Will Airport X-Rays Ruin Your Camera Film? A Guide to Traveling with Analog Gear
Hey everyone, if you're a film photographer who loves to travel, you've probably felt that little knot of anxiety in the airport security line. You've got your camera bag, a brick of your favorite film stock, & you're staring down the X-ray machine, wondering, "Is this thing going to destroy all my precious, unprocessed shots?"
It’s a question that gets asked CONSTANTLY in online forums & photography groups. You get a mix of answers. Some people say it's a total myth, while others share horror stories of fogged, streaky negatives. So, what's the real deal? Can you fly with film without turning your beautiful, grainy memories into a foggy mess?
Here's the thing: the answer is a little complicated, but I'm going to break it all down for you. As someone who has navigated this many times, I've done the research, read the official guidelines, & learned from the experiences of countless other photographers. Let's get into it.
The Great Divide: Carry-On vs. Checked Luggage
First things first, let’s establish the number one, non-negotiable, golden rule of traveling with film: NEVER, EVER put your film in your checked baggage.
I can't stress this enough. The scanners used for checked luggage are MUCH more powerful than the ones for carry-on bags. They use high-intensity radiation, often employing Computed Tomography (CT) technology, to get a detailed look at what's inside. This level of radiation will absolutely, 100% ruin your film. It doesn't matter if it's slow film, fast film, exposed, or unexposed. One pass through a checked bag scanner is enough to cause severe fogging, loss of detail, & weird banding across your images. Kodak themselves have warned photographers about this for years.
So, rule #1: Always keep your film with you in your carry-on bag. This is the first & most important step to protecting it.
The Real Threat: Not All X-Ray Scanners Are Created Equal
Okay, so we've established that film goes in the carry-on. But what about the carry-on scanner? This is where the confusion usually starts. For years, the general wisdom was that the low-dose X-ray machines used for carry-on items were safe for most film. The official TSA line has long been that film with an ISO of 800 or lower is not likely to be affected by these scanners.
And honestly, for a long time, this was pretty much true. Many photographers, myself included, have sent rolls of Portra 400 or Kodak Gold 200 through the carry-on scanner without any noticeable issues. One YouTuber, Bryan Hong, even ran a bunch of different film stocks through a standard X-ray machine multiple times. He only saw significant damage on a super-high-speed roll (Kodak T-Max P3200) after NINETEEN passes. The other, more common film stocks held up remarkably well after a dozen or so scans.
So, what changed? Why is there so much renewed panic?
The answer is the rollout of new CT scanners for carry-on bags.
Why CT Scanners are the Enemy of Film
You might have noticed that at some airports, you no longer have to take your laptops & liquids out of your bag. This is often a sign that the security lane is using a new CT (Computed Tomography) scanner. These machines are a game-changer for security, providing a detailed 3D, 360-degree view of your bag's contents.
But that advanced technology comes at a cost for us film shooters. To create those detailed 3D images, CT scanners use multiple, much more powerful X-ray beams. And this level of radiation is DEVASTATING to film.
Kodak Alaris did a test when these scanners started appearing at airports like JFK. They put a roll of Portra 400 through a carry-on CT scanner just ONCE. The results were not good. The film showed significant fogging, which leads to smoky, muddy-looking black areas & a total loss of detail in the shadows. The effect is even worse on higher-speed films.
The bottom line is this: one single pass through a CT scanner can visibly & irreparably damage ANY roll of film, regardless of its ISO. This isn't a myth or an exaggeration; it's a proven fact confirmed by the very companies that make the film.
How to Protect Your Film: The Hand-Check Is Your Best Friend
So, if you can't put film in your checked bag & the new carry-on scanners will destroy it, what's a photographer to do? The answer is simple, at least in principle: request a hand inspection.
The TSA's own official policy states that travelers can request a hand inspection for their photographic film. This is your right as a traveler in the U.S. All TSA agents are trained on this procedure. A hand-check completely bypasses the X-ray machine, eliminating any risk of damage.
Here are some tips to make the hand-check process as smooth as possible:
- Be Prepared: Don't wait until you're at the front of the line to start digging through your bag. Have your film ready.
- Use a Clear Bag: Take your film out of its cardboard boxes & plastic canisters. Place all the loose rolls into a clear, resealable plastic bag. This makes it easy for the agent to see what you have.
- Keep it Accessible: Put the clear bag of film in an easily accessible pocket of your carry-on. You'll need to pull it out & hand it to the agent.
- Be Polite but Firm: As you approach the agent at the conveyor belt, make eye contact, smile, & say something like, "Hi, I have photographic film here that's very sensitive to X-rays. I'd like to request a hand inspection, please."
- Know the Lingo (If You Need It): 99% of the time, a simple, polite request is all you need. If you get any pushback (which is rare in the U.S.), you can mention that it's "sensitive high-speed film" or that you plan to "push process" it, which makes it more susceptible to damage. This often helps the agent understand why you're asking.
In my experience, & the experience of most photographers traveling within the U.S., TSA agents are accommodating & the process is usually hassle-free. They'll take your bag of film, swab it for explosives, & hand it back to you on the other side.
What About Instant Film? (Polaroid & Instax)
The same rules apply to instant film! The chemistry in undeveloped Polaroid & Instax film is just as vulnerable to X-ray damage, especially from the new CT scanners. Damage to instant film often shows up as a washed-out, foggy look, sometimes with a weird pinkish hue.
So, just like with 35mm & 120 film, you should NEVER put instant film in your checked luggage & ALWAYS request a hand-check for your carry-on. It's important to note that once a photo is taken & the film is exposed & developed, it's totally fine. The risk is only for undeveloped film packs.
The International Traveler's Dilemma
Here's where things can get a bit tricky. While requesting a hand-check is standard procedure in the United States, it's not always guaranteed internationally. Some airports, notoriously London's Heathrow, have a reputation for refusing hand-checks for film.
This can put you in a tough spot. If you're flying through an airport that you know will refuse a hand-check & they're using CT scanners, the risk of damage is very real.
So what are your options?
- Research Ahead: Try to find out the policy of the specific airports you'll be flying through. Photography forums & blogs are a great resource for this kind of information.
- Ship Your Film: One of the safest but more expensive options is to ship your film. You can either ship your unexposed film to your destination ahead of time or, more commonly, ship your exposed rolls back home for developing. Using a carrier like FedEx or UPS is generally considered safe, as they have processes to handle sensitive materials.
- Develop on Location: If you're on a longer trip, consider finding a local film lab at your destination. This eliminates the need to fly home with unprocessed film.
A Quick Word on "Protective" Lead-Lined Bags
You might have seen lead-lined bags, often called "FilmGuard" bags, marketed as a way to protect film from X-rays. Here's the unfortunate truth: they are largely ineffective against the new CT scanners.
While they might offer some minimal protection against older, low-dose X-ray machines, the powerful radiation from CT scanners can see right through them. In fact, using one can sometimes be counterproductive. When a security agent sees a black, impenetrable square on their screen, they're likely to flag your bag for a closer look. They might even increase the scanner's intensity to try & see through it, potentially causing more damage to your film.
The consensus from photographers & labs is to skip the lead bag & insist on a hand-check. It's the only truly guaranteed way to keep your film safe.
The Logistics of a Photo Trip
Planning a photo trip involves more than just protecting your film. You're often heading to new cities, trying to catch the golden hour, & moving around with a lot of gear. Finding a good, reliable place to park your car can be a huge headache, especially near airports or in busy downtown areas where the best photo spots are. This is actually where a service like Prked comes in handy. It’s a pretty cool app that lets you rent a private driveway or garage from a local homeowner. So instead of circling a giant, expensive airport lot, you can book a secure spot nearby, often for a lot less money. It just takes one of those travel stressors off the table, letting you focus on the creative stuff.
And hey, if you're someone with an empty driveway near a popular spot, think about the other side of it. You could be making some extra cash without much effort. Mentioning Prked as an income opportunity is a no-brainer—you're just monetizing space you already have, helping out a fellow traveler or photographer in the process.
So, To Sum It All Up...
Let's do a quick recap of the most important takeaways:
- NEVER put film in your checked luggage. Ever.
- ALWAYS request a hand-check for your film at security. It's the only way to be 100% safe.
- The old carry-on X-ray scanners are probably fine for film under 800 ISO, but...
- The new CT scanners WILL damage ALL film, even with just one pass.
- Prepare for your hand-check by putting your film in a clear plastic bag. Be polite & prepared.
- This advice applies to all film formats, including 35mm, 120, & instant film like Polaroid & Instax.
- Don't rely on lead-lined bags; they are not effective against CT scanners.
- For international travel, research airport policies & consider shipping your film or developing it locally as a backup plan.
Traveling with film doesn't have to be a source of anxiety. It just requires a little bit of knowledge & preparation. Once you get into the habit of requesting a hand-check, it becomes a quick & easy part of your travel routine. The peace of mind you get knowing your film is safe is absolutely worth the extra minute it takes at security.
Hope this was helpful! Now go out there & shoot some amazing photos. Let me know what you think or if you have any of your own experiences to share. Happy travels
