Understanding What Airport X-ray Machines Can Do To Cameras
Have you ever gone on a great vacation, only to get home from the airport and see that your rolls of film are all damaged
? Believe it or not, the security x-ray machines at the airports could be responsible for this alterations to your pictures and your camera.
With the mandated X-ray screening of checked baggage now a fact of life, in all airports across the country, you need to switch packing strategies if traveling with undeveloped film. In the past, domestic checked luggage was seldom if ever X-rayed, and so, if traveling with film, it was usually a better idea to pack it in your checked luggage so as to keep it from being X-rayed in cabin baggage.
Sure, the signs all say 'this machine will not harm film,' but the truth is that, while a single low power scan would not harm 'slow' or 'moderate' speed film, the effects of exposure are cumulative, and in the course of a journey, you may end up giving your film half a dozen or more exposures, which might start to affect faster speed film.
Now the situation is being turned on its head. The new X-ray machines that are now used to inspect all checked baggage are immensely more powerful than the machines we used to putting our carry on items through.
A blast from one of these machines - particularly if the operator sees something unusual and turns the power up to 'high' to get a better look, or focuses the beam tightly on one spot - can variously put radiation streaks across part or all of the undeveloped film you have in your suitcase. Note that this will occur whether you have taken pictures on the film or not.
It doesn't matter if the film is hit before or after you take a picture with it - the net result is the same. This can result in priceless pictures being completely ruined.
If you want to protect it, some people suggest using a lead lined bag to put your film in to protect it. Others disagree.
What do you think the machine operator will do if he sees a large big black shape in your bag? The first thing will be to turn the beam up to 'max,' and focus it tightly on the mysterious shape, to try and see through the lead lining.
If the X-rays are powerful enough, they will for sure penetrate, and then you've given your film a dose of highest power damage. Alternatively, if they don't penetrate, then your bag will be set aside for a personal search.
Do you really want someone going through your suitcase while you're not present? Who knows what might happen to your careful packing.
If you have a digital camera, this does alter things considerably, though you will still want to be careful. Digital media are affected by magnetic devices, not x-rays.
Airports signs warn about damage to film - not digital equipment. Some believe you should avoid the powerful magnets in the drive motors of conveyor belts.
They recommend placing your camera as far away from the beginning of belt as possible. According to the U.S. Transport Security Administration none of the screening equipment - neither the machines used for checked baggage nor those used for carry-on baggage - will affect digital camera images or film that has already been processed, slides, videos, photo compact discs or picture discs.
The screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and electronic image storage cards, according to them. This doesn't mean you should take as many precautions as you can.
There is also a great amount of theft that goes on in airports, both from employees, and other passengers. Putting a camera of any kind into your checked baggage may not be the safest idea, if you want to make sure it makes it to the other side.
Luggage is notorious for being stolen or riffled through around the holiday season particularly, as people search for valuable gifts which are being transported. The safest thing you can do is to pack it in your carry on, which you must keep with you at all times.
When it goes through the screening process, make sure that you keep your eyes on it at all times. If you are careful, you can preserve the beautiful pictures from your last vacation, without having to worry about any damaging effects from travel.
by: Tom Selwick
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