06-24-2010, 01:57 PM
Luggage scanners are very powerful so it is likely that if film passed through these scanners it is ruined.
Most airports will claim iso up to 1600 is ok for the scanner used at the terminal but I always have my film hand checked regardless of iso. There have been a few complaints that even low iso film will be damaged. I believe the issue is that it is additive so if you are scanned many times the film is more likely to suffer.
What I do is take the film out of boxes and put it into a plastic bag when I pack and then request hand check (the plastic bag thing is to make it easy on the checkers). In USA they are require to hand check if requested - though they will insist that low speed film can be scanned and once in a while put up some resistance but only one airport has actually refused to hand check; the few times I traveled over seas (Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, ...) I've not had any issues and in fact they were generally less of a hassle (no resistance whatsoever).
[quote name='ThomasD' date='24 June 2010 - 12:20 PM' timestamp='1277378441' post='667']
Hi,
I got myself a second-hand Nikkor 50/1.2 and an FG-20, which is great fun to use. The lens is so fast and so small and lightweight and the viewfinder is so large and so bright. I love it.
Now, some years have passed since I used film, so my question is:
If I take unexposed or undeveloped film on vacation via airplane, does the film have to bypass the X-ray scanners or is it safe to have it in the luggage?
Thanks,
Thomas
[/quote]
Most airports will claim iso up to 1600 is ok for the scanner used at the terminal but I always have my film hand checked regardless of iso. There have been a few complaints that even low iso film will be damaged. I believe the issue is that it is additive so if you are scanned many times the film is more likely to suffer.
What I do is take the film out of boxes and put it into a plastic bag when I pack and then request hand check (the plastic bag thing is to make it easy on the checkers). In USA they are require to hand check if requested - though they will insist that low speed film can be scanned and once in a while put up some resistance but only one airport has actually refused to hand check; the few times I traveled over seas (Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, ...) I've not had any issues and in fact they were generally less of a hassle (no resistance whatsoever).
[quote name='ThomasD' date='24 June 2010 - 12:20 PM' timestamp='1277378441' post='667']
Hi,
I got myself a second-hand Nikkor 50/1.2 and an FG-20, which is great fun to use. The lens is so fast and so small and lightweight and the viewfinder is so large and so bright. I love it.
Now, some years have passed since I used film, so my question is:
If I take unexposed or undeveloped film on vacation via airplane, does the film have to bypass the X-ray scanners or is it safe to have it in the luggage?
Thanks,
Thomas
[/quote]