Cheking in 4x5 color film on a long haul flight

ndwgolf · Nov 1, 2017

Guys
I'm flying to Japan in two weeks time to shoot the autumn colors of Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. My plan is to take Leica S with three lenses and also take my new Chamonix 45n2 with 2 lenses. I have a hard case for the Leica gear that will be my hand luggage, as for the Chamonix I will have to check that in (I'm cool with that) What I am not sure about is the fact that I will be taking 12 4x5 film holders pre loaded with Ektar 100 colour film and that will also have to get checked in as the airline we are flying with will only let you hand carry one bag even in business class

So my question is has anyone checked in Ektar film before and found that it was damaged or not??
Thanks in advance

Neil

mpirie · Nov 1, 2017

Neil,

Having just returned from a trans-Atlantic trip, i would suggest leaving the film holders empty and put them in with your baggage.

If you pass loaded holders through personal security, you may be asked to open one (or all) of them.

Safer to carry the film (or buy in Japan) and take a changing bag so you can load on arrival.

Mike

jeffreyg · Nov 1, 2017

Don't check film. Put the film in a fanny-pack or large pockets in a jacket. In either case it will only go through the carry-on luggage screener which should be film safe. You can be wearing either when you go to the counter to check in.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

ndwgolf · Nov 1, 2017

Here is what I am going to do;
I will load one film holder with one sheet of Ektar and one sheet of HP5+ and check that in with the remaining 11 empty film holders. I will carry the unexposed film in my hand carry and put that through the airport x ray machine. When I arrive in Japan I will load the film holders using either a changing bag or the hotel bathroom if its light safe. After exposing the film I will unload the film holders and put the exposed film in a empty film box and put that in my hand carry.

The two sheets of film that went in the hold will also go in the hold on the way home and I will report back how those guinea pig sheets of film turned out..................fogged or not??

Neil

mike c · Nov 1, 2017

ndwgolf said:
The two sheets of film that went in the hold will also go in the hold on the way home and I will report back how those guinea pig sheets of film turned out..................fogged or not??

That sounds like a fare test of film in checked in luggage, like to know the result.

Sirius Glass · Nov 1, 2017

jeffreyg said:
Don't check film. Put the film in a fanny-pack or large pockets in a jacket. In either case it will only go through the carry-on luggage screener which should be film safe. You can be wearing either when you go to the counter to check in.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

This is worthy of repeating:

Don't check film.

DoryBreaux · Nov 27, 2017

Glad you're willing to take the hit on this one, looking forward to your findings!

Kilgallb · Dec 16, 2017

If the film survives being checked it could simply mean they did not X-ray it. They do not X-Ray 100% of the checked luggage.

Take your film as carry on.

BrianShaw · Dec 16, 2017

Kilgallb said:
If the film survives being checked it could simply mean they did not X-ray it. They do not X-Ray 100% of the checked luggage.

Take your film as carry on.

Not exactly. All it could really mean is that it was not screened with CT.

But no matter:

Take your film as carry on.

removed account4 · Dec 16, 2017

neil

its a known fact that these days, at least in modern uptodate airports, carry on scanners do not do a thing to film
unless it is extremely high speed ( over iso 800 or so the decals on the machines say ) ... luggage in the belly of the plane
often times gets dosed with some xrays that can damage film. unless you don't mind your film getting dosed
its not worth the hassle or trouble or heartache of exposing film with images that can never be repeated
( time never really repeats itself, it just rhymes ) and effort to have wrecked film when you get it processed.
i look forward to seeing your colorful photographs, not your upset posts about how the airline ruined your film.

mshchem · Dec 16, 2017

jnanian said:
neil

its a known fact that these days, at least in modern uptodate airports, carry on scanners do not do a thing to film
unless it is extremely high speed ( over iso 800 or so the decals on the machines say ) ... luggage in the belly of the plane
often times gets dosed with some xrays that can damage film. unless you don't mind your film getting dosed
its not worth the hassle or trouble or heartache of exposing film with images that can never be repeated
( time never really repeats itself, it just rhymes ) and effort to have wrecked film when you get it processed.
i look forward to seeing your colorful photographs, not your upset posts about how the airline ruined your film.

Totally agree. Most US airports X-ray checked baggage. If I was going to a country like Japan. I would buy the film in Japan and have it processed there as well. I've carried a medium format rangefinder and roll film through airport carry-on no problems. I would be surprised if security would let you carry on a sealed box of sheet film without scanning. Rolls of 120 and 35mm no problem. Kodak must sell Ektar in Japan...??
Modern problems, PITA!

ndwgolf · Dec 17, 2017

I ended up taking Leica S007 instead.......but thanks for all the feedback, maybe next time I will be brave enough

Colour pictures HERE

Nodda Duma · Dec 17, 2017

I've brought loaded film holders and loaded plate holders in carry-on luggage on long-haul flights.

TSA didn't care one bit about the film holders, but they asked me to pull all the cameras out of their bags into the bins (like they do laptops). When they did, the lady reminded me *all* electronics come out of the bags now. I said the cameras were from the 1800s and pre-1950, and there was nothing electronic on them at all! Lol. She said the cameras need to come out anyways so the xray can see through them.

It was a fully BS experience and my wife had to remind me they don't get paid to think, but my point is they won't mess with your film holders anymore than they will a roll of film or ask to open your camera back. So don't worry about bringing loaded film holders through carry-on.

Oh and antique cameras count as electronics, apparently.

Steve Goldstein · Dec 18, 2017

Nodda Duma said:
I've brought loaded film holders and loaded plate holders in carry-on luggage on long-haul flights.

Oh and antique cameras count as electronics, apparently.

Well, there are electrons in the materials. That makes them electronics, right? <ducks>

Gerald C Koch · Dec 18, 2017

mpirie said:
Neil,

Having just returned from a trans-Atlantic trip, i would suggest leaving the film holders empty and put them in with your baggage.

If you pass loaded holders through personal security, you may be asked to open one (or all) of them.

Safer to carry the film (or buy in Japan) and take a changing bag so you can load on arrival.

Mike

Let's see 2 cameras and 5 lenses. A bit of overkill. Then added to this a lot of film. Have fun logging all this stuff to Japan and back.

Nodda Duma · Dec 18, 2017

Steve Goldstein said:
Well, there are electrons in the materials. That makes them electronics, right? <ducks>

Hah!

wiltw · Dec 18, 2017

Checked luggage goes thru a baggage CT scanner, which uses real, full strength X-rays to form CT images. X-says WILL harm all film...Kodak has long advised about the harm from CT although the scanners in airport Security areas are safe (even for multiple passes) when film is not ISO 1600.

BradS · Dec 18, 2017

Do NOT put film in checked luggage! It will almost certainly get ruined. It is safe in carry on baggage (at airports all over the world).

jeffreyg · Dec 18, 2017

Another thought about checking camera equipment and film in checked luggage after having luggage lost or delayed is that it is easy to go out and buy some clothes. To have to replace your equipment is another issue. If it is lost (or stolen) you will never be reimbursed the full cost of replacement. I always carry on my cameras, tripod, film and anything of value. Packing an aluminum tripod will most likely cause your luggage to be opened.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

wiltw · Dec 18, 2017

jeffreyg said:
If it is lost (or stolen) you will never be reimbursed the full cost of replacement.
http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

SOP is simply to reimburse lost luggage full of clothes at a standard PRICE PER POUND, and to a maximum of up to $3,300 per passenger for domestic flights and up to $1,586 for international flights for each lost bag, but you need receipts and you get depreciated value ...the maximums buys you a T6 and lens to replace your 5DIV.

DREW WILEY · Dec 19, 2017

I agree with the changing tent approach. Carry the sheet film with you on the airline, in an unopened sealed factory box (or boxes). Checked baggage X-ray is allowably much stronger. Besides, I wouldn't want anything of value, including that camera, to go past baggage handlers. Theft or damage is a real risk at some airports. I'd rather risk some of the extra film holders (empty) in the baggage, and put the camera itself, the film, and a few holders, in your carry-on. You might need to re-think how you pack such things. But it's a very compact folder you have in mind, and simple bubble-wrap bags can work miracles in weight and bulk efficiency.

DREW WILEY · Dec 19, 2017

Yes, I noted you already took the trip, but chimed in anyway just for benefit of the overall learning curve.

Cheking in 4x5 color film on a long haul flight

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