4x5 film and airport security

Hello

I would appreciate any tips as to how to get through airport security

without sending your box of film through X-ray. Most inspectors will

insist on opening the box to see the film and do not have the

slightest clue as to what sheet film is. To most security agents film

exists only in the 35mm format.How do you international travellers do

it?

Thanks

Arnold Zageris

"Hello I would appreciate any tips as to how to get through airport security without sending your box of film through X-ray."

 

Why not just let them run it through the carry on X-ray? Your film will be fine (I assume you're shooting relatively slow film?) and you'll get through security much faster.

 

Alan

I run it through X-ray. AND TAPE BOX SHUT if you have partially used box - while putting

my shoes on I glanced up and saw security guard almost had first box top off and I

screamed...

<p>

With a little forethought, why not ship film to your destination (order and deliver to

somewhere) and have it waiting for you if concerned?

<p>

I don't have enough time in my life to talk a box of sheet film through security...

I stopped worrying about carry-on xray with 100 speed film when Ron Rosentstock, who goes back and forth from the U.S. to Ireland five or six times a year, said he didn't worry about it. So far so good, no problems at all from the xray as far as I can tell.

I've never had a problem with my film being x-rayed, mostly 120, wich would be just as vulnerable to x-ray damage with it's paper backing as sheet film in a box. That said, I just went through Denver Int. Airport, and they had a sign near the security check point listing "Profesional film, Large Format film, and Sheet film" along with a few other things as being eligable for a hand check. As it's listed on the sign, it's obvious that just what those things are isn't well understood by most of the TSA (since they list large format and sheet film seperately), but it at least is written down somewere that such a thing as sheet film exists and it's something that might legitimately want to be hand checked.

 

Peter

<p>The TSA recommends that sheet film and large format film be hand inspected -- see <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml">http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml</a>.

While this is TSA policy, my experience is that inspectors are resistant to forgoing the x-ray inspection. You could try carrying a printed copy of the above TSA webpage with you. Usually if the box pass the testing with the handheld metal detector and the explosives detector (gas chromatograph), they will pass it without x-raying. The metal foil envelopes that Kodak uses will be detected as metal and they will insist on an x-ray inspection.</p>

 

<p>It probably doesn't matter because a few x-ray passes won't harm your film. Of course, these rules only apply in the USA.</p>

arnold... last summer i travelled through europe with my lf outfit. the return trip took me through security checks in 5 different airports - i never once had my film x-rayed. out last stop was in italy, before leaving, i had the host write me a note to present to the security agents. when i got back home, i posted it and several folks translated it into other languages.

 

see the thread here:

http://largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/498784.html#517974

 

good luck,

scott

I've travelled through several US airports with Fuji Quickloads. It took a little while to get across the message (even though we supposedly spoke the same language) that this big green box was film. It helped to point to the lable that says "Fuji Professional film". Of course, one time, they dedided to run the explosive detection test on every sheet. . .

 

As I recall, we did take the statement from TSA about professional film with us. Usually, when we asked for the supervisor, we didn't have too much trouble. I think it did help that we could open the package.

 

Cheers!

Bill

I recently traveled with my 4x5 camera and film. At my first security checkpoint in Milwaukee, I asked for a hand inspection of my sheet film box. They security lady called to her manager, and he told me that they "no longer are required to hand-inspect film upon request" and that either my box had to be opened or x-rayed. I knew he was wrong about the inspection but I didn't feel like arguing and was sort of in a hurry. I also pointed out the text on the box saying that it must be opened in a darkroom. But they didn't care. I obviously chose the x-ray!

 

Part of my problem is that the sheet film box had the seal broken. Next time, I will bring a sealed box and my hunch is that they won't crack the seal.

 

In Las Vegas, I sent the entire carryon bag through the x-ray. They pulled me aside and opened everything up to take chemical swabs for their analysis machine. They guy looked at my stuff, commented on the "antique camera", and after the swabs came back negative he sent the entire pack through the x-rays again (with the film). This process took about 5 minutes.

 

In retrospect, it was a bit of a hassle but my chromes look great and I don't regret it!

Take some 35mm film of the same type you're shooting along with you. Make sure the 35mm film gets the same treatment your sheet film gets. When you arrive at your destination, develop the 35mm test film to make sure your sheet film hasn't been damaged. This will help you feel secure that the film you bring with you is safe to shoot and not already damaged.

 

On the way home have a number of test sheets in each box. Develop one of these to see if there is any fogging. If there is, you have a number of additional test sheets to cut up and experiment with to optimize your developing.

I think the biggest issue with sheet film is that TSA employees have no idea that the film actually exits, in fact I have run into that carrying medium format film.

 

What I have done in the past is carry a single develop chrome that I can show to the official, and that point things became much easier.

I am not concerned about the carry-on xray. I've had film (50 and 100 ISO) xrayed several times in all formats without any problem. My fear is that they will insist on hand checking and will require that I open the box and show them the film. Most people are used to seeing film in rolls where exposure to light doesn't affect the film.

The X-Ray levels are so low, they have to be for health and safety, even 3200 isn't affected by a couple of passes. The older machines had a much higher level and I think this is where the current 'urban myth' comes from. Some machines now use neutrons, this hardly affects film at all, but can detect explosives or related compounds very well, even through lead.

Unfortunately, you'll just have to live with the xrays. Xrays for carry-ons won't hurt your film. DON'T PUT YOUR FILM IN YOUR CHECK-ON'S. IT WILL GET FOGGED.<br>

Although the FAA says to have it hand-inspected, I went to Paris last spring, and went through probably a dozen security checkpoints. Not a single one would hand check. Not one.<br>

I thought my film was certainly ruined. (boxes of 4x5 tmax 400) Much to my surprise, the film was fine.

 

b.

Huw you won't be seeing a neutron carry-on scanner anytime soon. You need a large accelerator to generate those neutrons.

What does " IT WILL GET FOGGED." mean?

 

Thanks

 

Kieran Mullen

 

(Wishing this forum would have an auto subscribe feature when replyig to topics)

"It will get fogged" means that the high-powered X-ray machine that scans you luggage will partially expose your film. The low-power scanner at the security checkpoint shouldn't be a problem.

 

From what I've read, if you put unexposed film in your luggage and it goes through the X-ray machine, it's no longer unexposed. It may not be fully exposed, but if you use it and develop it, your images will look "foggy" due to overexposure. Fortunately, I have no real experience with this. If I'm mistaken, I'm sure someone will correct me in a minute or two.

I should add that in 15 years of travelling in the US, I've never asked for a hand check of my film, and I've never seen any evidence that the security scanner affected my film in any way.

 

The first time I flew with 4x5 film in my carry-on, I brought along my changing tent just in case they wanted to open the box. As it turns it, the rings on the changing tent showed up in the scanner and got the security officer's attention. I had to open my bag, show them the tent, and explain what it was for. They didn't give a rat's patootie about my boxes of film. I put the tent in my suitcase for the return trip.

Send the film through the carry-on X-ray machine (I do this with films up to ASA400 speed, both color and B&W, and all formats up to 4x5" sheet films); it will not hurt it and you'll save yourself time to wait for the hand inspection and related hassles. With sheet film I'd be more afraid of hand inspection then x-rays. My films usually get 4-5 scans during each trip (I travel from US to Europe and back) before I develop them upon arrival.

 

Films shouldn't be placed in checked-in luggage, although a few years ago I've done that by accident and films were not ruined (all were 35mm, mainly TMAX100 and HP5+), but I guess I've been lucky.

 

 

Dave