Taking Bulk Film through Airport Inspection

[williamj]

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Does anyone have experience of taking bulk film through airport inspection? I've traveled with pre-rolled film and I would expect the inspectors to know what a 35mm or 120 film cassette looks like but I could imagine they might not have seen a box containing bulk film presented for hand inspection. Or, do you think they will see the official Kodak or Ilford label and be cool? Thanks in advance.

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[tom.w.bn]

Always expect that your request for hand inspection is denied and you have to send it through the scanner. Queues at the security check are already long enough.

 

[hepcat]

Here is the definitive answer, at least in the USA, from the TSA government website:

Film

Carry On Bags: Yes

Checked Bags: Yes

We recommend that you put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry-on bags or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask for a hand inspection.

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.  (bold added for emphasis)

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/film

[M9reno]

I've travelled out of the US with bulk rolls of Tri-X, inside a tin, in a box.  The tin is taped shut.  I have showed the tin to security and been allowed a hand-check that only involves checking the surface of the tin for explosive residue.  The tin has not been made to pass through the X-rays.

I advise carrying the taped tin a transparent bag instead of its box to make the process easier, and to bring along a lead bag just in case you encounter difficulties and need to place the film inside it, although this has never happened to me.

[williamj]

2 hours ago, M9reno said:

I've travelled out of the US with bulk rolls of Tri-X, inside a tin, in a box.  The tin is taped shut.  I have showed the tin to security and been allowed a hand-check that only involves checking the surface of the tin for explosive residue.  The tin has not been made to pass through the X-rays.

I advise carrying the taped tin a transparent bag instead of its box to make the process easier, and to bring along a lead bag just in case you encounter difficulties and need to place the film inside it, although this has never happened to me.

Thanks for sharing your experience. This is what I had hoped might happen. Cheers. 

[johnwolf]

I'd be less concerned about machine damage than I would about them insisting on opening the box.

Film cannisters are one thing but a box...? It doesn't seem like the carry-on scan of a 100' roll would show enough to satisfy them..

John

Edited December 5, 2022 by johnwolf

[thrid]

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I have read the the new generation of x-ray machines for carry on luggage will fry any film regardless of ASA. I seem to remember this came directly from Kodak.

If you put it in a lead bag etc they will simply crank up the x-ray machine.

When I fly with film I try to make life for TSA or anyone else as simple as possible. In some cases I have even taken the film out of the plastic canisters and placed them in two separate ziplock bag. Usually they swab them for explosives and I'm on my way. 

It's been a while since I've handled a bulk load roll of film, so I can't remember if the film is in an actual tin or foil bag? I would hand the factory sealed film to the inspector and take it from there. They will probably swab it for explosives and you'll be on your way. If they insist on opening the original cardboard box I would have a chat with them to see if you can talk them out of going further and opening the actual can/bag or x-raying it

Believe it or not I have actually carried a small changing bag with my carry on, in case they insist on giving my film a cavity search to the back of the teeth. 

 

Putting film in checked in luggage has always been a no go. Those x-ray machines are far more powerful than the units used for carry on.

[Doc Henry]

... may be this post is also useful for some of you  😃

 

[williamj]

3 hours ago, thrid said:

...

Believe it or not I have actually carried a small changing bag with my carry on, in case they insist on giving my film a cavity search to the back of the teeth.

...

Yes, that's a good suggestion. If you're traveling with bulk film you're going to travel with a changing bag and having it in your carry on luggage is the right place for it to be. Thanks.

[chris_tribble]

Agreed!  The biggest relief for me when I switched to digital was not having to worry about my precious 1600 fujichrome being ruined.  I did the lead-lined pouch, changing bag routine, everything to make life easy for the security staff, but was still worried until I got everything back home!

[nitroplait]

6 hours ago, thrid said:

 

If you put it in a lead bag etc they will simply crank up the x-ray machine.
 

It is a myth!

The operator cannot "crank up" the X-ray. They can change filtration of densities to get a better idea of the contents - they have no control over the level of radiation - it is "one-size-fits-all". Kodak actually recommends lead protection in some instances.

If security can't see what is inside the lead bag, they will pick you out for hand inspection, so if choosing that route, I'd recommend separating the lead bag from your hand luggage to avoid having them going through everything.

Edited December 5, 2022 by nitroplait

[Anbaric]

7 hours ago, thrid said:

I have read the the new generation of x-ray machines for carry on luggage will fry any film regardless of ASA. I seem to remember this came directly from Kodak.

That's an important point. The previous generation of carry-on scanners will probably be fine. But both checked luggage and, increasingly, carry-on luggage are going through CT scanners that can certainly damage your film. So, as always, you need to keep film in your carry-on, and these days you also need to get a hand inspection if your airport is using these new scanners, as discussed here:

[thrid]

Coincidentally here is an interesting article I just came across

https://petapixel.com/camera-film-x-ray-ct-scanner-tips/

 

[thrid]

After getting burned at Heathrow twice, where they refuse hand checks and x-ray everything I actually started to purchase BW film on location and develop it while on the road.
Sound a little crazy, but if you're shooting something important or a commercial project this is actually a relatively sane idea. This was common practice for photojournalists, before the advent of digital. 

But I agree that flying with film, in particular international, has become a major pain and sometimes a losing battle. That's one of the main reasons why I started to shoot digital.

 

 

[jukka]

19 minutes ago, thrid said:

But I agree that flying with film, in particular international, has become a major pain and sometimes a losing battle. That's one of the main reasons why I started to shoot digital.

Can’t agree with you there. With the older machines you don’t need to do anything. And with ct scanners my experience has been that security is aware of the film issue and are granting hand inspection.

So, no hassle at all. 

[thrid]

33 minutes ago, jukka said:

Can’t agree with you there. With the older machines you don’t need to do anything. And with ct scanners my experience has been that security is aware of the film issue and are granting hand inspection.

So, no hassle at all. 

Well, you seem to have had more luck than me.

I had brick of Delta 1600 fried the last time I flew out of Heathrow and it was not up for negotiation.

So, far no problems traveling in the USA. Also no issues in Germany or Canada. 

Over the years I have seen damage from trips through the x-ray machine with carry on luggage, so I would not dismiss it as a non issue.

And according to Kodak the new CT scanners will fry your film. Unless you have advanced notice that a terminal has upgraded to CT from their older machines you are playing Russian roulette.

Negotiating a hand inspection also becomes a lot more difficult if you don't speak the language, although there usually is someone around who speaks English. But there is no guarantee that your request will be received warmly. They simply may not like the way you comb your hair. 

 

 

 

[Einst_Stein]

see Kodak warnings, 

If your experience is different from this warning, you must be extremely lucky.

Ilford and other brands are unlikely to be different!

https://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

[oldwino]

Heathrow is actually mentioned in Dante's "Inferno"...

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[jukka]

31 minutes ago, thrid said:

Over the years I have seen damage from trips through the x-ray machine with carry on luggage, so I would not dismiss it as a non issue. 

I've been here and there myself and never seen anything happening to exposed or unexposed film. Granted, I have mostly shot 800 iso or below.  

34 minutes ago, thrid said:

Negotiating a hand inspection also becomes a lot more difficult if you don't speak the language, although there usually is someone around who speaks English. But there is no guarantee that your request will be received warmly. They simply may not like the way you comb your hair. 

Yeah, changing subjective experiences may not be super helpful here. What matters, in my view, is that ct scanner security people so far, in my case, have absolutely been aware of the issue and thus very helpful. In this regard, ct scanners have in fact made traveling (also) with film easier.

38 minutes ago, thrid said:

And according to Kodak the new CT scanners will fry your film. Unless you have advanced notice that a terminal has upgraded to CT from their older machines you are playing Russian roulette.

CT scanners are pretty easy to recognize though; they tend to be larger, shinier, and whiter. The old machines are, well, older and smaller. The general procedures are also different – with ct scanners you don't need to take laptops out of bags, for instance. Usually the type of the respective machine can be found online, in most cases at least, I think.

By way of forgetting a roll of exposed film into my bag, I actually have in development a roll that has gone through a ct scanner. By the end of the week I'll be able to report some findings on this

[Huss]

Heathrow security shuts you down before you even can complete a  sentence.

”can I ..”

”NO”

”would you..”

”NO”

”My grannie needs her insulin”

”NO”