james_wilkins

<p>Yes, I know you are probably right but old habits die hard and I would just as soon not have my film X-rayed if I have a choice. Just obsessive , I guess.</p>

<p>OK, I am back from my trip hiking in the Swiss Alps with a Mamiya 7II and 45 rolls of Fuji 100 Professional 120. The only airport where I was refused a visual inspection on my film was, as I predicted, Heathrow. Since I anticipated this I had the film in a ziplock bag inside a large Domke lead lined pouch. When my gear went through the x-ray machine they couldn't see in it so they pulled it out and asked me what was in it. I told them it was photographic film and they asked to look inside. I, of course, agreed, and they pulled out the ziplock bag with the film in it, looked at it through the bag, said OK and handed it back to me. So, in essence, I got a visual inspection after all. I have seen some talk on these forums that when they can't see inside something they "turn up" the x-ray machine. I have no idea if this is possible but my images do not seem to be in any way compromised so I think the bag was useful. Coming back I was cheerfully granted a visual inspection in Geneva and luckily my return flight was direct to the U.S. so I didn't have to deal with Heathrow again.</p>

<p>I will give a full report when I return. My flight goes through Heathrow to Geneva so I will see how I am treated this time.</p>

<p>Thanks to all for the valuable insights. I will proceed and make do with my quirky passion for film.</p>

<p>I will be hiking the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt in July carrying a Mamiya 7 and as many rolls of film as I can stand. I plan to bring the film with me from the U.S. and request visual inspection at security rather than put it through X-Ray machines. I traveled to England a few years ago with film and had no problem getting there but on the return trip at Heathrow, security flatly refused my request for visual inspection and my film was X-Rayed. I know they say it only affects high speed film but I believe it can have a cumulative affect so if it is X-Rayed going over and then coming back, and at some airports passengers have to go through two security checkpoints, it could be a problem. I would like to hear from anyone who has had experience flying out of Geneva who may know if it is possible to avoid X-Ray. I toyed with the idea of trying to purchase the film in Geneva and have it processed there before I return but I don't know if that is feasible because I would chance not being able to get the film and then finding a lab that would do a one day turn around could be a problem. Does anyone have opinions on this? Thnaks.</p>