How long is a roll of undeveloped film good for?

FireRanger · #1 01-31-2010, 01:56 PM

How long is a roll of undeveloped film good for? I just found a roll of ISO 200-20 made by "Seattle Film Works" in my truck. All the pictures on it were taken about 10 years ago. Its been in a glove box of my truck for those 10 years.

What are the chances anything gets developed?

ObsoleteE · #2 01-31-2010, 02:33 PM

I have heard of people getting really old film developed and it coming out fine. What do you have to lose? 10 bux? Go for it.

surfer03133 · #3 01-31-2010, 02:41 PM

whats a roll of film?! lol j/p. definitely worth giving it a try

FireRanger · #4 01-31-2010, 02:57 PM

Its especially important given I know what is on that film. Pictures from when my friend forgot to put his car in park and it rolled away down a ravine into the woods. We all thought they were gone forever. Wait till he sees this!

STL · #5 01-31-2010, 03:08 PM

To my understanding a roll of film will last forever if it does not get exposed to light. I am assuming that is also if it is in a room temperature place

I am not positive about that because Im sure it has been exposed to cold temps and hot temps

Tom · #6 01-31-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STL

To my understanding a roll of film will last forever if it does not get exposed to light. I am assuming that is also if it is in a room temperature place

I am not positive about that because Im sure it has been exposed to cold temps and hot temps

STL brings up a good point, the longevity of the film is probably dependent on the elements (temperature, humidity, etc.) it has been exposed to.

STL · #7 01-31-2010, 03:37 PM

Answers.com

Q. How long can you keep a used roll of film in your cupboard before having it developed?

Cold and dry environment. Exposed photo films will immediatly start a chemical reaction catalized by light. I have been successful in conserving exposed films for around 6 months, no more. After that, the grain turns very strong and colors start to vanish.

Chemical photo films are a mixture of light sensible silver salts and colorants, on a layer of polyester and gelatin. Even unexposed, they react (very slowly) changing their composition and decreasing their light sensitivity. Industry has successfully achieved times of stability for periods of 5 to 10 years. The cold and dry environment found in a home refrigerator or freezer can enlarge these times BUT NOT to stop them. Once you buy the films and rush them into the refrigerator, the expiration date can be surpassed for more a couple of years. This is longer in controled refrigeration systems found in museums, for example, but with devices and equipments far unaffordable for a common user. Another issue is that once you choose this mean of preservation (at home) it MUST be kept in a air sealed container to avoid food contamination and vice versa. Before charge them into camera, a minimum 2 hours time period in room temperature MUST be observed in order to avoid water condensation in camera interior, which could impair the life of camera components. Nowadays, the purchase of great amounts of film is hardly economic viable. I suggest just buy the amounts you need for immediate job. Even in a "digital" age, the film prodution will naturally decrease but will probably not to discontinue for several years.

Disclaimer: These are my personal experience with films in the last 20 or so years BUT I cannot assume any responsability for misuse or hazardous issues come from home films conservation.