Storage of "in use" film?

[Twiggy]

Hello.

I know that for long-term storage of film a fridge or freezer is recommend.

What about film that is currently in a camera? I am asking because certain cameras I have I will likely be shooting only occasionally and I don't want to expose the film to light, or for it to degrade.

So what would be recommended for a storage case like this?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I leave the film in the camera in a cool, not cold location will good air circulation, even if it becomes years old.

 

[xkaes]

Depends on the film and camera. With most 35mm cameras, you can rewind the film -- leaving the leader out of the cassette -- and write the number of exposures taken on the film's leader. Then when you use it again (it does not have to be the same camera), advance the film to that spot with "dead" exposures with the lens cap on -- and add one "dead" exposure to avoid any overlap.

If the leader gets into the cassette by mistake, there are retractors that are cheap.

So what format and what cameras are you talking about? Do NOT leave the camera in the fridge or freezer.

 

[MattKing]

With 120 film (or any film using backing paper) there is a significantly increased chance of problems with interaction between the film and the backing paper if one leaves a camera with a partially exposed film in it for an extended period of time.
With any film, it is a good idea as wee to clearly label the camera in a way that indicates what film is loaded, how many frames have been exposed, when they were exposed, what might be found on them, and what Exposure Index (i.e. meter setting) you used when you determined exposure.

 

[Twiggy]

Thanks.

I mean, I likely won't be leaving film in a camera for longer than a month, so I guess cool dark place is good enough?

 

[xkaes]

Fuhgeddaboudit​

 

[Twiggy]

Current I have the Hawkeye six20 special, and a Holga, and a Praktica BCA.

So 120 and 35

 

[Paul Howell]

The film in the camera is in dark place, just room temperature is preferable. Room temps in the Arizona Low Deserts is 78, I keep my house a bit coler at 73, a month at 73 at room temps has fogged any film.

 

[xkaes]

HUH?

 

[Twiggy]

Can you put room temperature good temperature range in Celsius please?

 

[MattKing]

18C - 22C.
And try to avoid Niagara escarpment summer humidity

 

[BrianShaw]

Room temperature - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Twiggy]

Alright, should have a space somewhere in my basement.

 

[mshchem]

Alright, should have a space somewhere in my basement.

Basements often are humid, which can foster mold and mildew. Just don't leave the camera in a car or in direct sun, then enjoy yourself.

 

[MFstooges]

When people find exposed film in old cameras quite often it can still be developed. I won't be worried too much about it.

 

[neilt3]

Thanks.

I mean, I likely won't be leaving film in a camera for longer than a month, so I guess cool dark place is good enough?

You don't say where you are or what the climate/temperature is where you are .
But generally, don't worry a out it .
A month is nothing anyway.
Did whoever you bought the film off keep it in a fridge or freezer?
I know my suppliers won't !
Worry about that for long term storage , by that I'm talking in years .
As long as you don't store it in excess heat it'll be fine .
So if where you keep it is at a temperature your comfortable at , so the film .

 

[MattKing]

You don't say where you are or what the climate/temperature is where you are .

From other posts, we know that Twiggy is in the Niagara area of Ontario.
I haven't been there for a long time, but from when I visited one summer, I recall one of the warmest and most humid places I've ever been, outside on one brief visit to a tropical jungle near Belize.

 

[neilt3]

From other posts, we know that Twiggy is in the Niagara area of Ontario.
I haven't been there for a long time, but from when I visited one summer, I recall one of the warmest and most humid places I've ever been, outside on one brief visit to a tropical jungle near Belize.

Presumably posts in other threads ?
I can see their location is Canada, but Canada is a big place.
When I think of Canada, I always think of snow!

 

[Don_ih]

When I think of Canada, I always think of snow!

Similarly, when I think of the UK, I think of the Queen. But she's not there at the moment - much like snow in Canada. It's been above 20 degrees every day all month here in southern Ontario.

@Twiggy -- shoot the film, rewind the film, put the film on a shelf until you develop it. Develop sooner than later. Don't put exposed film in the fridge or freezer.

 

[koraks]

So what would be recommended for a storage case like this?

Keep cameras loaded with film in a dark cupboard or drawer and under conditions of low humidity.
Preferably try to use up the film within a few months and process as soon as possible.

 

[MattKing]

Presumably posts in other threads ?
I can see their location is Canada, but Canada is a big place.
When I think of Canada, I always think of snow!

We have palm trees down the median of the main road closest to where I live - just a short drive from the US border.
The Niagara region is roughly the same amount north as Northern California.
Many climates here in this very large country.

 

[loccdor]

The main worry about leaving film in a camera is that you forget it's in there and end up opening the back. You shouldn't get noticeable damage if it's in there less than 2 years and not somewhere extremely hot. Ilford Pan F+ 50 would be a slight exception, it's best to process that within a few months of shooting, due to poor latent image retention.

 

[Mark J]

I think you have been lucky so far. I just lost nearly a whole roll of good shots on 120 Rollei Superpan 200 because the film had been in my Mamiya Press film back for a year. It had only been stored in a room with a moderate temperature range and humidity levels too. Note : I have not had any other problems with Superpan 200 over the last approx 18 months of using it more promptly.
I do think that 120 backing paper is not as good these days as it used to be.

 

[brian steinberger]

I would recommend finishing the roll up within a reasonable amount of time, a few months. In the meantime as long as the camera is not kept somewhere hot or humid there is nothing to worry about.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I leave the film in the camera in a cool, not cold location will good air circulation, even if it becomes years old.

Southern California has a dry climate and I cannot remember one to two days only that were humid and that was when there was a hurricane. Hurricanes are extremely rare and when they come the humidity rises some but not to the point of getting humid.