Traveling by Air In July: How should I handle LF Film? [Archive]

Peter Lewin

20-May-2022, 15:15

I put the film in a ziplock bag, and ask for hand inspection when I go through the TSA check. I just returned from flights where I had the hand inspections done in Austin TX, Newark NJ, and Toronto, Canada, and had no problems. My backpack with the camera is always pulled out from the scanner, and I have to explain to TSA what it is. The shape of both my collapsed Canham 4x5 or my Rollei 6006 are unusual enough not to be recognized during the scans. As for 4x5 boxes, I typically put the exposed sheets back in the Ilford box under the "envelope" containing the unexposed sheets.

xkaes

20-May-2022, 15:23

I always put my film in X-RAY proof film bags -- lead lined and pretty cheap -- just in case.

I always ASK for a hand inspection.

Chances are the TSA agent will not know "what you got", but if you have any problems ask for a supervisor. There are TSA regulation sheets -- on-line -- regarding film, that you can download and bring with you to show to whoever you run across.

You probably won't have a problem, but it's better to be safe than sorry. You do not want to be in a position where they want to X-ray the box or open it up.

I've been forced to open a single 35mm film canister. It ruined the IR film, of course. Funny thing is they never asked me to open the camera, which held the same thing.

jnantz

20-May-2022, 15:42

good luck drew! I did hand inspect within the states before the pandemic and the young TSA guy didn't even know what film was.
some suggest shipping film to your destination and shipping it back so you don't have to deal... not sure it is an option but might be something to think about
I also had someone freak when a camera went through XRAY they thought it was some sort of device, until I opened it ... then it was OK. same thing happened
to friends with a small tripod for a polaroid camera and one of those answering machine beep in the phone things back in the day so who knows
it's been suggested ( photo engineer over on photrio ) that having the film in a plane in sky is more radiation than the X-ray machines in case you were wondering ..

have a nice trip!

xkaes

20-May-2022, 15:49

it's been suggested ( photo engineer over on photrio ) that having the film in a plane in sky is more radiation than the X-ray machines in case you were wondering ..

have a nice trip!

More Internet "confusion". It depends on what the radiation level is set on the TSA machine. They can set it LOW or HIGH. And it depends on the ISO of the film.

If you mail film it gets "shipped" on an airplane that is exposed to the same radiation in the sky. Don't bother shipping it. TSA can always X-RAY it if it is shipped.

Just DON'T get it X-RAYed by TSA. Ask for hand inspection -- as required when requested by TSA rules. Just bring a copy of the rules -- and show up 1/2 hour early, just in case.

jnantz

20-May-2022, 16:03

More Internet "confusion". If you mail film it gets "shipped" on an airplane that is exposed to the same radiation in the sky. Don't bother shipping it.

Just DON'T get it X-RAYed by TSA. Ask for hand inspection -- as required when requested by TSA rules. Just bring a copy of the rules -- and show up 1/2 hour early, just in case.

not really internet confusion.

sometimes you get TSA people who have no idea what they are looking at and they ruin film, at least if it is shipped, it ONLY gets radiation from the sky (it won't be opened and ruined by TSA). how does it get ruined by the TSA? Sometimes they don't listen when you say "it's light sensitive film and has to be opened in complete darkness" they just open and ruin it. no fun, money wasted and time wasted shooting it, but it's a good "internet rant". At least if it is shipped it ONLY gets bombarded with atmospheric radiation and not opened and ruined through human error or hubris ... not saying all TSA people will wreck the film, but you never know which person you will get, it might be the hobby photographer who says "is that a Hasselhoff you are using" or the person who I got who said "WTF is film"...

Drew, a strategy I hear works is take a box of film and make sure it is taped shut(clear tape!), and when you return put the exposed film back in the box and tape it shut(clear tape!) so it looks unopened. some used to say if it is taped shut they won't ask for it to be opened to search the unexposed / exposed film ,
good luck!
YMMVFTSITW

abruzzi

20-May-2022, 17:03

xkaes

20-May-2022, 17:33

not really internet confusion.

One minute you write "having the film in a plane in sky is more radiation than the X-ray machines in case you were wondering .."

Then you write, "at least if it is shipped, it ONLY gets radiation from the sky".

Confusing? Contradictory? It can't be both. But it is.

jnantz

20-May-2022, 19:10

One minute you write "having the film in a plane in sky is more radiation than the X-ray machines in case you were wondering .."

Then you write, "at least if it is shipped, it ONLY gets radiation from the sky".

Confusing? Contradictory? It can't be both. But it is.

Sorry for the confusion..
Yes I suggested when shipped it’s ONLY radiation from the sky and not the potential of boxes opened by TSA agents …hope that makes sense…. I suggested that it doesn’t matter about the airport scanners cause they supposedly don’t bother anything but high speed film, but pointed out that human error / hubris can potentially bother all film.. I’ve never had a FEDEX, UPS, or USPS agent open / inspect film or paper like my luggage :). I guess there is always a first ( hope not ! ). People go on and on ( or used to at least ) about the scanners zapping film but forget ( and photo engineer reminded us ) that there is more radiation from traveling in the sardine can in the sky than the scanners …. Hope that makes more sense….( sorry if it still makes no sense ). I haven't travelled with film in about 6 years, the last time I did it was from Boston to Zurich or maybe it was Frankfort ( I can't remember I got really sick and the trip is kind of a blur ) do remember I didn't have film issues though :)

Duolab123

20-May-2022, 19:28

Fedex. B&H will send it by Fedex to your destination for free. Then send it back home. Of course this is assuming you have a place to load holders.

Travel by air used to be fun.

BrianShaw

20-May-2022, 19:55

Travel photography used to be fun too… in the good old days.

Drew Wiley

20-May-2022, 20:50

I certainly don't trust Fedex entirely. I've never had a problem with Airport Xrays concerning film; just left it in the carry-on and sent it through. No fog even on 400 speed film after multiple X-Rays, even densitometer tested. But the last time I asked for "hand inspection" it just made them suspicious. They took all my lenses out, popped the caps to look through each of them, fiddled with my 4x5 and light meter; never again - darn near missed my flight. Next time we fly I'll probably ask well in advance what kind of machines are in use. Meanwhile, please share your own experiences or potential nightmares with these newer machines.

fiddle

20-May-2022, 22:27

Last time I flew with sheet film, about a year ago, I had it shipped ups to a UPS location near the airport, picked up, shot, then had it shipped back home when I returned. I actually shipped my loaded holders, didn't feel like taking a light tent with me.

Tin Can

21-May-2022, 02:26

Agree...Ship it All

I want my hands free whenever in a crowd...

I have shipped stuff to myself for 20 years

USPS won't pack, but they have General Delivery with 2 week hold for pickup. ID required

FedEx stores do lousy packing, but you can DIY pack inside the store with their supplies

I have shipped broken cars home twice in 20 years, left keys in an envelope with instructions at my Hotel front desk

I ship gear to Racetracks, everybody does!

Sometimes we bought an airplane seat for gear

Last time I flew with sheet film, about a year ago, I had it shipped ups to a UPS location near the airport, picked up, shot, then had it shipped back home when I returned. I actually shipped my loaded holders, didn't feel like taking a light tent with me.

profvandegraf

21-May-2022, 06:34

Just came back from a two week trip. We shipped my film and some extra clothes and hiking boots. I carried on my camera bag and small suitcase with the rest of my clothes. Alas I was only traveling with a Canon 5ds, EOS 1n and a Yashica Mat 124. Left my bigger toys at home on this trip.

bmikiten

21-May-2022, 07:22

I just got back from a Texas to Kauai trip and 5 inspections. Here is what I found:

1) I should have carried the film in the original, unsealed boxes and loaded on-site (hotel, airbnb, etc). They don't care about the factory sealed boxes.
2) I carried 10 B/W holders and 5 color holders. They inspected every single one of them. I could have checked them and save myself and others behind me lots of time.
3) I used an F-64 backpack which worked very well (4 lenses, 4x5, etc) and they didn't care at all about that as it went through X-Ray.
4) If you try to explain that the film holders shouldn't be opened, they will "extra-inspect" them. Each of my holders was removed from the bags (f-64 5 holder bags) and tested with the swabs.
5) If they tell you that the x-ray is safe for anything under 800ASA, tell them you are shooting 3200 ASA film. I had one guy in San Diego who actually shot 4x5 and told the co-worker it was all film but she inspected every holder anyway.

Get there early and let people behind you know you are going to be a problem. I purchased a seat for the camera equipment (tripod, F-64 case) and that was even more confusing for the airlines. I thought it would help but it caused more delays as they tried to figure out why I did that as the bag fit overhead. The last time I shipped my 4x5 in a pelican case I ended up with a very scratched case and a broken $300 focussing screen.

Hope that helps

Bernard_L

21-May-2022, 10:41

Drew Bedo

21-May-2022, 12:07

Haven't flown with my gear in a few years now. Will fly from Houston to Denver in one hop and return in July.

What is new? How should I handle my film?

I will be using T-Max 100, Tri-X 320 and Ektachrome 100.

abruzzi

21-May-2022, 13:26

How certain is the statement that film sent as a parcel (as opposed to luggage) will not be subjected to CT?
I'm interested by actual experience, not internet lore. Especially private-to-private mailing; parcels from stores might have relaxed rules.

Most of us buy film that is shipped to us, so that would suggest that regular, in country parcel carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) are probably safe. I’ve never bought film internationally, but some in the US have bought from Fotoimpex. I don’t know their experience.

abruzzi

21-May-2022, 13:27

Isn’t this question also in the location/travel section?

letchhausen

21-May-2022, 14:16

the big issues at the moments seems to be that old school xray machines are being replaced by CT scanners at certain locations. The old carry-on xray machines weren't a problem, I even flew ISO 1600 film that wasn't affected. I've never encountered the new machines but the word is that even a single scan can cause issues. Kodak has officially warned about them:

https://petapixel.com/2020/01/27/kodak-warns-users-new-ct-scanners-at-airports-will-ruin-your-film/

For years I've just let my film (Porta 160 and Trix 320 in 4x5 and Portra 800 and Trix 400 in 120) go through the scanners in my bags. My film holders go under the plane with my tripod and everything else. I've never had a problem. But with the new scanners, I am getting worried. I flew back from Detroit in April and noticed that the line I got in had the old scanners, but the line to the right of that had the new ones (different machine and different rules for what had to come out.) I guess I'll be taking new boxes of film and asking for hand check from now on. And all of this for an organization with a 95% failure rate for detecting threats.

Drew Bedo

21-May-2022, 14:54

So hand inspection not the carry-on bag X-Ray then?

Well OK, but I am a bit nervous about that.

Back in 2011 we made the same trip. In Houston I asked for hand inspection of a fifty sheet box of Tri-X. We talked about it for a minute. I described the inside packaging and the sensitivity of the film. A TSA agent took it away and brought it back in five minutes or so. The factory seals were broken. When I loaded film holders a day or so later, I found that the inside pouches had been opened. I shot a few but not many. When they were processed, one edge had been exposed black for about an inch and the images were partially fogged.

That was a week or so after we got back and four weeks after the inspection, so not much recourse.

Drew Bedo

21-May-2022, 15:20

Having worked for a firm that made radiation sources for industrial uses, I understand about background radiation at 35,000 feet, and from the thorium-sand beaches in faraway places. If high levels of background radiation keeps you awake at night, do not stand in the rotunda of the capitol building in Austin Texas. . .its the granite.

Its the TSA I am worried about. Will be traveling with family, so I will just try the hand inspection rout rather than adding the complications of shipping.

The bulk of my kit will fly in a Pelican 1520 hard case that used to fit in the overhead. Hope it still does.

letchhausen

21-May-2022, 15:23

I suppose you could ask if those are the new CT scanners they have and if so, ask them for a hand check. Generally, a hand check is usually an agent swabbing right there in front of you. A long time ago I let them open the box, but told them they could not open the packages. Someone came over and said if the factory seals were in place then it was fine. Sadly, there is no consistency with TSA. I experience all sorts of differences of what happens depending on airport and even the people running things that day. If they get backed up at SeaTac I've seen them forego separating out electronics and shoes to get people moving more quickly. Some airports don't care about my Hasselblad or 4x5 because they're not electronic, but some do. Because of lenses and such my luggage almost always get pulled out for a swab down.

I use a ThinkTank roller bag for my equipment. My clothing and such goes under the plane with my tripod and such.

profvandegraf

21-May-2022, 20:00

Funny thing when traveling home from LA my camera bag sailed right through, but my carry on back pack got flagged for....chocolate bars.
Go figure. Something about the shape and density maybe?

LabRat

21-May-2022, 20:50

Those lead lined bags are a big reason for them to open your non carry-on luggage...

Carry on, and let them scan the film... Easiest path of least resistance for them... I have seen more film damage from drying out on very long flights due to very low humidity while in transit... If still worried, ship film separately before/after...

Steve K

Bernard_L

22-May-2022, 00:46

Most of us buy film that is shipped to us, so that would suggest that regular, in country parcel carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) are probably safe. I’ve never bought film internationally, but some in the US have bought from Fotoimpex. I don’t know their experience.
Agree, but I would welcome information specifically concerning:

Especially private-to-private mailing; parcels from stores might have relaxed rules.
And, in the CT era. Here in Yur'p trucks are occasionally CT'ed.

227449

Corran

22-May-2022, 08:24

Just ask for a hand check and allow a few extra minutes to get to your flight...

Joshua Dunn

22-May-2022, 10:54

Corran is correct about asking for a hand check. However TSA (typically) will only do a hand inspection of factory sealed boxes. I don't take loaded film holders when I fly and only take factory sealed boxes of film. I ask for them to be hand inspected and then load the holders when I get to where I am traveling. When I am ready to return I FedEx the holders and film home before I fly. That way the film is never run through an X-Ray machine. They say it will have no effect on modern emulsions but I'd rather not risk it.

-Joshua

Drew Bedo

22-May-2022, 17:51

Hand Check: Sounds as though that is the best option. Shipping the film would just complicate a shortish family vacation.

Factory sealed: Coming back I'll have forty sheets of unprocessed, exposed film. What is the best way to handle that?

Oren Grad

22-May-2022, 18:24

Merged

22-May-2022, 18:35

If you take your film factory sealed and perhaps hand inspected and empty film holders, just ship it all back. USPS has flat rate boxes (like the ebay sellers often use) at the post office and you can pad your film holders and film in dirty laundry and box it up and send it home. Many hotels that have conference centers also have UPS stores or USPS stores for the conference people to ship all their conference and trade show stuff in and out. In any case it's probably cheaper than checked bags in the belly of the plane.

nitroplait

22-May-2022, 23:05

There is really a lot of speculation on this subject, understandably.
Hasn't anyone done more structured testing? Maybe there are too many variables to be valuable in but a very few situations?

My wife will be going to Japan soon with a flight change in Paris. I'll ask her if she mind carrying an exposed HP5+ film in checked luggage and one in her hand luggage - and develop against a reference roll when she returns.

That is a trip I take regularly and it would be interesting for me to see the actual effect.
In the past I have just bought film in Japan and allowed the usual hand luggage X-ray on the way home - and have not had problems from Narita and Haneda.
These days film is not as easy to come by in Japan as it used to be, so if no visible effect from an extra x-ray scan, I'd probably bring film from home and save on film-shopping-time.

Drew Bedo

23-May-2022, 04:28

Arne Croell

24-May-2022, 14:30

Wrt the carry-on CT scanners: I encountered one already in 2019 in Amsterdam Airport, a "ClearScan" by L3Harris. Expecting this, I had prepared two 120 rolls of TMY-2 that were unexposed in the first few frames plus several exposures of Zones I, II, III. I sent one through the CT scanner (right hand set), and got a hand inspection for the other one in addition to my regular exposed rolls (left hand set). The result is below, one trip through the scanner produced an uneven density in excess of 0.5, which would make any real image unusable. Below is also a set of images of the most common machines (as of 2019) that I assembled - know your enemies! We have the Smiths one now here in Huntsville, AL.

nitroplait

25-May-2022, 00:42

nitroplait

25-May-2022, 01:00

So, what about coming back with exposed film in the now unsealed boxes?

Anyone . . .?

I wouldn't trust that factory sealed film would get less attention as a rule, after all, you can just re-seal roll film boxes with a glue-stick. Foma and Ilford sheet film boxes are just sealed with a label in one end and clear tape in the other - if you only open the clear tape end, you can use the label end as a hinge without breaking it and re-seal the clear tape end.

I am sure some smart security person would know that a factory seal has little meaning security wise.

25-May-2022, 10:46

letchhausen

25-May-2022, 14:56

So, what about coming back with exposed film in the now unsealed boxes?

Anyone . . .?

With hand check they might open one of the packages since they can tell you've resealed them. So, send it back. On my trips my final day will include a trip to the post office to send my film off for processing. That's color neg. But for B&W and any left over film, I'll likely just start sending it back to myself. With the new scanners why take any chances? I just got some color neg back that at first blush, I thought might be underexposed. Now I'm wondering if it was fogged. In any event, safer in the mail.

nitroplait

25-May-2022, 15:06

No film ever goes in checked luggage.

For this experiment, obviously it did.
I have only heard statements like yours often repeated, but never seen the results.

Fred L

25-May-2022, 20:34

It's been a few years since I've flown with film, but when I've asked for hand inspection, they just swab the exterior and lip of the Ziplock I keep the film in. Their concern would be any residue left on the baggie, which will set off the alarm. Which mine did, but can't remember why. This sent me for the up close and personal choice of full body scan or a pat down. I went for the buy me dinner first pat down since the body scans were new and people were rightly concerned, at the time. Usually I just let the film sail through the machine. But with the new technology, I'd ask for the hand inspection.

Arne Croell

26-May-2022, 06:19

For this experiment, obviously it did.
I have only heard statements like yours often repeated, but never seen the results.

I am not sure if you are referring to my post above (#35), but that was NOT checked luggage, that was carry-on with one of the new CT scanners. I would expect checked luggage CT scanners to have a similar effect.

Dave Sh

26-Jun-2022, 11:55

I recently returned from a family trip to France (June, 2022). I took four sheets of Ilford FP4+ in 4x5 (3 exposed, 1 unexposed) and ran a 'scanner fogging test' on our return flights. All four sheets were in a TMAX-100 nested box and bagged in the Ilford bag within the nested boxes. Outbound, both flights were US in origin, only went through security once - TSA readily accepted a hand check request. Return flights; Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Heathrow - went through security at each airport.

At CDG, there was no way they were going to do a hand inspection - at least that was the impression they gave me when I asked if they'd hand-inspect the disposable camera my daughter had taken on the trip. Granted, I'm not fluent in French, but I did give an honest effort to make the request in French. At Heathrow, had I pressed, they seemed like they would have done a hand inspection. One of the inspectors at Heathrow even went to a supervisor to ask what film speed was safe to run through the scanner - he was told 800 and below. I'm not up to speed on the scanner technology, but these appeared to be a newer variety, presuming they were CT scanners at both airports.

I've developed and scanned two of the negatives; the blank/unexposed negative and the one attached. I can't see any discernible fogging/impact on the negative that would leave me to believe it was a result of being run through the scanners. The unexposed sheet looks consistency black, albeit with what looks like some dust and residual water marks during drying. Note to self; do a better job at removing the water when hanging the negatives up to dry.

228568

nitroplait

5-Sep-2022, 02:41

I am not sure if you are referring to my post above (#35), but that was NOT checked luggage, that was carry-on with one of the new CT scanners. I would expect checked luggage CT scanners to have a similar effect.
No - my comment was directed at JP. It is often repeated that checked luggage scanners are particularly bad, but I have never seen any evidence that it should be worse.

For my wife's trip to Japan in June I did the following experiment:

Exposed every second frame on a 35mm roll of HP5+ and cut it in 3.
I distributed the strips into 3 regular metal film cassettes.
Put one in her checked luggage, one in her carry-on bag and kept the reference strip at home.

Her journey was as follows:
Copenhagen -> Paris, De Gaulle -> Tokyo, Narita
After a layover: Tokyo, Haneda -> Komatsu
Return:
Komatsu -> Tokyo, Haneda
after a layover: Tokyo, Narita -> Paris, De Gaulle -> Copenhagen.

The hand luggage was xray'd prior to all flights: Copenhagen, De Gaulle, Haneda, Komatsu, Narita, De Gaulle (6 times)

I don't know if checked luggage is xray'd on all legs of a flight, or if scanning for a connecting flight is omitted. In any case I would expect the checked luggage was scanned min. 4 times.

I developed the 3 strips together upon return and there were absolutely no visible signs of fogging on any of them.

It is certainly very likely that no bag, checked or hand-luggage, went through a CT scanner, but in this scenario there were no evidence that checked luggage was exposed to stronger radiation than carry-on.

Duolab123

6-Sep-2022, 19:16

No - my comment was directed at JP. It is often repeated that checked luggage scanners are particularly bad, but I have never seen any evidence that it should be worse.

For my wife's trip to Japan in June I did the following experiment:

Exposed every second frame on a 35mm roll of HP5+ and cut it in 3.
I distributed the strips into 3 regular metal film cassettes.
Put one in her checked luggage, one in her carry-on bag and kept the reference strip at home.

Her journey was as follows:
Copenhagen -> Paris, De Gaulle -> Tokyo, Narita
After a layover: Tokyo, Haneda -> Komatsu
Return:
Komatsu -> Tokyo, Haneda
after a layover: Tokyo, Narita -> Paris, De Gaulle -> Copenhagen.

The hand luggage was xray'd prior to all flights: Copenhagen, De Gaulle, Haneda, Komatsu, Narita, De Gaulle (6 times)

I don't know if checked luggage is xray'd on all legs of a flight, or if scanning for a connecting flight is omitted. In any case I would expect the checked luggage was scanned min. 4 times.

I developed the 3 strips together upon return and there were absolutely no visible signs of fogging on any of them.

It is certainly very likely that no bag, checked or hand-luggage, went through a CT scanner, but in this scenario there were no evidence that checked luggage was exposed to stronger radiation than carry-on.

Now I'm scared to fly :)
I wouldn't assume everything is treated the same. They can't Xray everything.

Chester McCheeserton

6-Sep-2022, 19:54

Until 2019 I flew regularly both domestic and international with tri-x and portra 400 sheet film. From my experience going through LA, Boston, and Heathrow among many others - I did not find it worth the stress and commotion that asking for a hand check caused. Sometimes they would, sometimes they wouldn't. It was never relaxing or expedient or a fun conversation to have.

My solution was to simply leave it in my carry on bags and let it get run through the scanner and not say anything to the TSA crew. I did not have a problem with scanner lines or X ray damage. When I was in Europe a few times I sent the exposed film back via fedex or usps equivalent. But sometimes I let it run through the scanner 2, 3 or even 4 times. My worst issue was once an important box of like 100 exposed sheets sat in some German Post office sorting facility for almost a month, not moving, when I mailed it back and didn't pay for the most expensive rush shipping.

I never put film in my checked luggage though. Walead Beshty made this whole process a centerpiece of one of his well known projects:
https://www.actionstakenunderthefictitiousnamewaleadbeshtystudiosinc.com/transparency-works-2008

a teacher of mine once described how in 2002, she had a huge box of exposed 7x17 film from weeks of shooting and asked for a hand check and then as she was watching they started to take the tape off and open the box, she lunged at the agent shouting NOO, and they threw her on the ground and pulled out weapons....

Jason Greenberg Motamedi

6-Sep-2022, 20:41

Quick summary of my international July 2022 travels with three boxes of 5x12 and 20 rolls of 120 HP5+.

Portland OR: Hand inspection using the explosive detection tabs, no issues at all after requested.

Narita, Japan: No issues with 120, and lots of questions about the LF film after I requested a hand inspection. Eventually they brought out a dark bag and inspected the LF film by hand inside the bag.

Vancouver, Canada: OK with the 120, but absolute refusal to do a hand inspection without opening the film boxes. Spent 45 minutes arguing, speaking with supervisors of supervisors of supervisors. I was given the choice to open the boxes or go through xray. I went through xray with no noticeable fog. They were polite but inflexible. They told me to use the lead bags next time, and that there are no high-low adjustment settings on the machines.

I did leave one sheet of film in my filmholders that were checked in as an experiment. I haven't developed it yet...

Next time I will try the lead bags.

Alan Klein

8-Sep-2022, 07:18

More Internet "confusion". It depends on what the radiation level is set on the TSA machine. They can set it LOW or HIGH. And it depends on the ISO of the film.

If you mail film it gets "shipped" on an airplane that is exposed to the same radiation in the sky. Don't bother shipping it. TSA can always X-RAY it if it is shipped.

Just DON'T get it X-RAYed by TSA. Ask for hand inspection -- as required when requested by TSA rules. Just bring a copy of the rules -- and show up 1/2 hour early, just in case.

Doesn't the jet's metal skin protect against a lot of that?

Alan Klein

8-Sep-2022, 07:24

How certain is the statement that film sent as a parcel (as opposed to luggage) will not be subjected to CT?
I'm interested by actual experience, not internet lore. Especially private-to-private mailing; parcels from stores might have relaxed rules.

I'm curious if there's a difference between how USPS handles packages vs. Fedex and UPS?

radu-123

12-Sep-2022, 00:55

So, my experience this summer (in Europe): I flew from Germany (Cologne-Bonn) to Portugal (Faro) with Chamonix 4x5 and loaded holders. Normal good ol´scanners, no CTs. No problem at all with security, like always. I had the holders in transparent plastic bags with a printed DIY sticker (``Do not CT scan, film will be ruined``) though.

MartinP

14-Sep-2022, 13:13

I will be flying to UK from Schiphol (the small and over-busy Dutch capital-city airport) in a fortnight, the ability to get film and paper hand-checked at the Dutch airport (they use the 'new' type of hand-baggage scanner) is officially nil. The airport in UK would do hand-checks if there is no work-pressure on the security bods. Both Schiphol and the UK airport advise arrival at least three to four hours before departure, as there is a (permanent) staff shortage at airports in Europe.

The result is that I have ordered medium-format film and smallish paper online from UK suppliers, to be delivered to the address over there, and will take dry powder chemicals with me. A relative has (long unused) development and enlargement stuff though I have had to also order chem-bottles and trays which I will leave behind in case of another visit. At the very least I should be able to process negs and bring them back, with possibly a few prints for relatives thrown in.

Interestingly, the attempts at finding a supplier with everything actually in stock (only 120 HP5+ and some MGV paper) were almost unsuccessful. Maybe after the last couple of years many UK shops are content with delivery-times of a month or more, but the stock position is certainly worse than over here in NL.