Film Travel Tips to Europe (Spain, Italy, South of France)

[Gabby]

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Doing a trip to Barcelona, Florence, and the South of France this summer, and planning on shooting film throughout the trip.

Would anyone have any tips or advice regarding strictness of airport security in these areas (i.e. if they would most likely honor hand-checks)?

Would anyone also know of any film labs that could develop 35mm film in the South of France area such as Nice?

Any tips would be very much appreciated :D

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[Doc Henry]

Hi Gabby , If you " love film "   and for X Ray airport gate try to have this bag and put all your film developed or not inside.

You can show your bag to security agent before entering under the gate. On medical humanitarian missions , I go through a lot of security gates and everything is going well , especially in Asia ... but also in Europe for traveling !

You have one photo dev analog lab in Cannes  http://avsphoto.com

In my case , I keep them and I develop when I return from my missions.😀

Have a nice trip

Best

Henry

for " Domke "  bag  👍  I bought here  https://www.amazon.com/Domke-711-15B-Large-Filmguard-Black/dp/B00009USZ5

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Edited April 23, 2022 by Doc Henry

[jagstang]

I use these Domke Filmguard bags too, but last month I went through airport security in Europe and watched the monitor while it was being scanned. They could see right through it! Even from afar, I could make out the shape of the 35mm rolls, which is strange because I remember checking a few years ago too, and the image was much darker (and subsequently, they'd pull me aside to ask what's inside the bag). Fortunately, I developed the film and it was okay, but I wonder if there's a new generation of stronger X-ray machines?

[Chuck Albertson]

56 minutes ago, jagstang said:

I use these Domke Filmguard bags too, but last month I went through airport security in Europe and watched the monitor while it was being scanned. They could see right through it! Even from afar, I could make out the shape of the 35mm rolls, which is strange because I remember checking a few years ago too, and the image was much darker (and subsequently, they'd pull me aside to ask what's inside the bag). Fortunately, I developed the film and it was okay, but I wonder if there's a new generation of stronger X-ray machines?

The new CT scanners will go through lead bags like a hot knife through butter. In the States you get a hand inspection on request (whichever type of scanner), and most of the TSA employees I've encountered are hip to the fact that the CT scanners are not your mom & dad's scanners. Overseas, not so much. At Heathrow T5 a couple of months ago, I was able to get security to do a hand check of my film instead of feeding it into a CT, but it took a bit of persuasion.

Edited April 24, 2022 by Chuck Albertson

[105012]

Another recent anecdote: the Gold Coast here in Terra Australis has the new CT scanners. I asked for a hand inspection of some film and after a few frowns they complied. On the other end I had a nice chat with one of them who proudly told me about his film shooting days as a reporter and that he still held onto his X-Pan.

[jagstang]

7 hours ago, Chuck Albertson said:

The new CT scanners will go through lead bags like a hot knife through butter. In the States you get a hand inspection on request (whichever type of scanner), and most of the TSA employees I've encountered are hip to the fact that the CT scanners are not your mom & dad's scanners. Overseas, not so much. At Heathrow T5 a couple of months ago, I was able to get security to do a hand check of my film instead of feeding it into a CT, but it took a bit of persuasion.

I just checked and I think you're right - I had heard of these new CT scanners but I thought they were only in the US. Turns out they're starting to appear on this side of the pond too... specifically in the airport where I saw the machine seeing right through my Domke lead bag. Strangely, even thought it went through that scanner twice (on the way and back), the developed film looks okay. Perhaps the lead bag mitigated some of it. I wouldn't know if it's grainier or if it lost shadow detail unless I compared it to an unexposed roll to be honest - Portra 400 for reference. I guess I'll just count myself lucky this time!

[Chuck Albertson]

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55 minutes ago, jagstang said:

I just checked and I think you're right - I had heard of these new CT scanners but I thought they were only in the US. Turns out they're starting to appear on this side of the pond too... specifically in the airport where I saw the machine seeing right through my Domke lead bag. Strangely, even thought it went through that scanner twice (on the way and back), the developed film looks okay. Perhaps the lead bag mitigated some of it. I wouldn't know if it's grainier or if it lost shadow detail unless I compared it to an unexposed roll to be honest - Portra 400 for reference. I guess I'll just count myself lucky this time!

They look like turbines, instead of the ol' belt-through-a-box design of the Rapiscan machines.

[Aryel]

On my last trip to the south of France (November 2021), I sent everything to Malvarrosa lab in Spain (including some delta3200). I asked for recommendations here 

Very happy with the results.

I also traveled with a roll of hp5+ in the camera. It was scanned 3 times on the way to France from Singapore and I cannot see any differences. Not sure about the scanner type though.

Have a safe and pleasant trip!

Edited April 25, 2022 by Aryel

[Herr Barnack]

10 hours ago, jagstang said:

I use these Domke Filmguard bags too, but last month I went through airport security in Europe and watched the monitor while it was being scanned. They could see right through it! Even from afar, I could make out the shape of the 35mm rolls, which is strange because I remember checking a few years ago too, and the image was much darker (and subsequently, they'd pull me aside to ask what's inside the bag). Fortunately, I developed the film and it was okay, but I wonder if there's a new generation of stronger X-ray machines?

There may be "new and improved" x-ray machines for carry on baggage.  The last time I had film x-rayed by airport security, my Domke filmguard bags showed up as black squares on the TSA monitor, necessitating a hand check.

Quote

...Another recent anecdote: the Gold Coast here in Terra Australis has the new CT scanners. I asked for a hand inspection of some film and after a few frowns they complied.

These CT scanners for carry on baggage will destroy your film - and the security people could care less.  According to the Google: 

Quote

While not at many airports yet, Kodak Alaris warns that the new TSA CT scanners WILL damage unprocessed film. Currently being rolled out in the US and other countries, just one scan from the CT Scanner could destroy your unprocessed film.

See https://petapixel.com/2019/10/21/beware-new-3d-airport-scanners-will-destroy-your-camera-film/

[jagstang]

14 hours ago, Chuck Albertson said:

They look like turbines, instead of the ol' belt-through-a-box design of the Rapiscan machines.

That's what I thought too, but a google search lead me to these CT scanners that look (more or less) like normal X-ray scanners: https://petapixel.com/2021/07/06/what-happens-if-your-film-goes-through-the-tsas-ct-scanners/

The airport where they could see through the Domke bags had these installed last year, according to an article I found. Apparently it does affect the film, but not so much that the results are unusable. It may be weaker than the turbine-shaped ones?

[Doc Henry]

 

On 4/23/2022 at 3:48 PM, Doc Henry said:

Hi Gabby , If you " love film "   and for X Ray airport gate try to have this bag and put all your film developed or not inside.

You can show your bag to security agent before entering under the gate. On medical humanitarian missions , I go through a lot of security gates and everything is going well , especially in Asia ... but also in Europe for traveling !

You have one photo dev analog lab in Cannes  http://avsphoto.com

In my case , I keep them and I develop when I return from my missions.😀

Have a nice trip

Best

Henry

 

Hi , as I said in my previous post I "show" the rolls of film inside the Domke bags to the security guards and everything goes well ....

and as also said in this attached link by Kodak Alaris :

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

Put film in the carry-on-bags  not in the luggage that will go in the baggage  hold of the plane 😰

Best

H