X rays. (Was - urgent question!)

["Tim Rudman" <tim.rudman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Have just picked up this thread on my return from a trip. I had to go
through about 12 or more scanners and had various films up to 1600, and of
course IR, so I certainly asked for hand searches where ever possible. This
was not because I think that one or two (or several) passes will damage my
film, but I am concerned about multiple exposures.
Heathrow of course insists on scanning but I know their scanners are current
state of the art and understand the terrorist background to this. I would
rather they scanned everything than risk another 'Lockerbie' or similar.

My experience with IR on this trip was quite varied. Most (in Australia)
agreed on a hand search - some were reluctant but finally agreed. Two
refused as "too busy". Some looked at 'Do not open' label and just shook the
cannister, most went and took advice from a superior, one insisted on
opening or scanning and was very happy to use my IR proof changing bag. One
had already opened 75% of my IR cannisters not bothering to read the
warning, by the time I caught up with the films, as there was a delay
getting through the screening arch. I pointed out to her that these films
were now ruined. She clearly didn't believe me as she "had only peeked"
lifting part of the lid briefly. As I had seen this to be true I decided
that I would test the films. On developing one unexposed film there was very
obvious banding, so I threw the rest away. An expensive experience and I
should have trusted my instinct and insisted that the airport authority paid
for replacements films at the time.

This verifies the importance of observing the caution re. only opening in
total darkness. I have proved it to myself before but even this very rapid
and only partial lifting of the lid
indoors caused significant fogging - and not only to the first few frames as
has been suggested in this group before. I would strongly urge all to ignore
any advice that it is safe to load Kodak High Speed IR film in the light and
wind past the first few frames
Tim

 Original Message -----
From: Don Roberts <droberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <infrared@xxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: urgent question!


> I am puzzled by all the paranoia and subterfuges used to smuggle film past
> check-in Xray machines.  I have flown frequently for athletic events using
film
> rated as high as 1000 ISO and had it pass through 3-4 Xrays while
unexposed and
> another 3-4 after exposure and before developing.  I have never been able
to
> find any sign of damage or changes in the film as a result.  I have taken
strips
> of unexposed film which I developed and exposed negs along as tests.  When
I
> flew to southern Mexico I was concerned so I had an unexposed short roll
and a
> test roll processed immediately after getting to my destination.  This was
all
> 800 ISO film and I could find absolutely no difference between the film
that
> went through the check-in Xray and my control film.  My conclusion is the
> empirical evidence clearly indicates it is safe to take film as carry on
(but
> not checked) and any attempt to get around it is likely to cause you grief
with
> the people trying to expedite boarding and still safe guard the flying
public.
> Put the film in your camera bag, run it through the Xray and forget about
it.
>
> RLCaldwell@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> > I have had to go through the stringent inspections at Heathrow twice and
can
> > suggest one way to get film safely through.
> >
> > If you are shooting 120 film on plastic spools, just conceal it under
your
> > clothes, and walk through the metal detector.  Be sure to wear very
simple
> > clothes.  My wife had on a multi-pocketed, hooded outer coat, and they
made
> > her remove it and send it through the x-ray machine.  My 20 rolls of Tri
X
> > under a windbreaker never saw the x-rays.
> >
> > Here is an example of how strict they are at Heathrow:  I had three
cassettes
> > of exposed 35mm Velvia and casually dropped them in the change basket
before
> > I entered the metal detector.  They immediately demanded to know whose
they
> > were, and then picked them out of the basket and passed them through the
> > x-rays.
> >
> > Here is an example of how irrational they are at Heathrow:  they
considered
> > the three film cassettes more of a threat than my large, multi-bladed
Swiss
> > Army Knife.  (All you hijackers out there please ignore the preceding
> > statement and continue to arm yourselves with film cassettes.  It drives
the
> > English crazy.)
> >
> > All US airports must hand check items, if requested.  I have always
carried
> > film in large plastic zip lock bags for this purpose and have never been
> > requested to open the plastic bag, let alone a box of film.
> >
> > I just read a British photo magazine (Amateur Photographer) which
reported on
> > a survey of European film prices.  The prices in the UK were the
highest, but
> > were still lower than in the US (even for Kodak film).  IR film can be
hard
> > to find, but for other film, you are probably better off to buy and
process
> > it in Europe.  (My good friend in York buys process-paid Fuji Sensia II
100,
> > 36 exp., for less than ten dollars, for example.  It's even cheaper on
the
> > continent.)
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> > *
> > ****
> > *******
> > ******************************************************
> > *  To remove yourself from this list, send:          *
> > *         UNSUBSCRIBE INFRARED                       *
> > *       to                                           *
> > *         MAJORDOMO@xxxxx                            *
> > *----------------------------------------------------*
> > *   For the IR-FAQ, IR-Gallery and heaps of links:   *
> > *  http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm  *
> > ******************************************************
>
> --
> ====================================================================
>       Don Roberts   *  Bittersweet Productions  *  Iowa City, IA
>                       *                                    *
> Of course, that's just my opinion.  I could be wrong. -- Dennis MIller
> ====================================================================
>
>
> *
> ****
> *******
> ******************************************************
> *  To remove yourself from this list, send:          *
> *         UNSUBSCRIBE INFRARED                       *
> *       to                                           *
> *         MAJORDOMO@xxxxx                            *
> *----------------------------------------------------*
> *   For the IR-FAQ, IR-Gallery and heaps of links:   *
> *  http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm  *
> ******************************************************

*
****
*******
******************************************************
*  To remove yourself from this list, send:          *
*         UNSUBSCRIBE INFRARED                       *
*       to                                           *
*         MAJORDOMO@xxxxx                            *
*----------------------------------------------------*
*   For the IR-FAQ, IR-Gallery and heaps of links:   *
*  http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm  *
******************************************************