Do Xrays at Airports damage films?

SUE

Hi,

I have noticed the Lonely Planet guide says that luggage is Xray when flying on domestic flights within India. Does anyone know whether this can damage photographic film and if so how can this be avoided?

Thanks
Sue

tracyprier

I believe that nowadays most are supposed to be ok BUT I would still be cautious with older-type machines which are likely to be still in use in countries like India/Nepal.

What are other peoples experiences??, Last time I was in India a few years ago the X-ray machines looked pretty ancient so I asked for my film to be checked manually.

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India...Wild At Heart

abracax

Never travel without the old lead-lined bag. I usually take three.

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He travels fastest who pays for a cab.

Midnite Toker

Tracy, when were you able to get your films checked by hand, since 11-9-01?

It is my method of choice, and I've never had problems asking for hand-checks, but I've not done any Asian travelling since September last year.

Lead-lined bags are fine, but I got friendly with a couple of X-ray operators in Manchester and they proudly showed me how the intensity can be cranked up if they initially couldn't see through anything metal. They could identify a glass inside a metal box this way.

tracyprier

This was pre- 9/11 Toke. Would be interested to hear others experiences with hand-checked film since then. If you only go thru a few airports it probably isn't such an issue, but I am a bit concerned about what are going to be a fair few passes thru xray machines during my next trip.

abraxus

new equipmen will damage your film- since 11/9 no more hand checks? checkout - http://www.kodak.com/global/en/servi.../tib5201.shtml
for kodaks warnings & suggestions

SUE

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I will purchase a lead lined bag just to be safe.

Thanks

Sue

IainC

It depends on the type of film that you are using and the film speed. Slide, colour negative and, black and white - in that order, are more susceptable to X-ray and the faster the film, the more damage can be done. Normally (even in India) one or two doses of X-ray will not damage film, but the main problem is the cumulative doses. Lead lined bags, in principle, are fine but as previuosly stated the machine operator will just up the dosage and thus negate the cost of the bag. On my first trip to India I shot 60 rolls of Kodachrome and they were all ruined. Now, with this in mind, I only take direct flights, hardly ever take internal flights and I shoot in black and white (B&W is more 'arty' anyway) and I always take my film into to cabin. I have been to India twice since 11th Sept and I managed to get my film hand searched once, but you get very funny looks when you open up a bag with 100 rolls.