Freezing 120 film

Vonder · Mar 12, 2010

What are the long term effects of freezing on 120 film? I don't shoot much color 120 but recently purchased 10 rolls of Fuji Reala and 10 rolls of Fuji Astia which I plan to freeze and use when needed.

I suppose the real concern is being able to process these films ten years down the road, but I can't worry about that right now. One paranoid delusion at a time.

jeffreyg · Mar 12, 2010

Life is short use the film now.

removed-user-1 · Mar 12, 2010

I've used ten-year-old frozen film with no serious problems, but then I'm not making critical measurements of density and color.

Robert Hall · Mar 12, 2010

Try to keep them dry. Moisture buildup over time can be a problem especially when thawing the film. The moisture could stick the film to itself.

As many will say, let the film warm to room temperature before opening it. If there is condensation, wipe it off, then let the film roll dry. Once that is done, it should be good to go.

BTW, 20 rolls of film last about a week around here. I can't imagine having 20 rolls last over years. If you worry about processing being available, I would think more about buying the film when you need it so it's fresh. One might believe that if there is film, there is film processing, or vice versus.

Vonder · Mar 12, 2010

Well... the advice to shoot it now isn't much help. I'm a married man, with two kids AND a day job - my photographic time is limited. I live in Iowa. I have 1.5 cameras that can shoot 120 film, but I have 50+ 35mm cameras. As you can tell, I do most of my shooting on smaller, faster, lighter cameras. When I get the medium format gear out it's for something special and usually rare. If we take our tenatively-planned trip to Disney this year I'll certainly use some or all of this stash.

PhotoJim · Mar 12, 2010

Freezing works. Slower film keeps longer than faster film (cosmic rays eventually fog all film but fog slow film much more slowly). Temperature also matters. A refrigerator freezer at -4 C is not going to keep film as effectively as a chest freezer at -18 C.

mikebarger · Mar 12, 2010

I double bag mine in Baggies and don't open until it's at room temperature. I've had zero problems with this method.

Mike

Sirius Glass · Mar 12, 2010

I freeze mine. 120 film in the unopened original wrapper can be frozen for over 10 years.

Steve

Jeff Kubach · Mar 13, 2010

I freeze my 120 film also. So far have no problems with the film.

Jeff

DanielStone · Mar 13, 2010

I've used some old tri-x(120) a friend's dad had in the "deep freeze" since the early 80's, base fog was there, but exposing at 100 or 125(have to look at my notes), worked fine.

color film I'd be more wary of though, but if you rarely open the freezer, it should be fine.

-Dan

Rinthe · Mar 14, 2010

do you guys just put the unpacked film straight into the freezer? no bags or anything? and how long will the film keep if you only refrigerate it, not freeze?

Rudeofus · Mar 14, 2010

Rinthe said:
do you guys just put the unpacked film straight into the freezer? no bags or anything?

I have not frozen any film (yet), but I'd recommend you put it into an air tight bag before you put the film into the freezer. If the film comes out of the freezer, it has -18°C on its surface, so the warm and humid room air would condense water on its cold surface. If the film stays in the bag until it has reached room temperature, the condensation takes place on the outer surface of the platic bag and won't hurt your film. While you are at it also make sure that not too much air is trapped inside the plastic bag and that you don't do this on a particularly hot and humid day, so you won't trap too much moisture inside the bag ...

Q.G. · Mar 14, 2010

A plastic bag is a good idea. But you need not be too cautious about it.

120 film is already wrapped in an air and moisture proof bit of foil, that will do what needs to be done just fine. You can toss the films in the freezer with nothing more around them then their foil wrappers, and they will be perfectly o.k. as long as you keep them in their wrappers until they have warmed up a bit.

A plastic bag will help keep the freezer's content organized though.

clayne · Mar 14, 2010

I store unpackaged 120 in bags, packaged 120 in their packages, and 135 in their canisters (and boxes if I happen to have them). I freeze it all except that which I expect to use in the near future - which I put in the fridge. There is no reason not to freeze film.

Sirius Glass · Mar 14, 2010

Rinthe said:
do you guys just put the unpacked film straight into the freezer? no bags or anything? and how long will the film keep if you only refrigerate it, not freeze?

Right into the freezer.

Then out of the freezer and into the camera bag. By the time I want to use it, it is up to temperature and I open the factory packaging.

Steve

PhotoJim · Mar 14, 2010

I throw my films into ziploc bags (the sandwich bags hold 10 35mm rolls if they're in Fuji or Foma canisters; Kodak's take a little more finagling). I have some larger freezer bags that I throw my 120 into.

I have thrown entire Pro-Packs of 120 into the freezer as is though.

I have large plastic tubs to help me keep my film organized. I have 35mm colour in one, 35mm black and white in another, and 120 in its own tub (I don't have as much 120 film so I don't need two tubs). Oh yes, and a tub for 4x5.

Freezing 120 film

removed-user-1

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