Airport X-Ray scan damage, your experience true or false ?

removed account4 · Sep 14, 2015

hi brad

i took the first one not to be the xray machines that checked baggage ( goes into the airplane netherworld )
but carry on scanners ... i have xray specs from the back of a comic book and they didn't affect my film either

RobC · Sep 14, 2015

The first one clearly says "Airport x-ray scans". You can safely assume that since it says airport it includes all scans in an airport. The fact it isn't specific about which type measn its NOT specific about any type otherwise it would say so. So if option 1 doesn't apply to you then one of options 2,3 or 4 will. So if you just select the first one of those that applies to you'll then that would be the most useful.

BradS · Sep 14, 2015

RobC said:
The first one clearly says "Airport x-ray scans". You can safely assume that since it says airport it includes all scans in an airport. The fact it isn't specific about which type measn its NOT specific about any type otherwise it would say so. So if option 1 doesn't apply to you then one of options 2,3 or 4 will. So if you just select the first one of those that applies to you'll then that would be the most useful.

Then there is no category for the case: film damaged by the machines used to scan checked bags but have never had film damaged by the machines used to inspect carry-on bags. So the poll is flawed because the category that most likely represents the truth is flat out missing.

I travel a lot..all over the world and routinely do experiments with film in carry-on and checked bags to see what happens. I've even purposely let rolls of Delta 3200 go through many multiple passes of the various machines and compared the x-rayed films to rolls of the same film left at home.

The result: Never any noticeable effect due to the carry on machines.

dpurdy · Sep 14, 2015

Yes I have seen Xray damage on 5x7 400 speed film. It wasn't my film, it was the film of a friend who brought it to me for processing. He had gone through airports in Argentina and in New York. The Xray exposure pattern was a distinct zig zag and it was plus density. The same pattern was on the whole box of film whether the film was exposed or not. What I don't know is if it was checked luggage or carry on... I am guessing it must have been checked luggage.

Myself I have traveled with Tmax 400 and Delta 3200 to Mexico and around the US. I have never had xray damage on my film.
Dennis

Sirius Glass · Sep 14, 2015

I too have seen the wavy line from x-raying in the baggage scanning. It did not happen to me.

Pioneer · Sep 14, 2015

Well. So far it appears you have about a 95% chance of making it through the airports with no damage to your film if you keep it in your hand luggage.

Of course you have a 100% chance of making it home with no damage to your photos if everything is on a memory card.

MattKing · Sep 14, 2015

Pioneer said:
Of course you have a 100% chance of making it home with no damage to your photos if everything is on a memory card.

Not even close.

I've heard lots of stories of people having memory card damage problems while travelling.

Probably not X-ray induced though.

wiltw · Sep 14, 2015

BradS said:
Here's the situation:

The first category does not specify which x-ray machines. I assume therefore, that the first category contemplates damage to film by any x-ray machine used at any airport.

I have had film damaged by the machines used to scan checked bags but have never had film damaged by the machined used to inspect carry-on bags.

So there is no category that fits my experience.

All scans of carry-on thru Security use simple, low dose brief duration X-ray beams, which will not affect film with a relatively small number of exposures (about half dozen) to Security X-ray machines, what Kodak says on the topic, but ISO 1600 may be fogged, so in USA you want to ask for hand inspection of ISO 1600 or if too many passes of nor normal speed films.

All scans of checked luggage use high dose CT machines (think of each pass being over 10X what an ordinary chest X-ray gives (and chest X-rays give more dose than Security X-ray). Kodak says NO film should be put in checked baggage, cuz it will get ruined.

wiltw · Sep 14, 2015

BradS said:
Here's the situation:

The first category does not specify which x-ray machines. I assume therefore, that the first category contemplates damage to film by any x-ray machine used at any airport.

I have had film damaged by the machines used to scan checked bags but have never had film damaged by the machined used to inspect carry-on bags.

So there is no category that fits my experience.

All scans of carry-on thru Security use simple, low dose brief duration X-ray beams, which will not affect film with a relatively small number of exposures (about half dozen) to Security X-ray machines, what Kodak says on the topic; and Kodak says ISO 1600 may be fogged, so in USA you want to ask for hand inspection of ISO 1600 or if too many passes of nor normal speed films.

All scans of checked luggage use high dose CT machines (think of each pass being over 10X what an ordinary chest X-ray gives (and chest X-rays give more dose than Security X-ray). Kodak says NO film should be put in checked baggage, cuz it will get ruined.

Sirius Glass · Sep 14, 2015

MattKing said:
Not even close.

I've heard lots of stories of people having memory card damage problems while travelling.

Probably not X-ray induced though.

What is the memory card damage problems of which you speak? I do not use a memory card with my film cameras.

Doremus Scudder · Sep 15, 2015

BradS said:
Here's the situation:

The first category does not specify which x-ray machines. I assume therefore, that the first category contemplates damage to film by any x-ray machine used at any airport.

I have had film damaged by the machines used to scan checked bags but have never had film damaged by the machined used to inspect carry-on bags.

So there is no category that fits my experience.

There is a category for you. I'll elaborate:

Category 1: "Nope I never had or noticed damage from airport X-Ray scans" This is not for you, since you have had damage.

Category 2: "Yes I have had damage to film in carry on scans" This is also not for you, since you haven't had damage from carry-on scans

Category 3: "Yes I have had damage to film in checked in luggage scans" This is your category, since you have had damage from checked-luggage scans.

Category 4: "No I never have my films x-ray scanned" Also not for you.

Note that all this corresponds exactly to your experience, i.e., 1. You did notice damage, so you don't choose this category. 2. You didn't notice damage, so you don't choose this one either. 3. You did notice damage, so you DO answer yes here! 4. You have certainly had filmed scanned, so you don't choose this either.

Clear now?

Still, Rob, you could have worded the poll a bit differently. Not noticing any scan damage (Category 1) doesn't give any information about what kind of scan or scans were used. Those of us who keep up on the recommendations from film manufacturers and the TSA are not ever going to put undeveloped film in our checked luggage intentionally. Not doing that is why I have never had any x-ray damage to my film!

Best,

Doremus

Mike McMullen · Oct 11, 2015

What about X-ray machines in S. America?

The posts I've seen are encouraging that I need not worry about my FP4 or even HP5 going thru hand-check machines when travelling thru S. America - taking a trip soon, despite multiple checks. Has anyone had a problem there? Thanks!

Alan Klein · Oct 11, 2015

Just got back from a cruise from Canada to New Jersey. The ship security also Xray's when you get back on the ship after you do excursions at the various ports. The sign says no problem under 1000ASA but I would hand pass the film through in any case. Who knows how "dirty" their Xray machines are?

Check with your cruise lines beforehand to verify their procedures regarding hand passing film and cameras threw.

Mike McMullen · Jan 5, 2016

Hello from Rio - for others headed to S. America: so far, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil have all allowed hand-checking of my 120 film for carry on. Now for the real news: I accidentally left my film in my checked luggage and it got x-rayed as such in Cusco, Peru. I feared the worst, and in the U.S. my understanding is the film would likely be damaged. The only firm still developing b/w film that I could find in Rio is Vapt Vupt, Rua Tonelero, 153 Loja L - Copacabana - RJ, so I shot a roll of HP5 that was X-rayed as a test, and it came out fine. So, it just depends on the airport and as the Kodak warning says, some airports outside the U.S. are also using the more intense luggage scanners.

Mike McMullen · Jan 5, 2016

Mike McMullen said:
Hello from Rio - for others headed to S. America: so far, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil have all allowed hand-checking of my 120 film for carry on. Now for the real news: I accidentally left my film in my checked luggage and it got x-rayed as such in Cusco, Peru. I feared the worst, and in the U.S. my understanding is the film would likely be damaged. The only firm still developing b/w film that I could find in Rio is Vapt Vupt, Rua Tonelero, 153 Loja L - Copacabana - RJ, so I shot a roll of HP5 that was X-rayed as a test, and it came out fine. So, it just depends on the airport and as the Kodak warning says, some airports outside the U.S. are also using the more intense luggage scanners.

As a follow up - I mention this only to inform that if you, too, have accidentally left your film in checked luggage, at least at certain overseas airports you may be lucky, like I was, at Cusco - no x-ray damage. But from everything I've read, this was indeed lucky and film should be put in carry-on luggage and hand-checked when possible.

Changing gears completely - has anyone used "Ultrafine Extreme 400" 120? Pros/cons? Tips? Development times? I picked some up in Rio - looks like an Ilford product but I've
never seen it before. Thanks.

Mike McMullen · Jan 5, 2016

One last thing - the folks at "Vapt Vupt" (must be Portugese for something) were great and a real lifesaver! If in Rio, keep them in mind!

trojancast · Jan 6, 2016

Never had a problem with carry on film being scanned. Ever. BIG problems when film left (inadvertently) in checked baggage.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

mooseontheloose · Jan 6, 2016

Mike McMullen said:
Hello from Rio - for others headed to S. America: so far, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil have all allowed hand-checking of my 120 film for carry on. Now for the real news: I accidentally left my film in my checked luggage and it got x-rayed as such in Cusco, Peru. I feared the worst, and in the U.S. my understanding is the film would likely be damaged. The only firm still developing b/w film that I could find in Rio is Vapt Vupt, Rua Tonelero, 153 Loja L - Copacabana - RJ, so I shot a roll of HP5 that was X-rayed as a test, and it came out fine. So, it just depends on the airport and as the Kodak warning says, some airports outside the U.S. are also using the more intense luggage scanners.

That's great to know Mike! I'm planning a 2-month trip to S. America next year and was worried about my film with all the flights I am likely to take. Knowing that it can be hand checked is great. Just curious as to how much film you are travelling with - they might not be so willing to hand-check 100+ rolls! (the bare minimum I would bring for this trip).

pdeeh · Jan 6, 2016

In the mid-1990s I took a few dozen rolls of 100,200 & 400 speed films, in 135, through all the following airports, LHR, Schipol, Frankfurt, , Lima, Arequipa, Lima, Bogota, Paris CDG, and back into LHR, all in hold baggage. all unexposed on the way out, all exposed on the way back. Not a trace of a problem on any of them, apart from my inability to take a decent photo consistently.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 6, 2016

Never.

wiltw · Jan 6, 2016

Mike McMullen said:
As a follow up - I mention this only to inform that if you, too, have accidentally left your film in checked luggage, at least at certain overseas airports you may be lucky, like I was, at Cusco - no x-ray damage. But from everything I've read, this was indeed lucky and film should be put in carry-on luggage and hand-checked when possible.

I have read that even at airports who CT scan checked luggage, that NOT ALL luggage gets a CT scan. Apparently a simply X-ray (higher dose than the Security carry-on luggage X-ray near the gate area) screens lugguge, and only pieces needing further investigation get diverted to the CT scanners...this, due to the extra time needed for CT and the high volume of luggage processed at the airport.

fdonadio · Jan 6, 2016

Mike McMullen said:
One last thing - the folks at "Vapt Vupt" (must be Portugese for something) were great and a real lifesaver! If in Rio, keep them in mind!

Hey, Mike! I hope you're enjoying Rio. If you come to São Paulo, let me know.

"Vapt vupt" is a slang here that means something/someone goes and gets back fast. For example, instead of telling you "I am going to the other room to get my bag and I'll be back real quick", I would say "I'm getting my bag at the other room, vapt-vupt."

Its not really Portuguese. It's more like the sound of something going (vah-pt) and getting back (voo-pt)!

So, the million dollar question is: did they process the film real quick?

Mike McMullen · Mar 3, 2016

fdonadio said:
Hey, Mike! I hope you're enjoying Rio. If you come to São Paulo, let me know.

"Vapt vupt" is a slang here that means something/someone goes and gets back fast. For example, instead of telling you "I am going to the other room to get my bag and I'll be back real quick", I would say "I'm getting my bag at the other room, vapt-vupt."

Its not really Portuguese. It's more like the sound of something going (vah-pt) and getting back (voo-pt)!

So, the million dollar question is: did they process the film real quick?

They did! And very friendly too.

fdonadio · Mar 3, 2016

Mike McMullen said:
They did! And very friendly too.

Good to know. My wife has relatives in Rio and we go there every once in a while.

If I ever need to get B&W film processed, I know where to go.

Hope you enjoyed Brazil!

Flavio

Airport X-Ray scan damage, your experience true or false ?

Airport x-ray scan damage since 911 2001

Nope I never had or noticed damage from airport X-Ray scans

Yes I have had damage to film in carry on scans

Yes I have had damage to film in checked in luggage scans

No I never have my films x-ray scanned

removed account4

RobC

BradS

dpurdy

Sirius Glass

Pioneer

MattKing

Moderator

wiltw

wiltw

Sirius Glass

Doremus Scudder

Mike McMullen

Alan Klein

Mike McMullen

Mike McMullen

Mike McMullen

trojancast

mooseontheloose

pdeeh

Richard S. (rich815)

wiltw

fdonadio

Mike McMullen

fdonadio

Airport X-Ray scan damage, your experience true or false ?

Airport x-ray scan damage since 911 2001

Nope I never had or noticed damage from airport X-Ray scans

Yes I have had damage to film in carry on scans

Yes I have had damage to film in checked in luggage scans

No I never have my films x-ray scanned

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency