Travelling Internationally...precautions???

[Nigel]

Hard to believe huh....

Good Luck

[onsuper8]

I had a load of K40 go through a former (presumably) Russian x-ray machine at Havana Airport in Cuba and it caused no harm at all. I wasn't gonna argue with the guys with guns!

[ccortez]

Protect your camera and films against heat and humidity in Indonesia, fungus can form quickly inside the lens in tropical countries.

I recommend a dessicant like silica gel. Buy some of these from your local camera store and put one in each camera bag to whisk moisture away from the camera body and lens.

EDIT: I guess I should read the whole thread before duplicating somebody else's good advice... :oops: Well, consider it doubly recommended. ;)

[jean]

Don't bring cameras like the fujica ZC1000 or that bolex super8, you know which I mean, just don't remember it's name, without knowing someonethat can get you out of guantanamo.

[Evan Kubota]

I'm currently in Japan after spending a week or two in Hawaii. I hate air travel in general, but I brought 6 carts of K40 as well as my Nikon R10 to get some location shots for my current project. I second the statements about keeping film in your carryon - especially in Japan, they do X-ray every piece of checked luggage, presumably with more powerful machines than for carryons. I've asked for hand inspections at each airport I've passed through (at least 7 by now, since I made several interisland flights in Hawaii). Once I forgot to have some exposed carts and the one currently in the camera inspected, so they went through the machine. I don't anticipate a problem, but I'll try to avoid putting it through the machine as much as possible. Will report back when I receive the processed footage (in about 2-3 weeks).

[sooper8fan]

Evan Kunota wrote:

Will report back when I receive the processed footage (in about 2-3 weeks).

Thanks Evan, I'm looking forward to hearing about your results.
It sounds like I'm going to be okay as long as I have them hand-check the film.
One question still....if they ask to open the foil wrapping as well, I should still be okay, right? I'm just not sure how long one should keep an unused cart out of the foil. Thanks!

[Son of Baboushka Lady]

»But Sir, my Bolex Instaprojector is not loaded with C-4 explosives!«

Here's my recent brush with airport security and 8mm. I passed through Berlin-Schönefeld a few weeks ago with cameras and a "new" instaprojektor (tv-style projektor), and 2 rolls of exposed K40 plus some developed ditto. All as carry on, naturally. My girlfriend carried my bag through and I had the Bolex Instaprojection. As my bag was filled with all the stuff mentioned plus a lot more, the security guys couldn't see clerarly so all had to be emptied out and run through again. At that time they also decided that the Instaprojector was a possible hassard, so I was taken aside, leaving my girlfrind to explain what was in a sealed package, that I was bringing home for a friend ... which none of us actually knew the contents of. (Stupid, stupid, not knowing what you a carrying, we learned. It was - in fact - a studio microphone, the hand inspection revealed) Cut to the other room where I tried a bit of semi-nervous-charm, like "Ohne, no only, eine film-apparat. Eine projektor. Kein problem". Only one of the two seemed friendly, which I guess has to do with standart good-cop-bad-cop methods, apparently gaining wideespread application. To my amasement one of the guys then started to clean the projector with a dry cloth. »WHAT NOW?«, I thought. The other guy then placed the little dustfilled cloth on a metal plate, and released a big robot-like arm, and swiped the cloth carefully. After analysing the results (no explosives-residue anywhere, thank god) I was released with the apparatus, and we made our plane, with me feeling a bit dizzy.

Regards
Thomas

PS. The K40s reels turned out a-okay.
PPS. I really love that stylish instaprojector. Recomended, even without sound capability and with speeds only going up to 24 fps.

[Son of Baboushka Lady]

BTW, In march, I bought a roll of "DO NOT X-RAY"-tape (black on bright yellow) ca. 2,5 c, wide, mostly because I kinda collect tape with print etc. BUT I'm guessing using it on your clear plastic-bag you submit to handinpection, might help you look »pro«, as opposed to »over nervous tourist«, thus increasing the chance of your film going around the nasty cat-scanner from hell.
I bourght it at the mega big photo place in N.Y.C, called B&H, or something. (A pretty cheap place for lighting stuff, 35mm and digi etc, BTW. Didn't have the time for the long used-que that might / might not lead to big-apple super 8 bargains.

[Evan Kubota]

My film came out fine. I'll put some samples up later. There were sporadic blue flashes towards the right side of the frame, but I understand these are due to the cart design and not x-ray exposure.

[sooper8fan]

Son of Baboushka Lady wrote:

BTW, In march, I bought a roll of "DO NOT X-RAY"-tape (black on bright yellow)

I actually made some of my own that I stick on my package when I'm sending film to be processed. The guy at the post office was pretty impressed and thought it was a good idea. Maybe I'll do that on my trip, however, something from B&H Photo might look a little more "legit". Kodak's website also has a downloadable "DO NOT X-RAY" label of some sort for free.

Evan Kubota wrote:

My film came out fine. I'll put some samples up later.

Cool! I'm glad you remembered about this thread. Thanks Evan! Looking forward to it.

[Macnessa]

I just got back from a trip to the East Coast, and took about 15 carts of K40 in my luggage--I've since received the film back processed and it was perfect.

The problem I have is taking my little Konica 8 in my carryon--they always pull me aside because apparently it looks like a gun. Then I have to explain exactly what the difference between a 8mm film camera and a video camera. (They always look fascinated).