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How do you guys travel with your s8 film ?


Salvador M. Rodrigues

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The only way to get your film safely from one destination to the other is to carry it with you on the plane.

 

But more importantly, when you go through security make sure you ask them to hand check your film and DO NOT let them put it through the x-ray. i just traveled from Florida to Michigan, and had no problem having them hand check the film. it doesn't take very long at all, and it assures the safety of your film.

 

Just do the same for your return trip, and you should be all set.

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Depends on where you are going and coming from and what you look and act like.

If you look like a skateboarder and wear sunglasses and are coming back from Amsterdam or a stopover in Amsterdam, good luck!

Just use common sense and be polite and they will handcheck it most of the time.

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Depends on where you are going and coming from and what you look and act like.

If you look like a skateboarder and wear sunglasses and are coming back from Amsterdam or a stopover in Amsterdam, good luck!

Just use common sense and be polite and they will handcheck it most of the time.

 

 

I don't know about that Dan. I look more like a drug addict than anything, and when i was traveling through the airport i had on an army jacket with hair past my shoulders and women's pants around my waist. I had them hand check my film, and the lady that did it was more than nice to me and checked it as fast as she could (she could tell i was a little worried about being late for my flight)

 

So as far as what you look like, i'm not sure that's going to matter... however being nice and polite is obviously something you'll want to do, but then again... why wouldn't you be nice and polite?

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You can find a few horror story Threads posted on here previously. If you're going to travel to the U. S. -- whose Airport Security can be a bit crazy, I would suggest mailing your Carts to a contact person at your destination, and then mail them back to yourself from your vacation spot. Wrap the exposed Carts with Saran before mailing.

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You can find a few horror story Threads posted on here previously. If you're going to travel to the U. S. -- whose Airport Security can be a bit crazy, I would suggest mailing your Carts to a contact person at your destination, and then mail them back to yourself from your vacation spot. Wrap the exposed Carts with Saran before mailing.

 

 

Thanks for all the responses, I think for this upcoming trip I will ask to hand check the films, but on a later trip I'm doing, I might send the film ahead through the mail! I 'm travelling in Europe, so that shouldn't be a problem, but I am leaving from London, where security is tighter than normal.

 

I am just curious as how Clingy plastic wrap protects your films ? I would assume that foi wrapping would do a better job ?

 

Many Thanks,

 

SMR

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"I don't know about that Dan. I look more like a drug addict than anything, and when i was traveling through the airport i had on an army jacket with hair past my shoulders and women's pants around my waist. I had them hand check my film, and the lady that did it was more than nice to me and checked it as fast as she could (she could tell i was a little worried about being late for my flight)

 

So as far as what you look like, i'm not sure that's going to matter... however being nice and polite is obviously something you'll want to do, but then again... why wouldn't you be nice and polite?"

 

 

Well there is always the exception to the rule but airport security staff have some kind of stereotypical profiling system they follow or so I've heard. I think it also depends on the airport, flight, time of day, etc.

I as well do not understand how cling wrap or aluminum foil would do much to protect film against x-rays.

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I am just curious as how Clingy plastic wrap protects your films ? I would assume that foi wrapping would do a better job ?

The plastic wrap is just to protect the film against humidity / condensation on a ship, or a mishap like a water leak. Better safe than sorry.

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If your travelling out of France with Super 8 film DO NOT go to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The X-Ray attendant shoved my exposed stock into the machine AFTER reading the writing on the boxes. I only hope they've survived. I'll have to wait until Todd-AO have seen to them to find out what condition they're in. If it's screwed I won't be letting them forget this in a hurry. :(

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If your travelling out of France with Super 8 film DO NOT go to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The X-Ray attendant shoved my exposed stock into the machine AFTER reading the writing on the boxes.

 

Is posting super 8 to andec in german, from uk, ok? I have heard different opinions concerning this..

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Well,

 

So I travelled today from London do Lisbon carrying a handful of super 8 films bought from the widescreen center. I was travelling through Gatwick airport, and once I got to the x-ray screening (and after taking my shoes, wallet, belt etc...) I gently explained the security officer that I had in possession some 8mm motion picture negative´s that are very sensible to light, and that I was a bit concerned with the x-ray, so if he could kindly hand check the cartridges. I opened one in front of him to show what was actually inside.

 

In a very blatant way he simply told me, "you either place the films through the x-ray or you can turn around and leave" lol.. He then told me that earlier in the day the same situation happened and the person actually left. Stating that he has orders with the airport to screen everything in travelers possessions.

 

I then asked him if the x-ray machine was film safe, he replied yes, but then he went on and said he didn´t understand why we carry the films in our hands and how we should place them in the checked bags.

 

I told him that the x-ray machine for the checked bags was much stronger. And he finished off "Next time just use a film bag!"

 

Oh, I remember asking him if the airport would cover liability in case the films got ruined. Just trying to place some pressure. Obviously that didn´t work. At least I managed to waist enough time talking that the carpet was free to roll and my films weren´t inside the x-ray for more than 2 seconds. Hopefully they will be alright.

 

In the meantime when I walked in to the widescreen centre to buy the film stock, I had a small chat with Jake Astbury and asked him how he traveled with his films. (He seems to travel with bulk amounts). He just told to get rid of the boxes for space purposes and to wrap the cartridges in foil for small protection and that the x-ray machines for hand held luggage were alright!

 

(If my shooting turns out crap, at least I´ll have something to blame ahah )

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just an update on the hand baggage x-ray machines. I found these two interesting entries. One is taken from Baa.co.uk the body that governs the 3 main London airports

 

Independent tests undertaken by the British Photographers' Liaison Committee (BPLC), to establish the full and exact details of any potential film damage caused by baggage screening machines at airports, have given the all clear to current hand luggage x-ray inspection systems installed at BAA airports.

 

The findings confirm BAA's previous recommendations to passengers, that they should carry unprocessed film in their hand luggage not packed in hold (checked-in) luggage. The findings confirm that hand luggage security scanning machinery is safe for all normal film types (up to and including ISO 400)*. Current digital camera storage media can also safely be examined by these x-ray machines without suffering ill effects.

 

Specialist film (ISO 800 and above) under exceptional circumstances, when passed more than eight times through the hand luggage security scanning machines, can be affected. However the nature of the change occurring is barely noticeable to the naked eye and indeed does not become clearly visible until film is exposed around 32 times.

 

BAA therefore continues to recommend that airline passengers carry all normal, undeveloped film in their hand luggage not in their hold (checked-in) luggage. We also advise that special arrangements can be made for photographers carrying professional film (ISO 800 and above) by prior arrangement with their airline or airport. Hand search requests for professional film will normally be accommodated, but the final decision in all individual cases will always rest with the on-duty security supervisor.

 

The results reported are in the context of standard film use. Professional photographers requiring more detailed information should refer in the first place to their own photographic association or organisation, or the BPLC on +44 (0)20 7739 6669.

 

*These films will be visually unaffected by up to eight and in some cases 32 passes through the hand luggage x-ray machines. Processed film can be x-rayed virtually without limit, without suffering any ill effects whatsoever from these machines.

 

 

 

The second entry is from Kodak.com, I guess it is more geared towards the U.S.

 

 

 

Airport Baggage Scanning Equipment Can Jeopardize Your Unprocessed Film

 

Because your pictures are important to you, this information is presented as an alert to travelers carrying unprocessed film. New FAA-certified (Federal Aviation Administration) explosive detection systems are being used in U.S. airports to scan (x-ray) checked baggage. This stronger scanning equipment is also being used in many non-US airports. The new equipment will fog any unprocessed film that passes through the scanner.

 

The recommendations in this document are valid for all film formats (135, Advanced Photo System [APS], 120/220, sheet films, 400 ft. rolls, ECN in cans, etc.).

 

Suggestions for Avoiding Fogged Film

 

X-ray equipment used to inspect carry-on baggage uses a very low level of x-radiation that will not cause noticeable damage to most films. However, baggage that is checked (loaded on the planes as cargo) often goes through equipment with higher energy X rays. Therefore, take these precautions when traveling with unprocessed film:

 

* Don't place single-use cameras or unprocessed film in any luggage or baggage that will be checked. This includes cameras that still have film in them.

 

* If an attendant or security personnel informs you that your carry-on baggage must be stowed with the checked luggage or go through a second scan, remove your unprocessed film.

 

* Have your exposed film processed locally before passing through airport security on your return trip.

 

* If you're going to be traveling through multiple X-ray examinations (more than 5 times), request a hand search of your carry-on baggage. FAA regulations in the U.S. allow for a hand search of photographic film and equipment if requested. (See below for further FAA information.) However, non-US airports may not honor this request.

 

* Request a hand inspection for all motion imaging origination films. Testing shows fog on motion imaging films even after a single X-ray scan. This increased fog flattens the entire toe region of the sensitometric curve reducing shadow detail in a telecine or projected image. However, Explosive Trace Detection instruments provide no risk to motion picture films and can be used in conjunction with hand inspection to provide a non-destructive method of motion film inspection.

 

* If you're asked to step aside for a more thorough scan of your carry-on baggage, the film could be harmed if they use the more intense X-ray equipment.You should take your unprocessed film out of your luggage.

 

* Lead-lined bags, available from photo retailers, will weaken the X-radiation on film and reduce potential harm. However, the effectiveness of any particular lead bag depends on the intensity and electric potential of the X-ray generator, the lead's thickness, and the film speed. If you use a lead bag, check with the manufacturer for the effectiveness of their products with airport X-ray devices. The inspection process may be triggered by a lead bag on the scanner screen. In a typical airport surveillance situation, the baggage may be pulled aside for additional inspection.

 

* Consider shipping unprocessed, unexposed or exposed film through an expedited carrier, but first check with the carrier to determine what package examination procedures they are using.

 

* Be polite, helpful and patient. Please remember that security personnel are trying to protect the traveling public.

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This is my recent experience. I was doing a documantary in Florida.

I got 16 rolls of 200T from Spectra shipped by FEDEX to Montreal, Canada.

I don't know if it was X_RAYed or not even if it was

labeled with DO NOT X_RAY stickers all over the box.

I took the films, went thru security in MTL, they refused to

hand check. I had to got thru US Custom and Secutity at Pearson in Toronto: again

the refused the hand check. I shot the film, FEDEX it from Florida to LA

with the DO NOT X_RAY labels. Again no idea if it wasX-RAYed.

All the rolls came out PERFECT...

At every airport I saw warnings about photographic films to be removed

from lugage. The equipment used for lugage X_RAY does irreversible damage,

but I guess those uded for hand lugage does not...

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