[Leica] security scanners and Fuji glass long

[wvl at comcast.net (Bill Lawlor)]

In 1999 I took a sabbatical and bought a 'round the world ticket. In a hand 
satchel I carried Reala 120, 35mm APX 100, 400, Kodachrome, Agfachrome and 
such locally purchased film I needed. I don't remember how many rolls I 
carried, bur it filled a gym bag. My plan was to hand the gym bag to 
security with a request for hand inspection. It worked once or twice. My 
film bag was scanned as carry-on at least 40 times. Most of the scans were 
in SE Asia and India. Some of the scanners looked like the were built by 
William Roentgen.

Half way home I sent exposed film via UPS to my home with request that my 
wife would freeze it. I finished my adventure in many european countries.The 
only incident was departing Paris. Security wanted to inspect my cameras. I 
made sure theywere unloaded beforehand. Out came the M6, Fuji 645S, a couple 
of Minox 35s, and a Ricoh GR1. The inspector ammounced the the Fuji was not 
a camera! He called the supervisor who agreed. Never saw a camera like that. 
Opening the back only reinfoced his suspicion because film (35mm I suppose) 
wouldn't fit in there. I had a few rolls of exposed 120 in my pocket 
(plastic spools) When I showed one to the guy
 he must have thought it was expolsive and summoned the nearby Gendarme who, 
had once owned a Rolleiflex, and the situation was "defused".

On arrival in California I steeled myself for toasted film. First I selected 
unexposed but multi scanned rolls from my gym bag. I sent the color to the 
laband developed the B&W myself. To my great relief all the film was 
undamaged. I even compared it to film from the same batches that didn't 
travel with me. Not so much as a shadow when compared.

I count myself very lucky.Who knows how I would have fared with today's 
scanners?

On wall is a framed 8X20 reala print made from a very small crop from the 
EDGE of the Fuji  60mm/4 645S neg. The resolution is awesome. All the 
bathers on the Ganges are crystal clear.At that magnification my Mamiya 645 
80/2.8 images are junk. I thought it was a bad lens and tried another one-no 
better. I really regret selling the Fuji.

If you got this far, thanks for your patience

Bill Lawlor