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Can exposed film go through airport?

Keep your film in a side pocket or other easy-access area of your carry-on for quick removal. Don't keep film in any luggage or baggage that will be checked. This includes cameras that still have film in them. Consider shipping your exposed film to the film lab for processing prior to your return trip



While exposed (but undeveloped) film can go through airport security, it is highly sensitive to the radiation used in modern scanners. Older X-ray machines generally do not damage low-speed film (ISO 800 or below) in a single pass. However, many airports have upgraded to CT (Computed Tomography) scanners, which are significantly more powerful. These new machines can "fog" or create grain patterns on your film in just one scan, regardless of the ISO. Professionals and hobbyists strongly recommend requesting a "hand check" from security officers to bypass the machine entirely. To do this, you should remove the film from its plastic canisters and place it in a clear Ziploc bag. While most TSA agents in the US are trained to honor this request, some international airports may refuse. If you must go through a scanner, avoid putting film in checked luggage, as those machines are much stronger than the ones for carry-ons and will almost certainly ruin your shots.

People Also Ask

I've shot some Portra 800 I carried around on several trips before shooting it and it was fine, going through the hand-luggage scanner. DO NOT PUT IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. Your film will be damaged and you will cry.

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Take your film out of all its packaging and wrappers and store it in a transparent, ziplock bag (the same way you would for all your liquids in your hand luggage). This way you can easily show it to airport security for hand inspection!

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Checked Bags: Yes 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. For more prohibited items, please go to the 'What Can I Bring?'

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