Film Cameras in Checked Luggage

If you are travelling by air with a film camera, don't forget that now
all airlines require cameras to be in checked luggage, not carried on
board. It is absolutely essential to have the film (and the camera
containing film) in a lead pouch. Otherwise, many strong x-rays used
for checked luggage will fry all your film.

Camera stores have or can get the lead pouches.

On my last trip, I had some instant coffee in a plastic container with
a small silver-plated spoon. One of the x-ray machines was so strong
that it melted and solidified all the coffee! Not exactly film safe!

Larry in Berkeley, California

"Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@> wrote:

> If you are travelling by air with a film camera, don't forget that now
> all airlines require cameras to be in checked luggage, not carried on
> board.

You can still carry cameras aboard on flights originating in the USA. The
only place in the world that restricts you are flights originating in the
UK.

> It is absolutely essential to have the film (and the camera
> containing film) in a lead pouch. Otherwise, many strong x-rays used
> for checked luggage will fry all your film.
>
> Camera stores have or can get the lead pouches.

Lead pouches are not thick enough to protect your film from the x-ray
machines used to inspect checked baggage. They can use much higher levels
of x-rays than the machines used to inspect carry-on bags.

One of the bag manufacturers (Domke) did a test, and concluded that a lead
bag that was thick enough to provide protection for film in checked baggage
would too heavy to be practical for passengers to carry.

Larry wrote:

> If you are travelling by air with a film camera, don't forget that now
> all airlines require cameras to be in checked luggage, not carried on
> board.

I think your blanket statement is not founded on fact, For example, the AA
website places a restriction on electronic devices carried on only on UK to
US flights - nowhere else. What airlines support your claim. Further, I
would further add that a "film" camera is no more an electronic device than
a wallet once you remove the batteries.

rg

Larry in Berkeley wrote:


>
> On my last trip, I had some instant coffee in a plastic container with
> a small silver-plated spoon. One of the x-ray machines was so strong
> that it melted and solidified all the coffee! Not exactly film safe!

Are you sure it was the x-rays, not the temperatures in the
hold? (I know it's cold, once aloft, but I've had the same
experience with instant coffee I carried in my car, after a
few rest stops in the hot summer sun, with the car closed
and locked.)

On 13 Aug 2006 09:26:48 -0700, "Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@>
wrote:

>
>On my last trip, I had some instant coffee in a plastic container with
>a small silver-plated spoon. One of the x-ray machines was so strong
>that it melted and solidified all the coffee! Not exactly film safe!
>
How do you know the x-ray machine did this?

Ken wrote:
> On 13 Aug 2006 09:26:48 -0700, "Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >On my last trip, I had some instant coffee in a plastic container with
> >a small silver-plated spoon. One of the x-ray machines was so strong
> >that it melted and solidified all the coffee! Not exactly film safe!
> >
> How do you know the x-ray machine did this?

I do not know of any other source of energy that would melt the coffee
without any damage or disturbance to anything else (even the soft
candy) in the suitcase. I assume there was some interaction with the
metal spoon causing it to overheat. Such high temperatures are highly
unlikely in the baggage compartment aloft and there was not such high
temperature on land before or after.

Thanks to all who corrected my understanding about carryon of cameras.
Yes, hand checking of film is a good idea if you are allowed to carry
it on.

News annoucements just after the incident said only passport and wallet
were allowed carryon and they had to be in a plastic bag, nothing said
about that only being from the UK. Maybe just sloppy reporting or that
was a temporary rule.

Larry in Berkeley

"Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@> wrote in message
news:1155510804.679324.264020@75g2000cwc. ...
>
> News annoucements just after the incident said only passport and wallet
> were allowed carryon and they had to be in a plastic bag, nothing said
> about that only being from the UK. Maybe just sloppy reporting or that
> was a temporary rule.
>
> Larry in Berkeley
>

I have read this message from .asia.
My wife is travelling from Perth (Australia) to Amsterdam this week so I
checked with the airline this morning. They advised me that unless she was
travelling via the UK (which she isn't) the rules about carryon luggage were
NOT changed from before the emergency. Mind you the security will be
heightened.
So cameras are still allowed in the cabin, depending on where you are flying
to/from.

Gerrit

Ken wrote:
> On 13 Aug 2006 09:26:48 -0700, "Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >On my last trip, I had some instant coffee in a plastic container with
> >a small silver-plated spoon. One of the x-ray machines was so strong
> >that it melted and solidified all the coffee! Not exactly film safe!
> >
> How do you know the x-ray machine did this?

If it was the x-ray machine, maybe it was one defective one. I can
hardly believe they're all that unsafe. I've traveled with my cameras
in carryon, but my exposed film and camcorder tape in checked luggage
as there was quite a lot of it, and 35 mm 400 speed film and 8 mm
camcorder tape made the trip just fine.

Cori

"James Robinson" <wascana@212.com> wrote in message
news:Xns981E83AAD46EAwascana212com@216.196.97.142. ..
> "Larry in Berkeley" <seaotter6@> wrote:
>
>> If you are travelling by air with a film camera, don't forget that now
>> all airlines require cameras to be in checked luggage, not carried on
>> board.
>
> You can still carry cameras aboard on flights originating in the USA. The
> only place in the world that restricts you are flights originating in the
> UK.

As of today this restriction has been removed.

There will apparently be a few days whilst the airports
discourage it, but HMG have officially now allowed them again.

tim

cmashieldscapting@m wrote:
> Be suspicious of any Islamic types ordering alcoholic drinks on a
> flight. Their religion forbids drinking, and alcohol can prove quite
> flammable. But will the airlines stop serving it?
>
> Cori

Heh heh. Cori, what would you like the airlines to do - really,
practically do - with this piece of "knowledge"? Islam does not require
its followers to carry an ID card, no more than do all those who say
they are Muslims shun all alcohol, no more can an airline reasonably
discriminate between who is allowed alcohol and who is not on any kind
of religious grounds for that would be them imposing their
interpretation of a religion upon their passengers. Would you like them
to stop serving pork to "Jewish types" too? If you find this ridiculous
then you don't understand.

I suspect the airlines don't serve alcohol in any quantity such that it
is particularly hazardous already. I doubt anyone gets the bottle left
with them.

al