Kodak: Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film

[S8 Booster]

found this on the Kodak web:
Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film

sort of discussed before but here are som real verification.

shoot...eh...more film....

[BAC]

I would like to hear what people on this forum have experienced recently with this. I'm planing a trip to Italy later this year and would like to shoot some film while I'm there. But not if TSA is going to destroy it.

I also wonder what they will think of my Bolex 160, it looks kind of like a gun.

[grainy]

Funny this came up, I'm travelling tomorrow and was checking for exactly this info. My experience with other film (120 still film) was it got fried in the process at some point. I'm travelling with two cameras and 10 rolls of film, and I'm packing the cameras in my carry-on and doing a "hand-inspection" of the film, which I'm putting in a giant ziplock baggie. My Sankyo probably looks as gun-like as anything, but they can open the bag if they want, and I'll be right there to smile at them. It's actually pretty easy to do this, and way way better safe than sorry, I'd say.

[rlorenz2]

Just got back from a trip within US. Leting them hand inspect film is a must. Some airports open the boxes to ensure film is still sealed inside, but that's it. And no one ever questioned my nizo pro. It went right through the xray

[Will2]

Anyone who isn't sure about this should try it. I have.
Film in checked baggage is not good thing.

[Will2]

I would like to hear what people on this forum have experienced recently with this. I'm planing a trip to Italy later this year and would like to shoot some film while I'm there. But not if TSA is going to destroy it.

Easiest solution is to FedEx or ship it to your hotel. I've done that many times and you avoid all the questions and craziness that goes with explaining what actual motion picture film is.

Also, you could have Kodak in Italy ship or deliver stock to your hotel and avoid any international issues altogether.

[grainy]

Actually the hand-check option is plenty easy - you have to go through security either way. IMHO, the logistics of sending stuff to myself fedex or otherwise are a big hassle esp. if you're at a hotel where the address/contact is arbitrary.

But whatever you do, don't check your bag with film inside and think "well, I read somewhere that it's just fine!"... ;)

[Tscan]

I just trasferred some 100D for a friend who shot it in Brazil. It came out horrid, really dark and grainy... the colors were muted. While trying to figure out what went wrong, I asked him if he put the film in his baggage over several flights. He said the airport said it was safe of course, but not so. Some of the ugliest footage i have seen and it was his first time shooting it.

[grainy]

Funny this came up, I'm travelling tomorrow and was checking for exactly this info. My experience with other film (120 still film) was it got fried in the process at some point. I'm travelling with two cameras and 10 rolls of film, and I'm packing the cameras in my carry-on and doing a "hand-inspection" of the film, which I'm putting in a giant ziplock baggie. My Sankyo probably looks as gun-like as anything, but they can open the bag if they want, and I'll be right there to smile at them. It's actually pretty easy to do this, and way way better safe than sorry, I'd say.

UPDATE: I just got back from MY trip and short story is after my latest hand check experience, I MAILED my exposed film back to myself for the return trip, and I will ALWAYS mail from now on.
Two of my rolls of TriX tested positive for some kind of horror in this new swab test they're now doing. It was probably residue on the hands of the lab guys where I get my film or something, but those two rolls got run right through the xray machines after that, plus I got me a full pat down 2011 style, which was the least of my worries by that time. In theory, 160 speed TriX should be okay. In practice, I never wanna find out that it's not.
So count one more vote for the MAILING technique.

[jpolzfuss]

Hi,

you might also want to take a look at these test-results from i3a: Some films (e.g. b&w-still or colour-negative-movie) even showed a "density change (fog)" after the first scan:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... report.pdf

If you leave your films in your suitcase rather than your carry-on luggage:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... report.pdf

But when you think of shipping instead of taking your films onto the plane: Remember that your parcels might also get scanned:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... t_2006.pdf

Ain't this great? Especially as the number of scanners seem to increase as you now even get scanned when leaving some airports or when using some ferries or trains... *sigh*

Jörg

[Will2]

Actually the hand-check option is plenty easy - you have to go through security either way. IMHO, the logistics of sending stuff to myself fedex or otherwise are a big hassle esp. if you're at a hotel where the address/contact is arbitrary.

Try going through security with three young kids, car seats & 12 bags. Removing and putting back on 4 pairs of shoes. It's very easy to forget about film during that process plus it simply adds more time as I explain what it is to people.

Anything that simplifies that process is welcome and having Kodak send the film directly to a hotel is a great way to go.

[grainy]

Hi,

you might also want to take a look at these test-results from i3a: Some films (e.g. b&w-still or colour-negative-movie) even showed a "density change (fog)" after the first scan:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... report.pdf

If you leave your films in your suitcase rather than your carry-on luggage:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... report.pdf

But when you think of shipping instead of taking your films onto the plane: Remember that your parcels might also get scanned:
http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... t_2006.pdf

Ain't this great? Especially as the number of scanners seem to increase as you now even get scanned when leaving some airports or when using some ferries or trains... *sigh*

Jörg

Does anyone have a sense that Kodak is trying to address this issue? It's got to affect all its customers at some point. How hard could it be to create a TSA-approved seal or something for its packages?

[grainy]

UPDATE II - I talked to the woman at the lab about this airport scanner issue. She said that any film that goes anywhere via air is going to get scanned, whether it's FedEx, UPS, or yourself. Ground ship is the only thing that isn't x-rayed.
However, unless you are using very fast film (not really avail in super 8) it "shouldn't be a problem", because in the western world the new xray scanners are more sensitive, and because super8 cartridges give the film an extra layer of protection.
However, the 3200 speed 120 still film I was using on the same shoot definitely needed hand-inspection.
So I guess the moral of this story, assuming you're using super 8, is to either ship to yourself via ground (not next day air), or just put it in carry on luggage.
It's still a bad idea to check bags with film in them, those scanners are diff't.

[superadio]

Some months back I traveled from Norway to Indonesia. And of course bring my 8 mm camera, and some film. I had already loaded my camera, and had rest of film in my hand/carryOn luggage. When I arrived at the security check, I asked an officer what to do with my films and camera, due to i didnt like to send thru the scanner. He replied me rather short, that if I wanted to bring it, I had to put it thru the scanner. I did, and he even took camera out of my bag after first scanning, and put it thru again.... :twisted: You not argue with those guys. And the result.... I expect it back from Leo any day now.

[Will2]

UPDATE II - I talked to the woman at the lab about this airport scanner issue. She said that any film that goes anywhere via air is going to get scanned, whether it's FedEx, UPS, or yourself. Ground ship is the only thing that isn't x-rayed.

Actually what has been in the news is how those packages aren't x-rayed in general. International may become another issue but for FedEx flights within the U.S. packages aren't x-rayed unless suspicious.

That's what Kodak told me because I was concerned on my last few shipments from them via UPS (they switched from FedEx a while ago).