Airport Xray scanners effects on film

[Celebring]

...a "film-safe" bag...

No personal experience with "film-safe" bags, but apparently it's a lead-lined bag that blocks X-rays.

Unfortunately, it's suggested on other forums that that the customs official will just turn up the power of the X-ray machine and it could mean that your film is more likely to get damaged.

I've flown to London, Phuket and Macau with ISO 100 and 400 film. So far nothing appears to be damaged.

 

[street18]

Not film only, affected by those x-ray scanner. Even, today, cf card can be ruined by those machine. Somebody got those exp. during hunting trip in China, probably the x-ray too strong.

The best way protect our film & cf, just keep it in the special anti x-ray bag, which we can find it at adorama.

The alternative, by using ex mother board packaging plastic, for keep our film / cf during at airport, which it's believe can reduce the x-ray impact.

 

[Srono]

No personal experience with "film-safe" bags, but apparently it's a lead-lined bag that blocks X-rays.

Unfortunately, it's suggested on other forums that that the customs official will just turn up the power of the X-ray machine and it could mean that your film is more likely to get damaged.

I've flown to London, Phuket and Macau with ISO 100 and 400 film. So far nothing appears to be damaged.

The fact is they CANNOT increase power in X-ray machine for hand carry luggage. But lead bag is not recommended either, at least in US.

here is the info from Transportation Security Administration (USA):

We recommend that you do not place your film in lead-lined bags since the lead bag will have to be hand-inspected.

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.

This full article may be informative to someone:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm

I've never seen any problem with my films b4 (with airports in US, EU, asia...). But I don't often travel with film higher speed than 400 anyway. Pushing Hp5+ to 1600 works for me so far. There was only few times I tried ISO 1600-3200 film so I asked the airport staff to hand check for me They always did it without any complain. ;p

 

[yellow_kiwi]

Hi all,
Don't recall any bad experience. My most recent trip was to India. Some of the scanners at the domestic flight terminals have no indication that they are film-safe. My rolls of film must have went through 6-8 scans. Prints (no correction) look fine except that the colours turned out somewhat muted for a Lomo-LCA - Reala combi.

Have yet to use another roll of iso400 film which went through the same number of scans. Will try it out soon.

I also chatted with the uncle at Ruby photo prior to my trip about using lead-lined bags. He said that it was not recommended, esp if you have it in your check-in luggage. At the end of the day, you may still have to open your luggage up for inspection should the airport officials want to do a thorough check.

 

[9V-Orion Images]

35mm film will mysteriously mutate into medium/large format sizes. ;p

 

[Celebring]

The fact is they CANNOT increase power in X-ray machine for hand carry luggage.

That's comforting to know.

In any case, I personally won't be too concerned when travelling to countries where they have thought of film safety in X-ray machines.

 

[Yatlapball]

A roll of HP5+ that went through 8 x-rays... turned out fine. (yes i actually do keep track of how many times I carry each roll through airport scanners as I travel around...)

 

[mamypoko]

Recently developed a Velvia 50 roll after going through 6 X Ray machines, no problems, will be developing my TriX400 as well which went through the same number of machines.

 

[boochap]

upto iso400 negative and slide films, no problem at all.
multiple times through the most craps to most advance airport to train and bus stations.

 

[adamadam]

How about the scanners between Singapore and Malaysia?

 

[Srono]

No noticeable problem so far when i was lazy to ask for hand check. But I've never had problem asking for hand checking in SIN and KUL.

 

[adamadam]

No noticeable problem so far when i was lazy to ask for hand check. But I've never had problem asking for hand checking in SIN and KUL.

Thanks

I've forgotten once, Heathrow -> Singapore.
but it was fine

I read somewhere on the BAA website that they tested passing ISO400 film through about 6 times before it started fogging.

Another time was the scanners at the singapore flyer

 

[ronang]

My advise is to get a film safe bag from Cathay Photo and put all your films into the bag. You never know when the film can get fogged. I have had a few ASA400 rolls fog on a trip to Phuket a year ago. Even check in bags are X-rayed.

The bags that Cathay sell are hung on the rack that are near the Lowepro bags.

 

[adamadam]

I have some domke leadlined bags ill use

 

[boochap]

dun waste money with special bags lah.
i have been backpacking with films for 10+yrs. never have problems.
unless u carrying iso800+.

 

[adamadam]

dun waste money with special bags lah.
i have been backpacking with films for 10+yrs. never have problems.
unless u carrying iso800+.

I carried my films back no problem last night, most of the time had hand inspections.

I've already got this film bags, I guess I'll use them then....

protect from cosmicradiatioanshdkajhdsakjdajkajaksjkajjajajajaaaa

 

[eaturiano]

thanks guys for sharing your experiences...

I think i just have to request for a hand inspection first, and if they refuse, then i have no choice but to run it through the scanners together with my bags..
using the leadlined bags i think for me will just make my bag suspicious, and cause delays...but then, it all depends on my luck..hehe..

i will be travelling next week...i will update you guys on the outcome which i hope it turns out fine...

 

[leej0038]

Another time was the scanners at the singapore flyer

come to think of it, i think the scanner at singapore flyer was the one that fogged up my tri-x 400..

anyone had similar problems?

 

[eaturiano]

come to think of it, i think the scanner at singapore flyer was the one that fogged up my tri-x 400..

anyone had similar problems?

Really?...Im planning to take my niece and my dad this december when they visit me here in SG and of course im bringing my film camera with me (it's a must... )...

anybody had the same experience?

 

[adamadam]

come to think of it, i think the scanner at singapore flyer was the one that fogged up my tri-x 400..

anyone had similar problems?

my one had no problem, then again, it was a slower film (centuria 100 I think!)