Bulk film and airport security...

[bmicklea]

Has anyone taken bulk-loaded film (in other words blank cartridges) through airport security lately? I'm going on my honeymoon to Spain and France for three weeks and was planning on taking bulk-loaded film but wondered if the blank cartridges would freak out security. I'd hate to lose 30 rolls of film to airport security paranoia.

Thoughts?

[kully]

Can't say anything about Canada, but I've flown out of Heathrow twice, Zurich and Asturias (Spain) and not had any problem at any of them. They don't check the sealed 'proper' films but they wiped and did an explosives check on the bulk rolled stuff.

[40oz]

yes, in and out of NYC. Just put them in clear plastic bags, and ask for hand inspection at the security screen prior to boardiing. It is not an issue. I was somewhat concerned, but it turns out that someone who works security at an airport has seen at least one other roll of film in their life You might not even have it hand-inspected if it is slower than 400iso, depending on how many checkpoints you will go through. No sense making a lot of work for someone else for no reason.

[bmicklea]

Great, thanks very much guys apart from the explosives test (a minor inconvenience) I shouldn't worry about it too much.

[willie_901]

At the risk of stating the obvious, in my experience manual swipe tests for explosives residue is time consuming. Be aware and get to the security well in advance of your flight's departure.

Have a great time.

willie

[jackp510]

Hi,

Sometimes they won't hand check unless it is high speed film. I would learn the Spanish and/or French phrase stating that is high speed film (in other words lie if you really want it hand checked).

I just came back from Spain. They did not like the look of the blank black bulk rolled cartridges and kept pointing at the 400iso speed or lower sign, gesturing me to put the film through the xray. Unfortunately I did not know how to say I had 1600 speed film (ie. lie) to get them to hand check. So I put it through. With that said, my black and white 400 speed film did not seem fogged (only went through carry on xrays twice).

I saw another photographer on my return flight. He carries all his film in xray bags prompting a hand check when the machines pick up big black objects in his carry on. It's a time sink since they now hand check EVERYTHING of his but he says it works.

Good luck and have a great trip!!

Jack

[jarski]

recently I started travelling with my M3. at airports quite often they have to double x-ray my camera bag. sometimes also hand inspect it. I suspect this is because of Leica's thick metal body is not penetrated with normal frequency they have default in their machines. have anyone else noticed same?
this is why I normally dont keep any film inside camera when I have to fly.

[JohnL]

Originally Posted by jarski

recently I started travelling with my M3. at airports quite often they have to double x-ray my camera bag. sometimes also hand inspect it. I suspect this is because of Leica's thick metal body is not penetrated with normal frequency they have default in their machines. have anyone else noticed same? ...

I've had this experience too, with an M7. Apparently they can see through most cameras, but not this one - not at normal x-ray intensities, anyway. I always try to board with no film in the camera.

[reub2000]

The obvious solution is to get plastic canisters and take them through the metal detector.

[migtex]

Last week on Frankfurt, my Nikon S went through Chromatography check for explosives and drugs... no problems with the 400 (kodak CN) film.

[Michael I.]

didnt do me any trouble in San Francisco

[mervynyan]

I don't understand, why don't you load all the films at home?

So you have to carry a bulk film loader, one or many rolls of bulk films, limited number of cartridges, how do you get more empty cartridges if you shoot more than 30 rolls? Local photo labs may or may not want to give you the empty ones, you may or may not be able to develop the negatives on the road.

Cost aside, these are things you need to reason first before you are heading to the airport! When you sort out the reasons, I think this is a mull question.

In addition, it is your honeymoon photos, why risk with less-quality-control home-load bulk films when fresh-dated films are inexpensive if purchase at bulk price. You can take 2 cameras and 4 or 5 different type of films, including tungsten light for dinner shoots.

sleep on it,

cheers,

[ed1k]

I traveled recently (end of December) from Pearson Intl with a mix of bulk loaded rolls and a couple of Neopan 1600 I bought for some available light shots. All hand loaded cassetes were in plastic caps same as manufacture loaded film is usually sold (I usually store them this way to keep out of dust); and I put them in clear plastic bag. At airport I told the guy I have a few rolls of 16 hundred ISO and want hand check it - it's just a high speed film. He was surprised to hear that 1600 speed and asked if he can open up the plastic caps. I smiled and said "sure - this is what I want you to do, otherwise you can't be sure this is a film". I opened the first black cap which I knew was Neopan and showed "1600" written over cassette, then he opened few other caps just looking there is a cassette with film inside. I don't know if he ever checked every cap I had. No problem at all.
But in Kiev on my way back, knowledge of my first language didn't help me at all. Well, after spending 15 minutes I made them hand check one roll of Neopan 1600 and everything else not marked as above 400 ISO including second roll of Neopan 1600 loaded in Spotmatic went thru X-ray for hand carried (cabin) luggage. Surprisingly for me there is no fog or any evidence it was x-rayed. Stupid me could take the film out of camera and don't worry at all. If you're going to take a bulk roll of film (any speed) in checked-in luggage - better give it to me while you're in Toronto, because you anyway throw away foged thing after developing once in lifetime shots.

Eduard