What is the latest on airport xrays for film? I have heard that security will no longer hand inspect film. Do xrays affect B/W film differently than color film/slides?

-- Richard Chatcuff (richard.chatcuff@mcfm.ucsf.medctr.org), February 21, 2002

Answers

In the US, security inspectors are supposed to hand-check film if you request it (FAA reg), though whether they will appears to be a function of how long the lines are at a checkpoint at any particular time. Be polite (those folks are overworked at most airports I transit) but firm about it. I've had inspectors swab each roll of film with one of those explosives-detection gizmos, and then have me pull off my shoes for good measure. At the next concourse, they just make do with a peek into the film tub. I haven't heard if this will change with the federal takeover of airport security.

Overseas, the inspectors are under no obligation to hand-check film, though it doesn't hurt to ask. If you're carrying some really high- speed film (ISO 1600 or above), you're more likely to get a hand inspection. And be persistent if you have some of the fast stuff--on a trip to London and Dublin last month, I had a few rolls of Delta 3200 that exhibited some x-ray damage, but the HP5+ (ISO 400) survived unscathed after about four passes through various carry-on scanners. That's the first time in about 10 years that I've lost film to the scanners. The radiation is cumulative, so try to reduce the number of passes through the x-ray machines. But count on having to get your film x-rayed at least once.

And don't even think about putting any film in your checked baggage.

-- Chuck Albertson (chucko@siteconnect.com), February 21, 2002.

Yeah they won't unless you have it in your pockets and dump it into the dish along with you keys/watch/whatever. I have heard and experienced this firsthand, also having 400 or less iso run thru the x-ray device will not have an adverse effect to the film. The x-rays should do the same to all emulsions more or less - that is to fog them. Finally the more passes thru the greater the effect. I brought a bunch of Fuji 800 press with me to (and back from) Georgia recently and have yet to see any problems. The screener in San Diego said that 1000 iso was the threshold, whether I believed him or not was a different matter (he could speak english though...).

Most airports have not upgraded to the more powerful and deadly units, furthermore San Diego doesn't hardly use the $1M unit that checks for explosives...

Side note, seems like that not a day goes by w/o some stupid person making some dumb remark or poor choice of habit in the airports or airplanes and thus stopping the flow of travellers for 3 hours.

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouth@cox.net), February 21, 2002.

There's been a lot of discussion on this topic at photo.net and there are a fair number of people who fly regularly over there. The most current thread is here.

FWIW, I took a hundred rolls of film through two US and four Mexican airports on a trip after 9/11, was denied hand inspection at all of them, and the film is fine. Some of it was Tri-X and some Ultra 50.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), February 21, 2002.

Richard

800/400 speed film (in a lead lined bag) is just fine through the scanners, so no need to obsess. It is probably OK not in a bag too. I worry a little about 3200 film and try and get that hand inspected.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 21, 2002.

Robin, I must disagree with you. I recently returned from London and had my Provia 100 and 400 in their lead-lined (XPF-20) bags. The British customs agents politely refused my entreaties and passed the film in the bags through the X-ray machine. One of the guards commented that he couldn't image the film in the bags so he cranked up the amount of radiation!!! Needless to say, my heart sank. All the F-400 film was fogged but the F-100 survived intact. Therefore: 1. The X-ray scanners have the wherewithal to destroy your film despite a lead-lined bag, 2. The customs agents do not have to "hand search" your films, 3. The customs agents will not "hand search" your films, 4. Wake up, and plan an alternative strategy. I will probably buy my film "over there" and develop it in a Professional lab before leaving for home. E6 is available everywhere and I will look forward to sorting my slides on the way home!!

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), February 21, 2002.

I went to stockholm recently and locally bought some T-max 3200 films to do some night street-life shots and a fuji 1600 color film for some low-light indoor shots. On the way back I took the exposed films out of my bag to hand carry them through the lugage check. Then this idiot guard came to me and told me to give hime the film. I expected him to hand-check the film and went throuh the portal. When I asked him to return my film he told me he had put them through the x-ray. I almost exploded and had to hold myself not kicking him in the %$#@ (I wanted to catch my plane ofcourse :-)).

But at the end, when I developed my film, they were actually fine, no damage at all. It seems that modern equipment (with the color screens) doesn't harm sensitve film.

-- ReinierV (rvlaam@xs4all.nl), February 22, 2002.

Interesting Albert! I was only talking about the US, but I guess things might have changed since 9/11. You are right about hand inspection -- it is not a right as I understand it (nor should it be given the state of the world). Depressingly, security does vary from one airport to another so what is OK in Madison, WI is not OK in Washington DC. This hardly instills confidence.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002.

i have been to thailand and china in the last 6 months, leaving from the united states each time. i have had all my film hand check. whether it is because i am always ready with the film out, in a see- through bag and canasters removed. you have to look confident and hand it over like "there is no other option!". i did get a little resistance from one guy. he saw the 100 rating on the film, i told him "yea but i am rating it at 1600". you and i know that makes no difference, but he didn't and 1000+ is the magic number for these guys. i believe offically security MUST give you a hand check in the united states. the problem is lines are long and with all due respect a security officer who refuses you a handcheck is either too lazy to do it or are ignorantly insisting because of security. until they tell me handchecks are not safe enough i am going to continue insisting on them.

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002.

I agree with John Molloy's post immediately above. Put the bare cartridges in ziplock bags, ask for hand inspection as if you truly expect and appreciate it and see no other option, and be sure to have at least a couple of rolls of super speed film in there -- then when they point to the sign that says "film safe to ISO 1000" you can say "But I've got ISO 3200 film, so please do a hand inspection." I've had film hand inspected at London Heathrow, which is known for NOT doing hand inspections. Remember, these security people are human beings, and most are willing to honor your requests in the right circumstances.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), February 22, 2002.