Need Help!

[RDPhotography]

I'm going on holiday in a few weeks times and I'm planning to take both my digital and film gear. I've heard from a few people that I can't put film through x-ray scanner as It'll mess the film up and will be unusable.

Does any know how true this is?

 

[RaglanSurf]

I'm going on holiday in a few weeks times and I'm planning to take both my digital and film gear. I've heard from a few people that I can't put film through x-ray scanner as It'll mess the film up and will be unusable.

Does any know how true this is?

It's really not a problem. As a precaution keep all film with you as cabin baggage but you don't need to ask for hand checked rather than x-ray, I haven't heard of anyone having problems for over 20 years. I took a load of film gear a couple of years back and even though their x-ray equipment is not the most up to date I had no problem with any if my films, neither did any of the people I travelled with.

 

[gembobs]

I have taken tonnes of ISO 100 - ISO 400 film, both exposed and unexposed, through airport security without any problems.

I think the problems come if you try to take the super sensitive higher ISO film through, like ISO 800+

 

[rozzer1971]

Exactly. High ISO stuff can have issues but it's pretty rare. Travelling there and back through a modern airport with modern scanners isn't going to have any effect.

http://underwaterphotos.com/Filmsafe.htm

However if you was embarking on a round the world trip with multiple flights then be aware that the effect is cumulative. Passing the same film through machine after machine may result in fogging being noticed - but not a total loss of the image. So long haul gap year students off on their 'see the world' trips would be better off processing their film or sending it home.

Years ago stores used to sell 'X-Ray bags' for putting your films in - not realising that they would appear as a suspicious blank item on the screens and would be subject to a stronger scan as a result - which increased the chances of fogging !

 

[Nod]

I have taken tonnes of ISO 100 - ISO 400 film, both exposed and unexposed, through airport security without any problems.

I think the problems come if you try to take the super sensitive higher ISO film through, like ISO 800+

^^^ This and even then, it'll take many trips these days in the so called civilized world - the modern scanners use far weaker rays to do their thang.

Enjoy your holiday.

 

[Nod]

BTW, where are you based? I have a Lomo fisheye camera which uses 35mm film and you would be welcome to borrow it to have a play if you would like. I'll be making the offer on the open forum soon but since I know you'll be getting D&P done anyway, you're currently the first in the queue.
This will be a loan but a charitable donation would be appreciated to the value of the delivery/collection. The camera is complete, boxed and has all relevant bits in the box and obviously I would like it back in the same condition.