Camera film and x-ray ?

[RAHKMH]

Hello....not sure if this is the right forum.......bought a elph 2 with aps film......leaving in a couple days......do I have to worry about ex-ray exposure....thanks Bob

 

[ellyn2000]

I've always had my film in my bags when I fly and have never had a problem. Asked about it at the airport once, they said that is a myth that x-ray will damage unexposed film. Never had a problem and always have film developed when I get home. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Kathy5]

Bob,

I always carry the film in my purse (if you have a wife) or you could put the film in your carry-on. Even when our film has gone through the airport check-in security, we have never had a problem with poor exposure due to security. Then, I bring along film mailers (like York), with the payment check already written. As we finish the role of film I drop it in a mailer and put it in a mail box. There are times that the pictures have arrived back at our home before we do.

Kathy5

 

[WhiteRabbit]

Kodak should know just as much about the effects of airport x-ray machines on unexposed film as anyone else. Some interesting information on their site you may want to look over. I posted the link to the relevant info below:

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

 

[Blondie]

I had wondered about this too. When we flew in February, I put our video camera, regular camera and all our film in our carry on.

Everything was fine! Nothing was exposed, or cloudy when developed. We usually buy 400 speed film for our trips to WDW.

 

[hercamore]

Thanks for you for the link to the the informative article.

Some of our disney pictures from our august trip last summer look like they had exray damage. Some of my pix look like the ones illustrated in the article.

We went thru Ohare twice.


Herc.

 

[ellyn2000]

Kathy5, that is a great tip! I'll certainly do that on my next trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

While we were checking in our luggage for our flight out of Minneapolis/St.Paul a few weeks ago, we saw a sign that said new xray equipment was in use for checked baggage and that film might be damaged. It was too late for us to do anything about the film in our checked bags. The pictures turned out fine though. We had 400 and 800 ASA film. I don't know if they didn't use the xrays on our baggage or if we were just lucky, but I think next time all the film is going on the carry-ons.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The Kodak site is correct and I have seen a lot of film fogged because of many things, not the least of which is heat or extream cold. Many people mistake that for xray damage. In reality, film is not usually harmed if you carry it on the plane.
Another thing I have seen a lot of since 9/11 is film that is mailed to processing labs.
It is literally ruined with the new postal scanners. Not all locations have these scanners, but, without knowing who has them, would you take the chance? Folks, you have paid a lot of money for your vacation, preserve the memories by having the film processed before you go home if you have any doubts about the xray machines at the airports. Pay the extra 2.00 or so bucks to have it done in an hour. It is silly for the savings of a few bucks to chance loosing your shots.
After having spent a few years in a lab and seeing what can happen to film either ruined by xrays, send out labs, heat, cold and whatever, it makes no sense to not leave it somewhere where it will not be ruined or lost.
I have spent time with people who have lost their wedding pictures because they would not spend the money to have them done at the in house lab and chose to "save" by sending them out. They saved a lot of money, they did not have to pay for them because they were lost or ruined and nothing we could do would help.
One of the few joys I had when I worked in the lab, was processing (preserving memories) vacation pictures. Each and every shot was looked at and corrected accordingly. You will not get that at a send out lab. Every roll is automated. No one sees them. It is an assembly line production. Do you want that for your film? For your memories?
BTW and an FYI, I no longer do film. I no longer work at Wal*Mart, but, do believe, totally, in one hour or onsite processing. Well.......at least the one hour that actually looks at the film, IE: WalMart, Eckard (sp?) or Target. NOT....Walgreens, CVS, etc.