X RAY PROTECTIVE FILM BAGS URGENT!

You could try Kingsley Photographic
93, Tottenham Court Rd, London, W1T 4HL. Tel: 020 7436 8700

or

Filmplus tel: 020 8969 0234

Did you try the Jessops in New Oxford Street? Or there are a few shops around the same area, in Pied Bull Yard.

Where are you in London? Try using http://www.yell.com and narrowing your search using your postcode.

Personally I don’t bother with those little bags. Firstly because I understand the cabin-baggage scanners are ultrasonic nowadays and therefore pose no threat, and secondly if the operator is using x-ray, and he can’t see through the bag, he’ll just turn up the intensity until he can. You should be fine if you remember to NEVER PUT FILM IN CHECKED LUGGAGE!

Hope this helps. Good luck with the trip. PHC.

if you’ve got very sensitive film i.e. 1600/3200 then i think those baggies are recommended

..or x-ray film, obviously.

I use TMZ P3200 a lot, and I’ve never had a problem so far. I used to worry about this issue, and try to get advanced permission from airport security to hand check my films, but I’ve learned to relax and leave the film in my bag as it goes through the scanner.

I can’t see how the x-ray protection bags can be a solution. Surely, if they worked, someone could just put a gun in one? Or a bundle of explosives that look vaguely like rolls of film?

Hand checking is the only solution, but I can’t see it happening at busy airports these days. I spent 40 minutes queuing to get through the overworked security at Gatwick last week. I can’t see them looking favourably on someone asking for a hand check these days. PHC.

Luca, il piombo sarebbe la soluzione migliore, ma con fogli di carta argentata avvolti attorno a ciascun rullo (anche trix esposti a 1600) all’aereoporto di kabul ho passato indenne un vecchio scanner x-ray russo, sicuramente più potente dei moderni scanner.
Soluzione di emergenza ovviamente..

Emergency solution: aluminium foils to envolop each film: I passed safe the Kabul Airport (old russian X-ray scanner) with some trix exposed at 1600 too.

Saverio

I’ve been told NEVER to use those x-ray bags again. The moment they detect these bags they put UP the x-ray strength to be able to look inside of those bags. So they are pretty useless.

Never had any problem with high sensitive films either, so I think it is safe too. Or it should be a very old machine on a small, remote airport you don’t trust by the look of it…

good luck!

Rosa

Rosa, it happens to me too, in India.. but I can’t remember where: they ask me to open the bag and put the film in the scanner!! It was a very little airport and they became very nervous seeing that kind of plumb covered bag hiding everythink to the scanner.. I ask an hand check and they say no..

Luca, don’t bother mate. With all of today’s hysteria about security they will only turn the machine up and potentially fry your film anyway.

X-ray damage on film is accumulative, so as long the film isn’t too fast or doesn’t go through too many machines you should be ok.

There’s plenty of threads on LS about this. Here’s a couple:

http://www.lightstalkers.org/going-through-the-x-rays

You still off to the West Bank in October?

by Jason Moore | 26 Sep 2007 14:09 | Swindon, United Kingdom |

Weird, it won’t post the second URL. Try again:

by Jason Moore | 26 Sep 2007 14:09 | Swindon, United Kingdom |

by Jason Moore | 26 Sep 2007 14:09 | Swindon, United Kingdom |

Luca, there’s a specific thread on here about those film bags. I suggest you search for it because my posts keep coming up blank when i try to post the link.

Thank you guys. I found the bags I hope everything will be fine.

Hey Jason west bank is postponed Idont know how long, I got this assignment in Philippines and maybe I have the chance to get in Burma. Take care.

Luca