Instax films and crossing the border - X-rays

Hey all

Is there any problem with taking Instax film or Polaroid film through X-ray machines?

no more than any other film. If it is the asa 3000 stuff you might want to ask for a hand check, but most film is safe in those things.

My generic rule is, if in doubt, just ask for it to get passed around. I just did that on my way to and back from Singapore. I only had 7 rolls of 35mm in a clear plastic bag this time, a few RVP50, an APX100, and a few Tmax+TriX 400.

Unfortunately, when I left home it was a 6pm Friday plane, the line to get through security was a few hundred people long and the girl at the xray machine couldn't leave her post for 5 minutes to get it passed around, so I had to wait a while. They asked nothing except to open the black canisters (most were clear canisters).
Going from there through the International Flight security, the guy (after it had been passed around) pointed to the sign on the machine that said "film safe" and asked if I high any high-speed (which I did, the Tmax 400 and Tri-X 400 I planned to push to 1600 or maybe 3200). Only then I realised that i'd left one of those ei1600 rolls in my EOS 3 (and that got scanned).

Coming back from Singapore they were a lot more used to dealing with film, they just took the bag without a word, wiped everything and put the cloth in an explosives-tester, when it came up negative (no pun) they just gave me the bag and I was on my way.


So does that sounds like more hassle than you can put up with? I didn't mind the wait, I always leave heaps of time and I've travelled a lot so I'm never stressed. Whether it fogs the film or not I don't know (it will really depend on speed), even if it does it's more a case of whether you can live more with the fog or hassle (I chose hassle, even if there's no chance of fog on my RVP50 rolls)

Instax film is ISO 600, so its fine going through once. If you are going to make multiple stops and pass through multiple times, I would request a hand inspection. I've never had any problem getting a hand inspection.

Fuji Instant FP-3000b should DEFINITELY be hand inspected at each checkpoint.

vdonovan said:

Fuji Instant FP-3000b should DEFINITELY be hand inspected at each checkpoint.

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The X-ray sensitivity for a given effective speed of b&w diffusion transver reversal materials is less than is the case with standard b&w films.

Thanks for all the advice. I've been through customs once with film but not with Instax film so wasn't sure about the procedure.

Instax film comes in those boxes and are prepackaged in that silver wrapper. Should I be taking them out to hand inspect? Just don't want any fogged film when I reach my destination and don't want to hassle of arguing over to swab with the wrapper or not.

As with all film at airports, reasonable-speed film can tolerate a few passes through the hand-baggage machines, but the much stronger machines used on checked baggage will probably fog the film. The FAA does not even equivocate about the checked-baggage scanners and instructs passengers not to check film.

vdonovan said:

Instax film is ISO 600, so its fine going through once. If you are going to make multiple stops and pass through multiple times, I would request a hand inspection. I've never had any problem getting a hand inspection.

Fuji Instant FP-3000b should DEFINITELY be hand inspected at each checkpoint.

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Small correction, Fuji Instax film is ISO 800.

I took instax film with me to Nepal. I had it x-rayed 6 times in total and it is fine.

Nuff said:

I took instax film with me to Nepal. I had it x-rayed 6 times in total and it is fine.

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Just to help update with more info, I also took a mixture of both Instax mini and wide to Kenya passing xray machines more than 6 times using those old xray machines that doesn't have those "film safe" word on it and all the instax were fine.

Though I haven't tried with the FP3000-b packfilm yet. Has anyone tried it before? I've actually sent Delta 3200 through Xray multiple times before without any problems so I figure Packfilm of ISO 3000 shouldn't have trouble as well.

dreamingartemis said:

Just to help update with more info, I also took a mixture of both Instax mini and wide to Kenya passing xray machines more than 6 times using those old xray machines that doesn't have those "film safe" word on it and all the instax were fine.

Though I haven't tried with the FP3000-b packfilm yet. Has anyone tried it before? I've actually sent Delta 3200 through Xray multiple times before without any problems so I figure Packfilm of ISO 3000 shouldn't have trouble as well.

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Sorry for raising a zombie thread, but I wanted to bring this up as FP3000B is getting increasingly precious and I'd hate for anyone to lose any. Delta 3200 (and TMAX 3200) are technically pushed films and their development reflects it, so their behavior might be a bit different. FP3000B is (I think) intrinsically really fast, and I've had a couple packs wrecked by going through airport X-rays, even once. I wound up with the 'window blinds' hazing pattern on it, but per Kodak guidance that might depend on how your pack is specifically oriented as it goes through the machine.

I think the new polaroid originals stuff says to not let it get xrayed.

FWIW, Instax packages have a red warning box that says "PROTECT FROM X-RAY", and the Instax data sheets include the following text:

* Airport baggage inspection equipment use X-rays that may cause irreparable damage to film, including streaking in the final photos. It is thus recommended that you present film packs and loaded cameras to airport security personnel for visual inspection when passing through a baggage check.
•* Film fogging may occur in hospitals, factories, laboratories and other locations using X-rays. Keep films away from radiation sources.