Film Storage Question

John Galt · Jun 3, 2019

I have a bunch of old expired film, Tri X (1983 and 2012), Panatomic X, Verichrome Pan, Ektachrome, etc. that was frozen when I purchased it from several sellers here. So I keep it frozen in my freezer.

I also have a stockpile of unexpired film which I also keep frozen.

My question: Is it necessary to freeze? Or is refrigerated (35-40 degrees) enough for long term (years) storage?

Asking because My freezer space is limited.

Thanks!!

koraks · Jun 3, 2019

For the really long haul, I would put my money on freezing. For anything up to 5 or 10 years, I feel comfortable enough with our spare fridge.

ic-racer · Jun 3, 2019

Is fresh film too expensive?

jim appleyard · Jun 3, 2019

ic-racer said:
Is fresh film too expensive?

Where can you buy fresh Pan X and VP?

John Galt · Jun 3, 2019

jim appleyard said:
Where can you buy fresh Pan X and VP?

Bingo!

Helios 1984 · Jun 3, 2019

ic-racer said:
Is fresh film too expensive?

The last batch of film that I’ve purchased came from a drugstore. X-Tra 400 2 months away from expiration, on sale at 6$ 3x24 exposures.

BAC1967 · Jun 3, 2019

I only put it in the freezer if it's in a factory sealed container. If not, when you take it out you can end up with condensation on the film that can do damage. My bulk loaders are all stored in the refrigerator. In a humid climate even that may cause condensation on the film when it's removed but so far I have not had a problem with that living in the Seattle area.

John Galt · Jun 3, 2019

BAC1967 said:
I only put it in the freezer if it's in a factory sealed container. If not, when you take it out you can end up with condensation on the film that can do damage. My bulk loaders are all stored in the refrigerator. In a humid climate even that may cause condensation on the film when it's removed but so far I have not had a problem with that living in the Seattle area.

Thanks . . . it is all in the factory packaging

Pentode · Jun 3, 2019

I only freeze my infrared stuff due to very limited freezer space but Kodak, if I recall correctly, only ever suggested refrigerating film for long-term storage and not freezing it so I feel pretty secure just having my film in the fridge.

Skeeterfx20 · Jun 4, 2019

I can't give you a scientific reason but I store all my film in the freezer. Even with a chest freezer it takes some space, then again I tend to keep a lot of film. I have been doing that for 20 years and I have never had an issue. I don't know why but I keep the film in zip lock bags and sometimes if I buy a lot of one type I use a vacuum sealer. That is more than likely overkill to the 9th degree. However it makes it easy to store more film.

Ten years ago I bought a lot of outdated Kodak TMAX 400 film. I think it was one or two years out of date when I bought it. I finished my last roll in November of 2018. It was perfectly fine. I don't tend to store ISO 800 and above far past the expiration date.

I found a 25 year old roll of Kodak Ecktachrome in the bottom of the freezer a few month ago. I went ahead and shot it and it did have a blue cast to it.

I still have a ton of Kodak Tech Pan in the freezer and it's old. It still looks like the day they manufactured it. I hope the same hold true for the boat load of Acros 100 I have.

Now I had a lot of Fuji color film in a zip lock that was just in the fridge from 2005. I have been shooting that up trying to get through it. Again it is perfectly fine.

The only thing I really know is that heat hurts film and they say the higher ISO film can be a problem regardless how you store it. Does cold storage Help? Well it hasn't hurt.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 4, 2019

John Galt said:
I have a bunch of old expired film, Tri X (1983 and 2012), Panatomic X, Verichrome Pan, Ektachrome, etc. that was frozen when I purchased it from several sellers here. So I keep it frozen in my freezer.

I also have a stockpile of unexpired film which I also keep frozen.

My question: Is it necessary to freeze? Or is refrigerated (35-40 degrees) enough for long term (years) storage?

Asking because My freezer space is limited.

Thanks!!

the colder; the better

MattKing · Jun 4, 2019

Skeeterfx20 said:
The only thing I really know is that heat hurts film

As do moisture, and cosmic rays.
Unless you happen to have a mineshaft in your back yard leading to deep, dry, cool subterranean caves, there isn't much you can do about cosmic rays.

Skeeterfx20 · Jun 5, 2019

Well in fact I do have a mine shaft in the backyard. Lol. They just opened the new coal mine last year. Since its on my farm land maybe I can work out a deal with them for storing my high iso film.

jvo · Jun 6, 2019

Skeeterfx20 said:
Well in fact I do have a mine shaft in the backyard. Lol. They just opened the new coal mine last year. Since its on my farm land maybe I can work out a deal with them for storing my high iso film.

film???

hey, sounds like move in condition to me... will i live another 200 years?

RalphLambrecht · Jun 7, 2019

Skeeterfx20 said:
Well in fact I do have a mine shaft in the backyard. Lol. They just opened the new coal mine last year. Since its on my farm land maybe I can work out a deal with them for storing my high iso film.

actually, coal mines are typically rather warm; a saly mine may be a better choice; but not next to the nuclear waste mind you.

koraks · Jun 7, 2019

Also, radon.

BrianShaw · Jun 7, 2019

koraks said:
Also, radon.

... and these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocker_(folklore)

koraks · Jun 7, 2019

Hehe, good one

BTW, on second thought, radon is not really an issue since it only exhibits alpha and beta decay.

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