Film in the fridge.

[Jake06]

What's the lowest temperature it's safe to keep film at and keep it useable?

 

[Trius]

I don't have a specific answer, but have never had a problem with typical refrigerator temperature and using the film immediately. Humidity and possible subsequent condensation are the critical issues, so your local relative humidity may give you different results. Kodak tech pubs may have some useful info.

 

[astroman]

I keep mine in the freezer
It will keep many years.You dont really have to worry about it still being fresh

 

[Al Kaplan]

The cold won't hurt the film. It should be warmed up close to room temperature before use, mostly so it won't attract condensation from humid air. If the relative humidity is low this won't be a problem.

 

[Trius]

I doubt indefinitely. Kodak stores film deep in mines to avoid radiation. How is the radiation shielding for your freezer?

 

[astroman]

Sorry, as my edit states (Many Years)
Al sent me expired Ilford 3200 from 2004 it work just fine

 

[Jake06]

Oh, I was more worried about it going all brittle. Mine's in the fridge at 3C, and if it can be kept in freezers, I should be fine. Thanks.

 

[reuno]

No worry, I just avoid putting up "opened once" canister in the fridge. Everything's ok

 

[uhligfd]

Freeze your film. In its closed plastic canister (35mm), or in the unharmed foil pouch (120), etc [No moisture near the film; and we shall keep it away! By all means.]

If you need to use it, take it out, maybe in lots of 5 or whatever number you will likely use within a couple of months. Let it sit (Canisters unopened, foils unharmed!) in the fridge overnight to warm up; Then the next day take it out and let it sit on a desk in the house (out of the sun!), still unopened so that no moisture can come in. And on the third day it is good to use: no condensation, or what little there was during this slow process, was only on the outside and has gone away anyway. Simple to do. You just need to know when you must start this slow unfreezing process before you run out of film ...

I have 150 rolls of Kodak 400 UC in the freezer; this (expiry 2009/2010) will last me a couple of years and the stuff is no longer made ...

What will i use in 3 years? Only heaven knows ...

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Is there any data to support the opinion that freezing film is preferable to refrigeration?
In my experience freezing is not very kind to plastics...

Chris

 

[Ronald M]

I have been freezing film for 40/50 years. Obviously it works well.

With low humidity, 30 min from the fridge and you are good to go. In summer I use room temp.

I move a few rolls from freezer to fridge at a time.

I allow more time for film spooled in Leica brass cassettes.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Chris

I don't know which is better, the freezer or fridge, but I do have film that has been kept frozen for 10 years. Once it has been thawed out over night in it's plastic canister to room temp it has been perfectly usable.

Bob

 

[Bob Michaels]

Refrigerator vs. freezer is a big deal for H2O since it is the difference between a liquid and a solid. But we are talking about photo film emulsion here, not H2O. Nothing significant happens to film at zero degrees C.

The freezer is about 10% colder (relative to absolute zero) so I would expect the preservation of film emulsion to be different by about 10%. No big deal.

 

[KenD]

Do not freeze polaroid (or fuji instant). Otherwise colder is better, but fridge temp is fine for ordinary B&W. Freeze infrared and if you have the space transparency film.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Sure, conventional wisdom is often right, but I'd like to see some *data*...

Chris