Anyone know what the x-ray things at the airport effect?

[merfsko]

My family has film, camera, walkmans, tapes, cds we were thinking of brining.... will any of that be ruined or effected by the x-ray machines? Or is everythign safe?

 

[safetymom]

Your film will be affected so ask for a hand inspection of your film at the airport. Then you can put it in your carry on.

The rest of your items will be fine going through the x-ray.

 

[CarolA]

NONE of this should go in your checked luggage.

Unless you have high speed film it should be fine. The TSA is required to hand check it if you ask. I saw them do it in Orlando recently... get there early.... first they tried to convince the passenger to put it through the scanner. THen the individually swabbed each role for explosives. It looked like it was going to take a while.

 

[dtuleya]

What is actually considered high speed film? I have some 800 for our trip. Do you have to worry about it before it is exposed or after you've taken the pictures?

 

[zulaya]

What about disposable cameras? I planned to put them in the carryon, but should I be asking for them to be hand checked? They are the waterproof ones we are taking for our day at Discovery Cove. I don't know the speed off hand.

Anyone?

 

[safetymom]

800 is considered high speed. The effects of x ray are cumulative but I wouldn't take any chances. I would be careful with any film or disposable camera.

It makes no difference if the roll is empty or you have taken photos. Ask to have it hand checked.

You could also mail your mail to the developer and not have to take it through security.

 

[zulaya]

My post wasn't clear. I meant I have already purchased these cameras, figuring I get a better price than buying them in FL. So they would be going through unused.

I checked the TSA website to see what they say and they don't say much about disposable cameras, just the high speed film.

I have 3 cameras and they are all in the original boxes. Should I be taking those cameras out of the boxes and placing them in ziploc bags for expediency through security? Or is leaving them unopened in their original boxes acceptable? I just don't want to get to security and hold up my party because I have to remove the cameras from the boxes for hand inspection.

 

[NotUrsula]

If the disposable cameras in boxes are still factory sealed, I think that it will be best to leave them that way. TSA will almost never open factory-sealed packages.

With film, I'd have anything over 400-speed hand-checked and kept out of the x-ray scanner. I'd say give yourself another 20-30 minutes to have that done; more if you have a really large number of rolls of film. (BTW, If you're going to have the film processed by mail, then just mail it from Orlando and save yourself the hassle of taking it through security on your way home.)

All electronic devices should be charged up and ready to use; TSA will occasionally insist that you turn something on if it swabs positive for explosive residue. (Which doesn't mean that you've been around explosives; lots of substances test positive on that scan, including some garden chemicals and cleansers.) The best way to pack up things like walkmans, etc. is in ziploc bags if you don't have cases for them, so that the cables and wires don't tangle.

 

[zulaya]

20-30 minutes to hand check 3 disposable cameras!?!? Holy Cow! I don't know that we'll have that much extra time. Maybe I should just consider thema wasted purchase and just buy some in FL. This is turning into a bigger pain than I wanted.

 

[safetymom]

I don't think you need an extra 20-30 mins. to inspect the film. Maybe 5 extra minutes. I would take them out of the box and have them in a ziploc bag to hand to the TSA agent.

You could also just buy them at Wal Mart or Super Target in Orlando if you aare going to have a car.

Also don't put anything valuable in your checked luggage. You should carry all the other items in your carry on bag.

 

[CarolA]

You may need the 20 minutes. The scene I saw in Orlando recently was going to take that long.... (And they had assigned ONE screener to do this so they were backed up with film)

The TSA appently has decided that the way to stop the hand checks is just to take thier time on them.... The screener warned the woman in front of me that it would take a while.

Disposable cameras are practically NEVER above 400 film.

Unlike SafetyMom I never have any of my film hand checked and I routinely use 800 speed. I have traveled to Europe often and there if they don't want to hand check your film, they don't have too.... since my film survived that I just quit worrying about it. I never had a problem.

Now I have moved to digital so it is even less of a problem.

 

[safetymom]

CarolA, I don't use film at all. I do talk with well known pro photographers as part of my job and they say the effects are cumulative with the x rays. They may have that once in a lifetime shot so they don't want to leave anything to chance. But the tourist to Orlando or elsewhere may have very precious images that they wouldn't want to lose. So you would probably be safe but I wouldn't want to take any chances.

If it were me I would buy the film in Orlando and mail them out to be developed or have them printed before I left Orlando. That way there would be no problems. But most people don't want to do this.

I am very protective of my negs. and digital images. A few minutes of protection and I don't have the anguish of ruined photos. I keep several copies of all my digital images in case something happens to one CD.

 

[CarolA]

SafetyMom,
I gave up after Madrid. The man in front of me had a ton of camera equipment and expensive stuff. When he requested a hand check of his film all "you know what" broke out. They accused him of not trusting them and forced his film through the xray while he complained. Police men were called over to "escort" him thru security since he continued to complain. They then decided to search him. Last scene all of the stuff was strewn all over the table and he was not anywhere near it. I could have just walked off with the stuff, he couldn't see it and they could have cared less. I just let them screen my film.

Now, I never take film on more then one trip so it only gets a few scans.

You may get a nice TSA agent who just looks at the bag of film and lets it go, but as we know... some of those people should NOT have been given this much power!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Zulaya-

You are thinking of doing EXACTLY what I am thinking of doing! I can go to Sam's and buy multi-pack disposable cameras and pack them for much less than it will cost to buy them at Disney.

CarolA-
All of the disposable cameras they had at Sam's this week were indeed 800 speed film. Target was the only place I saw 400, but they weren't in multi-packs. The waterproof disposables I saw were 800 speed film.

When you open the box a disposable camera is in, it is sealed in a foil pouch. If the airport screeners are going to stand there and open every single foil pouch then we will never get on a plane! I thought I would put the extra disposables in my checked luggage (if they get stolen then I am out about $20) to go to Orlando. On the way home I will take the used cameras in my carry on and have them hand checked.

While I don't travel often I am certain I have had cameras (traditional and disposable) go through the x-rays before with no problems. The issue here is that my pictures from Disney will be "once in a lifetime" pictures! It's a shame I haven't made it into the digital era!

 

[zulaya]

The issue for me is that I already purchased 3 of these waterproof one-time use cameras. I went up and checked them and all 3 are indeed 800 speed. These aren't in foil - at least the FujiFilm ones aren't because I can see through the box and see the plastic case on the cameras.

These cameras were going to be for one of those once in a lifetime things - I am pretty sure I won't ever capture my 8 year old daughters face swimming with dolphins in Discovery Cove again.

I will have a car, but I bought the cameras ahead of time to
1. Save money than having it sucked out of my in touristville
2. Save time so I wouldn't have to go shopping for them once I am at WDW.

I feel like my planning ahead is a punishment with regards to these cameras. I do plan to get them developed before we leave for home so I don't have to risk the pictures being all weird.

I have been a digital camera person for years now and if we weren't going to DC, I wouldn't have even bothered with these cameras.

 

[bopeep9207]

Originally posted by zulaya
My post wasn't clear. I meant I have already purchased these cameras, figuring I get a better price than buying them in FL. So they would be going through unused.

I checked the TSA website to see what they say and they don't say much about disposable cameras, just the high speed film.

I have 3 cameras and they are all in the original boxes. Should I be taking those cameras out of the boxes and placing them in ziploc bags for expediency through security? Or is leaving them unopened in their original boxes acceptable? I just don't want to get to security and hold up my party because I have to remove the cameras from the boxes for hand inspection.

It does not matter if the cameras are used or not. It is not the camera you worry about it is the film. Most disposables are now being loaded with 400 or 800 film. The effects, as noted before, are cumulative. You have no idea how many times the cameras were scanned before you purchased them.

Leave them in their boxes/wrappers and ask to have them checked by hand.

The TSA does not process film, they inspect for security threats.

Kodak and Fuji both recommend any film be hand inspected, exposed or not.

 

[bopeep9207]

Disposable cameras are practically NEVER above 400 film.

Most of the underwater ones and a lot of Fuji's are now 800 film.

 

[glindamood]

DH and I did the Magic in September and I didn't have any issue with my film - leaving GRR or MCO for our retun home. The were scanned by hand and it didn't take very long - no more than a few minutes. Since DH has a digital and I use a 35MM it was only 3 or 4 rolls.

Gail

 

[bopeep9207]

If it were me I would buy the film in Orlando and mail them out to be developed or have them printed before I left Orlando. That way there would be no problems. But most people don't want to do this.

JMHO, but, if the shots are really precious (and most are to everyone) I would not be sending them to any mail in processing plant. With all the one hour places available, that is the safest route.

 

[bopeep9207]

I thought I would put the extra disposables in my checked luggage (if they get stolen then I am out about $20) to go to Orlando. On the way home I will take the used cameras in my carry on and have them hand checked.

NEVER pack film in checked luggage. The foil will not stop the effects of the xrays on the film, exposed or not.

From Kodak.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml#SEC43