Protect Your Film And Your Vacation Memories
Mar 06 '00
For people preparing to fly off on a vacation or business trip you need to take just a few steps to safeguard any camera or film you may be taking with you. Taking the time to properly prepare and pack your equipment and film may save you the frustration of finding out your prints are blank, washed out, or heavily splotched from x-ray damage.
First of all, lets look at some things that will help you determine just what you may need and how to pack your camera and film.
-Are you an avid photographer and generally take several rolls of film on any vacation?
-Will you be taking one or more cameras on this trip?
-Will you take one main lens, or a variety, as well as various attachments?
-Do you usually rely on a "disposable" camera? If so, will you be taking one or more such cameras with you, or will you purchase one once at your destination?
-Will your trip entail going through several "check-in" points where your film/camera will be exposed to x-rays?
-Will you have to go through a custom's inspection at any point?
-Do you generally pack your camera and film in your suitcase, or do you carry on-board with you (whether in a camera case or not)?
I think that if we can deal with these basic issues, you should be relatively assured of making it through check-in with your film making it "there and back" intact.
If you intend on taking several rolls of film, or using disposable cameras, I recommend buying these before you leave on your trip. This way you can be assured that you will have what you need and not have to start running errands looking for film or a camera. Also, if you prefer to use a specific brand of film, you may be out of luck if that brand or film speed is not available in the locale you are at.
Make your selection of what camera or cameras, and what attachments or equipment you may want to have with you. Keep in mind any restrictions to luggage number, weight or size. Many airlines are now only letting carry-on luggage actually be carried on if it will fit into a "luggage size checker" box (for lack of a better word for it!). You do not want to be caught by surprise and have to check that camera equipment bag in, when you did not have it packed or secured, to be wisked away to the cargo hold.
Buy the leaded film protector bags to put your film cartridges in. These bags come in different thicknesses and in slightly different sizes. They are not overly expensive, given the fact that they will be protecting all of your film and the great shots you have taken, and they are reusable for future trips. You can find these leaded bags at a photo shop (not the quickie print shops), at AAA, and I have actually seen them at larger Walmart stores. One leaded bag can fit 9 or 10 rolls of film without undo crowding---you want to be able to close the bag properly so no stray x-ray's can find their way in through an improperly closed seal.
When I travelled by air, I chose to buy the thickest bags possible--I did not want to take any chances with the pictures I would be taking. They are a few dollars more than the thinner ones, but it was worth it to me.
If you will be taking a camera that has film already in it, buy a bag just for that camera. Your camera will not protect the film in it. Put the whole thing in its own bag. You may have to remove any large lens in order to get the camera to fit, but a fixed 50, wide angle, or a 35-70 for example, should fit (you may have to put the body in toward the bottom and the lens facing upwards). With a disposable camera you should be able to fit 3-4 in a bag without much effort.
I keep my camera equipment with me to carry on. When going on a trip I will have my film in their plastic containers, but out of the box they came in. In this way, I am able to open the leaded bag and show the agent exactly what the bag contains. If need be, you can open the containers to actually show the film cartridges. You will do this too---rest assured! Try send your carry-on through the x-ray machine with a few fairly bulky leaded film bags in it and somebody is going to want to inspect it right then and there!
You can identify to the agent before sending your carry-on through that you have film in leaded bags, and they will check it over for you without having any eyebrows raised. On one trip, where I flew to China, I had well over 30 film cartridges---and each and every one was opened and inspected; I cannot complain--they were just doing their job of making sure I was not bringing any dangerous items on board.
If you decide to pack your camera and/or film in your check-in luggage, do follow the same precautions and pack in the leaded film protector bags. You can identify that you do have these in your luggage at the point of check-in in case the agent wishes to make note of this, or do an inspection. Cameras and/or equipment/attachments that could be broken need to be also surrounded by high density foam or kept in a carrying case. It will not matter if your film makes it if your equipment has been broken in the loading or unloading process.
It is also a very good idea to take the receipt(s) for your camera and/or equipment. This can be especially important when you will be visiting foreign countries and will be dealing with customs. If there is any question about whether or not you should be declaring your equipment, you will be able to show the agent your receipt(s).
If you no longer have the original receipt you can go back to the store where you purchased the camera or equipment, and ask for a duplicate receipt (in the hopes that they still have a record of your purchase). Otherwise be sure to identify each and every item on board before you land (on a declarations form you can get from the flight personnel).
An additional hint that I have found useful is to have an extra empty leaded bag. As you finish up a roll of film put these into the empty bag. Code each individual film container (with a number or letter or whatever you choose) for reference later. Keep a small notebook in the "finished film bag" where you can match the code on the film container to a listing of the sites, place, events, that was photographed. This is a tremendous help when you have numerous rolls of film and want a "memory jog" later on.
Just remember, the key to protecting your film is to prepare before your trip. Vacations can be quite costly. Once you are back home, with rolls of ruined film, it is too late to take preventative measures.
Plan ahead, be prepared, have a great trip, and take some great shots!!!!
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