Fridge or freezer?

Markok765 · Oct 17, 2006

What is better to store film in when you have 50 rolls of 35mm that you will use in 1\2 of a year?
Also a consideration will be, the fridge is also used for food, and the freezer is opened less.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Oct 17, 2006

I put stuff I regularly need in the bottom drawer of the fridge: it combines quick access with good temperature control. The rest of the stash goes in the freezer.

Bromo33333 · Oct 17, 2006

Markok765 said:
What is better to store film in when you have 50 rolls of 35mm that you will use in 1\2 of a year?
Also a consideration will be, the fridge is also used for food, and the freezer is opened less.

Fridge.

reellis67 · Oct 17, 2006

Generally speaking, I keep most of my film in the freezer and just pull it out when I need it. It always takes at least an hour to get anywhere, and that's plenty of time to warm up (at least here in Florida.) I've got a plasic bin that it lives in so that it doesn't float all over. I don't really think that for that short a time period it really matters one way of the other. If you were stashing film for use in 5 or 10 years that would be one thing, but 6 months would be fine at room temperature.

- Randy

Ole · Oct 17, 2006

Freezer.

Except for the 30x40cm film - my film freezer is too small.

David Brown · Oct 17, 2006

Markok765 said:
What is better to store film in when you have 50 rolls of 35mm that you will use in 1\2 of a year?
Also a consideration will be, the fridge is also used for food, and the freezer is opened less.

What's the expiration date on the film? If it's not expired, or will expire in 6 months, and you're going to use it in the next 6 months, why bother?

Dan Fromm · Oct 17, 2006

Marko, ask your mother which she'll let you use.

Richard Kelham · Oct 17, 2006

Any film that's going to be stored for more than a month or two ought to go in the freezer – if there's room...

Richard

MattKing · Oct 17, 2006

Dan Fromm said:
Marko, ask your mother which she'll let you use.

It will give you experience, for when you have to ask your wife the same question.

Is the film Colour or Black and White? What speed is the film?

IMHO, the freezer is more important for colour, and for fast films, unless you are talking about loooong term storage.

If you keep film in a cool, dry place, it will last a long time. The consistency of the temperature may be as important as whether it is frozen.

Matt

CGross · Oct 17, 2006

Does the type of freezer matter? Frost free or not? Somewhere I read that if you are going to freeze film it was better to do it in a freezer that constantly held the same temp.

BrianShaw · Oct 17, 2006

Fridge, with film in zip lock bags.

rogueish · Oct 18, 2006

Rotate your stock.
New film goes into the freezer. The film already in the frezzer goes into the fridge. Film already in the fridge, goes into the camera bag. When the camera bag gets low, I start again. Usually have 6 rolls of PanF,12 rolls of FP4, and 4-6 rolls of HP5 in the camera bag.

And yes unfortunately I have to share the fridge and freezer with some food.

Black Dog · Oct 18, 2006

Depends how much cold you can tolerate ROFL.

Bromo33333 · Oct 18, 2006

Here is a link to Kodak: HERE

But in essence, fridge or freezer works OK - but this is supposed to be for color film so the color balance changes. Optimal sotrage temps below 55F (wine fridge anyone?)

Some sort of explanation on this isn't supposed to be used to extend the life of film beyond the expiration date - something to do with cosmic rays...?

Anyway, interesting tech pub.

davetravis · Oct 18, 2006

Freezer, to extend the expiry date, and take it out to thaw 24 hours before you use it. Or just keep some in the fridge and warm up 1 hour before use.
DT

naturephoto1 · Oct 18, 2006

Either should probably be OK. If you are going to use it within the expiration date, certainly either. If it is an amateur as opposed to a professional transparency film, remember, that the amateur film is designed and expected to sit on the shelf for some time to reach its optimum color. In the case of the professional transparency film, it is already at or almost at its optimum color.

Rich

Markok765 · Oct 18, 2006

Rich, it is mostly kodacrome 64 and tri-x 400
some ilford xp2 and 3200, but that is it

copake_ham · Oct 18, 2006

Freezer - but with a close eye to make sure rotation occurs.

And, as Brian Shaw notes, sealed in plastic. Either ziplocks or the plastic trays with covers that you now get from the Chinese restaurants.

BTW: what about MF film (new to me)? Is the foil wrapping "safe" to protect against moisture?

Oh, and by Freezer, I do mean a frost-free one!

jstraw · Oct 18, 2006

I have a vacuum sealer. Would it make sense to cryovac my film?

Terence · Oct 18, 2006

The foil on 120 is moisture-proof. I've had no problem with film frozen for a couple of years.

As for vacuum-sealing . . . why not. A friend of mine got a sealer just before his wife went away for a weekend. She came home to find everything in the kitchen vac-sealed. Utensils, plates, notebooks, salt & pepper shakers, etc. She claims the new rule is, "Don't leave a man home with beer, a vacuum-sealer, and no supervision." They're lucky they don't have kids or pets.

Fridge or freezer?

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