Re: [Leica] X-ray

["Gareth Jolly" <garethjolly@bigpond.com>]

This email has reminded me.  I came across an email on another list
concerning 'Kodak's bulletin on new airport x-ray machines and film
fogging'.  See

http://rebecca.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000PTk

The thread refers to:

1.  new hand luggage x ray machines which can fog film on one pass through.
They work by using a low intensity x ray across the luggage, then - if the
machine's computer thinks there is something suspicious - use a high
intensity x ray directed at the offending item.  If that happens to include
your film, it's cactus.

2.  The US FAA regulation giving photographers a right to hand inspection of
film.

Any one know of any similar regulations in other countries?

Incidentally, I use a plastic bag with the films out of the cannisters and
film leader protruding but I keep the plastic bag in a lead bag just in case
there is any difficulty and I need put my film through the machine.

Gareth



Martin Howard wrote


>First off, I had the films in see-through plastic canisters in a trans-
>parent plastic bag.  In other words, it was plain to the eye that the
>bag contained films and nothing else.
>
>I politely requested that the films be hand inspected and explained that
>I would be travelling through different airports and wanted to avoid
>the film going through the x-ray machine.  Upon returning, I explained
>that it was fast film (400 ASA) and that it had been exposed.
>
>Dispite this, I was (rudely) refused hand inspection and the film was
>put through the x-ray machines anyway.  In Brussels, one inspector
>claimed that the films could be put through the machines 50 times with
>no ill effects.  I asked them if they guaranteed this and would refund
>any damage, which was simply ignored.
>
...

>What arguments do you present to ensure that your film gets inspected
>by hand and not shoved through the machines?  I haven't developed the
>film yet, so I don't know if any damage has occurred.
>
>