What's up everybody. I just found out that I will most likely be going to Indonesia, South Africa and Israel to do some documentary work for my church. We will be shooting on video primarily but I will most definitely be taking 1 or 2 super8 cams along as well.
So I was wondering if there's anything I should worry about as far as travelling with cams. I have an X-ray protective bag for film, but it's not very big. I plan on buying several carts of K40 soon for this project and was wondering since the ASA is so low, would I be at risk if I didn't protect all my film?
Any info/tips you guys can give me would be much appreciated because from what I've read on these boards it sounds like a lot of you have travelled MUCH more than me. Thanks in advance for your input.
My lab told me to ask for a hand inspection of 800 asa films and faster.
People that leave film in their checked bags are getting it back black from the labs. What ever you do DO NOT put film in your checked bagage because security uses a more powerful x-ray for that. With K40 I'm sure you will be fine if you carry it with you.
With 35mm still film, there's usually no problem with film under 800 asa, provided you keep it in your carry on bags (don't put it in your check in luggage!). I have taken roles APX400 through multiple (up to 5) security gates while travelling and have not had any problems with film fogging. In the case of faster film (1600 asa and above), I ask for hand inspection, and have never been refused yet. I take all film out of the boxes and plastic canisters and put them in see-through plastic baggies. Works for me.
I didn't have any problems with the Kodachrome 40 or any 100-400 ASA colour-foto-film in my luggage - the results have been as "not x-rayed". The only reports I've heard about "black films because of the radiation" involved either infrared-, b&w- or highspeed (1000ASA and more)-filmstocks.
But you shouldn't forget to put your film into the middle of your bags to protect them from physical damage ;)
I've not been to any of the countries you mention, but my experience of flying around Europe, transatlantic and flying around the USA are that most film isn't damaged if you're careful.
I've done the following with K40 super 8, K25 35mm, even Ilford Delta 3200 B&W film! And regularly with Fuji 1600 speed 35mm film. I have never noticed any problems.
Put the film in your CARRY ON bag. I cannot stress that enough. Then it only gets zapped once, when you go through the check after airport check-in. If it goes inside your luggage you don't actually know how many times it might get zapped.
In your carry-on, if they are conserned as to what the film is they can ask you then and there rather than zapping it with higher energy x-rays. Don't use a lead lined bag, they'll just get jumpy.
If at all possible have the film processed (or send off for processing) before you make another flight.
Frankly with K40 they'd probablt have to put it through a hospital x-ray machine to do any kind of damage but do be a little careful and you won't have any trouble.
Personal experience...I had four rolls of un-processed K40 go through two US airports and London Gatwick...each airport twice..(ie 6 airports) and all came out perfect. This was in 2002.
The only time I have ever noticed any probs was when my wife put her still camera loaded with 800ASA film in her packed luggage. It went through one a Spanish airport like that, then London Heathrow, Boston, Minneapolis and Boise in the states and two frames were fogged...the frames that were unwound at the time she travelled.
Thank you all for your input so far! I was planning on taking the film in my carry-on bag. When we went to Hawaii last year they made my wife open all 20 rolls of 35mm still picture film.
If they hand-check my carry-on and make me open each of my K40 boxes (which I'm sure they will) I'll be fine. But what if they make me open the foil wrapping? Am I still okay if I just put it right back in the foil package and close the box?
I've never had an airport ask to hand check my film, and that includes the hysterically over-reacting American airports. I'd suspect it is quite rare for them to ask you to open every film canister, unless you tried them in lead lined bags.
You can request a hand inspection, explaining that you have films in your bag. I've not done this myself but everybody who has tells me they are usually polite about it.
Last flight I took I had a huge Kiev 6TL medium format camera in my carry on, complete with the discontinued Konica 3200 colour film...took some nice shots of the approach to Heathrow from the window
I have always asked for hand inspections of all of my gear and in the USA I have had little to no objections or problems. It takes longer but is in some ways easier that the shit that they give you when you are moved through with the rest of the cows. For film like 16/35 I need to have my changing bag with me but I have yet to have anyone ask me to open factory sealed cans.
The place I got the most hassle was Shipol Airport in Amsterdam. They refused my hand inspection even after I presented them with proof that I was a professional shooter and showed that the film was exposed and to large a risk to be zapped. It all worked out but I was pissed.
Thanks in advance for your input.
