Posting exposed film back to UK

[ITD]

So, I've determined that due to restrictions on carrying film into Turkey, it may be prudent to post my exposed and excess film back to UK prior to arriving in Turkey - probably from Budapest. I was considering self-addressing a couple of Jiffy bags before leaving and just putting them in the post.

Firstly, is there any reason why this is a bad idea? Having received cameras and lenses in the post from Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation, I guess the postal system itself is fairly reliable (?) but is anything else likely to befall my film? Has anyone else done this recently?

Cheers

 

[ITD]

*bump*

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Maybe some of our UK APUGers will know if it is likely that your film will be X-rayed. Depending on the dose, that could be very harmful to your film.

 

[Ian Grant]

Your being overly alarmist.

First in 3 years and well over 20 trips to Turkey no-one has been bothered about how many films I carry. The regulations are designed to stop people making illegal imports for re-sale, not personal use and are rather out-dated.

Secondly once the films have been exposed they aren't new, and can't be re-sold, so are no longer an issue.

Thirdly posting back to the UK add unnecessary risks.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

There is another alternative, carry a developing tank and process as you travel, I've one this in the past when I first visited Turkey.

Ian

 

[ITD]

... in 3 years and well over 20 trips to Turkey ...
Ian

Ian, I realize I might be over-cautious here, but I'd be pretty pissed off if I ignored the regulations and had film confiscated. I guess I have to balance the possibly low risk of that happening against the risk of loss or damage in the post, hence my question.

I would, however like to take advantage of your experience a little further though, if you don't mind - when you travel to Turkey do you fly or travel over land? I'll be travelling by train into Turkey and flying out. Do you have any idea whether the customs checks at the border are more or less strict than at the airport?

I'm thinking of taking a (small) risk with a second camera by packing a cheap TLR in my bag - not as big a loss as a second rangefinder and I'll get some MF stuff too.

 

[ITD]

There is another alternative, carry a developing tank and process as you travel, I've one this in the past when I first visited Turkey.

Ian

Nice idea, the thought of commandeering a bathroom to soup my negs is appealing in a way, but ultimately more likely to give me crap negs with dust and scratches all over them - I have enough trouble getting decent results at home

 

[Ian Grant]

I can't advise on the border crossing by train, I've never had any reason to do it. But I travel regularly via the ports to Greece & back and they are as relaxed as the airports.

Remember a huge number of photographers travel to Turkey each year, and I've never heard of any having problems with film & cameras at customs.

Ian

 

[ITD]

Thanks Ian. I'll give everything you've said some thought. I suppose that if all they're worried about is resale then a bag full of mostly exposed, unboxed hand-rolled 35mm shouldn't bother them!

Still not chancing a second RF though. Even at low risk, having a £800 kit confiscated because a customs official decided to go by the book one day has too high an impact for me to contemplate. I can lose a YasicaMat without beating myself up for years.

 

[dfoo]

Dude, I think you need to relax. You have probably have a higher chance of getting flattened by a car, than having your stuff confiscated due to some arcane regulation.

 

[ITD]

Dude, I think you need to relax. You have probably have a higher chance of getting flattened by a car, than having your stuff confiscated due to some arcane regulation.

Yeah, maybe you're right...but maybe I avoid getting flattened by cars by taking reasonable precautions - and judging the risks that I'm comfortable with. Anyway, nuff said. Thanks for all the advice.