Fomapan R - How long in camera?

runswithsizzers · Mar 27, 2019

I have a roll of Fomapan R that's been in the camera since Jan. 22 (12 weeks). How long can a film like Fomapan R wait for development before problems start to show up?

Also, if I wanted to expose several rolls of Fomapan R over a period of six months or a year, then develop them all together, what would be the best way to store them - refrigerated or frozen?

Would Scala reversal film be any different from Fomapan R in it's ability to maintain a latent image over time?

MattKing · Mar 27, 2019

I know of only one film - Pan F - where a 12 week delay would be a consistent source of problems. There is enough Fomapan out there that I would assume that if it had similar characteristics with respect to latent image keeping, we would have heard of it.
As far as storage is concerned, be sure to keep the film away from excess heat or humidity. If you are going to put it into either a fridge or a freezer, it would be best if it is protected from humidity - placing it into a sealed plastic bag with some dessicant, on a dry day would be best before it goes into the cold.
I have no experience with Scala.

Agulliver · Mar 28, 2019

I've used Fomapan R 8mm film, and as far as I can tell it has no problems with latent image retention. As another poster has already stated, the only current film known to have this issue is Ilford Pan F+. For all the Foma films I understand it would be perfectly fine to expose and then wait until the film expires to have it developed....and probably a good way beyond expiry.

I am not a fan of putting *exposed* film in the freezer but do try to keep it away from extremes of heat and humidity. The proverbial "cool, dark place" (AKA a drawer) is good enough.

runswithsizzers · Mar 28, 2019

MattKing and Agulliver, thanks for the reminder about Ilford PanF+.

Recently, I had seen a reference to *SOME* film which did not hold the latent image well, but I could not remember any details, and I did not know if this problem was common to other films.

Normally, I'll finish a roll within a couple of weeks, but soon after I loaded the Fomapan R, I started a medium format photography class, so I've been devoting my shooting time to 120 instead.

When I finish the Fomapan R, I'll have to decide if I want to send it off to DR5, or save it and shoot some more until I have enough to try the Foma diy home reversal processing kit.

Agulliver's comment about not putting exposed film in the freezer reminded that I seen a strongly worded warning on the DR5 website about some film which must not be refrigerated; turns out it was Ilford PanF, but only in 120??
"NOTE: DO NOT put 120 Pan-f back in the fridge once it has been shot. DO NOT put un-wrapped pan-f in the fridge. YOUR FILM WILL BE RUINED!"
- http://www.dr5.com/blackandwhiteslide/panfdev-1.html

trendland · Mar 28, 2019

runswithsizzers said:
MattKing and Agulliver, thanks for the reminder about Ilford PanF+.

Recently, I had seen a reference to *SOME* film which did not hold the latent image well, but I could not remember any details, and I did not know if this problem was common to other films.

Normally, I'll finish a roll within a couple of weeks, but soon after I loaded the Fomapan R, I started a medium format photography class, so I've been devoting my shooting time to 120 instead.

When I finish the Fomapan R, I'll have to decide if I want to send it off to DR5, or save it and shoot some more until I have enough to try the Foma diy home reversal processing kit.

Agulliver's comment about not putting exposed film in the freezer reminded that I seen a strongly worded warning on the DR5 website about some film which must not be refrigerated; turns out it was Ilford PanF, but only in 120??
"NOTE: DO NOT put 120 Pan-f back in the fridge once it has been shot. DO NOT put un-wrapped pan-f in the fridge. YOUR FILM WILL BE RUINED!"
- http://www.dr5.com/blackandwhiteslide/panfdev-1.html

The last YOU mentioned from notice out of the web is a general issue!
YOU load a film and then YOU shot the film - pronto!
If YOU are not able YOU may reload the film! But then YOU should shot the rest of your film within a time wich is normal! Normal is that what the mass is doing - therefore a film is designed!
So amatheuric photographers need some weeks or some month to fill 36 frames within 35mm films!
But pls. dont come to the idea to freeze a film YOU reloaded!
That is total nonsence - YOU get a problem from moisture then - to 120 films this
OF COURSE WILL DAMAGE YOUR 120 FILMS!
Freeze films if YOU like (in UNOPENED ORIGINAL CANISTERS) that is also OK for 120films!
But don't expose a film - freeze it - expose it - freeze it a.s.o.

with regards

trendland · Mar 28, 2019

Film is like fish YOU wont eat fish coming freezed - the rest YOU can't eat coming in the freezer again! Because the fish isn't to freeze twice! The same with films (exeption UNOPENED ORIGINAL CANISTER) it can be freezed twice!

with regards

pentaxuser · Mar 28, 2019

DR5's warning raises more questions than answers in my mind. Is this a warning only for those who wish to use Pan F for reversal?

Certainly for normal negative processing the only warning I had heard of, refers to its limited latent image properties and I had thought these were (a) applicable to both 35mm and 120 and (b) returning the exposed film to a refrigerator made no difference

Perhaps others or better still DR5 can clarify if its warning about not returning Pan F to a fridge is only applicable to film destined for reversal processing

pentaxuser

Fomapan R - How long in camera?

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