I am thinking of making a trip to Nova Scotia in May to shoot some B&W Sea Scapes. I have been told that the more you protest that you don't want your film "zapped" by X Ray, the stronger dose it gets. Was wondering whether to ship my 220 rolls ahead along with My Delta 400, via UPS, or whether to try and get the film I need in Halifax. I understand there may be a price differential in Canada, any ideas would be welcome!Am planning on sending my exposed stuff back to U.S. by means other than U.S.Snail. Pete

-- Pete Harvey (nnn0lmt@worldnet.att.net), November 03, 2001

Answers

Pete,

Damage to film from airport X-Ray machines is typically cumulative. That is, the more zaps the greater the likelihood of fogging. Film speed is a factor also.

I've travelled in the US a number of times since 11/Sep/01 and have not had any problems with fogging of slide or color print films of ISO 100 / 400 speeds and in 35mm and 120 / 220 formats. No roll of film received more than two zaps. Note that since 11/Sep, I've stopped asking for hand-inspection. I haven't been to Canada in quite some time, so I know nothing about the current state of their X- Ray technology or protocols.

I have also mailed film for processing while on the road to avoid X- Ray exposure. However, with recent USPS announcements, I may have to re-think this strategy as well. Shipping film to one's destination by expedited courier is usually safe and reliable; although expensive. Recent events may complicate courier shipping, as well.

Good luck and let know what you decide and the outcomes.

-Nick

-- Nicholas Wybolt (nwybolt@earthlink.net), November 03, 2001.

I expect you can get whatever film you need in Halifax. The problem in Canada isn't the price, it's the taxes! I think the sales tax in PEI was something like 17%.

I did stock up on Varta 625's in Halifax and the price wasn't too bad when converted to USD.

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), November 03, 2001.

Two recent trips through Vancouver with lined protective film pouch in carry-on bag with T400CN, Portra 400BW and Fuji 100 Acros. Dis not request hand inspection. Absolutely no problems.

-- Tom Dunn (lifeworkjobs@earthlink.net), November 03, 2001.

To restate the (probably) obvious, if you accidentally put film into your checked luggage, then the high power x-ray scan will zap the film and after processing, you will see a very bright, very neat sine wave traced from one end of the film to the other . My friend who owns a major colour lab has a fine example from a pro who should have known better.

-- wayne murphy (wmurphy@powerup.com.au), November 03, 2001.

I had no problems with Velvia, Provia 100, Provia 400, zapped twice in lead bag in carryon luggage. On the second zap (return trip) it even spent quite a while (30 to 60 seconds) under the Xray while they puzzled over the contents.

MORE HERE

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 04, 2001.

Bob: A few folks at photo.net recommended against the lead bags right now, saying that the security people will zap the crap out of it way more than the film alone trying to get a reading on that black hole in your carry on.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), November 04, 2001.

Andrew, yes, I suspect the extra time they spent X-raying my bag, might have been partly on account of the lead bag. The rest of the time, they were trying to figure out what that other object was. Finally: "Oh, it's a camera, Ed." Duh.

I am considering leaving the lead bag home from now on. I might try the trick of tossing in one roll of P3200 and asking for hand- inspection.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), November 04, 2001.

I used a lead film shield box recently but first asked for a hand inspection which was granted. I asked the security person whether my lead shield box would have received an extra high dose to try to see through it if I had left in the carry on bag.

Her reply was that they could not turn the power up sufficiently and the operator would see a semi solid greenish shape but not the contents, at which time I would be invited to unpack it from my bag for closer inspection.

I cannot say whether this was accurate information.

-- wayne murphy (wmurphy@powerup.com.au), November 06, 2001.