One Trip, Seven X-rays

[KenR]

I have had a mix of 400 and 100 B&W go thru scanners 5 times on a long trip with no ill effects. More recently I stood and watched as they put my bag back and forth thru the scanner as they tried to figure out what these strange looking little things were in the bag, I think that the film got several doses of radiation that day, also without any problems. BTW, they still asked me to show the bag and did the wipe test on the film even after they saw that it was film.
I may be paranoid, but somehow I think the TSA people will not be happy about a lead bag as it smacks of trying to get something thru the scanner without it being identified - seems to me like an invitation to be delayed, questioned, frisked and have a body cavity search - may not be a good idea.

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by Freakscene

I changed it almost right away; I certainly didn't mean to be disingenuous.

Right away as in "two days later", oh well. Backtracking must be fun.

[jonmanjiro]

On a recent trip to Turkey and some countries in Eastern Europe, my film (ten rolls of Velvia 50, forty something rolls of Neopan 400, ten rolls of Neopan 1600) went through at least 12 scans by hand luggage x-ray scanners at various airports.

I noticed a sign at Athens airport that stated their x-ray scanners are safe for film up to ISO 1000. That was after my 10 rolls of Neopan 1600 had just gone through. I would have asked for hand inspection if I had spotted the sign earlier. I looked but didn't see similar "safe up to ISO xxxx" signs at other airports I went through.

One thing that surprised me was the number of times (four times from memory) the x-ray scanner operator stopped the conveyor belt to get a closer look at my bag with the film in it and then ordered one of the other staff to open it up for closer inspection after it came out of the scanner. The 60 plus rolls of film all lined up in rows seemed to baffle them. I guess they don't see much film these days. The tens of seconds from when the x-ray scanner operator stopped the conveyor belt to get a closer look to when they restarted it always seemed awfully long.

But it wasn't a problem, and any worry at the time was unnecessary as all my film, including the Neopan 1600, came out fine.

[Joakim Målare]

What about lightmeters?

A couple of years ago when I visited Greece I noticed that my Weston Euromaster didn't work. It was fine before I left, so I figured the security scans had overloaded the selenium cell, or something like that... Likely?

[Sparrow]

... possibly cosmic radiation on the flight? or them pesky neutrinos ...

[Rob-F]

Let's all quit arguing, and study this:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/servi...01.shtml#SEC47

As others have reported, and as I have reported in other threads, I've had no damage from airport X-rays. Like the OP, my film was X-Rayed seven times during a European trip. Three of the X-rays were done in Paris, at Charles De Gaulle airport; one when departing Helsinki; twice in Atlanta; and, I think, once in St. Louis. Films included Tri-X; Ilford 400 Delta and 100 Delta; and some Plus-X. No damage. No damage going through X-Ray in Mexico City, either.

For one of the Paris X-rays, I simply laid the film out in one of the trays, separate from everything else. The attendant gave me a questioning look. I explained that my bag was so full of stuff that they would be running it back and forth through the machine, trying to figure out what all that stuff was. By laying it out separately, they knew what they were looking at, and for, so it went through in one quick pass. Others may wish to try this!

On another trip I absent-mindedly let a roll of Delta 3200 go through on both the outgoing and return trips. No problems.

There is a post above, concerning the X-raying of Neopan 1600 (does anyone have any left? I have only 2 rolls). Neopan 1600 is really only about 640 to 800, so it does OK at airports that promise no damage under 1000. This is from my experience, not theoretical. That said, I prefer not to travel with films faster than 400. No sense tempting fate.

As in the Kodak information, my lead bag did trigger an inspection on one trip. Not a problem, just something to be aware of. It would be better to simply request hand inspection in USA airports. I've never been refused. I did not, by the way, use a lead bag for the European trip. No sense in carrying the extra weight if it's not going to do that much good. But-again, as per Kodak-damage can happen. See their examples; and if possible, as kodak says, try to avoid more than 5 X-rays. I don't see how the 300, claimed above, can be possible without some fogging!

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by Joakim Målare

What about lightmeters?

A couple of years ago when I visited Greece I noticed that my Weston Euromaster didn't work. It was fine before I left, so I figured the security scans had overloaded the selenium cell, or something like that... Likely?

Not likely, most probably something else broke.

[srichmond]

I've read lots of threads about the harmful affects of x-rays, but have yet to see much evidence. Nobody ever has a photograph to post.

I've put film through 15-20 x-rays in the past, and haven't seen any harmful affects. Forget asking for hand checks in most countries; they just don't know what you're talking about.

If it happens, it's very bad luck, but I wouldn't worry about.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by srichmond

I've read lots of threads about the harmful affects of x-rays, but have yet to see much evidence. Nobody ever has a photograph to post.

I've put film through 15-20 x-rays in the past, and haven't seen any harmful affects. Forget asking for hand checks in most countries; they just don't know what you're talking about.

If it happens, it's very bad luck, but I wouldn't worry about.

I had three rolls of Fuji Superia 1600 damaged by an x-ray machine at Vientiane domestic airport in Laos, but the x-ray machine was for checking checked-in baggage not carry-on baggage. My bag went through by mistake. My other film, which was all ISO 400 or lower, was ok or at least not damaged enough to be noticeable to me. I have photos somewhere but am too lazy to dig them up. You're gonna have to take my word for it

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

I had three rolls of Fuji Superia 1600 damaged by an x-ray machine at Vientiane domestic airport in Laos, but the x-ray machine was for checking checked-in baggage not carry-on baggage. My bag went through by mistake. My other film, whih was all ISO 400 or lower, was ok or at least not damaged enough to be noticeable to me. I have photos somewhere but am too lazy to dig them up. You're gonna have to take my word for it

I think we all know not to carry film in our baggage, that is not what the discussion is about ... and I too find this lack of photographic evidence instructive

[semilog]

Originally Posted by kmallick

The worst case was the security at my hometown airport of Denver where the man in charge decided to take each roll film (50 in total) out of their wrappers and check it for fun!

The screeners at DIA are uncommonly dull-witted. TSA bottom quartile for sure.

[srichmond]

Yes, I'd be keen that people didn't worry unnecessarily about film checked into hand luggage. Flying is stressful enough, without worrying about other stuff like this!

I even took my camera to Chernobyl last year and that xrays there didn't damage the film!

[goo0h]

Originally Posted by srichmond

Yes, I'd be keen that people didn't worry unnecessarily about film checked into hand luggage. Flying is stressful enough, without worrying about other stuff like this!

I even took my camera to Chernobyl last year and that xrays there didn't damage the film!

Off topic, but say, you've got some nice stuff on flickr!

[keithp]

i get film hand inspected. It hasn't been an issue.