Airport Scanners and 120 film...and why not 35mm....

[FujiSigmaNolta]

OK, I am travelling next month and after scouring the Net for some clear and reliable advice on carrying 120 film through airport security it dawned on me simple and distracted mind that I should really ask the people who would really know best, the AP forum folks, it would have saved the time I wasted.

So, how safe is it to get 120 film through airport security? ISO 50-400 and I am possibly going to take some 800 too. I have only ever taken ISO100-200 35mm film with me and I am sure that the cannister protects it well enough from the x-ray machines, but word on the grapevine is that the machines just got stronger (not like in the Matrix or Terminator or Transformers) .

Any advice and tips welcome ( I know I will get some straight answers without any rambling or contradicting stuff that I generally found out there).

CHeers

[parisian]

To my memory it will be the higher ISO film that is more likely to suffer. You can get protective bags for it that may well have the same effect as the metal cassettes of the smaller film.
Very possibly from HERE
Hope this helps and have a good trip.

[apochromatic]

The main thing to remember is never EVER put film in the checked-in 'hold' luggage but to take it as hand luggage. In Europe they will laugh at you if you have the audacity to ask for hand-inspection so don't bother, but in Asia I have always found airport staff quite helpful in this way. In my experience hand-luggage xray is ok with 120 film...but I have never taken 800asa film.

[Benchista]

Must say my knowledge on this subject is pretty much out of date. With the old kit, I wouldn't think twice about two passes through the hand baggage scanner with any film (once out, once in), but I believe the new kit is more powerful. Remember that the effect is cumulative, so the more scans it has, the worse it will be. With some scanners in some countries, the lead bags were not very helpful, as they could simply turn the power up to see through them. If you've only a few rolls of the faster stuff, you might possibly be able to carry it through the metal detector in a pocket.

[Buri_Ram]

The last time I travelled through Heathrow I mentioned that I was carrying film and ws assured that the scanners were OK for films up to 1600asa, if they were faster than that they would hand inspect.

My films are usually scanned four times (I usually have a stop on the way) a trip with no ill effects.

[Mark101]

Personally I'd always ask for a hand inspection, regardless of the claims. They will kick up a fuss, but just claim they are not just going to be holiday snaps but something more important.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Thank you all for your tips, I am sure I got the best advice here. So, I shouldn't really worry too much about it then. It's basically a direct flight to Portugal and I am planning to take maybe 2 rolls of Velvia, 2 of Provia and 1 Pro 800.
Maybe a couple of Sensia rolls for my Zorki too. As for digital,I will take maybe just 1 DSLR and a couple of lenses, I haven't decided.

Thanks a lot guys!

[Garfield]

I've just this weekend been to Dublin via London Stansted and taken film through a scanner for the first time. The BAA website spells it out quite well but there still seems to be mixed views on the subject.

BAA says up to and including ISO400 is fine, anything faster might require prior arrangements being made for checking separately.

Various websites I've read say that most film is fine if it only goes through a couple of times maximum.

A guy in a camera shop in Dublin suggested most film will be fine but that the two rolls of ISO1600 I had could be problematic.

The security staff at Dublin airport didn't want to know - I had all my rolls of film in a separate clear plastic bag for hand inspection but I was told it had to go through no matter what, that everything must be scanned. I've risked two rolls of ISO1600 through and I'll know tomorrow whether they've been affected. I'm hoping not.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Thanks Garfield, have a big bowl of lasagna!

[Leicamoron]

I shoot Fuji Neopan 1600 (35mm format) and travel frequently to Spain (from London Gatwick), with no degradation of negatives.

I also take Fuji Neopan 400 (120 format) with the same lack of evidence of exposure from airport scanning.

Relax, enjoy your trip, shoot film and develop rolls normally upon your return.