Mailing exposed film internationally? (scanners)

[grahamc]

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Hello!  With the increased intensity of hand-baggage scanners....    When travelling internationally, would we be more confident to post exposed film back home ?

Most of our film in Aus comes from overseas, so sending exposed rolls home would presumably travel through the same postal security checks as the unexposed film had prior to landing in retail stores. 

Is this a good or bad idea for the film ?  

Loss of the package would not be nice, of course. 

Edited May 26 by grahamc

[M9reno]

I just would not risk it.  Once you put that film in the mail, you've lost control over it, not just from X-rays, but from high temperature, possible loss, etc.  To me it seems far preferable to continue to ask for hand inspections (which are still available in most places) or otherwise use a Domke lead bag (e.g. in Heathrow). 

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[grahamc]

45 minutes ago, M9reno said:

I just would not risk it.  Once you put that film in the mail, you've lost control over it, not just from X-rays, but from high temperature, possible loss, etc.  To me it seems far preferable to continue to ask for hand inspections (which are still available in most places) or otherwise use a Domke lead bag (e.g. in Heathrow). 

True, that's a good point.  I have the DOMKE bag and with using the bag protection I no longer worry about the older scanner type.  What is a concern is if I get refused a hand check with the new scanners  

[williamj]

3 hours ago, grahamc said:

Hello!  With the increased intensity of hand-baggage scanners....    When travelling internationally, would we be more confident to post exposed film back home ?

Most of our film in Aus comes from overseas, so sending exposed rolls home would presumably travel through the same postal security checks as the unexposed film had prior to landing in retail stores. 

Is this a good or bad idea for the film ?  

Loss of the package would not be nice, of course. 

Film that arrives in Australia for resale etc comes via courier and so is not X-Rayed. If you buy from B&H for example for personal use it is also sent via courier, also not X-Rayed. I bought some film from a Finnish camera store, it came via the post, and it showed strong bands of having been X-Rayed. I would not post film from an international destination to Australia for that reason but perhaps you can get FedEx or DHL to carry it past the scanners, if you know what I mean. 

[M9reno]

Domke lead bags come in at least two sizes.  I have both and occasionally use them, one inside the other, with the film in the smaller.  At Heathrow, where they deny hand-checks, they go through inside both bags and usually get searched by hand when they come out of the machine: a bit of a pain, but I assume it means the lead is doing its job.  I've carried TX 3200 and Fuji FP-3000B, both highly sensitive (ISO 3000), and not had a problem.  I don't know if I've just been lucky and not encountered the newer machines (I think I remember them in Amsterdam, but can't recall if my film went through).

[Ouroboros]

I wouldn’t risk it for two reasons: 1. Your posted films will be scanned anyway, 2. Depending on where you are posting your films from, there is a good chance the package will not arrive (eg,  Mrs O’s personal experience of posting stuff from India to the UK).

I’d be inclined to run the gauntlet of airport security scanners with distraught pleas for hand inspection on the off chance someone will look upon your films favourably.

A sign of the times we live in.

 

[lekitr]

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Depending on destination,I've considered buying and processing films on location.  You can always do it yourself for black and white, the trouble is buying or even getting your chemistry on plane.

Also considered rolling my delta 100 in delta 3200 cassette as an argument to hand check.

Polaroid maybe....lol.

[stray cat]

I've just returned from a trip from Australia to Europe. I only took three rolls of Portra 160 film with me, in case I couldn't get hand inspection, and I bought Portra 400 film in the USA and Europe and had it sent to an address in Italy. I sent three packages of film to Carmencita lab in Spain rather than risk it being X-rayed on the way home or en route to Australia, had I posted it (I felt that posting within the EU would be safer). One of the packages has yet to arrive at the lab (I accidently sent it economyy vs express ), one is at the lab ready for processing and I have the negatives from the first lot which included the three rolls of Portra 160.

On the way over hand inspection, which I requested politely, was refused at both Melbourne and Doha. I subsequently argued my case at both airports but neither was going to budge. These films to my horror went through Smiths Detection scanners. The agent in Melbourne even told me that they are the latest CT scanners which are "completely safe for film" which is, as we know, not entirely true. I had a Domke lead-lined bag but by the time I'd argued my case my films had already gone through.

To be honest, the negatives look sort of fine. Pictures from them that I've scanned look OK - see my minimally processed (slight curves only) example. There are some white blobs on a few of the frames like this one that I can't explain - it certainly wasn't snowing - but the colours, grain etc look fine, even in the darker areas.

My conclusion is that where possible I'll continue to buy film in whatever country I'll be in and have it processed as close to there as possible, with the processed film then shipped to my home. It's more expensive and more hassle that way, but from the strength of my current trial, it seems to work well and there's the benefit of some peace of mind.

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[grahamc]

On 5/26/2023 at 7:52 PM, Ouroboros said:

 (eg,  Mrs O’s personal experience of posting stuff from India to the UK)....

this happened to me with negatives I had developed in India!  They were posted back but never arrived 

 

 

[grahamc]

On 5/26/2023 at 7:39 PM, M9reno said:

Domke lead bags come in at least two sizes.  I have both and occasionally use them, one inside the other, with the film in the smaller.  At Heathrow, where they deny hand-checks, they go through inside both bags and usually get searched by hand when they come out of the machine: a bit of a pain, but I assume it means the lead is doing its job.  I've carried TX 3200 and Fuji FP-3000B, both highly sensitive (ISO 3000), and not had a problem.  I don't know if I've just been lucky and not encountered the newer machines (I think I remember them in Amsterdam, but can't recall if my film went through).

That's a good idea about the 2-sized bag... I think I'll try that this time.    And yes, Amsterdam has CT scanners. They hand-checked my film last time very quickly and politely 

[grahamc]

On 5/27/2023 at 1:48 PM, stray cat said:

I've just returned from a trip from Australia to Europe. I only took three rolls of Portra 160 film with me, in case I couldn't get hand inspection, and I bought Portra 400 film in the USA and Europe and had it sent to an address in Italy. I sent three packages of film to Carmencita lab in Spain rather than risk it being X-rayed on the way home or en route to Australia, had I posted it (I felt that posting within the EU would be safer). One of the packages has yet to arrive at the lab (I accidently sent it economyy vs express ), one is at the lab ready for processing and I have the negatives from the first lot which included the three rolls of Portra 160.

On the way over hand inspection, which I requested politely, was refused at both Melbourne and Doha. I subsequently argued my case at both airports but neither was going to budge. These films to my horror went through Smiths Detection scanners. The agent in Melbourne even told me that they are the latest CT scanners which are "completely safe for film" which is, as we know, not entirely true. I had a Domke lead-lined bag but by the time I'd argued my case my films had already gone through.

To be honest, the negatives look sort of fine. Pictures from them that I've scanned look OK - see my minimally processed (slight curves only) example. There are some white blobs on a few of the frames like this one that I can't explain - it certainly wasn't snowing - but the colours, grain etc look fine, even in the darker areas.

My conclusion is that where possible I'll continue to buy film in whatever country I'll be in and have it processed as close to there as possible, with the processed film then shipped to my home. It's more expensive and more hassle that way, but from the strength of my current trial, it seems to work well and there's the benefit of some peace of mind.

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

That's disappointing about the CT scanners Phil, glad to hear all is well (mostly) with the negs 

[Aryel]

I regularly mail film internationally from Singapore to Spain: I wait to have more than 10 rolls and then ship them all.  I get film delivered at the destination and mail them for processing when traveling long haul with the kids (typically mailing from France to Spain, including delta 3200). I never faced any issue so far.

Touch wood 😁

[AceVentura1986]

Interesting that mailing seems to be an issue. I routinely mail exposed negs from Miami to The Darkroom in California and have never had an issue. Obviously, that’s domestic mailing within the US. Is this more of an international issue?