X-ray airport-Film

[BBonte]

More security on airports and increasing dosis of X ray to detect bombs ... I would like to buy film in USA, much cheaper than in Belgium. Is color and B&W film equally sensitive ? 100 ASA less sensitive than 400 ASA ? Polaroid film ?
Should I clear the goods at customs when leaving USA ? At what rate if I declare it ?

Yours

Bernard Bonte

 

[Robert Kennedy]

Don't bother declaring film at customs. Just a waste of money. They have no idea where you bought it.

Any film below 1600 should be fine for carry-on. DO NOT PUT FILM IN YOUR LUGGAGE! They use much more powerful scanners (akin to a CAT scan) and they WILL toast your film. But for carry-on, no problem.

 

[eagleowl]

I've got...

...4 rolls of APX in 35mm which went with me to Chile and back in february.
It went through carry on luggage scanners 8 times.
I haven't got round to using it(I took it with me as an experiment to see how much damage x-rays do to film,which is why I brought it back unused),but when I do,I'll post the results.

 

[MattCarey]

More security on airports and increasing dosis of X ray to detect bombs ... I would like to buy film in USA, much cheaper than in Belgium. Is color and B&W film equally sensitive ? 100 ASA less sensitive than 400 ASA ? Polaroid film ?
Should I clear the goods at customs when leaving USA ? At what rate if I declare it ?

Yours

Bernard Bonte

1) how much film are you talking about?

You may not have to declare--but if you do, wouldn't it be at your port of entry to the EU rather than leaving the US?

2) X-rays. I took a trip about 12 years ago where I went through about 15 x-ray machines. It even got scanned in New Dehli *leaving* the airport. I noticed no fogging at all. I don't know if they have increased the dose x-ray scanners give since then. I would actually expect it to have gone down (except for homeland security).

Matt

 

[david b]

I took about 200 rolls of film to Mexico. The stuff I brought home was x-rayed 4 times. I've shot a whole lot of since getting back and it is just fine.

Don't worry about it and don't mention it to customs.

 

[df cardwell]

Film damaged by X-Ray has happened to me, it can happen to you. It probably won't. But it might.

Here is the straight story:

Dead Link Removed


Please read this:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

The security at US airports has improved measureably from the year or two after 9/11. The agents have actually been trained, and know what traveler's rights are.
How you conduct yourself has direct bearing on how your film will be handled. Go through security early enough that a hand inspection will not hinder you. Pack simply. Think it out ahead of time.

How you deal with You will declare the film when you get home. Customs is your business.

You may also order film from B&H, and have it sent to you.

Yours,

Don
"This suspense is terrible ! I hope it lasts."

 

[roteague]

More security on airports and increasing dosis of X ray to detect bombs ... I would like to buy film in USA, much cheaper than in Belgium. Is color and B&W film equally sensitive ? 100 ASA less sensitive than 400 ASA ? Polaroid film ?
Should I clear the goods at customs when leaving USA ? At what rate if I declare it ?

Yours

Bernard Bonte

Bernard,

You don't have to clear anything when you leave the US; when you return home you will have to deal with EU customs. Film speed in the US is the same as film speed in the EU.

 

[BradS]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) in the technical gallery was made on film that had passed through the xray machine four times and, (there was a url link here which no longer exists) is an example on Delta 3200 that was x-rayed twice. YMMV, but I don't really think that there is much to worry about - at least, not with B&W film.

 

[roteague]

Thanks Brad. BTW, I don't think the US Dept. of Agriculture machines are x-ray machines - we have them here, and everyone travelling to the mainland US must go through them. They are used to check to see if you have any plants in your luggage.

 

[BradS]

Thanks Brad. BTW, I don't think the US Dept. of Agriculture machines are x-ray machines - we have them here, and everyone travelling to the mainland US must go through them. They are used to check to see if you have any plants in your luggage.

YEs, I suppose you are correct. I never gave it much thought...just assumed. You know. Come to think of it, they were much bigger than the machines at the security check points. Thanks Robert.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I'm going to San Francisco in August and I plan on bulk loading film into plastic cannisters. Do you think there would be a difference in exposure between plastic and metal cannisters?
Ara

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Seriously, I'm concerned about xray exposure being greater for plastic cannisters. Any comments?

 

[BradS]

Seriously, I'm concerned about xray exposure being greater for plastic cannisters. Any comments?

Sorry. I don't have any experience with the plastic cans. If you're really concerned, perhaps you could stow the film in some kind of metal box? A coffee can would be quite a bit heavier metal than that used for 35mm canisters. I guess it depends on how much film you're planning to carry though.

San Francisco is a very modern and well supplied city. There are several well stocked stores here. Why not simply purchase what you need when you get here?

Alternatively, you could send all your film ahead of you via Fed-Ex. They will not x-ray that which is declared as film (or, so they say). There are a bunch of us living here in the SF Bay area. I am sure any of us would be happy to receive you film. I don't get into the city very often but, am happy to help in this fashion if you wish....send me a PM if that is what you want to do.

 

[Louis Mutch]

I dont think that Xray should be a problem for bw film because xray is below the ultraviolet the wave length that panchromatic film just touches.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I dont think that Xray should be a problem for bw film because xray is below the ultraviolet the wave length that panchromatic film just touches.

You know, that's a great explaination. Thanks. I was bulk loading APX100, so obviously it won't be affected.

Brads,
Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it. I'm going to take your advice and buy color film from Calumet in SF. Can you think of any other place in town that is worth going to? Plus, do you know of a good lab for processing that is also fairly inexpensive. I figure I might as well process in SF since you guys probably have better labs than Rhode Island.
Ara

 

[User Removed]

Please look under my gallery for an image I posted of an ocean scene. It was 100 speed film that went thru the carryon scanner at an airport scanner ONE TIME! It has very distinct scan bars through the whole photograph.

They say it will not hurt anything below 800...WELL IT CLEARLY RUINED A WHOLE BOX OF 8x10 sheet film in 100 speed!

Dont trust those people. Just send your film by mail where it is not scanned with Xrays.

 

[BradS]

<...snip> Brads,
Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it. I'm going to take your advice and buy color film from Calumet in SF. Can you think of any other place in town that is worth going to? Plus, do you know of a good lab for processing that is also fairly inexpensive. I figure I might as well process in SF since you guys probably have better labs than Rhode Island.
Ara

Ara, I live about sixty miles east of the city and I don't often make the trek...except by Bart. I've been to Calumet a few times. It is a nice store and relatively easy to find. Definitely worth a visit. There must be a few hundred camera / film stores in the city. Most cater to the tourist crowd (which can be very substantial on the weekends) and really don't merit much more than a casual glance. All of 'em still sell 35mm color print film though! There is another big pro camera store in SF that I am aware of but have never visited - Adolph Gassers. Their web site is (or, was) perfectly horrid...so bad in fact that I can't bring myself to even think about shopping there.

I deal mainly with Keeble and Shuchat in Palo Alto. They have everything. Their pricing is kinda strange however. They seem to be competetive with the big NY houses on anything they think is "professional" but, they really sock it to ya on the consumer stuff. So, for example, they want $8.00 or so for a 36 exp roll of Fuji Superia X-tra (Walmat sells this stuff for something like $10 for four rolls of 24exp) but, a box of 4x5 Sheet film - anybox will be priced almost exactly at the same price as it is at B&H or Adorama....go figure. Two stores on the same block - they have everything! Try to avoid the place at lunch time on weekdays as it is filled with silicon valley tech geeks (like me).

While you are in town, do be sure to visit the SF Museum of Modern Art. Get there early! The Oakland museum, accross the bay, is also very worthwhile.

 

[BradS]

oh, labs...you asked about those too. I don't know of any in the city but am certain there are more than a few. Perhaps, somebody who lives closer in will chime in? If you're shooting slides, Calypso Imaging is down in Sunnyvale - kinda a long way from SF but, worth the effort. Their prices are fantastic and they do fabulous work. (they have a huge Galen Rowell print on the wall at one end of the counter too ). There are few noteworthy labs across the bay in Oakland and Berkeley too...but, I get up that way even less than I do into the city.

 

[roteague]

Can you think of any other place in town that is worth going to? Plus, do you know of a good lab for processing that is also fairly inexpensive.

You can try Looking Glass in Berkeley 510-548-6888 - I was teasing them about having Pyrocat HD, and Aggie went and pulled some off the shelf. Calypso for processing film, is a good choice - I use them for all my sheet film processing.

 

[wildbill]

While departing from the Detroit airport earlier this summer I asked for a hand inspection of my 120 roll film. The tsa chick said i needed to remove the packaging from all rolls. I stated that this has never happened to me before and it shouldn't if tsa rules are a nationwide standard. She said that she was a former professional photographer and it was necessesary. She said i could look online to find out how to reseal the packages! I didn't want not so fresh film so i put it through the scanner. Anyone else had this happen?

 

[Graeme Hird]

I've just taken some Velvia 50 iso 4x5 sheets for their second trip around the world. They must have been through 25 hand baggage check machines before being processed, and they suffered no ill effects what-so-ever.

YMMV, but mine went for 44,000 miles .....

 

[BradS]

While departing from the Detroit airport earlier this summer I asked for a hand inspection of my 120 roll film. The tsa chick said i needed to remove the packaging from all rolls. I stated that this has never happened to me before and it shouldn't if tsa rules are a nationwide standard. She said that she was a former professional photographer and it was necessesary. She said i could look online to find out how to reseal the packages! I didn't want not so fresh film so i put it through the scanner. Anyone else had this happen?

Long story but, in a nut shell...yes. Each airport and even different crews working the same airport seem to deal with the hand inspection request a little differently. You did the right thing. There is no point in arguing with these people.

 

[gr82bart]

While departing from the Detroit airport earlier this summer I asked for a hand inspection of my 120 roll film. The tsa chick said i needed to remove the packaging from all rolls.

I had the EXACT same TSA lady at DTW! Because of that experience, I now de-package all my 120 rolls (if I don't buy them at the location I am going to) and place them in clear plastic zip lock bags for easy inspection.

Art.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I'm just worried that they may look at the bulk rolls of film and think I'm smuggling drugs or something. The film leader will be sticking out the side, but you could always fake it and smuggle a gram of something in each cannister. I don't want to buy the film in SF and have it shipped back. The whole point of bulk loading was to save money. I hate taking chances with film that you could never replace once shot.
Ara

 

[BradS]

I'm just worried that they may look at the bulk rolls of film and think I'm smuggling drugs or something. The film leader will be sticking out the side, but you could always fake it and smuggle a gram of something in each cannister. I don't want to buy the film in SF and have it shipped back. The whole point of bulk loading was to save money. I hate taking chances with film that you could never replace once shot.
Ara

Ara,
Easy solution. Leave the bulk film in the metal can in which it came. Send it through the carry on luggage x-ray machine with the rest of your carry on items. Roll the film into the plastic canisters when you get here...