How anal should I be about defrosting my film?

[EASmithV]

I have all my Kodachrome double ziploc bagged and in the freezer right now.

I know that removing the film without defrosting it causes condensation.

If I were to remove the big bag of the film from the freezer, open it for a few minutes to get a few rolls, and then re-seal it, would it cause problems? Do I have to defrost the entire bag at once just to get a few rolls?

 

[Q.G.]

I never experienced any effect (good or bad) from taking film from a bag full in the freezer. No rime forming inside the bag, or anything.

Not that it would matter much, since the films are packed pretty good individually (foil or cannister) by the factory, so only the carboard would get a bit soggy if rime would defrost. The film itself only comes out of its seal when at room temperature.

 

[jasonhall]

As long as each roll is still sealed in its own plastic film canister, it will be just fine.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If I were you, I would not get anal with frozen film ...

that would chill the cockels of your heart. ​

Steve

 

[BobNewYork]

........that would chill the cockels of your heart. [/CENTER]

Steve

Not to mention bringing the color back to your cheeks

 

[Sirius Glass]

Not to mention bringing the color back to your cheeks

Both pairs of cheeks!

Steve

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Yeah, I was also going to recommend not defrosting your film there.

Ya gotta be careful around this place, most of us are rather immature have a great fondness for scatological humor. Well, at least I do.

 

[Anscojohn]

Scat, Scat!!

 

[mts]

No problem here in New Mexico where humidity runs around 10%. You should definitely defrost the box before opening the cannister. Microwave? I haven't microwaved film yet.

 

[rpsawin]

No problem here in New Mexico where humidity runs around 10%. You should definitely defrost the box before opening the cannister. Microwave? I haven't microwaved film yet.

Microwave a metal cannister???

Bob

 

[phenix]

Why did you double ziploc the canisters before freezing? Did you wish to keep the humidity inside these bags? Ziploc in the freezer is to keep the humidity within the food, which is exactly the opposite you want with the film. I use simple plastic bags, even perforated, in order to allow the freezer to dry the air inside. Would I have paper bags, I would use them instead. Moreover, with paper bags you can go so much anal you want…

 

[nickrapak]

I have repeatedly taken films out of a freezer and replaced them without any detrimental effects. A few seconds to take out a roll or two won't do anything.

 

[aluk]

None of my films are in Ziploc bags. I just stick them in the freezer/fridge in their cardboard boxes or plastic canisters, and have so far have had nothing bad happen (as far as I can tell).

 

[MattKing]

I use Ziploc bags, but mainly to keep the film organized, and to guard against damage from moisture in the event of leaks or power failures.

Matt

 

[StorminMatt]

Everybody obsesses over condensation forming on film if you don't let it defrost properly. But HOW is condensation going to form inside the canister? It's not like more humid ambient air is just going to go through all the small openings into the film canister for the heck of it.

 

[benjiboy]

It's not a big deal,I just leave them at room temperature for about three hours, or if I'm in a hurry, I stick them in my trousers pocket for about an hour or so, and try not to get "frozen assets"

 

[alexmacphee]

If the film is in its plastic canister, you've nothing to worry about. The box is going in the (recycle) dustbin anyway. Kodachrome here UK) is process paid, so I take the envelopes out of the boxes, discard the boxes except for the box end flaps, and put the film canisters in pairs in food bags, tied in a knot, then the canister bags go in sealed plastic tubs. When I need film, it's usually in pairs, so I open the plastic box, take out a pair, or if it's just one I need, put the other canister back in a bag and into the box.

These plastic canisters are pretty airtight, and I've never had a problem in decades of storing film like this.

 

[jasonhall]

I have been known to hold a roll of 120 film (still in the foil package) under my arm pit for a little bit to get it warmed up. The tightly wound roll with no air space warms up very quickly.

Jason

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have been known to hold a roll of 120 film (still in the foil package) under my arm pit for a little bit to get it warmed up. The tightly wound roll with no air space warms up very quickly.

Jason

Gawd, that's the pits!

Steve

 

[Mike1234]

I wouldn't deforst film anally... seems sort of extreme to me but to each his own. And big sheet film boxes... OUCH!!

 

[richard ide]

Enough to give you polaroids.

 

[Mike1234]

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I don't defrost film at all - I take it straight from the freezer, open it up and put it in the camera - and I breath on it heavily when I am doing this.

No Joke: I am trying to get condensation damage - and I am very disappointed that I can't.

Has anybody got a slide or negative where they can point at it and say "See, that's what happens if you don't defrost the film?"

Though a little bit of thought and thermodynamics shows why it doesn't happen.

 

[jasonhall]

I loaded a roll of 120 once (Efke 50 I think) without defrosting. I did not intend to however. It was late and I was hurrying to get to bed as I was getting ready for a photowalk the next morning. I pulled it out of the freezer and set it on the table. Did one or two other things and then before I realized what I was doing, I loaded it into an RB67 6x4.5 back.

As you guessed, there was no ill effect. Unlike Nicholas, I was happy that was the case.

Jason

 

[benjiboy]

I wouldn't deforst film anally... seems sort of extreme to me but to each his own. And big sheet film boxes... OUCH!!

LOL, very funny Mike, it certainly would make his eyes water