Freezing Film

healyzh

healyzh

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What films shouldn't be frozen?

As far as I know the only film is Fuji Instafilm.

I have someone telling me I shouldn't freeze E-6 (I just bought 20 rolls of E100VS).
 
I've had no problem freezing E6 film, though it might be argued I have a poor eye for colour. On the extreme end, a few years ago I re-discovered a roll of Ektachrome tungsten film, 200 ASA, that had been frozen for 23 years. Buried in the freezer. I shot it at 200 ASA, but had it cross processed in C-41 chemistry. The results were much the same as any other film I've had cross processed, and got a couple of shots I like - bonus.
 
There's a lot of film in my freezer, but there's nothing really special about it. Just plain C-41, E-6 and regular B/W in 135 and 120 formats (and some EFKE 100 in 127 now too).

I can only tell you I never had problems with frozen film, including E-6. Had a brick of nearly expired Agfa Precisa CT in there for a while. I hated that film, but that was not because of the freezing :D
 
I still have seven boxes of Fujichrome Seneisa II ASA 100 from a large quantity I froze in December 1998. It was fresh at the time with an expiration date of April 2000. To my untrained eye it still looks OK when I use it.
 
The lower the speed the longer it last until it develops fog from cosmic radiation .

Low speed films good for a decade based on my experience.
 
Slow speed films in the freezer, 2 decades without any problem (APX 25). Only roll films can give problems due to the backing paper.

Master rolls are also kept in the freezer.
 
I've always wondered if storing fast film in an x-ray pouch (also in the freezer) would slow the fogging from cosmic radiation.
 
What about instances where the film is frozen, then thawed because you plan to shoot it, but don't get around to it. Should/can it be put back into the freezer? Or, should be be put into the refrigerator instead?

I can't re-freeze the steak I planned to cook, but can I re-freeze the film I planned to shoot?

Thanks,

Jeff
 
JHenry said:
What about instances where the film is frozen, then thawed because you plan to shoot it, but don't get around to it. Should/can it be put back into the freezer? Or, should be be put into the refrigerator instead?

I can't re-freeze the steak I planned to cook, but can I re-freeze the film I planned to shoot?

Thanks,

Jeff
Click to expand...

Er....does your film contain live bacteria?
 
Fotohuis said:
Slow speed films in the freezer, 2 decades without any problem (APX 25). Only roll films can give problems due to the backing paper.

Master rolls are also kept in the freezer.
Click to expand...

What problems do you see with backing paper? Does sealing it up first help?
 
someone gave me 15 rolls of E6 that were expired and had been frozen then put into room temperature for a while, i shot them all and cross processed them. the shots in good lighting came out fine and shots that were taken in darker dimly light areas came out green. the green is most likely due to the cross processed expired film though.
 
I was just thinking about this, too. What level of freezing is necessary? Normal household freezer? Or deep-freeze (-18c) type freezer?
 
The ink of the backing paper can give sometimes problems on very old films.

Master rolls are kept around -10C. A regular freezer is -18C but is also not any problem.
But I have a seperate freezer for my films on -10C.
 
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