Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/11/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yes, for European trips (if you can afford it) I wouldn't attempt my bad behavior. Going to France via Air India our carry on luggage was scanned 4 times. No ill effect on the triX that trip. On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 10:07 PM, Marty Deveney <benedenia at gmail.com> wrote: > On Sat, Nov 19, 2011 at 3:57 AM, Chris Saganich <csaganich at gmail.com> > wrote: > > My sister in law lost a roll to the baggage scanner. They increase X-ray > > intensity when they see slightly opaque objects. The instruments used > for > > carry-on don't have that capability, at lease they didn't, who known if > > that changed in the past few years. > > The CTX-5000 and similar scanners used for check-in luggage are > automated - the machine automatically switches to a high-intensity > narrow beam, thin swathe scan when faced with certain sizes, shapes > and densities of material. They are principally used for detecting > certain classes of explosives. Almost all the scanners used for > carry-on can be operated at a variety of intensities, but can not a > change the scan pattern. Most countries' security services have a > standard operating intensity, with an increase only allowed under > certain circumstances. Some countries have a set intensity and it is > not permitted for the machines to be operated at any other intensity. > I have had film fried by carry-on luggage scanners in developing > countries due to some over-keen inspection. > > > A few years ago I made x-ray safe film > > cans by wrapping normal film cans with .5mm equivalent leaded vinyl I > have > > around the shop. What happens at the domestic airport is one of three > > things. It goes through without notice, It goes through with the > > question, "Do you have film in there?" I say yes and that's it. Or > > three, My bag and film cans get the swab test. Only once has there been > > an argument about the necessity of leaded film cans and film speed. I > > reuse old cans and twice I had to explain that the film inside the can is > > different from the can label. > > This works in the US, but I travel in all sorts of places. I don't > use lead lined bags because in some countries denser material is just > "looked through" by increasing the scanner intensity. When travelling > it is hard to get information about what many countries approach to > this situation is. I just try to get a hand inspection and where > impossible let the security people scan my film. This has had > variable outcomes over the years. > > > Prior to the full body x-ray scanner I would roll all film in plastic > > containers (or just bring 120) and line my pockets in preparation for the > > metal detector. I learned from my people in the hood that baggy pants > and > > a long shirt will conceal most anything you desire. The X-ray full body > > scanners make this tactic impractical. Once I went through one holding > all > > my film in my hand, (4 rolls per hand), because I knew the Compton > > scattering effect creating the scanner image would be mostly attenuated > by > > the thin metal cans. I haven't tried that again yet, maybe for the > > Christmas trip to CA. > > Have all the US airports now got full body scanners? They didn't when > we were there last year. > > Marty > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Chris Saganich www.imagebrooklyn.com