grahamc Posted July 27 Share #1 Posted July 27 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I recently travelled and for the first time I placed 'do not x-ray' stickers on my Domke bags containing film. From observing the reactions of the security personnel when I asked, I really believe the stickers added some legitimacy to the request Not a guarantee of course, but for sure I think it helped. Attached if useful . (not mine, I got it off Reddit). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited July 27 by grahamc 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/423309-kodak-do-not-x-ray-sticker/?do=findComment&comment=5839233'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 27 Posted July 27 Hi grahamc, Take a look here Kodak 'do not x-ray' sticker. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Einst_Stein Posted July 27 Share #2 Posted July 27 I doubt this would be better than hand over just the film for hand inspect. I would absolutely against not x ray the whole bag. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted July 27 Share #3 Posted July 27 The problem is, that terrorists could use these stickers too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted July 27 Share #4 Posted July 27 5 minutes ago, jankap said: The problem is, that terrorists could use these stickers too. It asks for a hand search, not a no search. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted July 27 Share #5 Posted July 27 And is hand search as good as x-ray? Do the security rules accept it? Or is it just a try to not perform an x-ray? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 27 Author Share #6 Posted July 27 1 hour ago, Einst_Stein said: I doubt this would be better than hand over just the film for hand inspect. I would absolutely against not x ray the whole bag. Probably I didn’t explain correctly. I request (and hand over) the bag of film for hand check. what I am saying is, at least in my experience , such a request was taken more seriously (and easily granted) with this sticker on the bag. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 27 Author Share #7 Posted July 27 Advertisement (gone after registration) 27 minutes ago, jankap said: And is hand search as good as x-ray? Do the security rules accept it? Or is it just a try to not perform an x-ray? They take the bag of film and swab it with drug/explosive detection swabs (rather than putting through the x ray machine). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmueller Posted July 27 Share #8 Posted July 27 I carry film usually in a zip locked transparent bag and get it hand checked. This works without any issues so far in Germany and the US (SFO, ORD) and some other European countries I've been. It doesn't work in India though, no matter how friendly, no matter how many stickers, they simply don't care. At least my experience going through Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata. Regards, Ralf 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeitblom Posted July 27 Share #9 Posted July 27 Barely trained, overwhelmed airport staff should hand you a "Do not disrupt operations - therefore don't fly"-sticker and send you back home immediately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 27 Share #10 Posted July 27 11 hours ago, grahamc said: Hello, I recently travelled and for the first time I placed 'do not x-ray' stickers on my Domke bags containing film. From observing the reactions of the security personnel when I asked, I really believe the stickers added some legitimacy to the request Not a guarantee of course, but for sure I think it helped. Attached if useful . (not mine, I got it off Reddit). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Are you assuming that an official who refuses a hand search can read ??? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 27 Author Share #11 Posted July 27 6 hours ago, Zeitblom said: Barely trained, overwhelmed airport staff should hand you a "Do not disrupt operations - therefore don't fly"-sticker and send you back home immediately. Good one. Fortunately quite the opposite, only encountered very helpful and well trained people this trip 👍 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 27 Author Share #12 Posted July 27 3 hours ago, jaapv said: Are you assuming that an official who refuses a hand search can read ??? Better than some in this thread, it would seem ☺️ 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sometimesmaybe Posted July 27 Share #13 Posted July 27 6 hours ago, Einst_Stein said: Hand search the whole bag would cause unnecessary extra efforts and delay it's not unusual to request a hand check. a lot of airports are quite accommodating. the sign can help to bridge any language barrier 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitroplait Posted July 28 Share #14 Posted July 28 (edited) All airports with new CT scanners I have been through the past few years will hand inspect film if requested. It is part of their training for the new scanning technology. Putting the Kodak sticker on a clear zipploc plastic bag will help and speed up communications when handing it over to security. When fully implemented, the speed advantage of CT scanners will be huge and asking for hand checks of film will not bother the flow. But - please don't confuse matters by asking for hand checks at the old style X-ray machines (unless you bring film above 800ISO). Conventional X-ray will not harm your film in less than a dozen x-ray exposures. Asking in a busy airport will just cause resentment and make things difficult for those who really need hand inspection. Edited July 28 by nitroplait 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bliz Posted July 29 Share #15 Posted July 29 (edited) On 7/27/2025 at 5:06 PM, Zeitblom said: Barely trained, overwhelmed airport staff should hand you a "Do not disrupt operations - therefore don't fly"-sticker and send you back home immediately. Are you and the other geniuses giving these kind of responses aware airport staff can give handchecks by policy? Edited July 29 by Bliz 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 30 Author Share #16 Posted July 30 (edited) 20 hours ago, Bliz said: Are you and the other geniuses giving these kind of responses aware airport staff can give handchecks by policy? Yes very surprised with the negativity here. I just travelled and experienced no issues whatsoever when handing over film. The sticker did seem to help (vers. previous trips without), hence posting it for others. Edited July 30 by grahamc 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeitblom Posted August 9 Share #17 Posted August 9 Am 29.7.2025 um 17:08 schrieb Bliz: Are you and the other geniuses giving these kind of responses aware airport staff can give handchecks by policy? Yes, they can, but they are not required to do handchecks. And with reduced staffing levels, handchecks are refused or delayed to such an extent that one fears not to reach the booked flight on time. A nightmare for the waiting wife. Or they claim that their X-ray machines are completely harmless. That's why I only fly with digital cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bliz Posted August 9 Share #18 Posted August 9 1 minute ago, Zeitblom said: That's why I only fly with digital cameras. Good for you, it still adds nothing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreiPunkte Posted August 11 Share #19 Posted August 11 The best protection for film material is and always will be your own friendliness combined with a willingness to help. It helps a lot if you prepare yourself as best as possible for the inspection and remain calm. It also helps to separate film material for hand control from the equipment. The latest thing I've been told is that it's easier for security personnel to spot a camera if it's lying flat on its back. It's not a problem for me, since I take my cameras out of my bag anyway and put them in a separate tray with my computer equipment. I've been traveling this way for 40 years and have never had any stress or blurred film, neither with large format 120mm nor 35mm. Happy landing to all. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreiPunkte Posted August 11 Share #20 Posted August 11 I have forgotten one security routine Opening all your bags is also helpful so you show that know what is going on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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