Is film safe in airport?

[Tinkbell]

Okay, my boyfriend is stressing about our film going through the x-ray machines, scanners, etc. He says it will hurt the quality of our pictures. I have always put the film through the machines and have never had a problem. He won't take my word for it. I really don't want to stress about film ( I worry enough about vacations ). What does everyone here think?

 

[TravelSheryl]

You're right. You may want to use the Search feature for a recent discussion of this topic.

 

[Tinkbell]

Thanks Sheryl!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Film is A-OK. We were also very concerned before our trip.
We were SURE to ask before they X_Rayed our camera bag. They told us that when you get above 1000 speed film, there COULD possibly be a problem. We had no trouble with our film or our videos.

Hope this helps.

 

[rhw]

I had 16 rolls of film come back blank. I worry every time now. They assure me at the airport that it doesn't hurt the film.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Hi guys,
Iv'e mentioned this in a previous post, but it was a while back so i repeat it here:

Whether the x rays will harm your film is dependant on a lot of factors.

1. The speed of the film ( the higher the speed, the more delicate it is, but look closely at the back of the box of your next roll of film. I don't think that Kodak puts DO NOT X RAY on those boxes for no reason.)

2. Th strength of the x ray machine at your particular airport. There is no regulations pertaining to intensity limits so some airports may be more dangerous for your film than others.

3. Where you store your film is also important.Some say better in checked bags, others say in carryons.I personally say neither and do what many professional photographers do in a pinch: I wear pants with deep pockets and put the film in there.The detector will go off but at least you will only get checked with a hand held metal detector rather than an x ray device.


Some airports allow you to have your film hand examined instead of sent through the machine.It can't hurt to try can it?


Finally i'd like to say that film is what i do for a living.I run a major one hour photo store.In my time i have seen MANY, MANY rolls of film come back either blank, or fogged ( partially blank). These pictures are not replaceable so why take any unneccesary risks?inkbounce:

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

rhiannonwales,
You and I are in the same profession ( I love it btw) and I have yet to see any problem with film that goes throught the scanners at the airport. What I mainly see is damage from heat/cold, over exposure and all the other cute things people do to their film.
Just looked at a box of Fujifilm and there is NO warning about xrays, just heat , wetness and noxious gasses.
I think Kodak puts that warning on their film (have yet to see that one, will have to check later) to protect themselves in case the film fogs.
Personally, I have yet to have a problem with my film, I always have it in my carryon.
But, if it does cause concern, have it hand inspected, I have yet to see security deny that request.
BTW, as an aside, who do you work for?

 

[rhiannonwales]

hi Gail, i work for Eckerd drug.We have a huge photo lab here, as we are very busy.

I think that the fogged film thing also has a lot to do with the airports themselves.I had no problem once flying form Atlantic city to florida with film, but on another occasion my film got partially fogged going through newark airport.I think that people flying through airports that have very high security due to being considered a target for terrorists are more likeley to have their film x rayed at very high
levels.

Also i think that APS film is more susceptable than 35mm as the IX technology encoded into APS film is very sensitive to magnetics.


Where do you work by the way

 

[Disnydad]

I've never had a problem with film in my carry-on bags. I did have a problem with some exposed film that got mistakenly packed in a checked bag though. Must be stronger scanners down there.

 

[CarolA]

I have carried my film thought out Europe and the US. I always pack it in my carry on and have never had a problem. However, I would NOT check the film. The xrays they use to scan checked baggage are suppose to be much stronger and I think they would damage your film.

 

[beattyfamily]

We never had a problem with photos until our last trip to WDW.

When we got home we realized that one of our memory cards was damaged; no pictures remained.

We carried the camera case with us. It went through the scanner at the airport.

Bummer....

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

rhiannonwales,
Hi, I work for Wal*Mart, just got accepted into the manager's program. Cannot wait for my own lab.
As to the APS (which I dislike btw) being more fragile, I do agree. I also think the quality is inferior compared to 35mm film. Could be that I am resistant to change, however. What I really like are the high end digital cameras. GREAT prints from my Nikon Cool Pix950. Excellent resolution. I was pleasantly surprised.
Never had a problem with the memory cards and airport scanners. Might have some with magnets, including things like ATM cards, credit cards, etc. Careful how you store the memory cards.

 

[AllanJ]

Instead of putting the film in your carry-on, unwrap it and put the bare cartridges in your pocket. Put your other pocket things like pens, change, keys in your baggage. (Keep your wallet in your pocket.)

When you pass through security, empty your pockets into the basket provided, TAKE BACK YOUR WALLET, and proceed throguh. The little basket will now contain nothing except your film, safe.

Never leave your wallet in a basket or tray, you could get called away or called aside by the security agent to wave a wand over you.

One advantage of having film developed at Disney is then you have fewer cartridges to carry back and possibly get X-rayed.

Blank film with clear negatives, black prints if printed anyway, or black slides (transparencies) is not fogging, rather it might be due to a malfunctioning camera or accidentally submitting an unused roll for processing. Fogged film has dark areas on negatives including the borders and sprocket holes, prints with light or pastel areas, or slides with clear or pastel areas.
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[lovintigger]

I found a special bag on Amazon.com that has a lead lining for film to be placed in at the airport.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Hi just wanted to add another 2 cents of mine.
Lead lined bags can actually promote damage to your film as when the bag goes through the x-ray machine, the airport security will turn up the intensity of the x-rays to penetrate your bag.These bags are only shieded to a point. Eventually if you turn up the x-ray enough, it will go through the bag an now instead of getting a small amount of radiation, it's getting a much higher dose for a longer duration. That is why i agree with allan as i stated in my earlier post: put your film in your pockets, not you bags.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I agree, if it worries you, put the film in your pocket.
Also agree with Alan, process the fim there. Wal*Mart does a GREAT job. Not terribly expensive either.
5.96 for 24 exposures, 35 mm, single prints, one hour.