Fwatson1990
Member
Hi guys,
Just a quick one to what peoples thoughts are on if you need to store film in the fridge if you plan on shooting if before it expires?
I'm relatively new to film photography and have built up a small amount of film to shoot over the last wee while. I stay in Scotland where heat is definitely not something we need to worry about and I have been storing my film in a cupboard drawer in a cooler room away from any direct sunlight. I plan to shoot all of this film before it expires, expiry dates ranging from the end of 2021 until 2024 and was just curious what the general thoughts were on storing film that's shot before expiry dates are met.
The general vibe I get from people storing film in the fridge is that they plan to keep it for maybe a few years and that storing it in the fridge means that the shelf life is extended.
Look forward to hearing from y'all on your thoughts.
Just a quick one to what peoples thoughts are on if you need to store film in the fridge if you plan on shooting if before it expires?
I'm relatively new to film photography and have built up a small amount of film to shoot over the last wee while. I stay in Scotland where heat is definitely not something we need to worry about and I have been storing my film in a cupboard drawer in a cooler room away from any direct sunlight. I plan to shoot all of this film before it expires, expiry dates ranging from the end of 2021 until 2024 and was just curious what the general thoughts were on storing film that's shot before expiry dates are met.
The general vibe I get from people storing film in the fridge is that they plan to keep it for maybe a few years and that storing it in the fridge means that the shelf life is extended.
Look forward to hearing from y'all on your thoughts.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
My Ilford HP5 box says store below 20c. My Fuji Pro400H datasheet says below 10C for long term storage, short term is fine in dark place avoiding higher temperatures.
Other films may or may not say the same. Check each one and decide.
Other films may or may not say the same. Check each one and decide.
Highway 61
Revisited
It won't harm unexpired films to keep them in the fridge, yet you may need room in the fridge for something else when you're locked down at home for several months.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Keeping film refrigerated is very important for certain emulsions in order to promote consistency and minimize changes over time even in the short term. Unless you're working with those films (usually professional color emulsions, although a couple of technical b&w films were helped by the practice as well), it's inconsequential to store film that you are using anywhere but a cool, dry place. These professional/technical film emulsions are "pre-aged" and then clip-tested to ascertain their specific characteristics; the reason for keeping them refrigerated was to minimize changes from the clip-tests for reliable, consistent use. Normal, commercial, consumer film emulsions are spooled and packaged right off the production line with the notion that they will be sitting on store shelves for sale for some percentage of their intended lifespan—this allows for a longer time in normal storage, lower cost of production, and assumes less critical needs for absolute control of consistency, color balance, sensitivity, etc.
Remember that the expiration date is just a marker provided by the film manufacturer to say: "You'll get best results from this film if you use it by such and such date." Film is pretty robust ... I sometimes hunt around at flea markets and such and intentionally pick up very old film that hasn't been treated with any special care and shoot with it. As film ages, base fog increases, sensitivity decreases, and on complex multilayer color emulsions, the different layers change at different rates creating what are occasionally very interesting tonal/color shifts that can be fun. For example:
This was taken with an APS camera in 2009 on film that was at least 12 years beyond the expiration date and not refrigerated. I did a whole set of photos in that time using one or another APS camera and a bunch of ancient mid-1990s-expired films I bought for a penny a roll.
Remember that the expiration date is just a marker provided by the film manufacturer to say: "You'll get best results from this film if you use it by such and such date." Film is pretty robust ... I sometimes hunt around at flea markets and such and intentionally pick up very old film that hasn't been treated with any special care and shoot with it. As film ages, base fog increases, sensitivity decreases, and on complex multilayer color emulsions, the different layers change at different rates creating what are occasionally very interesting tonal/color shifts that can be fun. For example:
This was taken with an APS camera in 2009 on film that was at least 12 years beyond the expiration date and not refrigerated. I did a whole set of photos in that time using one or another APS camera and a bunch of ancient mid-1990s-expired films I bought for a penny a roll.
Jamie123
Veteran
It's a good idea to keep your film in the fridge. If you want to use it well past it's expiration date, put it in the freezer. Also, if you know it's going to be a very long time until you develop it after you already exposed the film, it doesn't hurt to put it back in the fridge.
I put all of my film in the fridge after I buy it until I use it. However, when I take film with me on vacation and I come back and there's still some unexposed film left, I usually don't bother putting it back in the fridge. I just keep it in the bag until I need it. Also, I am way less worried about b&w film since there's no color shift to worry about, so often I don't put it in the fridge in order to save space.
I put all of my film in the fridge after I buy it until I use it. However, when I take film with me on vacation and I come back and there's still some unexposed film left, I usually don't bother putting it back in the fridge. I just keep it in the bag until I need it. Also, I am way less worried about b&w film since there's no color shift to worry about, so often I don't put it in the fridge in order to save space.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
It's simpler for me to always have all my film in the refrigerator: whether it's newly purchased film that I may use soon, film that's been in there 20 years, or film I've just shot and will have processed in a month. No harm in refrigerating and it can only be good.
Yes, I definitely have more film than food in the refrigerator - even these days.
Yes, I definitely have more film than food in the refrigerator - even these days.
Fwatson1990
Member
but my fridge is full of toilet roll right now....
Thanks for the replies guys, a good habit to get into then.
Thanks for the replies guys, a good habit to get into then.
f.hayek
Well-known
Nothing like a brisk bum, I suppose?
Godfrey
somewhat colored
You guys that store your film in the refrigerator must have much bigger refrigerators than I do.
Actually, putting exposed film in the refrigerator is probably more important than storing film there in general, presuming it's film that you are actively consuming prior to its expiration date, because the latent image in exposed film can degrade more and faster than the film itself does. And even there a dozen stories per year show up on this forum about finding an ancient roll of film forgotten in a very old camera or sock drawer and how some cool old photos are discovered that way.
The real exception to the notion that "it's a good idea to put film in the fridge, and even the freezer" is instant film. NEVER freeze instant film ... freezing it essentially destroys the delicate gelatin structures that make it work.
I do an end run around all of these issues: I only keep six to ten rolls of film in stock at any given time nowadays, and replenish my stock when I'm down to two rolls. That way I don't have to deal with out of date issues and film aging at all, since I generally expose about ten to twenty rolls of film per year at this point in any given film type. (The exception again is instant film, where I'm doing about double that.)
Also, if you do store film in the fridge or freezer, be sure to let it thaw and warm to room (operating) temperatures before using it, in the original sealed package. This prevents condensation on the film surface itself.
G
Actually, putting exposed film in the refrigerator is probably more important than storing film there in general, presuming it's film that you are actively consuming prior to its expiration date, because the latent image in exposed film can degrade more and faster than the film itself does. And even there a dozen stories per year show up on this forum about finding an ancient roll of film forgotten in a very old camera or sock drawer and how some cool old photos are discovered that way.
The real exception to the notion that "it's a good idea to put film in the fridge, and even the freezer" is instant film. NEVER freeze instant film ... freezing it essentially destroys the delicate gelatin structures that make it work.
I do an end run around all of these issues: I only keep six to ten rolls of film in stock at any given time nowadays, and replenish my stock when I'm down to two rolls. That way I don't have to deal with out of date issues and film aging at all, since I generally expose about ten to twenty rolls of film per year at this point in any given film type. (The exception again is instant film, where I'm doing about double that.)
Also, if you do store film in the fridge or freezer, be sure to let it thaw and warm to room (operating) temperatures before using it, in the original sealed package. This prevents condensation on the film surface itself.
G
Darthfeeble
But you can call me Steve
When I was doing film I put it in a little 5 cu.ft. refrigerator along with the wife's candles. Now she has more room for candles. You can get even smaller refrigerators than the one I have.
james.liam
Well-known
Always wondered what the right thing is. I freeze anything that comes in new and have in the frig what I expect to shoot over the next 3-4 months
ka7197
Established
If you will expose your film before it expires then it is absolutely not required to keep it in a freezer. Oscillating temperatures is what destroys film. So keep it in a place where temperature is basically constant — that's why fridges and freezers are good places to store film: they offer constant temperatures.
But then, if you have a place that is, say, 20 °C (68 °F) constantly then you might store your film there just as well. Freezing is required only if you want to store the film well beyond the official expiry date.
But then, if you have a place that is, say, 20 °C (68 °F) constantly then you might store your film there just as well. Freezing is required only if you want to store the film well beyond the official expiry date.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have nowhere to put one of those. I had one (it used to be in my office at work) and gave it away when I retired for lack of a place where it could be useful. Such it is...
G
Jamie123
Veteran
You guys that store your film in the refrigerator must have much bigger refrigerators than I do.
Haha I have rather small fridge and buy a lot of film at once and easily go through 150-200 rolls a year. The secret is not to leave much space for food
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Last year my neighbour gave me his self loader that had a roll of Ilford FP4+ still inside. The receipt for the film dated it 1994. His loader was kept in his largely uninsulated loft and would have been through some exceptional temperatures in that time - last summer was over 38C for a week.
I shot some for fun and they all came out perfectly.
I shot some for fun and they all came out perfectly.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
You guys that store your film in the refrigerator must have much bigger refrigerators than I do.
...
Mine is a 1994 Amana from Sears. 5' high, 2.5' wide, 2.5' deep.
Lots of film. not much food.
valdas
Veteran
I have a separate freezer dedicated to film - not a big one, but still more space than to share it with milk and cheese in the regular fridge...
ray*j*gun
Veteran
OK so we just had a bad storm up here (PA), and we lost power for 2 days. My film is kept in a freezer until I use it and it all thawed out. So my question is can I refreeze it and will it be ruined if I do?
Thanks
Thanks
Dogman
Veteran
You can refreeze it and it will be fine. I did it for years...decades.*
In my film days, I bought "bricks" of film when it was on sale and I kept it frozen. There's still some in a couple of freezers in the house although I haven't shot film since 2008. It's all still good and usable I'm sure. I always kept it well past the expiration date in the freezer, took it out as needed and replaced what I didn't use. Never had any sign of deterioration.
In my film days, I bought "bricks" of film when it was on sale and I kept it frozen. There's still some in a couple of freezers in the house although I haven't shot film since 2008. It's all still good and usable I'm sure. I always kept it well past the expiration date in the freezer, took it out as needed and replaced what I didn't use. Never had any sign of deterioration.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Thanks Dogman. That's what I was hoping!