Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll be flying out in two days to attend the herpetology and icthyology conference in Brazil. This will be my first time flying in over ten years and it will be my first flight out of the country. I would like to know how I can get the film through the x-ray machine without damaging it. I am aware of film shield products but I have no time to order one, although I might be able to find one locally but I'm not thrilled about the cost of some of these. What is the best way to fly with film, and is there a way that I can make my own film shield? I will be traveling with 800 speed film for APS photo systems.

And while we are on the subject, I have been unsuccessful in finding web sites that explain the best way to pack your luggage, and most importantly what not to bring. If you have one handy please let me know.

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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

I have never had film get damaged from going through an airport X-ray, we just got back from Alaska and all the photos turned out fine. Just don't pack any sharp objects in your carry-on, such as nail clippers, and you won't have any trouble travelling.
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X radiation is attenuated most effectively by metal. The heavier the metal, the more protection you will have. The film containers that are sold to protect film from X rays, are flimsy plastic and lead foil baggies, that are overpriced, due to the difficulty of finding lead foil in stores (then no one would need them). However, steel works fine too, so just put the film in a cookie tin, or other small metal box. If you are pressed for time, just wrap the film in lots of aluminum foil. Also, film manufactures have made great improvements in lowering the film sensitivity to X rays. The color film you are using may see no fogging at all.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~

The newest x-ray detection equipment at airports for passengers' CARRY-ON luggage doesn't seem to affect films of 400 ISO / ASA or slower speeds at all, but I have no experience with faster films. I'd ask for your film to be hand-inspected instead of going through the machine at check-in, noting that there's probably a sign nearby warning about potential damage to faster films. It won't help you in Paris, but most TSA people here are still willing to accomodate photographers.

Whatever you do, DON'T put any film, fresh or already exposed, in CHECKED baggage, as the stronger 'killer' x-rays that check those pieces will destroy your film, guaranteed! And the 'x-ray proof' bags will only exacerbate the problem by causing your film to be bombarded with even higher doses of x-rays trying to 'see' what's shielded.

- Bill Love

The easiest thing to do is to take all of your film out of the little plastic vials and put it all in a big ziploc bag. Then hand carry it through the inspection station. If it is more than about 10 rolls, seperate them into smaller bags. You want the inspectors to be able to look and see that it is film.

If it is in a clear bag that they can open and they can see that it really is film, they will let generally let you pass it around the xray machine (if it is still in the little plastic canisters, they often will make you X-ray it).

I believe most modern X-ray machines are OK for film under 1600 ASA, but you you ought to avoid the exposure with 800 ASA just in case.

I would not suggest wrapping your film in foil or putting it in some sort of X-ray proof canister as that is just likely to detain you while you unwrap and show the screeners exactly what it is you were hiding from the x-ray machine.

And coming back to the US from south America with a bunch of small foil wrapped packages would almost guarantee a long visit with the customs officials!
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Chris Harrison