No, the lead lined bags are not good enough any longer for
checked luggage. Many airports (and they won't say which) are now
equipped with much more powerful X-Rays than they used to use. They WILL
damage film, especially high speed film. The only safe way to take
unprocessed film by air is in personal carry-on bags, where they will be
hand inspected. If you can, depending on your schedules, you are probably
safest with locally purchased and processed film, if staying a few days
in or near a major urban center. The processing is probably no more
unreliable than what you have at home. "Perfection eludes
us". <G>
Hersch
At 10:15 AM 11/21/2001, you wrote:
Jack,
Well you can get "lead" lined bags and put the film in the
checked luggage.
But I am afraid today that might cause them to open the luggage.
I haven't flown since this mess started, but I have been told in the
past
that one or two passes through the scanners shouldn't hurt with low
speed
film. It is the cumulative effect of many passes that causes the
problem.
Jack, I hope your film is OK, please let us know.
John in OKC
Original Message -----
From: "Jack Phipps" <JPhipps@asf.com>
To: <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 10:40 AM
Subject: RE: filmscanners: X-ray scanners/etc
| I just got back from NYC in early November. They would not let me have
my
| film hand inspected. I begged, pleaded and threatened. The only time
I
could
| get it hand inspected was at La Guardia. I had about 15 rolls out of
boxes
| in a zip lock. The took each canister out and swabbed it, about
1-2
minutes
| for each. Thirty minutes later, I left with my film. My film went
through
| three different x-ray machines. When I changed planes in Kansas City,
I
had
| to go through security again.
|
| It is a real nightmare traveling with film through airports. I was told
to
| put my film in my checked luggage because it wasn't x-rayed.
However,
| sometimes it is and when it is it really gets zapped!
|
| They seem to think that film over 1000 needs special attention as well
as
| medical and professional film (I pointed out that the film was
professional,
| but they ignored me). You might try getting some 1600 film and putting
it
in
| with your other film or somehow document that the film is
| professional/medical/special.
|
| I hope your experience is better than mine.
|
| Jack
|
| -----Original Message-----
| From: JackG
[mailto:jackg@poboxes.com]
| Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 9:49 AM
| To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
| Subject: filmscanners: X-ray scanners/etc
|
|
| I have been notified by my Professional lab and the Professional
| Photographers of America not to send processed or unprocessed film
through
| the US mail due to the new equipment they are using.
|
| Its is best to have all film, "hand inspected". rather than
go through the
| machines. I understand now that it is best to have it out of the
plastic
| containers and in a clear "Ziploc" bag so they can see
it.
|
| It kind of makes you wonder what it is doing to our bodies. :)
|
| John in OKC
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: "Rob Geraghty" <harper@wordweb.com>
| To: <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
| Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 7:45 AM
| Subject: Re: filmscanners: Color Negative Film Poll
|
|
| | > > I'm leaving for my vacation soon, and although I'd like to
evaluate
my
| | > > camera equipment against various films, film processing and
digital
| | > > post-processing, there's really no time.
| |
| | Something else comes to mind - given the current paranoia in the
world,
| you
| | probably want to try to process the film in situ if you have to
go
through
| | baggage checks. High speed film especially may suffer if the
X-ray
| scanners
| | are pumped up as high as they can go. Carry the film in hand
luggage -
I
| | think we dicussed this on the list before?
| |
| | Rob
| |
| |
