How to get on board with film rolls
If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that I recently got myself an Olympus OM-2 film camera. When it comes to film photography, I'm a total beginner, and right from the start, I encountered a small challenge.
But first, I would like to emphasize that I am not an expert on this topic, and the content of this post reflects my personal and very limited experience. The information contained here should be treated only as potential suggestions and guidelines, not as the only correct solutions.
Getting the film rolls burned by X-ray scans?
Shortly after finishing my first roll of film, I was preparing for a short trip to Mallorca. I planned to bring both my digital Fujifilm and my analog Olympus. I bought a few rolls of film and then realized - I would have to take them through a security check.
And that means having them scanned by an X-ray machine, which is supposedly harmful to film.
Since I had no experience with this, I decided to ask for advice on Instagram. Responses to my question about how to avoid having film scanned at airports, were all over the place.
They ranged from "No worries, the film will be fine”, to "Just ask them not to scan it", all the way to "Better don’t take it with you as it’s not going to work out."
I decided to take the middle ground and go with my own approach: better safe than sorry.
These were my first rolls of film, even before I had seen a single photo from my new camera. If the pictures turned out overexposed or somehow damaged, I wouldn’t know whether it was due to my camera settings or the airport scans.
HOW I AVOIDED scanning FILM at security checks
I gathered all the advice, did some research on forums, read blogs and watched a some YouTube videos.
In the end, at both Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (which uses modern CT-scanners that are supposedly deadly for film) and Palma de Mallorca, my film rolls were not scanned, and the security staff treated me kindly and with understanding.
I followed these steps:
I emailed the airport security center with a short introduction and ask a question about the possibility of a manual film inspection. A few hours later, I received a response from airport security stating that I should request an alternative hand check for my camera and film during screening
I packed my film in a separate transparent ziplock bag so it was immediately recognizable and I kept it in my carry-on luggage
I kept the email on hand in case any security staff refused my request (I had read online that this sometimes happens)
when the security officer saw my film, they immediately let me through without scanning it, informing me that they would swab the bag to test for explosive materials
the test was conducted, turned out negative, and I was free to go.
On the return flight
A similar situation happened in Palma. However, before contacting airport security, I checked the airport’s website and found that they used a traditional X-ray scanner, which is not harmful to film (something that aligns with the experiences of fellow photographers).
So, I decided to skip the email and mentally prepared myself for the possibility that my film would go through the X-ray.
But at security, I was in for a surprise - it wasn’t a regular X-ray, but a modern CT scanner. Unlike traditional X-rays, CT-scanners take multiple images from different angles, making them more harmful to film.
Fortunately, my camera was already empty - I had finished my roll that morning and had time to unload it.
When the security officer saw my film, they let me through the checkpoint without any issues. They swabbed the rolls for explosives, the test came back negative, and I was free to head to my gate without any worries.
REALITY CHECK
Airport security isn’t always as accommodating as it was in my case. The internet is full of stories about ruined film rolls containing the results of days (or even weeks) of work, intimidating talks with security agents and other frustrating experiences.
Standard X-ray scanners for carry-on luggage should not harm film, especially low-ISO rolls, which are less light-sensitive. However, the higher the ISO, the greater the risk of damage.
I’ve learned from fellow photographers that one or even multiple X-ray scans don’t always leave visible marks on photos. Sometimes, the effects are subtle - slightly lower contrast or desaturated colors, especially on more light-sensitive films. Black-and-white film tends to handle X-ray exposure much better.
One more thing: never pack film in checked luggage. Film manufacturers (in my case, Kodak) strongly advise against it, as checked baggage X-rays are much more powerful and can damage film.
What if security insists on scanning your film with a CT scanner?
That’s not ideal. Actually that sucks. But if you email the airport security center a few days before your flight and keep their response handy, it might help. If security refuses a hand check, politely ask to speak with a supervisor and show them the email.
Being prepared can make all the difference.
OTHER OPTIONS
If the situation allows, you can always send your rolls to a film lab before flying back home. Whether you choose a local developer or ship it to your favourite lab is up to you, but I can’t say for sure how likely it is for international shipments to be X-rayed.
Some photographers suggest using protective bags, but since I haven’t personally tried them, I can’t comment on their effectiveness.
If you’re concerned, you can inform your lab that the film went through an X-ray scan - they should know how to handle it. For example The Darkroom website has examples of films that have been X-rayed multiple times, and the results are still great.
Good luck!
If you find my blog interesting and helpful in any way, you can support me by checking out my work:
