Film damage by airport scanners
TV ClubHouse: GD Archives: Film damage by airport scanners
Willsfan | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 11:40 am     Help! Cruise & travel snag I just found out that when the airport xrays luggage, carry-ons, purses, etc. unprocessed film will be fogged or exposed. Apparently some airports will not hand check the film even if I put the rolls in a mesh bag or a ziplock bag. Rules are rules everything has to be scanned. I will going through Tulsa International and New Orleans on my way back home. I have a digital camera but didn't want to take it too. Someone said the scanners even damage the memory chips. This is my first, and probably only time I will be going on a cruise to Jamacia and the Cayman Islands. This is such a disappointment I can't even express it. I wonder if you can just buy film on the ship or what? I hope someone here has some experience or knows what to do. |
Kaili | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:56 pm     My film hasn't been damaged- I've seen the signs at the airport and decided to risk it anyway- no problems at all. My mom has travelled with her digital camera with no problems as well. Or stick it in your checked luggage. Mine was fine in there too. If you don't want to risk it, I'm sure you can buy film on the cruise. Then you would still face the problem of damage to your undeveloped film unless you develoiped it on the cruise as well. I say don't worry about it- ask them to hand check it if you want, but I wouldn't worry. My cousin just got back from a trip and her film was fine too. |
Max | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 04:51 pm     Opinions vary on this topic, but if you want to be sure, buy one of these xray film bags to protect the film. I only take digital pictures anymore, so I don't have to worry about it. Oh, and checked luggage gets xrayed now, too! |
Willsfan | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 09:22 pm     Thanks for the input. I'm doing research some online research because almost everyone I've talked with has had streaky photographs because of airport scanners and one had his brand new Kodak digital camera fried. (the circuit board) The carry-ons that are xrayed are not as intense as the other scanned luggage cause sometimes they run the same bags through the scanner several times. We don't see this process so we never know exactly what they do. I'm glad a friend told me this otherwise if all my developed film had turned out bad I would have blamed the camera intead of Airport Security. I might just take a chance with a couple of rolls in a carry-on bag or in my purse. But, my digital is staying home. I love it too much to take a chance. |
Grooch | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 09:28 pm     Willsfan, you can definitely buy film on the cruise. (At greatly inflated profits, though.) If you are worried, this might be a good thing to do, as it would only be scanned once (when you get back) instead of twice. I bet there is probably even a place to get it developed on the boat also. |
Juju2bigdog | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 10:33 pm     Willsfan, I have never worried about film, never had any ruined, and I often travel with a camera. How about this? Have your taxi run you by a drugstore or grocery store on the way to the ship. Buy some film then. Better yet, invite a tvch member who lives in your departure city to a bon voyage drink on the ship before it sails. Have them bring you some film. LOL. |
Lyn | Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 12:05 am     Son is on a trip right now and the airport here checked both the digital camera and laptop to make sure that they were working. If anything like that doesn't work, they can't go on the plane (Tech difficulties could be caused by bombs and hidden weapons) P.S. Neither were x-rayed |
Schoolmarm | Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 01:42 am     DON'T PUT FILM IN CHECKED BAGS! sorry for shouting! The new xrays for checked bags are much stronger than the carry on bag scanners. They had signs up all over Pittsburgh International about putting the film in your carry on. I just bought a new digital camera and it will go in my purse or on top of my laptop when I return. I have never had film or cameras ruined by a scanner, and I fly fairly frequently. I use a lead bag if I'm carrying lots of photography stuff. Sometimes my laptop is checked with a special wand, and sometimes not. Always make sure you have enough battery or your power cord to plug it in if you need to turn it on. I'm wondering how flying back from Munich will be. You can always put your digital camera in the bucket with yours change, keys and cell phone so it won't be xrayed! Bon voyage! And enjoy Jamaica...if you have a chance climb the falls at Ocho Rios! |
Willsfan | Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 03:33 pm     Thanks for all the advise, I really appreciate it. One thing is a possiblity - I can buy film onboard and have it processed there. Probably pricey but I really prefer my own photographs as to buying postcards in each port. I may try putting a couple of rolls in see-through cannisters and drop those in the keys|change basket - it might work. |
Draheid | Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 04:07 pm     Willsfan, a thought occured to me that might work for you for the return home. Why not take a prepaid self-addressed mailer, place your exposed film inside and drop it into a mail slot prior to your return flight. It should only take a couple of days to arrive and should be safe at the same time. You might even spend a little extra and use Express Mail. Hope that helps. |
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