Film storage/ film use after expiry questions?

[parasko]

Hi all,

Some basic questions about storing film:
1. Why does b/w film need to be stored in the fridge/freezer?
I understand that for colour/slide film, if you do not do this, colour shifts may occur. But what happens to b/w?

2. Is only the colour affected with slide film due to poor storage/expiry or are other characteristics affected (such as grain etc)?

3. Are some films more sensitive to storage conditions/use after expiry than others (eg. tri-x vs Neopan; slides vs colour print films)?

4. Does any of the above differ for different film formats (eg. 35mm vs MF)?

Cheers.

 

[Svitantti]

1. Just for sure, to keep it good longer. It might get very slowly hazed a bit if it is stored for long time in warm. At least if this is after the expiry date, but those dates are of course made short by the manufacturer, to avoid responsibility in cases that the film would be spoiled... The hazing will decrease sensitivity and result in lower contrast etc...

2. The same about sensitivity goes for slide films too. Color-shift is another thing that doesn't occurr with B&W but can show with color, especially slide film, because negatives are always corrected somehow before seing the positive.

3. There might be differences, but they are not generally known among a single film type, I think. B&W negatives should surely last longer than color films and negatives will probably show less color shift than slide films.

4. The materials should be same in 35mm and 120, so there should be no difference, unless as result of the packaging.

 

[bmattock]

Photographic film is made with gelatin, which is an organic substance made from boiled animal bones. On a side note, it has always surprised me that some vegetarians and even Vegans will use photographic film, although they won't wear leather. Same stuff.

Organic substances, while durable, tend to degrade over time. Exposure to air and heat are two of the agents which may hasten this process. Cold storage can extend the life of the film, therefore.

http://www.gmap-gelatin.com/gelatin_adv_photo.html

http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub95/chap3.html

 

[Svitantti]

By the way, I think Rollei is coming up with some new "digibase" colour films, that have a synthetic film base. Dont know if they are available yet though.

 

[bmattock]

By the way, I think Rollei is coming up with some new "digibase" colour films, that have a synthetic film base. Dont know if they are available yet though.

The film base is not the emulsion. According to the Maco website, the Digibase CR200 film is a slide film, and the emulsion is not mentioned as being anything other than standard emulsion - made of organic gelatin. Their documentation does say the 'base' is synthetic, which I believe they mean the plastic substrate. Interesting because acetate is synthetic anyway. Hmmm.

 

[Svitantti]

Yeah you are probably right. Well, who cares anyway 😉. I will be using Provia, Astia/Sensia etc. anyway...

 

[parasko]

Thanks for your comments.