As long as it's in it's original moisture proof packaging, it is probably OK
The companies who make frozen foods told the public for years that once thawed, frozen food should never be re-frozen. Later they admitted there was no good basis for this notion -- they merely thought the food might not taste as well frozen and re-frozen. It was a guess on their part. But I suppose the only way to know it to try re-freezing film and see how it comes out.
As long as the film is kept in its original packaging and are not bare rolls it should be fine.
I could see how 120 rolls outside their cellophane wrapper and 35mm film outside their plastic canisters would not fare well from freezing and thawing.
Let's ask a counter question: Why is it necessary to freeze the film to begin with, especially if you shoot mostly 120 film? If you use it within its expiration date, room temperature should be just fine.
I've never had any problems in freezing my stocks of film, which I've done for probably 25 years. But always in the manufacturers' original sealed packing.
Film for current use is in door of the fridge, in its cartons. "Reserve" stock is in the freezer, in sealed plastic boxes. I don't freeze/unfreeze unnecessarily.
I just bought some expired film (Astia) that has been frozen. Getting it to me will of course thaw it. Should I refreeze it?
The question is not about freezing film. The question is about RE-freezing film. Freeze/thaw cycles involve therm expansion. I am asking does this expansion damage the emulsions on film at all. If so, how many cycles is too many?
Got it. I think that depends on how quickly you plan on using it. If it were me I'd use expired film as quickly as possible. But if you intend to keep it several years it might be worthwhile to freeze.
I usually don't use expired film anymore, but realize some people have obsolete films that they love, so if I had to freeze film I would make sure they are in their original packaging. 120 film outside their plastic wrappers I would always be suspicious of and test before using for anything important. In their wrapper I would use double resealable plastic bags, with as much air evacuated from them as possible, to store the film in while in the freezer. I would put many smaller bags inside one large bag, so that I could remove only a small amount from the freezer at a time.
The question is not about freezing film. The question is about RE-freezing film. Freeze/thaw cycles involve therm expansion. I am asking does this expansion damage the emulsions on film at all. If so, how many cycles is too many?
My answer did refer, inter alia, to RE-freezing film, insofar as I said that I don't do it unnecessarily. Hopefully I avoid any risk of damage which this might cause.
But why are you worrying about how many cycles are too many ; surely the only time that you would need to refreeze would be to defrost the freezer, perhaps every 2-3 years, and that will certainly not damage the film. Again, as I said, my current film is in the fridge, and I don't need to raid the reserve stock in the freezer until I'm ready to transfer some film to the fridge or my gadget bag ready to use. Can't see any problem? (As my old college tutor said "there's enough real problems in the world to worry about without wasting time inventing any more ")
Why freeze film at all? Refrigeration is quite sufficient for colour film and for black & white, why bother?
Why freeze film at all? Refrigeration is quite sufficient for colour film and for black & white, why bother?
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