I recently made a move to a new home and have been reading some older magazines that floated to the top.
Today I came across an article on keeping film. It stated that freezing did not extend it's life, it may slow down aging some but it still ages.
I have some 120 film that has been in the freezer for 10 or 12 years now. I tried a roll or two a few years ago and it was still good.
Hope that I haven't wasted the rest.
Film Life Exspectations
Re: Film Life Exspectations
Just like some of that stuff you sent me 7 years ago that you found in your basement. I still use it with no problems. I am pretty sure that they were payed for by Kodak to write that article.
If we all saw the world the same no one would need a camera.
Re: Film Life Exspectations
I've had variable results with really old film. I recently shot an unused roll of old Plus-X, but the negative were horribly fogged. However, it was an unboxed roll, so I have no idea of how much time it spent in a basement, attic or garage.
With my own film, I keep tighter control, and I haven't had any issues with somee Agfapan APX 100 and 400 that I bought back when Agfa stopped making it.
In fact, I still have several 100-foot spools of each.
I also have some Kodak TechPan in a bulk loader and another 150-foot spool. And I have a lot of boxed 120 rolls. I've shot all of them and haven't had any problems.
So, yeah, I think it depends on how the film has been handled.
Color film is a different story. Or that's what I hear.
With my own film, I keep tighter control, and I haven't had any issues with somee Agfapan APX 100 and 400 that I bought back when Agfa stopped making it.
In fact, I still have several 100-foot spools of each.
I also have some Kodak TechPan in a bulk loader and another 150-foot spool. And I have a lot of boxed 120 rolls. I've shot all of them and haven't had any problems.
So, yeah, I think it depends on how the film has been handled.
Color film is a different story. Or that's what I hear.
-Mike Elek
Re: Film Life Exspectations
My own experience is with B&W film mostly.
400 ISO film will start to fog noticeably in about 10 years, just because of background radiation, I guess. I have used 100 ISO film that was 20 year outdated, no visible fog.
As said above, useful life of film depends a lot on handling, especially about the temperature history. Higher ISO films may be more sensitive.
400 ISO film will start to fog noticeably in about 10 years, just because of background radiation, I guess. I have used 100 ISO film that was 20 year outdated, no visible fog.
As said above, useful life of film depends a lot on handling, especially about the temperature history. Higher ISO films may be more sensitive.
Re: Film Life Exspectations
This was 50+ year old Plus-X that expired in 1962. A friend found it in the basement of a house he moved into in the Washington D.C. area. He sent it to me. I said WTF and shot it at E.I. 80 then put it in some Rodinal 1-100 semistand for a little over an hour.
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If we all saw the world the same no one would need a camera.
Re: Film Life Exspectations
Today I shot and developed FP4+ that had expired in 2001, it was just forgotten inside a closet, not chilled, not frozen, not a difference from fresh film, as far as I can tell.
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Re: Film Life Exspectations
This is encouraging, I have dozens of rolls of B&W that I "forgot" to refrigerate when I moved to Arizona four years ago.
Dennis Gallus
Hereford, Arizona USA
Hereford, Arizona USA
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Re: Film Life Exspectations
I seem to recall reading somewhere recently that as long as the film is kept at a stable, cool temperature, that was good enough to keep it for a reasonably long time (at least for B+W). It did mention in the same article that freezing did not help.
Re: Film Life Exspectations
Well as long as freezing doesn't hurt it I guess I will be OK. If I would leave it in the refrigerator it would be molested, no one bothers it in the freezer I am sure there is meat in the freezer older than my film---- yukkkkkP C Headland wrote:I seem to recall reading somewhere recently that as long as the film is kept at a stable, cool temperature, that was good enough to keep it for a reasonably long time (at least for B+W). It did mention in the same article that freezing did not help.
Ron B
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Re: Film Life Exspectations
I think that ambient radiation, accumulated over time, will fog any film. That rate at which this happens may vary with film sensitivity (ISO), and storage location, but it will happen.
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