Will airport security xray ruin my 35 mm film?

Question

I am leaving for Mexico tomorrow and i am going to Logan airport. I was just wondering if putting my black and white 35 mm film through the x-ray machine will effect my film? Or what if i put it in my pocket when i walk through the metal detector? will the detector go off? or can that even hurt my film?

Answer 1

You should definitely not have any film go through checked luggage as, all checked luggage is powerfully x-rayed. The carry-on x-rays are not as powerful, but there is a chance of problems with undeveloped film. Lead bags do help, but some are better than others for protection.

I'm not sure what the rules are in Mexico, but in the US you have the right to request a hand check of your carry-on baggage if you have film. So you should do that on your way there.

On the way back you can certainly ask for a hand check, but I don't know what the rules are there. Your safest bet is to have your film developed there at a reputable photodeveloper. X-ray scanning does not affect developed film.

Answer 2

TO BEGIN: DO NOT PUT THE FILM IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!!! Those x-rays will damage your film every time.

Trying to carry them through in your pocket will result in security making you take them out of your pocket and putting them through the smaller x-ray machine. This can harm the film, especially if it done more than once. High speed films are more likely to be damaged.

I travel often, and I am a professional photographer. I take my film out of their boxes, so that I'm carrying just the roll in the plastic container. I then put all of the containers in a mesh nylon bag, and request a hand-check BEFORE it goes through the x-ray machine at the security check point.

They may not be excited about your request, especially if they are busy. Give yourself plenty of time. Be polite, but persistant. If the security screener tells you that it doesn't effect low-speed film, tell them that the effects are cumulative (which they are), and that you prefer not to take chances.

I've even been told the film will receive a higher dose of radiation during the flight than it will during the x-ray process. I simply repeated that the effects are cumulative, and that if the film received more radiation in flight, then I absolutely needed to have the film hand-checked.

A neat little trick I learned from another pro is to buy one or two rolls of the highest speed film you can. Then you can tell security that you ARE carrying high speed film that can be damaged by the x-rays.

Finally, if you use a variety of Kodak film with dark canisters, mark the top of the lids with a permanent ink pen so that you know what is in each container.

Answer 3

First tell them you need hand check because the film you carry is very High ISO (say 3200 even if it is not, but you will rated at that) they do hand search (my own experience) I refuse to let them go to the machine, its my film.
Do not use lead bags, what the operator man does is increase the amount of X rays to see the inside, and damage the film.
Insist you are a photographer and are going to so many Airports that because the X rays are accumulative, your film will be useless at the end.

Answer 4

Several frames will probably be ruined, and the entire roll may be...or only the first two, or three, frames may be ruined, and the rest may be fine. It depends upon how widely open the camera was, and how long it remained that way. If the photos you want to take are important, take the damaged film out, and put new film in.

Answer 5

Yes, the x-ray machine can damage your film. They do make film bags that are lead lined to prevent this. At least they used to. If you do get one, you'll likely have to open it for security to inspect the contents, so keep it on top for easy access.

Answer 6

You should carry the film in your carry on luggage. For sure if you check the film it will be ruined. I lost an entire vacation when I check my film. Be safe and carry it on. The exray at the check in is much weaker.

Answer 7

YES ,it's safety to go through security x-ray,they only wanted to know what you have inside your photography Bag.

Answer 8

I would say that it is worth the piece of mind to send it to yourself via fedex or ups