Airport X-rays (was Re: [photo-3d] Re: Welsh: its all greek to me!)

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

George Themelis wrote:
> Anyway, I look forward to getting some great stereo pictures
> when I go to Greece for Easter, leaving April 21st.  I plan
> to take 50 rolls of film with me for the one week visit.
> I will let the film go through the x-ray machines in every
> airport I visit (an estimated 6 airports during this trip) as
> I have done in the past.  Any comments on that?
> 

You should be fine so long as you carry the film with you and have it
sent through the carry on bag scanner.  The current x-ray machines in
these scanners are safe for normal speed (ISO 25 to approximately ISO
400) 35mm film for a few passes through the scanner.  The lower the
film speed the less effect there will be.  I don't know what these
scanners will do to 120 roll film or sheet film (which don't have the
metal cassette that helps protect 35mm film).

By the way, if you see the scanner operator fiddling with knobs as a
bag goes through, they are adjusting the contrast on the monitor.  The
scanner operator can not change the intensity of the X-rays.

If you are in the USA you can ask for a hand inspection of your carry
on bag.  The security personnel are required by the FAA regulations to
hand inspect any film you ask them to.  I don't think any other
country has this requirement.  Do the security people a favor and keep
all your film in clear ziplock bags.

Do not pack your film in checked luggage.  The new checked bag
scanners will damage all types of film.  Don't bother with lead film
bags.  The new scanners can go right through them.  The new scanners
are not at every airport, but they are not telling people where they
have been installed.  (All together now: "Security through obscurity
is no security at all!")

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx              | "Oooh!"
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
NAR# 54438                      |       "Dexter's Laboratory"

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