Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Bob, I wouldn't recommend shipping film home via the mails. You're kissing it goodbye (worst case) or it may be subject to X-ray by the new machines they use for baggage at major airports, and those are death on films of any speed. For the same reason, don't put any film in your checked luggage when you fly. Unless you show up at Customs pushing a wheelbarrow full of boxed film, they aren't likely to hassle you about quantity. Carry all your film (raw and cooked) in your carry-on bag. The plastic bags are a good idea, and while you can always ask for a hand check, outside the U.S. you aren't entitled to it and aren't likely to get one---I invariably lose arguments with people carrying machine pistols. About all you can do is keep the number of trips through the x-ray machine to a minimum, radiation exposure is cumulative. And, at least in western Europe, the machines have improved in the past few years. Ten years ago, I had a half dozen rolls of TMZ (EI 3200) ruined by one pass through the machine at Schipol in Amsterdam; last November, my load of Delta 3200 survived at least four passes through the x-ray machines (London and Dublin) without a scratch. Chuck Albertson Seattle, Wash. > Oh, I plan to bring lots of Kodak NC/VC 400 and Fuji NHGII... also Trix- > and send home the exposed film via air mail; avoiding the deadly X rays on > the return trip... but how are customs etc, on bringing film in? I will > have all unexposed film in zip lock bags and request hand check- any > problems?