X-ray scanning at Rome/Italy museums

[Dave Krueger]

I will be traveling to Rome and other parts of Italy in October. From what I understand, they do x-ray scanning of bags when you visit museums. Can anyone who has actually been there tell me if they will hand check film and film cameras on request rather than sending it through the scanner?

 

[destroya]

when i was there last year, the Vatican gave me a real hard time. sent my cameras thru 3 times and my film thru twice. then made me open the camera backs, even though there was film in there, they didnt care. so had to rewind it. then they wanted to keep the rewound film, but I said no. they were really pissed that I brought film in. took me almost an hour to get thru, but finally did. the security people were rude and condescending. Guess they had a bad day. digital camera people had no issues.

Other locations were not an issue. they scanned like the airport and I went right thru. they will not do any hand scans, so I shot 400 film pushed to 1250 for high speed to be safe. should have, and will next time, bring a digital for inside shooting

so, good luck

 

[Dave Krueger]

Destroya, thanks for the reply. I will be sure and not take a film camera into the Vatican. I usually do my film photography outdoors, but that still means having the camera with me if we visit a museum. I think the best option is to only take enough film with me to last the day and then log the number of times each roll is x-rayed so I can keep it to a minimum. I will be buying and developing the film in Rome, so at least I won't have to worry about airline x-rays adding to the accumulation.

 

[jeffreyg]

We visited the Vatican a couple of years ago and I checked my camera in a small backpack with film with no problem. I retrieved it after we toured inside and was glad I had taken it because I took a photograph outside that (IMOP) was worth having taken it with me. They did not xray as far as I know. Since it was 2 1/4 the film (Delta 400) was in paper wrappers. My experience in many of the European museums has been that cameras of that sort have to be checked and not permitted in the museum. I carry a point and shoot Lumix zs100 as well in case they permit small cameras but require checking the larger one. So far no hassles. I use a small backpack that holds the 2 1/4, two lenses, a light meter and enough film for the day and leave a second body and the rest of my film in the room. I guess you can use a phone as a backup but the Lumix has a Leica lens.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

 

[Dave Krueger]

Thanks for the reply, jeffreyg. I wish these places had lockers you could store stuff in. You answered a question I had, though. It sounds like you can walk around outside and take pictures and that is what I would like to do. I carry a fairly compact bag with a body and three lenses. Inside I would be happy to use my little digital point and shoot, which is a little Lumix DMC-FH2, by the way.