
scanners for checking hand luggage provided it is of 800 speed or
less. Most of the problems that had been reported have been the result of
the processing lab screwing up and blaming the x-ray machine.
A professional photographer friend just came back from Morocco and Italy in
May with about 200 sheets of exposed T-MAX Ready loads in his hand luggage
-- NO Fogging.
That said, NEVER put film in checked baggage. It can and will be
toasted. The Director Sir Richard Attenborough (sp) lost a years worth of
unexposed film thanks to checking it and it got fried. Don't mess around
with the film shield bags. You will have to take the film out anyway when
the security personnel can't tell what is in the bag.
There are a couple of strategies that you can use to minimize exposure but
they do drive up the cost of the trip and can result in more problems than
you solve. Personally, I want my film with me. I'm going back to Europe
next spring and I will be carrying the film in my briefcase which will be
x-rayed by carry-on luggage scanners. I shoot 4 x 5 sheet film, there is
no hand inspection. I do keep of couple of sheets of unexposed film with
me to show the security personnel what is in the box. The camera and
tripod get checked.
Don't sweat the x-ray machines, you have much more to worry about with the
pickpockets in Florence and keeping them out of your pockets.
Drew
At 05:34 PM 7/23/02, you wrote:
>Yes, SOME machines at SOME airports are perfectly safe. The one down the
>hall may not be. Kodak itself said NOT to let any film be xrayed in
>Europe, their Xray machines are much more potent than ours. It's just
>luck your film has been unscathed so far. I wouldn't take any chances on
>a once in a lifetime trip, thats for sure!
>
>
>Jerry
>
>
>
>Julian Thomas wrote:
> >
> > I travel fairly often in Europe (Italy/Spain/UK) and I 've never been able
> > to get a handcheck. The films are safe to 1600 iso so they always scan it .
> > But the scanners for hand luggage are ok - My last trip to Italy had a
> batch
> > of 400delta go through 8 different scanners and it was ok. Film is cheap
> > here too - 2-3 euros a roll of 120 delta
> >
> > Julian
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jerry Olson" <jerryolson@...>
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 11:25 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] FW: OT, x-ray protection question?
> >
> > > Do NOT let the airport Xray your film overseas. Chances are it will be
> > > toast. No matter what they tell you, DON'T do it. Especially don't
> > > check it in your baggage!!!
> > >
> > > Handcheck it, or else have slides or negs processed there, and buy the
> > > film there.
> > >
> > > That's if you want to be 100 percent safe.
> > >
> > > Jerry
> > >
> > > Jim Panzer wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > > I am going to be going to Italy soon and was
> > > > > wondering if anyone
> > > > > here might have any suggestions on x-ray protection.
> > > > > I will be
> > > > > bringing mostly 100 and 400 asa films, t-max, and
> > > > > c-41 stuff. This
> > > > > is by far the biggest trip I have yet to photograph
> > > > > and I would hate
> > > > > to loose stuff to x-rays. You can reply off list
> > > > > too. Thanks people.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jim Panzer
> > > > > jimp@...
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
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