film question...

[Gupsmom]

Will my film be safe going through security measures. I am a srapbooking nut and I would be devistated if I didn't have my pics..

Jess

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Anything lower than ASA 800 will be ok going thru the standard x-ray used for passenger screening of carry-on luggage.

Do not pack your film in your checked luggage - the x-ray machines used for checked luggage will almost certainly fog any film.

 

[Moosysmom]

I just got off the Magic on the 15th, also a scrap-booker 1/2 done with my trip. I had all my film hand checked on the way back home from Orlando. (It was just x-rayed in Minnesota and through the disney machines.) ASA 800 and higher they are saying can go through once. My did and was okay (underwater cameras are usally ASA 800). The photo processing place I go to suggests a Lead shield for below ASA 800 and if you can to get all your film hand checked. Orlando had no problem with the hand check. My film all processed okay.

 

[ZebraStripes]

Does anyone know if the fogging caused by the baggage x-ray machines will fog film that hasn't even been opened yet? I threw a box of 400 film into my suitcase by mistake and didn't realize it until I unpacked back home. Don't know if I should just toss it out at this point.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

ASA 800 is a higher speed film than ASA 400. The higher the speed of the film the more sensative it is to light, and hence to x-rays. Anything 800 or higher should probably be hand checked; lower than 800 (which the most common are 400 and 200) it's probably not going to be a major issue unless you make multiple trips thru the x-ray.

As was mentioned, if you're really, really worried about it regardless of the speed, have it hand checked or get some lead carriers from a camera shop.

Yes, film can be fogged by x-ray whether it's been exposed or not. Fogging by x-ray is just another type of exposure. I would say to toss the film that went into your luggage; it's not worth taking the chance. Unexposed film is cheap compared to processing/prints and losing good pictures.

 

[zyezye]

Does any of this apply to video camera film? We're leaving on Saturday morning!!!

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Originally posted by zyezye
Does any of this apply to video camera film? We're leaving on Saturday morning!!!

No. Video cameras do not use film in the sense that a picture camera does. The information recorded on the video tape is stored magnetically. Digital cameras and Video cameras are both fine going thru the carry-on luggage x-ray machines.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

No way would I chance film to the x-ray machines. I generally shoot 800 or faster, although will take some 400 for the bright Caribbean sun. All of it will be packed in lead bags (was able to pick up two really large ones via LL Bean Traveler) and then into my camera bag with the rest of my equipment. Will request hand check but if security people insist on sending it through the machines it will be protected, they will see those lead shields and end up hand checking it anyway.

I know "they" say that x-rays won't hurt the slower speeds but I've had too many foggy results to trust "them".

Deb

 

[4407mark]

Hand check is the best method to protect your film and carry it in your carry-on bag. I have sent my entire camera bag through the security checkpoint machines and had no problems with the lead boxes or lead bags in some instances; in others, I have been asked to open the bag for a search. Much easier if you just take your film out of the plastic containers, put the film rolls in a clear ziplock type bag and when you approach the security checkpoint, remover the ziplock bag and place it in a tray along with car keys, change, etc. or ask for a hand check. WARNING: The newer x-ray machines use to check checked baggage have a variable intensity function so that if the machine detects something that it cannot penetrate (i.e lead bag), it dials up the energy level until it can penetrate the material. This has and will cause damage to exposed and unexposed film. To be safe, HAND CHECK!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Just to clarify - the film goes inside a ziploc, inside the lead bag, inside the camera bag which is definitely a carry on! No way do I let those gorillas handle that equipment. No one else in my family even carries that bag. Yes, I am a bit demented in this respect. My family clearly has identified this as a problem!

Deb