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Does anyone still take film on airlines?
You can put it through the machines. I have before and there was no damage, but mine was 35 mm film and it was like 400 speed, so I don't know about other types of film. Aug 01 06 04:42 pm Link Yup, LAX, Burbank, ABQ and Ft. Lauderdale have all hand-checked film for me as well. I always smile A LOT. And thank them. Helps to have everything out in a clear plastic bag too. I've only had trouble with the actual camera, which they always want to pass through. And usually at LAX, the same guy just wants to talk about my new digital and my old 120. Helps to have photo buffs manning the machines. :-) Renee Aug 01 06 04:50 pm Link Luminos wrote: That was the best answer yet. Aug 01 06 05:04 pm Link global vision wrote: I have emailed FedEx directly to ask this question, just now, but; Aug 01 06 05:21 pm Link Luminos wrote: On a related note at Santa Barbara airport after three sets of drunk couples went through the TSA checkpoint before me (oh boy)... The TSA reps refused (including the supervisor who was already there because of the drunk couples) to hand check my fresh rolls of 220. It was a last minute change in shoot location from Santa Barbara to Miami, and we were already running late because the tickets had been booked for us less than 2 hours before we were to leave. Aug 01 06 05:30 pm Link James Jackson wrote: And look at how quickly I got a response back: Aug 01 06 05:41 pm Link I am now digital but shot film until very recently also,and have travelled worldwide.I usually get the film developed(negatives)locally in that country and bring them back.I have had a few (but stiill too many)incidents wher I asked for "hand search"of the undevelpoed film cartridges,thinking it would be ok,and then when I got the film and prints back after being processed at home, there was obvious discoloration marks, almost like bands across the images so many of the rolls were rendered useless.I am not sure but believe the TSA people hand scanned the rolls or scanned another way.They were behind a partition and not in full view so I have no way of even knowing(plus I was short one roll....?)Don't trust these people!These were 400 or 800 speed film.Think if and when I do shoot film again,will just do as before,get the film processed at least to negatives locally. Aug 01 06 05:48 pm Link Take all of your film out of the boxes. Regardless of what ASA you have, throw in a few rolls of 800 or more; or they will tell you it is ok to put it all through the metal detectors which I just do not trust. Take it all and put it in a clear plastic bag and request a hand inspection. You have a good chance that they will take each and every roll out and individually swab it for explosives. This can be time consuming so if you are one who gets to the airport at the last minute you need to change your habits. As far as exposed film, I just would not trust it and now you are faced with them wanting to open an exposed roll. Doesn't happen, right! Murphy's law says it will. So I would do what we used to do with film. Send a few rolls back in a few seperate Fedex overnight boxes to yourself or your lab. That way if one gets lost you have the others. Fedex does not x-ray but mark it film anyway. This is one of the reasons I went all digital. I fly all of the time every month and just would not want to go through this ever again. Aug 01 06 06:16 pm Link Digital Soup wrote: A double layer lead bag will protect up to ISO 400 35mm. Forget 120, 220 or large format. Buy it there and develop it there. Even Ilford PanF 120 ISO 50 had numbers in the sky ;-( I used to get a hand check. I don't think they will do that anymore. Aug 01 06 06:23 pm Link This is a great post with lots of useful information. I appreciate all of your input. . Thank you so much Aug 01 06 10:15 pm Link I carry a bunch of 120 Delta 3200 in a nylon mesh bag and request hand inspection. In the last three years I've had only one problem and that was at Heatherow here a contaminated swab set off a beeping on my film and I had to persuade the security manager not to send the lot of exposed film through X-ray. I was sweating it. She reswabbed, got a negative and chewed out her staff for failure to follow procedures. Nevertheless, I now avoid Heatherow and connect through Frankfurt instead. In the US TSA is required by law to hand inspect film if that's requested. Some inspectors will remove film from boxes, but only once has one insisted in breaking the foil pouches. That was on a return after a shoot, so I ostentatiously dumped the unexposed film in the trash can next to the inspector and continued home. Film is cheap and I wouln't ever use iffy opened packages for any photoshoot anyway. -Don Aug 02 06 12:14 am Link Then again, they did just look at me and laugh at Charles de Gaulle in Paris when I asked for a hand check of my film.... Aug 02 06 12:19 am Link Sweeney wrote: Julie is right. Just hand check it. Don't mess around. Aug 02 06 12:26 am Link I've had a few arguments with screeners in Chicago as well as vegas. They tell me that if it isn't fast film the machine is ok-I know better. My solution: All film is out of canisters in a clear ziplock,I take a black marker cover the "real asa" and write 1600 on the cartridge. I hand it to the screener and tell him/her that they are reloaded with 1600. no more problems anywhere I go. Last trip to vegas the screener was very nice and told me that if people are jerks that the machine is capable of making toast of your film in a lead bag if he wises to make that happen-interesting! Aug 02 06 12:39 am Link Mark S. Alameel wrote: What is film? Superior in every way to digital. Aug 02 06 12:48 am Link Hello there, There's been a lot of coverage on this topic, but I thought I contribute a few items that haven't been mentioned yet. First f all is the fact the all of the X-ray machines in airports, both for carry-on & for checked baggage, are stronger now than they were 5 years ago. Whyu you ask? After Seot. 11th the airline industry increased th power to these machines. Second several of you have mentioned about high speed film needing to be hand-checked & a way to get your film checked (by throwing in a few rols of 800 speed or higher). What no one has mentionwed yet is that professional film is more sensitive than consumer film. In fact I've had a screener in the USA tell me that if you're using professional film they are required to hand-check it no matter what speed it is. Thrid I shoot a lot of 120 & 220 film. I've usually had no problem with screeners being willing to hand-check it. What I have run into, however, is that they not only want it all removed form the box, but they've insisted on opening the metal wrappers on each & every roll. I've asked why they have to do this, as it's factory sealed, & have yet to get an answer. I think it's kind of stupid that they do this. After all they don't unwrap candy bars (which come in similar type of wrappers) do they? Anyway my advice would be to preshuck your film if traveling with 120 or 220. On a humerous note I too have had 1 of my film cansiters test possitive for explosives (glycerin). Luckily I had an inspector who knowe what film was & after asking a few questions let me through. One final note. If you think flying with film is a headache try taking it with you when going on a cruise. They want to scan all of your bags every single time you reenter the boat. That & they're not to friendly when it comes to hand searching the film. Anyway just my 5 cents. Take it or leave it. Thanks! -Jason Aug 02 06 01:11 am Link RidzDesign wrote: french are fuckers with that, ive been told "if u want to get on the plane, take your film thru the machine' in paris several times, despite my protests. i find the best place to handcheck film is in and out of LA, theyre great. Aug 02 06 04:32 am Link Man...There are So many Photo Shops In Hawaii ........Don't take a chance...Buy It There !!!!!! If It's for a Pro Shoot, Do you want To Take That Chance ? I got Koak Nps VC and NC with No problems .... Manny D. Aug 02 06 04:36 am Link Downloadable / printable labels  http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat … 340_25.pdf 2.25 x 2.25 inch http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat … 340_35.pdf 3.5 x 3.5 inch Here is an international version [my own] in English + 11 other languages: [in order from top] French; German; Dutch; Spanish; Portuguese; Italian; Norwegian; Swedish; Finish; Greek; and Russian [save to file and print it as a jpg image]  -------- Packing tape see: http://cinemasupplies.stores.yahoo.net/donx60yds.html also available from B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … sku=143540 -------- Ex: KODAK Air Shipping Film The requirement of x-ray scanning can be dependent on: * Is the Shipper considered a "Known Shipper" to the carrier * Is the carrier a passenger airline, a freight forwarder, or an integrated carrier * Is the shipment origin/destination within the contiguous 48 states The recommendation regarding Air shipping of film products is for the shipper to contact the sales office of carriers to discuss their shipping needs including avoidance of x-ray scanning due to risk of damaged. The carrier can then provide the shipper with their requirements and processes. Carriers are aware of the sensitive nature of film shipments and are willing to work with film shippers as long as the carrier is in compliance with the requirements given to them by the Homeland Security Dept and the NTSB. Some air transportation options are: * Air Express for smaller, lighter shipments - including but not limited to companies like Airborne, FedEx, or UPS * Air Freight for larger, heavier shipments - including but not limited to companies like BAX Global, Eagle Global Logistics, Excel, or Emery * Passenger airlines for light or heavier shipments within certain packaging dimensions based on space available at time of shipment. The air services provided vary from Next Flight Out/Same Day service to Next Morning, Next Afternoon or Second Day services depending on carrier. More information can be found on the United States Transportation Security Administration web site: U.S. Transportation Security Administration http://www.tsa.gov/ --------------- Ex: KODAK Airport X-Ray Security [and] US Mail Sterilization This document contains advice for customers who need to transport film by air or via the US Postal Service. [in part - references to motion picture film not included here] CHECKED BAGGAGE Any checked baggage may be subject to high-intensity x-ray scanning in a machine that is out of sight of travelers. Airline check-in agents rarely, if ever, warn travelers of this. Kodak is pressing for warning notices to be posted at check-in desks and for verbal warnings to be given to travelers. Never pack unprocessed film in baggage that will be checked. HAND-CARRIED BAGGAGE Carry-on baggage inspection conveyors using low intensity x-rays, used at security checkpoints in US airports, usually do not affect film. However, these machines may now be supplemented in some cases by high intensity machines that will fog all unprocessed film. Travelers should be wary of all scanners at foreign airports. Travelers should politely insist on hand-inspection of their film. Carry a changing bag for use by the inspector. Demonstrate how it is used, with a can of fogged film as an example. However, there is no guarantee that your request will be granted by local inspectors, who may insist on x-ray inspection. Hand inspection may not be permitted in some airports outside the US. AIR FREIGHT SERVICES We understand that express air package shipping services such as Airborne, DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc that use their own aircraft, do not employ x-ray scanning of customers' packages on domestic routes. However, this should be verified when sending film. The same carriers may employ passenger airlines for international routes. Goods shipped as freight on passenger airlines are subject to high-intensity x-ray scanning. It is recommended that film shipped as unaccompanied freight is labeled "DO NOT X-RAY. IF X-RAY IS MANDATORY, DO NOT SHIP / DO NOT X-RAY / CONTACT SENDER URGENTLY: (details)". LOCAL FILM PURCHASE AND PROCESSING To minimize the risks of shipping by air, Kodak recommends that motion picture film should be purchased locally through the nearest Kodak sales office. After exposure, the film should be processed at a local motion-picture laboratory. After processing, the film may be safely transported by air. 2. US MAIL STERILIZATION The United States Postal Service is installing new equipment to sterilize items sent through the mail. For security reasons, they are not disclosing whether this process will be limited to letters, or if parcels and other packages will also be included. Until further tests are conducted, it would be wise to assume that the high energy beams used in the sterilization equipment will fog or damage all film - processed or unprocessed, exposed or unexposed, negative or print. In addition, photographic prints, slides, DVDs, picture CDs, CD-ROMs, video tapes and even the CCD sensors in video cameras and other products may be affected. Because those materials often contain valuable - and sometimes, irreplaceable, images - Kodak recommends that you err on the side of caution until more information is available. All imaging materials should be sent via a courier or an express air shipping company that does not use the US postal system. Local laboratories may have additional information and/or offer alternative shipping arrangements. Nov 2001 Studio36 Aug 02 06 05:47 am Link Telephoto Studio wrote: I agree with your statement. Superior in every way to digital. When I see a response like this(what is film) I question the persons formal training. To many guppies out there! Just shoot raw. ugh! the only real raw format, IS FILM. Aug 02 06 11:42 am Link |
