Wed, Aug 13, 2003
Kodak's Advice
Not only is it a good
idea to never check bags anyway -- airlines do sometimes lose them,
and the TSA will ravage them -- Kodak, which knows something about
film, has another reason to at least keep your film close at
hand.
With the summer travel period in full swing, Eastman Kodak
Company reminded people traveling by airplane to carry photographic
film and one-time-use cameras on board to avoid inadvertent damage
from exposure to high intensity security scanners.
"A growing number of airports are installing high intensity X-ray
scanners to inspect checked baggage for security reasons," said
Matthias Freund, president of Kodak's Consumer Imaging products and
services operations. "These newer systems will damage unprocessed
film, which will not be seen until the pictures are developed. The
same holds true for one-time-use cameras."
To avoid potential for damage, Freund advises
travelers to pack film and one-time-use cameras in their carry-on
luggage. Scanners used to inspect carry on items are safe for most
consumer films, but caution is advised if multiple passes through
these scanners is necessary. Generally, lower speed films should
not go through scanners more than five times. When traveling with
higher speed films -- 800 and above -- travelers should ask for
hand inspection.
The photographic industry and its trade organizations have been
working with the Transportation Security Administration in the U.S.
and other government agencies around the world to ensure that
travelers can transport photographic materials conveniently and
with confidence. To that end, signs have been posted to advise
consumers to pack film and one-time-use cameras in carry-on luggage
and there have been efforts to share this information through the
news media.
In addition to following these
travel tips, consumers should consider processing exposed film
locally before returning home.
It's the unprocessed film -- the film you haven't yet shot,
and the film you've shot but not had developed -- that's at danger.
Although the Kodak guidelines are generally correct, it's
always best to simply avoid exposing (literally) your film to
x-rays. While the danger of the TSA's lifting your film from your
checked bags is effectively nil, the scanners are looking right
through your stuff, and even a single pass can ruin
your film.
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