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Everything Else Bonaire: Photo processing
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2002-01-01 to 2002-03-26: Photo processing
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Seck on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 2:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Recently I have noticed a few articles about airport xray machines clouding film. Increased security led to higher power xray machines showing up in larger airports for both checked and carry-on luggage. I guess powerful xrays can make pictures turn out milky or make them look overexposed. Supposedly the film can be affected by passes through the xray machine as long as it remains undeveloped. Suggestions to avoid trouble are to either purchase and develop film at your final destination or go digital. Switching to a digital camera isn't going to happen for me. Is there much difference in the cost of film or film processing in Bonaire versus in the United States? Would the quality of processing be the same? Has anyone ever heard of this problem or experienced it before? I am hoping to try out the new underwater camera in Bonaire and I would hate for my pictures to get screwed up by an xray machine because I bought and processed the film at home in the US. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 2:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris I read somewhere that it is the amount of exposure{1x vs 10x though the machine} to xrays that hurts the film so I always buy new film before we travel and use it all up. But there could be a problem with the NEW security machines at the airports.. I will look for the article that I was referring to and would like to hear everyones elses info as well. Freddie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil Berry on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 2:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris, I read something on this a few days ago. The answer is to keep the film in your carry-on and as long as the ASA is less than a 1000 it should not fog on a single pass. Some photographers ask for a hand check of film and place it in a clear plastic bag for a quick inspection.

Do not put film or digital media in checked luggage it goes through a higher energy machine that will not only fog low ASA film it can destroy memory cards (not just wipe out but make unusable). This is also true for sending same through the US mail.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 3:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris

I take plenty of slide film in with me (but never enough) and get it developed in Bonaire this way I avoid multiple XRay exposure and I can see what I am doing wrong as I go. Last year my MXII had a fault and the internal close focus lens was not fully retracting, this resulted in a dark shadow in the bottom corner of each slide. This year my Nikon F80 was not auto focussing as a lever was catching a button on the cameraback, fortunately it only ruined one days film. Film costs are high in Bonaire a Kodak Xtra Col 1000 ASA 36 was around $12.50 and developing $10.50. There is a photo shop in the arcade in the town that has the franchise for Kodak. The resort that I use had to switch to Fuji as the shop complained to Kodak that they were undercutting him!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chet Wood on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 3:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris,
Just back from 2 week on Bonaire and travelled with 16 rolls (ASA/ISA 100) of unexposed film. Had to go through security checks total of three times:
1) O'Hare- security did do visual check
2) Bonaire- security did do visual check
3) San Juan- security stated they would only do visual on film of ASA/IS 800 or higher; could not convince the guy to visual mine, therefore, I had to run film through scanner.
It was apparently still one of the older, lower power scanners, because I could not detect any damage from that single scan. I would have been very worried if I had to run through scanners at each site; A recent Kodak article stated that with the newer scanners, all film could be effected with a single scan.
Also, I was very unhappy with the two rolls of film we had processed and printed at the One-Hour place by the "Subway sandwich" shop, film developing seems OK, but the prints (compared to reprints made since we got home) were very dark and of poor color. I don't know if the shop in the mall by the harbor is better or not, have not tried them.
Chet

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil Berry on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 5:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Finally found the reference it's at the Kodak site; link

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 5:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for the great link Cecil!!!
YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 3:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The $10.50 per roll for development is slide film. For print film add another $10 or so for a set of prints. Pretty steep, but it's all one hour service.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Raeford Brown on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 6:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

As a commercial photographer who's traveled to a variety of Caribbean destinations, as well as stateside, let me suggest a couple tricks when dealing with those security folks at the airport. First...we all acknowledge that we wish to be safe in the air. And, I have no problem with them checking my carry-on pieces. I try to make it as easy as possible.
I put all my film into those one gallon zip-lock bags. And, I always add at least three rolls of Kodak's T-Max 3200 ISO (that's right...it's reeaall fast) black and white film. I make sure it's clearly visible through the bag. So far, I have not been challenged when they ask what film speed I have. And, they have always graciously given it a visual inspection.
I do this with each bag of film I carry.
Secondly, it's best not to carry film that's been unopened, or film that you've re-loaded at home. Best to have factory-sealed containers. I do this with both film formats that I carry...6 x 6 cm and 35 mm.
If you're carry electronic flash units or a camera on board, be sure that both can be opened (don't load the camera); you'll also want to make sure the batteries in the strobe are charged, as some security folks want to "see it work".
And, as many have stated, get there early. Don't hold up the line as the airport guys (and I've never met one who had a working knowledge of photography) try to do their jobs.
Happy travelling and good shooting.

 


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