Airport Security and S8 Cartridges

[BolexPlusx]

I am about to go to Europe for the first time and am thinking about taking along a camera and a couple of cartridges of Kodachrome.

I'm kind of curious about what happens when you go through security with these biggish boxes of odd film that most of them probably have never seen before.

Anybody had any incidents?

I am kind of hoping to get away with nothing worse than hearing "why don't you just buy a video camera?" and avoid some bozo deciding to pry one open and see what's inside

[Cranium]

I haven't been to Europe for a while, but I went through about a million domestic security points recently. When they (the highly trained photographic professional working at the airport) ask you what "speed" the film is, just tell them it's movie film, and could they hand inspect it. They'll usually do it without problems, but be prepared to remove just about evey article of clothing you're wearing, and don't keep anything embarassing (and certainly nothing illegal) in the carry-on. Try carrying everything in as pro-looking of a bag as possible.
They may protest, but politely protest back, using words like "emulsion" "push-processing" "EMI sensitivity" and "flux-capacitor"

[wahiba]

In practise Kodachrome at 40asa is not harmed by the current x-ray devices for hand luggage. I have put plenty of film, up to 400 asa and never had a problem.
Un-accompanied luggage might be different.
Tip - put anything sharp, including pen knives, scissors etc. into the hold. Especially if you are leaving from a UK airport. Don't know about the rest.
Have a nice holiday [img]cool.gif[/img]

[Nigel]

As for the X-rays--They have pumped them up. I saw on Kodak's website that they are saying all film is no in danger and you can download a "Do Not X-Ray" label. I just traveled and I simply said that there is film that can't be X-Rayed. It also helped that I was with some others from the film shoot and I had other gear but it did not stop them from searching my shoes. Do Not X-Ray your film it will fog. Good Luck

[Nigel]

Kodak has said that X-Ray machines like the CTX5500 which is used at many airports will "fog and ruin all unprocessed film of any speed whether exposed or not." The labels can be found at--

www.kodak.com/go/xraylabel

Good Luck
PS--Sorry about the bad writing in the prior post.

[wahiba]

If they are fogging the film what are they doing to you?

[Nigel]

What do you mean--What are they doing to you?? They are doing nothing since they don't put you on the X-Ray machine. Good Luck

[BolexPlusx]

Well,
I just got back and they weren't taking no for an answer on the x-ray machines at JFK on the way out or at Vienna on the way home, so my five rolls of Kodachrome 40 and numerous 400 ASA stills my wife took get to be a test case for this discussion. I made sure they didn't go down in the hold, based on the discussion of many more RADs being blasted on those machines.

P.S., there was a sign on the machine in Vienna attesting that their inspection is not harmful to film.

I'll let you know.

P.P.S. Driving on the Autobahn is a blast! I hope my footage comes out!

[BolexPlusx]

OK,
The Jury is In. My wife had two rolls of prints (from 400 ASA film)processed at a 1 Hr. Photo near us and they look fine.

I think my 40 ASA Super 8's will be at least ten times as fine!

I'm thinking about going to Dwayne's as opposed to Kodak. (Kodak bungled a key roll of film recently and scuttled one of my projects) Any thoughts?

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 13, 2002 06:15 PM: Message edited by: BolexPlusx ]</font>

[Nigel]

Well, I don't know why they wouldn't take No for an answer. The airport people were great to me at the worst airport in the world Detroit Metro.

They did ask me if the equipment and film was "professional." I said yes. It didn't hurt that there were others there from the crew. But. I would stand behind Kodak before John Ashcroft.

Good Luck