X Rays at Airports

Hi Everyone!

Will be travelling to Corsica with Bronica gear, including many rolls of 120 and 220, 400 ISO coluor print film.

Now that airport security has been cranked into hyperdrive, is there anything I should worry about when it comes to x rays?

Any and all tips as welcome as ever.

Cheers,

Mac

I have a bit of experience of this although it might be quite out of date since who knows what changes have taken place over the past few years to security scanners. I had a shoot which involved a lot of air travel so film, exposed and unexposed was probably 'x-rayed' maybe about 20 times. The only casualties (and they weren't fatal) were some rolls of Tri-x which were rated at 1600ASA. You could see sprocket roll print through and the negs seemed a little flat but still printed OK on a harder grade of paper. Done lots of flying with lots of film since and never had any problems. I undrerstand that the scanners they use for hold baggage are stronger than the ones for hand baggage. I'm not sure that they use x-rays given the precautions that radiographers take and I haven't seen any airport staff wearing lead aprons!

Enjoy Corsica,

Ken

Spot on - I work for an airline and used to deal with the security issues so have a fair idea on x-ray machines. The usual advice applies - pack film in your hand baggage and ask for it to be screened separately. If you have to take LOTS of film and need to pack some in your main hold baggage it's best to keep the faster films in hand-baggage.

With my old role at work I used to do countless flights every year and have never had a problem, but I rarely use anything faster than ISO400.

Will

I was also advised that wraping the films in silver kitchin foil also helps.

Never had any problems with film up ot ISO800

my two cents...have them in a ziplock baggie in youe pocket, and ask nicely that they hand inspect.

Folks,

Thanks as always for the tips and advice!

Have a great day/evening.

Spring starts tomorrow, and all's right with the world (Unless you're a Liberal - then it's all left).

Shut up Mac.

Hama sell (or used to) a small lead lined bag which I have used. Problem is it shows up as completely black on airport security systems. Using it has always resulted in my hand baggage being pulled to one side for a complete search. That in itself is not a problem unless you are carrying something you shouldn't, but if you are a little late for a flight . . . it can increase the blood pressure a bit.

Thats why it's snowing here

How does one transport one's Digital Camera, betteries, charger, lenses, and memory cards?

Do any x-ray machines out there have a negative effect on the camera or the memory cards?

I'll be going to Oshkosh next month, so it's on an "I HAVE to know" basis.

Personally I carry mine in my hand luggage with my notebook computer. X-rays will have no adverse effects on and of this equipment.

Memory cards use a solid state storage system so any kind of EMP will fry them but when are you going to be near a nuke blast? (No idea where Oshkosh is but I hope Putin isn't pointing more missiles there)

Oshkosh is definitely the wrong place to point any sort of missile.

It's in Wisconsin, USA. They have the world's largest airshow there every year. It runs for about 9 days toward the end of July. Google it: EAA Oshkosh.

And thanks for the tip.

Tell Putin about Slough.

G

Oi! I'm only 2 miles from Slough (no-one admits to "live in Slough" and I can't dig a bunker deep enough to hide from Mr Putin's missiles!

Hi,

We went to Turkey last year and one thing to watch out for is that since the terrorist scares, more and more landmark buildings are installing x-ray machines. We went to three mosques, all of which insisted on putting all hand bags and camera bags through x-rays.

Also, many airport staff will not be helpful when asked to do a hand search, this is especially true of UK airport staff.

cheers Steve.

wouldn't it be nice if all the zealots, from all religions, could put thier fighting on hold, for the rest of thier lives.
If they only had enough faith to wait for death, so they could ask thier God, to settle who's right. We could all live a little more freely.

That being said, how are the equipment rental prospects at your destination? might be easier....