Kodak: Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film

[BAC]

I just got back from a trip to New York city. I brought my Bolex D8L Regular 8mm camera plus a View-Master 35mm Stereo camera. I put my 8mm film in a lead lined bag to protect it from the x-rays at the airport. I didn't want them to hand check it for fear that they will open the can and expose the film. At the airport leaving Seattle I had the cameras and film in one bag. Since the lead bag blocked their view of the cameras they had me take the lead lined film bag out and place it in the bin next to the camera bag and ran it through again. Then when I went to the Empire State building they sent my cameras through an x-ray machine (no lead bag at this time) twice because they had never seen a camera like that before. Then leaving New York from JFK my cameras went through the x-ray again. This time I had one roll that I had finished back in the lead lined bag. So here is the total x-ray exposure for my trip:

First roll of 8mm film: 3 x-rays in lead bag, 2 x-rays in camera.
Second roll of 8mm film: 2 x-rays in lead bag, 1 x-ray in camera.
35mm film: 5 x-rays in camera.

I used a film bag to change the film so there should not be any exposure from that. I also had a spare roll of 8mm film that went through the x-ray 3 times in the lead lined bag. I have not shot that roll so it may end up being used to test some cameras if I think it is ruined. I will let you know how it turns out when I get it back from processing in a few weeks.

[Rudat]

I would definitely like to know the results. Some says the x-rays are not that harmful as Kodak describes but I would like to be sure before I go on another trip. Thank you in advance!

[BAC]

I read on the Kodak web site that airport x-rays are only an issue for high speed film like ASA 500 or greater. Newer x-ray machines use much lower levels of x-rays than they used to in order to protect the people working around them from exposure. I believe they did this by making the sensors that read the x-rays more powerful. I will post the results when I get the film back. That should be in a few weeks, I still need to do some titling before I send it in.

[jpolzfuss]

I read on the Kodak web site that airport x-rays are only an issue for high speed film like ASA 500 or greater.

Where did you read this? http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/ ... 5201.shtml says: "Travelers probably shouldn't worry about possible X-ray damage when hand-carrying their film onto the airplane unless they are carrying: ... Any motion picture films..."
You should also take a look at Kodak's comment on lead-lined bags on that page.

i3a ( http://www.i3a.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... report.pdf ) states: "Recommendations
Based on the testing completed at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, I3A
recommends a limit of five passes through the carry-on baggage security check point systems for all color negative and reversal film, including single-use cameras, up to and including ISO 800 speed film. While in some cases it may take a greater number of passes to cause damage to film, we believe that a five pass limit allows for an appropriate margin for safety. If lower speed film, ISO 100 through 800, is being carried on extended trips, and it is necessary to submit the film through security screeners more than five times, travelers should request hand inspection of their film. I3A further recommends that all film with an ISO rating greater than 800, black and white films, motion picture films, and films used for medical imaging ALWAYS be hand inspected. FAA regulations support the request by passengers for hand inspection of film."

[aj]

picture films[/b], and films used for medical imaging ALWAYS be hand inspected. FAA regulations support the request by passengers for hand inspection of film."

Maybe the FAA should visit the airports more and instruct the security opeartors a bit. Most operators will laugh you away loudly with your hand request. Or make you sit and wait in a room for an hour.

And how can they hand-scan/film 35mm film cans and sealed S8 cartridges. Yank the film out? A S8 cartridge is big enough to hold a few ounce of something with a fuse. If they are thorough they will x-ray it. Whatever you whine. And otherwise you stay out off the aircraft.

Kodak is always extremely on the safe side with their handling advice. So if they say max 5 times you can easily have it scanned 10 times without trouble. It is obvious that on a standard journey nothing will happen to your films. If you are on a 20 hop world-tour you could send the films to the lab after exposing them. Saves travelweight too and you will not loose them either

[Angus]

I've recently been on a trip to the USA, with 35mm film (print film for stills, no MP film this time)....most of which was 800ASA or 1600ASA.

The films were all in hand baggage and would have been scanned at London Heathrow, Chicago O'Hare, Northwest Arkansas Regional and Aberdeen, SD, and Northwest Arkansas Regional a 2nd time.

All films scanned 5 times at 4 different airports. Got the prints back last week and I see no sign of any x-ray damage on the prints or the negatives.

BTW Aberdeen Regional Airport routinely scans hand baggage twice. Nice to see the TSA notices stating politely that you can request hand inspection of film at all the American airports.

[Andreas Wideroe]

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).

All FedEx, UPS, DHL etc. packages that crosses borders by airplane will be x-rayed - or they can not guarantee they will not be. That I have black on white from these companies.

Hopefully it's different within the US, but honestly I doubt it.

Always ask for handinspection and if you must, send it through the carry-onboard x-ray machine. Never put films in checked in baggage. I did put a 500T film in my check in baggage by mistake about 6 years ago leaving from LAX. The film was 60% ruined. I could see the pictures, but it flashed all the time.

/Andreas

[Will2]

I did put a 500T film in my check in baggage by mistake about 6 years ago leaving from LAX. The film was 60% ruined. I could see the pictures, but it flashed all the time.

Same happened to me. Now I never check film over 160 or so. They nuke those bags with xrays.

[BAC]

I got my 2 rolls of 8mm film back that went through the x-ray multiple times. Most of the film was still in good shape, maybe a little more grain than normal but otherwise good for home movies. What I found odd was that some scenes were so bad that I edited them out completely while most of the film was ok. Looking at one shot I did in Times Square the subject was in focus in one frame and out of focus in the next and then back in focus. Considering it's a fixed focus lens, I believe that must be an effect of the x-rays.

The first roll of 8mm film that had 3 x-rays in a lead bag and 2 x-rays in the camera had the most damage. The second roll of 8mm film that had 2 x-rays in a lead bag and 1 x-ray in the camera had very little damage. Keep in mind, I'm not a pro at this, someone with more experience may be able to detect more damage but for my purpose of watching home movies I think overall most of the film is good. Some of the shots at Conney Island on a sunny day turned out great in my opinion.

I have not developed my 35mm film from my View-master stereo camera. I am worried about that because it sustained the most x-rays. Five times with no protection from a lead bag. I still have a few shots left before I send it in for processing.

[aj]

Looking at one shot I did in Times Square the subject was in focus in one frame and out of focus in the next and then back in focus. Considering it's a fixed focus lens, I believe that must be an effect of the x-rays.

Believe is what invents these urban myths.

Other people travel with large quantities high ISO films through several checks without trouble. That is all dismissed and people with one average film with un-explainable (by themselves) damage point to x-ray machines of which they don't have the faintest idea how these work and could damage their film.

Read the kodak info and see if anything demonstrated there is visible on your film. Otherwise blame your camera or your own handling of the film and camera.

[BAC]

I probably shouldn't have said focus, it's more like a haze that comes and goes from frame to frame. It's not even throughout the film, some parts are worse than others. Most of the film is either not affected or just slightly and other parts seem to have a heavy haze. Looking at the x-ray exposed film on the Kodak web site it looks similar to what I experienced.



The more I examine my film the more I'm finding a frame here and there that has the haze. Even in the areas that I thought were unaffected.