Do you have to do anything special with your film on the way over and back?. I have traveled in the states with no problems but didnt know if the xray machines screw your film up.
Dean

Get a lead lined film shield bag at any good photo supply store, and put your film in that. Place the bag in your carry on, NOT in your checked baggage, and everything will be fine.

As long as you keep the film speed below 1000 ASA, you'll be fine. I carry 400 ASA regularly through airports and have never had any problems.

mikeh375 has got it right on this one. The x-ray devices used on checked luggage are much more powerful than those at security. Carry-on film, spend the $20 bucks on a lead bag, AND take a second camera. I learned this the hard way. I lucked out as my PH had a small loner camera. You will have no problems.

zzz

They actually make heavier lead bags for higher speed film. And don't ever let them tell you X-rays won't fog film. It will! Have them hand check it.

I'm with Doctor Lou. I think you are solving a problem that doesn't exist, at least in my experience.

Buy the lead-lined box if it makes you feel more confident, but I've carried film through international airports on a steady basis for over ten years and never had any film damaged. I do take in in my carry-on.

I must admit that even though I travel internationally a good bit, I've never had film that was definitely ruined by X-Rays. Bad processing yes, X-Rays, no.

HOWEVER, everything's changed since Sept. 11, and I've changed accordingly. Now, I routinely have my carry-on X-Rayed four times just to get to Europe and back-- and I'm talking about direct flights. Throw in a couple of side trips while there, and we rapidly hit eight to ten times. Hand-checking is NOT an option in many places any more. (Just try it at Heathrow!) And, they may very well open up your carry on, remove the lead lined bag, pull out the film, and run it through separately.

So what do I do? I buy film on site, and generally have it developed there as well. If I'm going far afield, where the film I want/prefer is unlikely to be available, then I take it from the states-- but I get it developed before I bring it back. It's usually cheaper, anyway. And the quality may be better than you get at home, to boot. (If anyone wants directions to a fantastic, and unbelievably cheap processor in Amsterdam, just ask. I actually take negatives to them from the States...)

X-Ray damage to film is cumalative. Yes, one trip through won't fog the film. Repeated ones will, and nowadays you may get half a dozen or more in a normal trip. And never forget that the further afield one goes, the less likely the X-Ray machines will be of the newer, lower-dose type. Even when they say it's OK, beware.

Pertinax

And I guess I should add: Who is more likely to be telling you the truth about this? The security bozos at the airport? Or a physicist (me) and professional photographers (see the magazines)?

Just because there's a sign on the machine, doesn't mean it's true. Do what you can to minimize exposure.

Pertinax

Ladies and Gentlmen,

Will airport X-rays screw up my CompactFlash cards for my digital camera?

Regards,

Terry

Shouldn't.
Compact Flash is Magnetic Medium and not Film

As to whether the xray machines will hurt film, see this link at the Photograpic and Imaging Manufacturers Association. Kodak refers people to this site.

www.i3a.org/pr_12_03_01.html

I have never had trouble with my compact flash cards for my digital camera, or with my laptop on recent trips.