Should you put film in your carry-on or check in?


Should you put film in your carry-on or check in? We recommend that you put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry-on bags or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask for a hand inspection.


Will TSA ruin 35mm film?

Carry-on baggage X-ray equipment also damages film, but it's a cumulative damage – a minor amount of damage each time it's X-rayed. The more times film is X-rayed, the more damage. Never allow the disposable camera to be X-rayed more than 5 times.


Does airport security ruin 35mm film?

In the past, older models of X-ray scanners were even more damaging to film, particularly high ISO films. However, most current machines used for carry-on luggage scanning use a very mild dose of X-rays that is unlikely to cause any damage to your film if it's under 800 ISO.


Will film get ruined in checked luggage?

Never put film in a 'checked' bag The scanners used for checked baggage are more powerful than those used in carry-on luggage and will very likely fog your film. Film and loaded cameras should always be taken in carry-on luggage.


Is it better to put film in checked luggage or carry-on?

Additionally, most testing shows that slower film types (below ISO 800) are fine through general x-ray machines. Checked baggage normally goes through an even stronger level of X-ray scanning, which is why you should always keep it in carry-on.


Is it OK to put film through airport security?

Yes! Firstly, not all airports have CT scanners. And traditional x-ray scanners only affect films with an ISO of 800 or upwards. Secondly, you can ask airport security to check your rolls of film by hand. Keep your rolls of film in your hand luggage and carry them through security yourself.


Can I put film in my carry-on?

Do not put unexposed or undeveloped film in checked baggage, ever. The scanners used for checked baggage are more powerful than those used in carry-on luggage and will very likely fog your film. Film and loaded cameras should always be taken in carry-on luggage.


Does TSA XRAY mess up disposable film?

Older x-rays aren't very strong and therefore you don't need to worry about film with an ISO of 800 or less. However, recent scanners, such as TSA CT (computed tomography) scanners can damage film immediately and after one scan.