X-rayed Film

Pentaxie · 04-19-2010, 09:32 PM

Hello,

I read somewhere that when a film are exposed to x-ray during the inspection at the airport, it will degrade the image of the film. Is this true?
Is there a difference between the x-ray powers for the hand luggage and the check-in luggage?

Airports in Japan do remind passengers that check in film may be fogged by the x ray machine. HK airport x-ray machine do fog my friends' ISo 100 film.

**gofour3** · 04-19-2010, 09:55 PM

Never put your film in checked luggage always put it in your carry-on bags. Try and get
your film hand scanned, if not possible most "modern" airports x-ray machines will be ok for slower ISO films.

Phil.

Pentaxie · 04-19-2010, 10:30 PM

Oh! I see.

You meant to put all the films in the hand carry luggage and used only slow ISO films like thh 50, 100,200.

If I were to carry ISO 400 and 800 films, will these be affected by the x-ray machine?

little laker · 04-19-2010, 11:53 PM

You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get.

Vendee · 04-20-2010, 01:45 AM

Originally posted by little laker

You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get.

The danger is that the machine operator increases the power of the x-rays because he can't see through the bag.

summonbaka · 04-20-2010, 02:28 AM

Is there any go-arouund this? Can you actually tell the guy that youre carrying film without getting in trouble? How about exposed film or developed one?

Ben_Edict · 04-20-2010, 02:35 AM

Originally posted by little laker

You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get.

THat is not safe at all! They simply increase the radiation level, until they can see the contents of the bag.

The bags are useful (to a limited degree, though) to shield the films during the flight from the increased radiation at flight level.

Ben

Ben_Edict · 04-20-2010, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by summonbaka

Is there any go-arouund this? Can you actually tell the guy that youre carrying film without getting in trouble? How about exposed film or developed one?

Developped film is fine and will not degrade. Exposed film is the most sensible to radiation, as it already got sensitized even in the faint shadow areas and thus may show the radiation expsoure the most.

Usually film below ISO400 will not be damaged by x-ray scanners - but you never know, whether the operator has a bad day or the scanner works out of specs, due to poor maintenace etc. Heiman (the biggest manufacturer of these scanners) once realeased an explicit warning about their digital scanners a couple of years ago…

Ofcourse it would be best to get all film with ISO 800 and higher searched by hand - but I also know, that (despite this is officially an option in most countries), at some airports, staff simply refuse to do that. I have experienced that in Spain and the US.

Now, in digital days, I never carry high sensitivity films when air travelling so the problems somewhat vanished.

Ben

jjdgti · 04-20-2010, 12:30 PM

There are some pouch with lead inserts to protect the film. Do not risk any film by going thru the airport X-ray machine. Always demand hand inspection for the film. Keep it handy for this process. It is always better safe than sorry.

See one here:

Delta | Pro Pouch 911 with Leadshield | 20140 | B&H Photo Video

I hope it helps.

Ben_Edict · 04-20-2010, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by jjdgti

There are some pouch with lead inserts to protect the film. Do not risk any film by going thru the airport X-ray machine. Always demand hand inspection for the film. Keep it handy for this process. It is always better safe than sorry.

See one here:

Delta | Pro Pouch 911 with Leadshield | 20140 | B&H Photo Video

I hope it helps.

COMPARE replies 5 and 7.

Ben

**gofour3** · 04-20-2010, 03:49 PM

I agree with Ben & Vendee, the x-ray pouches could do more harm than good. Also they are no good if you use them in checked luggage.

The best thing to do is politely ask for a hand check. Nine times out of ten they will do it if it’s not too busy, allow extra time for this and come early to the airport. To speed things up take the film out of the box & container and put everything in a clear plastic zip lock bag.

Another option is if you are going to a big city, wait and buy your film after you arrive and also have it developed before you leave.

Phil.

song_hm · 04-20-2010, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by gofour3

most "modern" airports x-ray machines will be ok for slower ISO films.Phil.

While that may be the case, keep in mind exposure is cumulative. If you have to fly to several places with those films, additional degradation occur every time you pass through another x-ray machine.

**gofour3** · 04-20-2010, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by song_hm

While that may be the case, keep in mind exposure is cumulative. If you have to fly to several places with those films, additional degradation occur every time you pass through another x-ray machine.

Yes very true, no x-raying is still the preferred choice. However I’ve had 100ASA or slower film scanned over the years with zero effect on the film. (Usually two to four times)

Phil.

goddo31 · 04-20-2010, 08:36 PM

I just recently came back from an international holiday, flying through Aussie and NZ airports.
My film was in hand luggage and would have been scanned a total of 6 times. The film speeds were mostly 100 with a couple of rolls of 400, both B&W and colour.

On development and scanning I haven't been able to notice any issues caused by x-rays, which was a big relief. I started asking for hand inspection at the first scan, but security just told me to put them through the scanner... From then on I either asked if the scan would effect my film (answer was always "no") or saw a sign explicitly saying that photograhic film would be OK...

Still made me nervous but I managed to get away with it.

tootall · 04-20-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by goddo31

From then on I either asked if the scan would effect my film (answer was always "no") or saw a sign explicitly saying that photograhic film would be OK...

In Australia they have been saying that for the last 10 years how the machines have been improved and don't effect film now (don't ask them to see there qualifications on the machine, that just slows the process down

).

04-19-2010, 09:32 PM	#1
Pentaxie Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	X-rayed Film Hello, I read somewhere that when a film are exposed to x-ray during the inspection at the airport, it will degrade the image of the film. Is this true? Is there a difference between the x-ray powers for the hand luggage and the check-in luggage? Airports in Japan do remind passengers that check in film may be fogged by the x ray machine. HK airport x-ray machine do fog my friends' ISo 100 film.

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04-19-2010, 09:55 PM	#2
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Never put your film in checked luggage always put it in your carry-on bags. Try and get your film hand scanned, if not possible most "modern" airports x-ray machines will be ok for slower ISO films. Phil.

04-19-2010, 10:30 PM	#3
Pentaxie Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 429 Original Poster	Oh! I see. You meant to put all the films in the hand carry luggage and used only slow ISO films like thh 50, 100,200. If I were to carry ISO 400 and 800 films, will these be affected by the x-ray machine?

04-19-2010, 11:53 PM	#4
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get.

04-20-2010, 01:45 AM	#5
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by little laker You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get. The danger is that the machine operator increases the power of the x-rays because he can't see through the bag.

04-20-2010, 02:28 AM	#6
summonbaka Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kagoshima, Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 237	Is there any go-arouund this? Can you actually tell the guy that youre carrying film without getting in trouble? How about exposed film or developed one?

04-20-2010, 02:35 AM	#7
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by little laker You can buy x-ray film bags, then your as safe as you can get. THat is not safe at all! They simply increase the radiation level, until they can see the contents of the bag. The bags are useful (to a limited degree, though) to shield the films during the flight from the increased radiation at flight level. Ben

04-20-2010, 02:40 AM	#8
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by summonbaka Is there any go-arouund this? Can you actually tell the guy that youre carrying film without getting in trouble? How about exposed film or developed one? Developped film is fine and will not degrade. Exposed film is the most sensible to radiation, as it already got sensitized even in the faint shadow areas and thus may show the radiation expsoure the most. Usually film below ISO400 will not be damaged by x-ray scanners - but you never know, whether the operator has a bad day or the scanner works out of specs, due to poor maintenace etc. Heiman (the biggest manufacturer of these scanners) once realeased an explicit warning about their digital scanners a couple of years ago… Ofcourse it would be best to get all film with ISO 800 and higher searched by hand - but I also know, that (despite this is officially an option in most countries), at some airports, staff simply refuse to do that. I have experienced that in Spain and the US. Now, in digital days, I never carry high sensitivity films when air travelling so the problems somewhat vanished. Ben

04-20-2010, 12:30 PM	#9
jjdgti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,824	There are some pouch with lead inserts to protect the film. Do not risk any film by going thru the airport X-ray machine. Always demand hand inspection for the film. Keep it handy for this process. It is always better safe than sorry. See one here: Delta \| Pro Pouch 911 with Leadshield \| 20140 \| B&H Photo Video I hope it helps.

04-20-2010, 03:11 PM	#10
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by jjdgti There are some pouch with lead inserts to protect the film. Do not risk any film by going thru the airport X-ray machine. Always demand hand inspection for the film. Keep it handy for this process. It is always better safe than sorry. See one here: Delta \| Pro Pouch 911 with Leadshield \| 20140 \| B&H Photo Video I hope it helps. COMPARE replies 5 and 7. Ben

04-20-2010, 03:49 PM	#11
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	I agree with Ben & Vendee, the x-ray pouches could do more harm than good. Also they are no good if you use them in checked luggage. The best thing to do is politely ask for a hand check. Nine times out of ten they will do it if it’s not too busy, allow extra time for this and come early to the airport. To speed things up take the film out of the box & container and put everything in a clear plastic zip lock bag. Another option is if you are going to a big city, wait and buy your film after you arrive and also have it developed before you leave. Phil.

04-20-2010, 04:31 PM	#12
song_hm Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	Originally posted by gofour3 most "modern" airports x-ray machines will be ok for slower ISO films.Phil. While that may be the case, keep in mind exposure is cumulative. If you have to fly to several places with those films, additional degradation occur every time you pass through another x-ray machine.

04-20-2010, 06:21 PM	#13
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by song_hm While that may be the case, keep in mind exposure is cumulative. If you have to fly to several places with those films, additional degradation occur every time you pass through another x-ray machine. Yes very true, no x-raying is still the preferred choice. However I’ve had 100ASA or slower film scanned over the years with zero effect on the film. (Usually two to four times) Phil.

04-20-2010, 08:36 PM	#14
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	I just recently came back from an international holiday, flying through Aussie and NZ airports. My film was in hand luggage and would have been scanned a total of 6 times. The film speeds were mostly 100 with a couple of rolls of 400, both B&W and colour. On development and scanning I haven't been able to notice any issues caused by x-rays, which was a big relief. I started asking for hand inspection at the first scan, but security just told me to put them through the scanner... From then on I either asked if the scan would effect my film (answer was always "no") or saw a sign explicitly saying that photograhic film would be OK... Still made me nervous but I managed to get away with it.

04-20-2010, 10:14 PM	#15
tootall Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422	Originally posted by goddo31 From then on I either asked if the scan would effect my film (answer was always "no") or saw a sign explicitly saying that photograhic film would be OK... In Australia they have been saying that for the last 10 years how the machines have been improved and don't effect film now (don't ask them to see there qualifications on the machine, that just slows the process down ).