Temp setting of the Freezer

[Jedidiah Smith]

I just read the recent thread here about old film in the freezer.
This got me to thinking: All other things being equal, would it matter what setting the freezer was at? I'm just setting up another darkroom, and will have a small freezer for the film/paper in it as well. I've never dedicated a freezer strictly to my darkroom before. It was always in the "wife's freezer"

So...this thing's got setting 1 to 6, i.e. warmest to coldest. It does not have auto-defrost capability - just freeze. Would it help the longevity of the film if I had it on the coldest setting, or is the difference so minute as not to matter in the long run?

Thanks,
Jed

 

[PhotoJim]

The colder the better, within reason, although colder temperatures mean longer warmup times.

My chest freezer in the basement is set to -17 C (about 0 F). My refrigerator freezer upstairs is set to about -2 C (28 F).

I can't comment on how much longer your film will last with a colder freezer, but I know that storage is improved. Kodak (and others) do recommend -17 C-ish for long-term storage, if I remember my readings correctly.

 

[PhotoJim]

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/e30/e30.pdf

-18 to -23 C for motion picture films, but I assume the storage properties of still photography films are very similar.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

My refrigerator freezer upstairs is set to about -2 C (28 F).

I'm assuming this is used for food? Isn't the recommended temp. zero degrees F or less?

 

[Sirius Glass]

What they said, around 0 F/ -17 C should be good, within reason.

Of course if you keep it at -40 it does not matter whether it is C or F!

Steve

 

[PhotoJim]

I'm assuming this is used for food? Isn't the recommended temp. zero degrees F or less?

Deep/chest freezers, yes, but refrigerator freezers are usually just below freezing. I doubt many can get to -17 C even if you wanted them to.

 

[Jedidiah Smith]

Thanks guys, especially Jim for looking up the numbers for me. This is a small freezer, but it's the "deep freeze" type, where it is a standalone freezer, no refrigerator part. It seems to get pretty cold, I have it on the middle setting right now as a test, but I might get a thermometer and play with the 1 - 6 settings and see what she can crank to.
I was more curious if the temp made any long term difference, or if there was a standard temp. from the film manufacturers to use.
Jed

 

[clayne]

As cold as you can get it - which in your case means "6".

I use this one and set the temperature control to coldest.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Deep/chest freezers, yes, but refrigerator freezers are usually just below freezing. I doubt many can get to -17 C even if you wanted them to.

I guess I have to disagree. The zero degree (F) is for food safety reasons. Our freezer (top of fridge) maintains it nicely.

 

[jim appleyard]

Jed, it's too bad you're no longer in Alaska, you could have just thrown the film outside!

 

[E76]

I keep my freezer set at the "recommended setting" (3), and it maintains the temperature at -10 degrees F!

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Guys, there is nothing "magical" about 0 degrees F

It’s just a nice round number that is easy to remember

It doesn’t sound as good in metric at -17.8C

The colder it is, the more slowly emulsion deteriorates

Martin