Should I develop my 35mm B&W film ASAP?

film_guy · Feb 19, 2007

I just finished shooting a roll of HP5+, so I'm wondering should I develop them as soon as I can? Currently I don't have any darkroom supplies and I don't have time to order them until 3 to 5 months after. Is there any damage to film being unprocessed for such a long time?

jim appleyard · Feb 19, 2007

Film SHOULD be devved ASAP. However, many times this is not practical and a 3-5 month wait won't do any harm. You could put it in the freezer, just make sure the canister is well marked that you've shot this roll already.

Give the frozen roll 3 hours to thaw before processing.

bdial · Feb 19, 2007

Processing the film sooner than later is better. But 3 to 5 months shouldn't be a big problem. It's best to refrigerate the film in the mean time. Put it back in a film can and put it in the fridge, or perhaps the freezer. When you take it out don't remove it from the film can until it's back to room temperature, especially if you wait for 5 months and you're doing this in our summer (humidity). If you think the delay will be longer than that, it would probably be better to send the film out somewhere to be processed commercially.

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Feb 19, 2007

I refrigerate all the film I've shot, and there's never been any noticeable difference from stuff I've just shot to stuff I've left for a month or two. Best to err on the side of caution, but really you'll be fine if you take care of it in the mean time, I'd say.

Another passing bit of advice; don't let the film get wet when your fridge decides to surprise you and defrost itself for no apparent reason.

Sparky · Feb 20, 2007

In my experience - it really shouldn't make a whole lot of difference whether it's processed right away or a year down the road if it's going to be printed at the same time anyway. I've never seen any testing or evidence or conjecture to suggest that the tonal response is significantly different from developing straight away. But I'm open to any evidence which suggests the contrary.

And I suppose I'll differ from the crowd again in suggesting that you should NEVER refrigerate film that's been unsealed - unless you can carefully vacuum seal it under VERY low humidity conditions first. The likelihood that moist air trapped in the roll will condense out in the coldness of the fridge is very high. This will damage your film in many cases.

copake_ham · Feb 20, 2007

This is a timely question as I was thinking the same thing.

I'm out at the house in Tucson and hope to shoot a few rolls of 120. Rather than bringing them in for processing now - I was thinking of how to store exposed film.

I freeze all my unexposed film and properly thaw before shooting. Normally I have it processed right away so have never had to think about how to store exposed film. My one concern with putting it back in the fridge/freezer is the condensation issue.

Since Tucson is a dry climate - I'm wondering if it might be better here to store the exposed rolls in a cool, dry place - but not the fridge/freezer. I'm particularly thinking of 120 for which, unlike 35mm, I don't have those nice plastic cases.

Any suggestions?

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Feb 20, 2007

Sparky said:
And I suppose I'll differ from the crowd again in suggesting that you should NEVER refrigerate film that's been unsealed - unless you can carefully vacuum seal it under VERY low humidity conditions first. The likelihood that moist air trapped in the roll will condense out in the coldness of the fridge is very high. This will damage your film in many cases.

I keep a stack of those moisture absorbing things next to the film, and it's a small bar fridge I got just for that purpose. I can see how moisture can gut your film, I've mentioned before I've had rolls get wet in a puddle of water and it ruins all of it, but so far I've had no problem under my normal routine. So I recommend the moisture absorbing things if you do use a fridge, I haven't encountered any problems with condensation - but there's always the chance I'm just lucky as well.

PHOTOTONE · Feb 20, 2007

The so-called Frost Free type of refrigerator (most models) actually remove moisture from the air inside the fridge. However you still need a vapor barrier for your film, as when you remove it from the freezer, into room air, moisture will condense on it, unless it is sealed in something. then the moisture will condense on the outside of your sealed container, where it does no harm.

PatTrent · Feb 20, 2007

If it's 35mm film, then it's either in a canister or will fit inside an empty/spare canister. So I don't understand the concerns about moisture, so long as the canister isn't opened until acclimated. What am I missing here? :confused:

Terence · Feb 20, 2007

I routinely develop film (mostly Ilford) more than a year after it was shot with no apparent effects. Even on ones more than two years old I've rarely had any problems. Handling is more important than age. A cool dry place is fine. Refrigerated would be better, but not necessary.

Don't worry. And shoot more film.

Should I develop my 35mm B&W film ASAP?

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