Organizing your film...

StoneNYC · Nov 24, 2012

Moderators please move this if its in the wrong spot.

So I just decided all my film is organized terribly, in that I did it by what I would use most vs least not by color or size, but now I can't find stuff or I'm forced to open a frozen container for that one roll of 116 I wanted to shoot etc.

Two things, one is I'm "done" shooting old film. I plan to use up what I have, enjoy the nostalgia and move on, the only thing I will do is still use my old folders so I plan to do a bunch of re-rolling of 70mm into 116/616 spools.

But in the mean time if I don't freeze it, the old stuff will be even worse.

So how do you organize your film? Any suggestions B&W / CN / slide or by Kodak / ilford or by 120/135/116/70mm or what?

I may not heed anyone's advice and take bits and prices of it but I want to get a sense of those who have a good storage flow for them. Thanks!

I don't have a lot of film but I'm defrosting my freezer so I can show it all.

Yes I know to keep Polaroid flat that was just for display, and some stuff is still defrosting so the bags aren't permanent and can be adjusted, everything will go into "snapware" which is like Tupperware but better and good for freezers.

Right now it's just in piles of B&W / CN / Transparency and then separated by size 120/116/13570mm etc.

The few oddballs I'll just have to deal with, but I'm sort of curious what others suggest?

Thanks!

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tkamiya · Nov 24, 2012

I keep a spreadsheet of my stock so I know what I have. The actual films are sort of divided into a semi-logical manner and in large zip loc bags. I don't freeze my film though. They are in my refrigerator in refrigerated section.

If I change my mind about certain film, I just sell them off in APUG classified section and move on.

jp498 · Nov 24, 2012

The fuji instant you have should probably not be frozen. Fridge would be better. Me, I stick to less variety of film options. TMY2 is 95% of what I've got my in my freezer. I bag it up by size. 120/4x5/8x10,etc...

StoneNYC · Nov 24, 2012

jp498 said:
The fuji instant you have should probably not be frozen. Fridge would be better. Me, I stick to less variety of film options. TMY2 is 95% of what I've got my in my freezer. I bag it up by size. 120/4x5/8x10,etc...

Yea I know that too, I should have clarified that in asking about the film not Polaroid stuff. But thanks for the warning.

I'm really trying to get this stuff gone through so I can buy more Pan F+, Tmax400, Delta3200 and Velvia/Provia and be done with the rest, I would sell this portra 120 I have to someone but its mostly expired except the "new" portra is new and the Ektar is brand new, I would trade it for tmax400 or pan F etc. too, anyway for now I just want it organized. Some of this stuff HAS to go to the freezer because its expired, anything expired goes to the freezer unless I'm ready to use it tomorrow

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

StoneNYC · Nov 25, 2012

Well it's done... For now...

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2012

Screw organizing the film! I have two freezers of no longer available film and I just throw more film in. I swear that there is no way to keep it organized!

StoneNYC · Nov 25, 2012

Sirius Glass said:
Screw organizing the film! I have two freezers of no longer available film and I just throw more film in. I swear that there is no way to keep it organized!

Want to trade some? I want to get rid of my portra and my Ektar, I have about 8 rolls of new portra/portra VC and 6 rolls of Ektar I will trade for any B&W films,

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2012

What and part with my Kodak Tri-X Pan 320 in 120 rolls? How about you take my ex-wife, p*l*e*a*s*e!

ArtO · Nov 25, 2012

StoneNYC said:
Well it's done... For now...

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nicely done and a nice supply of film.

StoneNYC · Nov 25, 2012

Sirius Glass said:
What and part with my Kodak Tri-X Pan 320 in 120 rolls? How about you take my ex-wife, p*l*e*a*s*e!

Depends on what she looks like and what's she's into

ArtO said:
Nicely done and a nice supply of film.

Thanks, as I said its not perfect but for now it's the best I can do, REALLY need to cut down on this old $#!t and stick with what's available, it's not that it's all bad just that when you are hired for a job it's different than playing and enjoying the unique results, and I don't have room for both and still have room for my ice cream... Haha

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

flatulent1 · Nov 26, 2012

I recently pared down my film accumulation. I started by taking a thorough inventory, then by creating a spreadsheet. I found I had less than ten rolls each of several films I wasn't particularly interested in, which I bagged up and gave away. I found I have 90+ rolls (120) of E100GX; how'd that happen? I also discovered I had two baggies with assorted 35mm film ready to shoot; why two?

Nearly all the film in the freezer is 120/220. Nearly all the film in the fridge is 135. I'm currently shooting a lot more 135 than 120 so I suppose this makes sense, sort of. I also had way more film stashed in drawers in the basement than I was aware of. Several cans of bulk 135 in the fridge, plus three or four loaders loaded, most of the bulk film was expired when I bought it... I really ought to acquire some empty cassettes and use this stuff.

(I did a really stupid thing last week, in a fit of boredom: I applied prices to my spreadsheet. Never do this.)

Most of the film went into gallon-size zip-lock bags, back into the freezer. 35mm film and 120 that I want to use up I carried downstairs and stuffed into a few empty shallow drawers that look like they're made for this kind of thing. And now I know what I have and what I don't need to purchase more of any time soon. Except I could do with some more Portra 400, and some 800 could come in handy with the darkness lingering longer, and I haven't given Delta 3200 a really good trial...

benjiboy · Nov 26, 2012

I use a spreadsheet to keep track of my film stocks, and keep the actual film in zip-lock bags in big chest freezer bought for the purpose in my basement to avoid my wife complaining about me taking up all the space in her food freezer.

Terry Christian · Nov 26, 2012

I so basically the same as you, Stone: I organize it by format and color/B&W and store it in snapware in a fridge out in the garage. If I had the freezer cleaned out, which I need to do, then I'd store bulk or bricks of film there.

StoneNYC · Nov 26, 2012

flatulent1 said:
I recently pared down my film accumulation. I started by taking a thorough inventory, then by creating a spreadsheet. I found I had less than ten rolls each of several films I wasn't particularly interested in, which I bagged up and gave away. I found I have 90+ rolls (120) of E100GX; how'd that happen? I also discovered I had two baggies with assorted 35mm film ready to shoot; why two?

Nearly all the film in the freezer is 120/220. Nearly all the film in the fridge is 135. I'm currently shooting a lot more 135 than 120 so I suppose this makes sense, sort of. I also had way more film stashed in drawers in the basement than I was aware of. Several cans of bulk 135 in the fridge, plus three or four loaders loaded, most of the bulk film was expired when I bought it... I really ought to acquire some empty cassettes and use this stuff.

(I did a really stupid thing last week, in a fit of boredom: I applied prices to my spreadsheet. Never do this.)

Most of the film went into gallon-size zip-lock bags, back into the freezer. 35mm film and 120 that I want to use up I carried downstairs and stuffed into a few empty shallow drawers that look like they're made for this kind of thing. And now I know what I have and what I don't need to purchase more of any time soon. Except I could do with some more Portra 400, and some 800 could come in handy with the darkness lingering longer, and I haven't given Delta 3200 a really good trial...

That's a lot of film.

I would shoot the Ektachrome now, mine (EPP) is stating to show issues in the highlights area, I also got it from a guy who "swore" it was frozen but then it didn't come in bags and was open so I'm not sure if its good. But the price was right and it's mostly for fun.

ANYWAY the rest of it (aside from the 70mm) is off the shelf so it's good.

Want any of my portra 400? also some portra 160VC in 220.

It's not in the kinds of quantities you have, it's like 6 here, 4 here etc. but it's worth noting that I'll trade them

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

flatulent1 · Nov 26, 2012

StoneNYC said:
That's a lot of film.

That's nothing; I still have room for food in my freezer. Many here do not.

I have something like 55 rolls (mixed) of Pro 800Z, acquired when Fuji announced its discontinuance, then rescinded. I have no clue when they changed their minds again. Given the price of Portra 800 lately, I'll be using up the Pro 800Z this winter.

What really disturbs me is I have four entries on the spreadsheet for 4x5 film. Problem is I don't have a 4x5 camera. Apparently I am anticipating getting one. Really? Gee, I'd better start looking!

StoneNYC · Nov 26, 2012

flatulent1 said:
That's nothing; I still have room for food in my freezer. Many here do not.

I have something like 55 rolls (mixed) of Pro 800Z, acquired when Fuji announced its discontinuance, then rescinded. I have no clue when they changed their minds again. Given the price of Portra 800 lately, I'll be using up the Pro 800Z this winter.

What really disturbs me is I have four entries on the spreadsheet for 4x5 film. Problem is I don't have a 4x5 camera. Apparently I am anticipating getting one. Really? Gee, I'd better start looking!

Haha!! Just as I had some stock of 116 before I had a folder or 220 before I had my 6x6 back that took both.

I stopped doing spreadsheets /lists for now till I cut down on some of what I plan to NOT have for long. Then when I'm down to the choice films I'll stick to them I think.

I think ilford will inevitably get all my business... I'd like to say "oh yes I shot in this and that film, while its still around, but it's a fools errand to invest in a style of film that say Kodak has, it's too expensive and they are collapsing, ilford is strong and that's where my money will go.

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ic-racer · Nov 26, 2012

Unexposed film does not last very long for me, so I use it soon after I get it. Maybe there is too much radiation where I live (ha ha). My local store carries just about any film I need, except 8x10 and regular-8. I keep 35mm in the bulk loader and one or two boxes of sheet film in the cupboard by the film holders. If I have any left over I'll put it in the freezer.

horacekenneth · Nov 26, 2012

Could we get some input as to the advantage of purchasing and organizing bulk film rather than just buying it as you use it?

StoneNYC · Nov 26, 2012

horacekenneth said:
Could we get some input as to the advantage of purchasing and organizing bulk film rather than just buying it as you use it?

I think bulk is a price point issue, you get way more film if you buy bulk but the loading process is tedious (in my opinion) so I personally won't do it (even if I could be shooting 35mm tech pan if I did load my own) but I really only shoot 120 these days...

~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

flatulent1 · Nov 27, 2012

The price difference between bulk and standard 36 exposure rolls isn't significant enough to justify the expense and labor of loading your own if you're not shooting a bunch; if you're shooting 10-20 or more rolls/week the cost savings does start to add up. The real benefit for those of us who shoot less seems to be the ability to load short rolls, say 12-18 exposures, when you have the need for short rolls. Plus I started at uni loading my own when I was studying darkroom, so it was a no-brainer (I'm good at those decisions) to do so again when I got back into it.

There are those who don't need to justify the expense. They like the hands-on aspect of film photography, and loading their own is a part of that. I suspect many of them graduated to LF. I have a certain amount of appreciation for this perspective.

Organizing your film...

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency