A film storage question

[SimonK]

Well, as every schoolboy knows, unexposed film should be stored in the fridge. But I was thinking; after I have shot a roll of film, if I am not able to get to the photolab for a few days or a week, should I keep the exposed roll in the fridge in the meantime. Anyone have a view?

 

[benmacphoto]

Well it depends if the film is close to it's expiration date or not. If it is not close there no reason to store it in the fridge. And storing expired film in the fridge only slows the aging, putting it in the freezer stops the aging of the film. (From what I have heard) I have a few rolls of film expired by 2-3 years in the freezer and it has come out fine.

 

[tbm]

Last year I had 20 rolls of Technical Pan that had sat in my garage freezer for a very long time, all with an expiration year of 2004, and when I exposed two of those rolls and processed them the images came out okay.

 

[oscroft]

If you're only talking about a week, it'll really make no difference at all.

The only time I'll worry about it is when I shoot slide film - I only process it when I have enough to justify buying a chemical kit (which takes me a few months), so I stick it in the freezer after exposure until I have enough.

 

[payasam]

What you are asking is whether the latent image on the film is more stable in low temperature. From experience I can say, as Alan did, that a couple of weeks' delay makes no difference -- but that is hardly a precise answer. Things used to be pretty tight back in the 1960s, but today's emulsions are much improved.

 

[hans voralberg]

Last year I picked up a camera that have film in it since 1972, it turns out a bit foggy but is useable 😛

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Not really necessary, unless it's color film and you're in a really hot place. If you're going to stick exposed film in the fridge, and you're in a humid environment, de-humidify it first. Otherwise, you might get condensation on the film itself when it cools, and that's bad for the film. Leaving it out overnight in a dry environment, like an air-conditioned room, usually suffices.

 

[kully]

All my film lives in a freezer (which is only for film).

Once exposed, a few days, weeks before processing - I have not noticed any difference.

I left a roll of Provia 100F in the car boot over a summer once. Dev'd it and grain was normal and no colour shifts.

 

[Seele]

SimonK,

Do not put exposed film back into the fridge. When still in factory original packaging the film is sealed from real-life air, so when thawed out no moisture would condense on the film itself. But if the film has been taken out of the factory seal, warming it up again will create condensation, and that is bad news.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Never had a problem with exposed C41 film going bad while waiting to be processed and usually do not store exposed film in the fridge. For long term storage I put the film in the freezer in the original plastic containers. To use, just remove from freezer and let stand in their containers over night at room temperature to thaw. Just shot a roll stored that way since 1997 and had no problems with it.

Bob

 

[SimonK]

Thanks all, much obliged.