jeking Loc: Northern Illinois

I recently traveled to San Francisco - using my camera bag also as my "purse". Camera bag contains body, tamron all around lens, point and click, cloth cleaner, USB cable. No issues whatsoever. Memory card goes thru X-ray just fine. Laptop is in my carryon and there's no issues there either. We went to Muir Woods, my sister got a wooden candleholder (pointy) packed it neatly but had to unpack at the SFO because it looked suspicious...so much for her nice wrapping job. All in the name of safety.

FL Streetrodder

It's been a couple of years now since I've taken my camera gear on a plane, but they have always had me take my lens off the camera and take the end caps off any other lenses in my backpack to visually look through them. I agree with others that the x-rays should have no affect on your memory cards. I have heard from others lately that carrying a tripod as a carry-on has become a problem at times.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Nope; no contradiction at all in what I'm saying.;)

(BTW, since the original question has been answered repeatedly, I wouldn't worry about hijacking this thread. :mrgreen: )

First, note that the date on that Kodak notice is 2003. Since that time Title 21 C.F.R. (the regs governing Cabinet and Baggage X-Ray scanners) has been changed several times. The energies used in those machines have been reduced as the sensitivity of the detectors have increased.

Second, go through and take a close look at the notice from Kodak. They talk about unexposed film POSSIBLY being effected after MULTIPLE exposures. (Strictly a Legal, C.Y.A. move intended to limit the companies liability.) They also specifically warn against traveling with unexposed or unprocessed film in CHECKED baggage, whereas we were discussing carry-on luggage, which is subjected to LOW ENERGY X-Ray baggage scanners that physically can not damage that unexposed or unprocessed film.

Understand also that the technology for those high energy scanners has changed dramatically since 2003, and VERY few (if any) of the older baggage scanners are still in place or in use.

As for my expertise... well; let's just say I am a Health Physicist by training who works in Homeland Security on just these types of issues and others involving Radiological Safety and Public Health. Been doing it for a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time. ;)

It's safe to fly with either digital or analog photographic media. In fact, your camera/memory card/film will usually get MORE exposure from the flight itself than the security scan prior to boarding, so have no worries folks.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Cholly, thanks for putting some credentials behind your claim. It helps! I agree that technology changes, and one of the issues is that you say VERY few, which still leaves some potential risk there, even if not very probable. Also, is your knowledge worldwide or just the USA?

At the end of the day, you might be correct about the technology 99% of the time, but if people are more comfortable asking for a manual inspection why not? Factual accuracy, belief and trust are three separate things, but having a choice is appreciated when it is available and makes people feel happier.

However, what we seem to all agree on is that memory cards are not an issue, unless we have another informed individual that wishes to claim otherwise.

Take care!

beverett Loc: los angeles

The government has lied from the beginning about the safety of x-rays and film. Here's what the TSA says now:

"If you are transporting high speed (800 ISO and higher) or specialty film, you may request to have it physically inspected when presented at the screening checkpoint instead of undergoing x-ray screening. You may also request that all of your undeveloped film be physically inspected instead of undergoing x-ray, particularly if your film has or may be screened by x-ray more than five times. To facilitate physical inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack it in a clear plastic bag. We recommend leaving your film in the unopened manufacturer’s packaging."

Yes, your film may be damaged. And no, do not believe that the TSA has made it any safer to fly than before 9/11--this from an FBI friend.

LJR

Check TSA's website. If a person is above a certain age (I don't remember what the age is but I am well past it) shoes do not have to be removed and there are other similar benefits.

Carry-on photo equipment is not a problem for TSA. Sometimes, but not always, TSA will open a checked suitcase when there is a tripod in it.

X-ray does not seem to affect SD cards but multiple x-ray exams of film will fog it. To avoid multiple x-ray exams on a trip to the UK several years ago I bought all my Ektachrome film in Scotland and had it processed in England just before the return flight to the USA. The unexposed Ektachrome (ASA 100) was x-rayed at Gatwick but showed no ill effects when exposed and processed later in the USA.

Before I thought to buy film at my destination I would carry film through TSA in a lead protective bag and ask TSA to conduct a hand search of the film. TSA was required by regulation to do this upon request. Most of the time there was no grumbling.

Many years ago an acquaintance who would spend several months every year in a trailer traveling around the USA would buy many rolls of Kodachrome (volume discount) at home along with prepaid processing envelopes. As each roll was exposed he would send it off to be processed and sent to his home. He always deposited the film in their mailers inside a post office so the film would not be exposed to excessive heat in a mailbox. I always followed his example. When traveling by auto, I kept my unexposed film was kept in a cooler. If traveling by air I would and then rtenting a car, I would buy an inexpensive styrofoam cooler which I would discard or give away before the flight home.

beverett Loc: los angeles

Good info, LJR. The shoeless age is 75.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Not quite... ;)

And I gotta tell ya; the government has not "lied about X-Rays and film." :lol:

And again... take a close look at the notice: see what it stipulates about the NUMBER of times the film has to be screened prior to special precautions should be taken. ;)

BTW, this my friend, is STRICTLY a C.Y.A. move. It protects the government and the individual screeners from liability from claims that valuable property... say the rolls from a professional photo shoot...were damaged from a standard X-Ray screening.

It is a LEGAL statement only. It does NOT mean that there is any actual threat to undeveloped film from those baggage scanners.

The X-Rays at the energies utilized by those scanners will pass THROUGH the film just like they will pass through your wallet.

If you doubt me, do the research for yourself. Here's a little help:

http://hubblesite.org/reference_desk/faq/data/70/graphics/qa_emchart.gif

http://www.howstuffworks.com/film.htm

Then...

http://www.imaginis.com/xray/how-does-x-ray-imaginig-work

Once you actually understand HOW photographic film works... and we're talking standard photographic and IR film here... then you'll know exactly why X-Rays from baggage scanner are not a problem. ;)

beverett Loc: los angeles

When the government began using x-rays on carry-on luggage it said x-rays would not harm photographic film. Yet Eastman Kodak, which understands "HOW photographic film works" disagreed. So did numerous tests by various photographic organizations, all of which found that x-rays fogged film. So yes, the government lied then and there is no reason to believe the government is not lying now. And yes, we know about the visible spectrum, etc. We also know that x-rays can fog film even as they "pass through" it.

As for CYA, it would be smart to CYA by keeping your film away from x-rays.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Might have been a problem 30 years ago... but not today.

And when you get a chance, go ahead and read the links provided... you know; for your own edification. ;)

beverett Loc: los angeles

I read them--pretty much what has been known for years. And government "misinformation" has become standard procedure.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Does this have a resolution?

Is it Canons at thirty paces? Sonys at thirty paces, Hand-to-hand with Nikons, or would it take cannons at thirty paces?

Or perhaps, Gentlemen, you could lay down your weapons?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I usually put most my photo-gear with the luggage and just one or two cameras and lenses to carry-on. I never had any issues with my memory cards and the x-rays.

beverett Loc: los angeles

Peterff, you indeed are a voice of reason.

But the only sane way to do battle with the government is to expose lies and ineptitude. The TSA is the greatest fraud ever perpetrated on the American people. I'm doing my best to bring this truth to the multitudes who line up like sheep at airports thinking they are "safe" from those who seek to do us harm. Look for an upcoming documentary.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

That may be a valid position, but is it worth pursuing in this thread?

Is there any further point? Is this the right place?