The World Is A Very Big Place (TM). In the USA, you are entitled to a hand check, if you ask. They'll try and assure you the scanners are OK for film slower than ISO 800, but you don't have to let them scan it. Of course this may well lead to you spending an extra 30 minutes being thoroughly checked out - allow plenty of time.
In other parts of the world (such as, for example, Europe) there is no such entitlement. I'd recommend packing at least one roll of high-speed film (I used Fuji 1600) in with all the other rolls - that way you'll usually avoid the scanners. I once made the mistake of leaving some 1600-speed film in my checked baggage. Rather to my surprise, there was no damage. But I wouldn't recommend the practice - the X-ray machines can be set to several different levels - presumably the machine was on low when my bags were scanned, and the inspectors saw nothing suspicious enough to warrant a re-scan at higher levels. On Sat, May 13, 2006 at 07:32:51PM -0400, Paul Stenquist wrote: > I disagree. Once the lead bag has gone through the scanner, they don't > run the film through again. Has never happened to me in more than 50 > flights wince 9/11. It almost ensures that you'll get a hand check. > Paul > On May 13, 2006, at 7:20 PM, Aaron Reynolds wrote: > a > >Most will now empty out your lead bag and run the film through the > >scanner -- the lead bag makes you look suspicious. > > > >Carry your film out of the boxes and out of the plastic tubs, in a > >clear bag. Bring it as carry-on -- checked film WILL be ruined. Ask > >for hand inspection but don't press for it. If you don't get it, > >don't panic, just run it through the machine. It'll be fine. > > > >If you're really concerned, have it processed before you return. I > >did this in Prague with my higher ISO films and everything turned out > >fine. > > > >I did have to repeatedly explain to a security guard that 3200 was a > >higher number than 1000 (their 'safe' threshold for the carry-on > >scanner) on a trip to North Carolina, and even then they were > >reluctant to hand inspect it (HIM: It's only a little higher, it'll be > >okay. ME: Um, 3200 is more than triple 1000, not a small amount at > >all.) > > > >-Aaron > > > >-----Original Message----- > > > >From: Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subj: Re: Photographing Egypt > >Date: Sat May 13, 2006 6:03 pm > >Size: 1K > >To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > > > >it It's the check-in luggage scanners that are powerful, not the > >carry-on. Carry-on seems to be okay for films below ISO 800. However, > >when I shot film, I almost always carried all of it in a lead bag. > >When it showed up as a shield on the scanner, the airport folks hand > >checked it. Always worked for me. > >Paul > >On May 13, 2006, at 5:54 PM, Adam McKenty wrote: > > > >>Hi Folks, > >>I'm going to Egypt in a few days, and -- since I haven't been quite > >>convinced to switch to digital -- I have some questions about film and > >>such. First, what is the current situation with airport x-rays? I had > >>heard that any film below about 800 would be fine, but a NG guide I > >>recently looked at said today's carry-on baggage zappers are so > >>powerful they'll cook film of any speed. Other options are to have the > >>film hand inspected, or buy it when I get there. Does anyone have > >>first hand experience of this? Are most airports willing to > >>hand-inspect film? Does anyone have a favourite Cairene photography > >>store that sells 100 asa slide film? > >> > >>Any other advice about film for a trip like this or general tips on > >>traveling with cameras would be welcome too. > >> > >>Thanks, > >>Adam > >> > >
