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cam
Oct 19, 2004, 1:23 PM
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Registered: Apr 4, 2004
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Okay first off, the search function produced nothing. I mean NOTHING at all. I don't think it is working.
Anyhoo, flying to Thailand in a few weeks and would like to hear what you all do with film (burned and otherwise) when going through airport security. I figured I'd keep it with me as carry on, but I am conserned about the xray machines etc.
Any advice is welcome and appreciated.
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kman
Oct 19, 2004, 1:28 PM
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Registered: Oct 16, 2001
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My mom took her camera on as carry on. When they passed it through the x-ray machine it wiped out her picture. Carry the film with you on person. Do not put it through the machine.
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noshoesnoshirt
Oct 19, 2004, 2:33 PM
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Registered: Jul 24, 2002
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Last time I tried to get my film hand searched, the security guy got pretty surly and told me he was going to open the canisters right there. It was either that, or send it through the xray, or spend a few hours in a back room with TSA bulldogs getting my tonsils felt up from the wrong end.
The screeners will always claim that unless the film in question is very fast (e.g. 1000 or faster) it will suffer no damage from the xray. I've found this to be erroneous - a couple of rolls of Fuji Velvia 50 produced otherwise good slides with prominant horizontal lines in every frame.
Who knows, maybe Thai screeners are a bit more relaxed about film (or more susceptible to bribery), but I'd count on them putiing it through the machine if you show up at flight screening with it.
Your only other option would be to buy film in Thailand and mail it home before you get to the airport.
edited to include :
BTW, when the security guy said he was going to open the canister, he was referring to the steel canister containing the actual film, not the plastic canister which contains the steel canister.
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brianinslc
Oct 19, 2004, 3:10 PM
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Registered: Sep 13, 2002
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In reply to: Anyhoo, flying to Thailand in a few weeks and would like to hear what you all do with film (burned and otherwise) when going through airport security. I figured I'd keep it with me as carry on, but I am conserned about the xray machines etc.
Yep, carry it on. Will be burned to a crisp in some of the heavy duty x-ray machines used for checked baggage.
In the US, you can request a hand check of your film. It really helps to print out the TSA lingo that says you can, just to help inform some not so saavy folks at airport security (not like you'll win any arguements on the spot, but....). This info is sometimes posted at the airport, sometimes not.
Outside the US, I'd use a lead shield and send it throught the carry on machine. Then have them hand check it. Fuji film is nicer because it comes in clear plastic. Some times they'll dump it in a tray and just send it through anyhow. Sometimes your lead shield will sail through and they won't even open your luggage (which, is kind of a scary thought...).
If its only a roll or two, split it up and put one in a shirt pocket, the other in your pants or give one roll to your travel partner. Has a minimal amount of metal in it, so, should pass through most machines as long as you don't have a zipper or belt (etc) nearby to trip the metal detector (I do this a bit, so, pretty effective if you're not wearing a watch, etc, and try not to have anything else metal in the same "plane"). If you "tilt" and the metal detector detects it, just hand the film to the guy for a quick hand check. They usually open the canister, look, and hand it back to you. Easy.
Anyhoo, I'll post the TSA links and lingo below...
Brian in SLC
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1248.xml
Film
The equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage undeveloped film. Pack your undeveloped film in your carry-on bag. High speed and specialty film should be hand inspected at the security checkpoint. To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack in a clear plastic bag.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml
Transporting Film
WARNING: Equipment used for screening checked baggage will damage your undeveloped film.
Traveling with Film
Never place undeveloped film in your checked baggage.
Place film in your carry-on baggage* or request a hand inspection.
* Carry-on screening equipment might also damage certain film if the film passes through more than 5 times.
None of the screening equipment - neither the machines used for checked baggage nor those used for carry-on baggage - will affect digital camera images or film that has already been processed, slides, videos, photo compact discs, or picture discs.
General use film **
You should remove all film from your checked baggage and place it in your carry-on baggage. The X-ray machine that screens your carry-on baggage at the passenger security checkpoint will not affect undeveloped film under ASA/ISO 800.
If the same roll of film is exposed to X-ray inspections more than 5 times before it is developed, however, damage may occur. Protect your film by requesting a hand-inspection for your film if it has already passed through the carry-on baggage screening equipment (X-ray) more than 5 times.
Specialty film **
Specialty film is defined as film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher and typically used by professionals.
At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand inspection:
Film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher
Highly sensitive X-ray or scientific films
Film of any speed which is subjected to X-ray surveillance more than 5 times (the effect of X-ray screening is cumulative)
Film that is or will be underexposed
Film that you intend to 'push process'
Sheet film
Large format film
Medical film
Scientific film
Motion picture film
Professional grade film
Other Tips and Precautions:
If you plan to request a hand inspection of your film, you should consider carrying your film in clear canisters, or taking the film out of solid colored canisters and putting it into clear plastic bags, to expedite the screening process.
If you are going to be traveling through multiple X-ray examinations with the same rolls of undeveloped film, you may want to request a hand-inspection of your film. However, non-U.S. airports may not honor this request.
If you plan to hand-carry undeveloped film on an airplane at an international airport, contact the airport security office at that airport to request a manual inspection.
Consider having your exposed film processed locally before passing through airport security on your return trip.
We recommend that you do not place your film in lead-lined bags since the lead bag will have to be hand-inspected. If you have concerns about the impact of the X-ray machine on your undeveloped film, you can request a hand inspection.
You may still consider bringing a lead-lined bag if you are traveling through airports in other countries as their policies may vary. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information on foreign airports.
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