How long ago was that? The x-rays used currently in airports for carry-on luggage shouldn't affect your film unless it's over iso 400. I've had mine x-rayed up to five times with no ill effects. The x-ray used on the check-in luggage is a different story however.
Thanks so much! I am sorry about your experience. In theory it should be pretty safe to travel with at least 400 speed film. Mine was scanned twice upon departure from Istanbul and fortunately there was no damage. The problem is that the operator may increase the power of the radiation without noone realizing. Sometimes the bags go back and forth in the x-ray machine as if the operator missed something and wants a better look. You may have been unlucky. I have also carried the film rolls in my trouser pockets walking through the metal detector instead of having the film x-rayed. Noone ever noticed.
This was..5 or 6 years ago, I had a fair amount of ISO 100 film (which is what pulled through) but I had a lot of 400, 1600 and some 3200 film as well. That didn't make it through so well. They went through the x-ray machines so many times I just practically gave up! (Twice at each airport and twice at the empire state building)
You're very welcome, I absolutely loved the series! Very inspirational.
I may invest in a lead film bag if I do a lot of flying.
If you think the C330 is a "Drag about" with three lenses, try an RB 67 or a Pentax 6X7, the point I was trying to make was that for an affordable 6X6 medium format system able to use interchangeable lenses that is reasonably portable, can sync for flash at any speed up to 1/500 sec. and capable of professional results they are unique.Fully agree that the C330 is a wonderful camera. I love the occasional macro shot, and the camera makes it possible where others don't. Calling it a walk-about though is a stretch. It's more like a drag-about.Significantly bigger than the Yashica.
As for the light leak on the Yashica, I just developed two rolls of 120 from my 124G tonight. They were both rolls of night shots. (Sorry, haven't scanned them yet.) What looks like a light leak on two of the shots is just how the camera deals with bright light at the edge of the frame. It's not a nice defined star pattern, but more of a random star pattern or a streaky smear. It definitely does look a little like a light leak, but no problems on any of my other shots.
I know the OP was looking for 6x6, but the Mamiya 645 cameras are great too, and a superb deal right now for all of the manual focus models.
Thanks 2F/2F, I do speak from experience, I've been carrying this equipment about for about twenty years, and I find that a body and a standard,wide angle and telephoto lenses don't weigh as much as my Canon F1 and the lenses and accessories I carry about with it.I also cannot agree with the very common statements on the Internet that the Mamiya C series is a big and/or heavy and/or hard-to-handle-or-carry system. It is compact, and relatively light.
On flights I've taken in the last few years, both national and international, I've frequently been asked if I have film (after they've seen the cameras) and if I want it hand checked.
I don't understand the usefulness of the lead bags. If they can't see into it won't they ask you to open it? I've had to open my checked luggage on occasion because the x-ray couldn't figure out what it was seeing.
Ok I think it might be the C330 in the end.
Just looked through a lot of Flickr images, and some are very impressive. If you told me they were Zeiss optics I would have believed you. The price is right. I really can't afford a Hasselblad right now without selling a lot of stuff, but I can sell one lens and buy a Mamiya kit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/louobedlam/4420177341/
That picture is pretty impressive.
Thanks for the help!
Paul
I don't understand the usefulness of the lead bags. If they can't see into it won't they ask you to open it? I've had to open my checked luggage on occasion because the x-ray couldn't figure out what it was seeing.
The problem is the cheerful "xrays won't harm your film" BS that they give you if you try to not feed it through. Sure, one xray won't, but a typical international flight these days can involve half a dozen or more of the damned things, and they're cumulative.
The idea of the lead-lined box is that the film is protected on the way through the xray, and they then get you to open it so they can inspect it afterwards, reducing the dose.
It is not B.S. They are absolutely correct when they say that, as long as they are referring to carry-on x ray machines, as opposed to checked baggage x ray machines.
X-ray equipment used to inspect carry-on baggage uses a very low level of x-radiation that will not cause noticeable damage to most films.
If you're going to be traveling through multiple X-ray examinations (more than 5 times), request a hand search of your carry-on baggage. FAA regulations in the U.S. allow for a hand search of photographic film and equipment if requested. (See below for further FAA information.) However, non-US airports may not honor this request.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?