Travel bug

[arthur_mcculloch2]

<p>Ahem. A gripe. I took my recently revived Pentax SP1000 (it was a gift from a friend – had the battery compartment seized up and an 85mm fixed lens with fungus. A subject of earlier advice, it was successfully repaired) on my trip to the Philippines, and was appalled by the number of times it, and the film I was taking had to go thru the x-ray machine.<br>

To get out of Sydney: twice<br>

On arrival at Manila: once<br>

On departure from Manila to go to Palawan: three times (once to get into the airport, once to get to the departure area, once to get on board)<br>

On departure from Palawan to Manila: twice<br>

On departure from Manila to return to Australia: four times (once to get into the airport, once to get into departure area, once to get into departure lounge, and a fourth time when the hapless and well meaning Pinoys discovered that they had let someone thru and so relocated the plane load of passengers to another departure gate and set up a portable x-ray machine).<br>

Twice on arrival in Australia: once when the plane arrived in Melbourne and transit passengers were deboarded, to wait for about forty five minutes before reboarding the same plane, and finally, at customs in Sydney.<br>

So 14 times in all. Some, I could get a visual inspection, but for most, they simply ignored my request and put it thru the machine. It’s a brave new world. Concerns about security are now prime.<br>

I’ve just developed the film and it appears ok (but haven’t done a base fog test yet). I hope I can post some pictures soon. The film was fortunately FP4, so probably a little less vulnerable to x-raying. The pentax was reliable, metered well, and solid as a brick (maybe not up to Nikon F2 standard, but still good)<br>

Arthur<br>

(Apiarist1)</p>

 

[ndnbrunei]

<p>This is an ongoing problem for film users. I saw a post from a Vet on another site who said that the effect of radiation is cumulative and it is better not to allow your films to be xrayed. For the last three years I have been insisting on hand inspection of film for this reason. It is not uncommon to be subjected to many xray inspections in a trip and further to that, because I use 120 film, rolls that were not used on one trip will go on the next trip. I have generally found security people to be quite reasonable about hand inspection of film. In my experience, if you stand your ground they will hand inspect film for you.</p>

[david_mcewan]

<p>About five years ago when buying film to use on a holiday from Australia to the UK, Europe and the States, I mentioned to the owner of the camera shop the trouble I had had on previous overseas holidays with having film x-rayed at airports and the fear of the film being affected.<br>

He then gave me a large brown paper bag which has a black plastic inset and said that it was used by Kodak to transport x-ray film. The bag has a Kodak sticker which says "Kodak Ektacolor Royal 1X AP".<br>

I carried 35 film cassettes in this bag while using a round the world ticket and the bag was x-rayed aproximately 16 times. The bag gave complete protection and the film developed without any problems.<br>

If you are able to locate a similar type of bag it would solve your problems.</p>

<p> </p>

[m_m3]

<p>"Specialist film (ISO 800 and above) under exceptional circumstances, when passed more than eight times through the hand-luggage security scanning machines, can be affected. However, the nature of the change occurring is barely noticeable to the naked eye and indeed does not become clearly visible until film is exposed around 32 times."<br>

<a href="http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/Heathrow%5EGeneral%5EPlan+and+book+your+trip%5ETravel+advice%5EAdvice+for+photographers/42d3e9df2e8f3010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/">http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/Heathrow%5EGeneral%5EPlan+and+book+your+trip%5ETravel+advice%5EAdvice+for+photographers/42d3e9df2e8f3010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/</a><br>

The EU will always xray film. Carry it in a separate clear bag.<br>

The TSA in the US will hand inspect - swab each can and test the swab for chemical traces.<br>

I guess it will be velvia 50 and efke 25 for travel in Asia. </p>

[chuck_foreman1]

<p>I used to travel a lot prior to 9:11 , but still in the 1st Gulf War times. I had a alumin bag that may have been lined in Lead (Where is that thing??) When I bought it I was told it was good against X-Ray machines up to 800ISO/ASA. I never had a problem and I the one or the other wanted me to open the bag once they saw the 120 rolls or the film cassettes thjey were satisfied! I guess those days might be gone, but I agree ... no harm in asking for hand inspection!</p>

[photo5]

<p>I've only heard of one person who had their film damaged at the airport, and it was ISO 1600 film. I always shoot ISO 100-200 film so I never had a problem. My wife and I are going to Europe this fall and I am thinking to shoot some slides alongside my digital, but that means carrying more weight so I am not sure about it yet.</p>

[Julio Fernandez]

<p>I've done several trips with ISO 400 film and about 10 scans, and no problem was noticed. I'm talking 10 scans in the machines for hand lugagge.<br>

OTOH, the scan machine for checked bagagge will fog your 100 ISO film with just one pass. Don't ask me how I know.</p>