Film doesn't have expiry dates.
It doesn't magically die on you.
It has "Develop Before" recommendations attached to it. Those are determined based on a bunch of statistical information about both the characteristics of the film and on typical and atypical storage and use conditions. The date is chosen, because relying on it minimizes the number of unhappy customers and retailers and labs. Traditionally Kodak and the other major film manufacturers chose dates very conservatively, because they had a lot of control over how film is handled before it gets into the end user's hands, and because the people who were likely to notice small changes - the very particular customers - tended to use a lot of film, and tended to have money at stake.\, and tended to use high quality labs.
A lot has changed since then. In particular, the amount of within specification lab development has plummeted., So Develop Before dates have got more conservative. But even given that, as an end user, you have no way of knowing how the film was handled before you got it. So other than using film as soon as is practical, and handling and storing it in temperature controlled, cool to cold conditions before you use it, is the only systemic approach that makes any sense.
If your suggested procedure makes you feel comfortable, go ahead. But it isn't likely to make any measurable or predictable difference, unless you have control over a lot of the other variables.
I also recall that the stock number of the film were important as pros would buy dozens or hundreds with the same stock number. That way the Kodak manufacturing of all was at the same time and therefore colors and expiries matched with all rolls or sheets, something important if you're doing a project with them. They could develop the first roll and then know what the rest need to get them right.
Very interesting information in the replies, thank you. It does make me wish for a date of manufacture rather than expiry.
Ilford advises to avoid repeated thawing and freezing of films.Maybe I missed it but they didn't say much about freezing film under any situations to extend the expiry date or anything else for that matter. They spoke of keeping it in refrigerator at 50 degrees F for storage over 12 months. So is it safe to freeze it? Does it matter? Is refrigeration good enough?
Very interesting information in the replies, thank you. It does make me wish for a date of manufacture rather than expiry.
Ilford advises to avoid repeated thawing and freezing of films.
they didn't say much about freezing film under any situations to extend the expiry date or anything else
I agree with Ilford.On a factory tour, some years ago, Ilford mentioned that many QC issues where when films & papers had been frozen, they don't recommend it. The major issue is materials need to thaw out slowly, so from frozen to refrigeration, before room temperature.
Ian
Maybe I missed it but they didn't say much about freezing film under any situations to extend the expiry date or anything else for that matter. They spoke of keeping it in refrigerator at 50 degrees F for storage over 12 months. So is it safe to freeze it? Does it matter? Is refrigeration good enough?
The question with retail dealers is whether they even rotate the film at all. I doubt the typical shelf stocking monkeys who work in such places ever bother to read batch numbers.
I agree with Ilford.
Better yet, buy at once whatever amount of film you need for a particular project and only that amount. All problem solved. No freezer, no expire date, fresh film, same batch, always consistent.
The policy with what were once classified as amateur films is different. Kodak made the assumption that that category of products would not necessarily be responsibly stored or shot on time. Nor did amateurs tend to have high expectations, given the lack of accurate metering, along with often questionable processing. As long as you could differentiate Aunt Sue's face from that of the barnyard cow, it was sufficient.
As long as you could differentiate Aunt Sue's face from that of the barnyard cow, it was sufficient.
Interestingly enough, in their version of the same sheet from 2005, they do.
"Warm up after refrigeration. To prevent condensation on the surfaces of film or paper taken from a refrigerator or freezer, allow the package to warm up to room temperature before breaking the seal or opening the container."
They provide a table for "warm-up times":
View attachment 382570
Why did they stop recommending freezing? Who knows. Maybe they thought people were using too much expired film.
It's noteworthy they also say, "While storage in a refrigerator or freezer can be highly beneficial, you should not rely on it to extend film life beyond the “Develop Before” date." That indicates they simply considered refrigeration or freezing to be the proper way to store the stuff.
I doubt the typical shelf stocking monkeys who work in such places ever bother to read batch numbers.
Drew, please don't use derogatory terms for retail workers.
This is laughable. You buy film in the amount you need. Stop. If you can't find your preferred film, you buy another one that is similar. No big deal, no big difference. There are an abundant offer of films nowadays.This is laughable. Buy a roll of 35mm film, shoot it, buy another roll, and then complain about the price. In my adult lifetime, I have taken more color shots with 4x5 and 8x10 color sheet film than with 35mm. You buy it when you can get it, and at the best price, and stockpile it in the freezer, or else you might not be able to get your preferred product at all when you need it, or might not even be able to afford it. I have 8 boxes of 8x10 Ektar in the freezer at the moment, which I paid around $450 for as part of a bulk factory cut. Today the cost would be over $2600. The big freezer cost me only $200, and I even once had 20X24 inch boxes of Cibachrome in there.
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