leica dream Posted July 19, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have just returned from an overseas holiday and I am very disappointed with my photographs. This also happened a few years ago when I went to the Rockies in Canada, and I blamed the camera which as a result I then changed to a Leica compact. Basic issue is that Contrasts have been distorted to exageration, and every photograph lacks "crispness" --- not what I have come to expect from my (even bottom of range) Leica. I had thought that the camera may have developed a fault. The 6 rolls of film were not all purchased together, so unlikely to be the same Fuji Sensia Xtra 400 manufaturing batch. Films were also processed in a couple of batches so unlikely to be a fault there, especially as it was Peak Processing in the UK which has impeccable standards. It occurs to me that the single common factor which is present in both the previous and this occasion is that the camera and all films had gone through airport Xray equipment as "carry on" items. Has anybody had similar experience, or is there a known problem with the airport Xray systems even though when you tell the operator there are photographic films in the luggage they retort "no problem". Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Hi leica dream, Take a look here Airport Xrays. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
macos Posted July 19, 2007 Share #2 Posted July 19, 2007 Sorry to hear this from you. I can believe that this is very disappointing I never had any problems with airport Xrays as long as it was carry on. However, there could be many reasons (untight light seals etc.). Could you post a scan of a typical 'failure' image? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted July 19, 2007 Share #3 Posted July 19, 2007 Hi Richard I doubt that it's the X-rays. If you have excessive contrast that implies that you have very dark blacks. If the film had been fogged I would expect there to be hardly any shadows at all, and if anything a reduction in contrast. The fogging I've seen from X-rays has quite a distinctive look to it. It's a series of lines rather than a uniform fogging across the frame. If you look at the negatives does the space between the frames have a normal clear orange look to it? If this unexposed area looks ok then the problem isn't fogging, but lies elseswhere - probably in processing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbylon Posted July 19, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 19, 2007 how many times did the film go through the machines? I just had a roll of 400 in my M6 for about a week and went through probably 5-6 machines in different country's and no problems, however I do know that with higher film speeds it is possible but extremely rare to get this type of fogging. Sounds like film or more likely the processing. ps dont put your film in hold baggage as they are subjected to much higher levels of scan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PATB Posted July 19, 2007 Share #5 Posted July 19, 2007 Sorry to hear about your travel photographs. Stories like these are making me think of switching to digital for travel. I just came back from an Italy trip, where my rolls of Kodak 400UC went through 3 airport carry-on x-rays (1x SFO, 1x Rome, 1x Toronto) and at least 3 location screenings (at some venues/museums, can't remember). No visible degradations, at least to me anyways. Still, my heart sank everytime I had to place my camera and films in the x-ray machines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruiespanhol Posted July 19, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 19, 2007 I use one X-ray safe box from hama for safe handling in airports. Never have any film damage,however some airports x-rays operators asked me about that strange box apears on the screen machine and every time this ocurs I have to open the bag and showing the box. Puts out this litle problem this box is very good and safe my film. Best, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica dream Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted July 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you for all that input. Unfortunately I do not have the capability to post any pictures for you to see. The spaces between the shots is quite clear so does not look like general fogging nor light seal problems, and it looks like I cannot blame Xray machines. It is the shadow areas throughout which are unreasonably dark and the bright areas unusually light which is the problem. As my C1 compact is totally automatic I guess something may have happened to the internal metering/logic. Probably quite expensive relative to the value of the camera to have checked/corrected so I am considering using the problem as an opportunity for changing to digital. At least that way I get a new toy (probably V-Lux) which should help to take away some of my earlier disappointment! Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Michel Komarnicki Posted July 19, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 19, 2007 Hi, Go to this Kodak link to read about and see examples of x-ray problems. http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/publications/tib5201.jhtml?pq-path=5035&locsvcsEntryPath=4895 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica dream Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted July 20, 2007 Jean-Michel Very many thanks for that URL. It is most interesting and does confirm that my problem is not Xray caused - at least by those examples. I have also discussed the problem with my processing lab who have described and convinced me that their quality controls are tight so would have identified at the time of processing if there was a problem at their end. I guess the only avenue now is the camera itself, so I am back to the decision of "Film or digital" which is elsewhere on the forum. I think at the moment I need to sign off as "Confused of the UK" as I really cannot decide that big decision. At the moment it is between R9 film, or VLUX digital with new printing facilities. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamey Posted July 20, 2007 Share #10 Posted July 20, 2007 Hello Richard. Touch wood, I have never had any trouble with Film Being X-rayed. Every film type sold down here is imported, so how do they go through HM customs, I am sure they get zaped here or there. Between the R9 and the V-Lux. IMHO............Go for the R9 Good Luck. Ken. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
analog-photo Posted July 21, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 21, 2007 As several others who has replied, I have never had any probem with airport x-rays, as long as I have the film in the carry-on luggage. If you put the film in the checked in luggage, you may get x-ray damage, but most likely only on high sensitive films (800 or higher). I do recognise your problem though. I use Kodak Elite Pro 200 UC (MP and M7 with Summicron 28 asph and 50) and noticed that after the lab changed their processing equipment to digital two year ago, there where problems with contrast and brilliance in the prints. After several demands for re-processing (yes, I'm still a customer...) we could agree on a "Leica-setting" for their printer. In short, they always calibrate it for "normal contrast and sharpness +1" which results in excellent prints (if the "technology" behind the lens do the right thing ). Here in Sweden the labs often adjust their printers to the season and what they expect from "the average family and holiday photographer", and this don't match the expectations from those of us who take it more seriously. So my suggestion is that you talk with your lab again and ask them if they can make some prints with different settings (that is if they make the prints digitally). Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted July 21, 2007 Share #12 Posted July 21, 2007 A Lead Bag that's rated to ISO 3200 is peice of mind. Declare the bag to Aiport Security before you let it roll through the x-ray conveyor and put it on a separate busspan "by itself". This way, they don't need to search your other belongings. You may get a few interogation and the wait as they test each film cassette. Come to the airport early. As advised by an FAA Homeland Security personell on one of my travel "durring my interogation". The airport x-ray machine is calibrated not to damage anything below ISO400. One x-ray machine out of calibration is more than enough "to shutdown" the whole airport. Left my lead bag at home since then. I never had any x-ray fogging with ISO400 and lower even when the film is loaded in the camera. -Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica dream Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted July 21, 2007 Lars, that is an interesting point. The process my lab uses is to develop the film, which they say is really critical, then they scan the negatives and print digitally. They went away and checked the calibrations again for me. Coincidentally, many of the pictures are of Sweden, but not processed there. I'll get back to the lab on Monday. They asked if the negatives "looked" ok. Well, to the average eye it is difficult to tell the detail and they looked reasonable, so I'll talk to them again. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Circle Posted July 23, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 23, 2007 I just got back from a trip and my camera bag went through the carry-on x-ray machine 3 times. Everything was fine...even my 3 rolls of HIE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted July 23, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 23, 2007 Here in Sweden the labs often adjust their printers to the season and what they expect from "the average family and holiday photographer", and this don't match the expectations from those of us who take it more seriously. So my suggestion is that you talk with your lab again and ask them if they can make some prints with different settings (that is if they make the prints digitally). Good luck! Just as a sidenote, I also tried to ask Crimson Lab - supposedly the pre-eminent Pro lab here in Stockholm - to tone down the saturation for printing my color images (a simple operation as I understand it), but the lady behind the desk didn't even have the politeness to look up at me before shaking her head with a very dismissive no. The images I've had printed by them were all totally over-saturated (comparison with the negative scans showed me that the printing was most at fault), and I've had nothing but rude and inefficient service from them. Luckily Odenlab have been friendly, cooperative and efficient. Sorry to hijack the thread there, temporarily - I just felt it's only fair to warn people about poor service and standards, when one has personal experience of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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