Frozen film

[bsdunek]

I once took a roll of 35mm film right out of fridge and tried defrosting it in hands before putting in camera. The result was stange black spots and lines on some frames.

Anyhow, this topic made me wonder about using film in extreme temperatures. For instance, I'm planning to shoot film at the weekend and weather forecast predicts -25 degrees Celsius. Won't the frozen film or emulsion crack, when I wind it?

I've used film in the 'Great White North' as cold as -40F with no emulsion problems. The problem is static electricity. This will result in black spots and lines on the film. In cold dry atmosphere, you should wind the film very slowly to avoid static electricity. Motorized cameras will really be a problem with this.

[benjiboy]

just put a roll in your pants pocket for about an hour, it will not only defrost the film but keep you awake as well .

[Jeff Kubach]

Thanks for all the advice, I really like your comment Ben.

Jeff

[rtuttle]

I think exposure wise a couple of hours is probably more then enough. However, condensation is more of a concern to me. So in my mind BradleyK is more then likely correct.

[borek]

I think, overnight is best time for film and paper.I have not problem with B&W film take out from freezer day before.

[radiogorillaz]

What about after shooting? Should you put it in the fridge until you develop the film or should you develop the film within a couple of days?

[Sirius Glass]

After the package warms to the ambient temperature, I wait a while longer.

[cmacd123]

Kodak's Motion Picture books came with charts which had factors like relative humidity and required temperature rise. of course in the motion picture world, 35mm film comes in 400 ft rolls so it has to warm up from the sides.

Issue is primarly condensation. There is a booklet on "Photography under arctic conditions" which covers winter use.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/profe...Pubs/c9/c9.pdf

The booklet is from 1999 so some of the recommended films like Kodachrome are no longer available.

The motion picture side has a Buletin with a warm up table (Technical Information Bulletin 5202)

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploa...rt_tib5202.pdf

[benjiboy]

Thanks for all the advice, I really like your comment Ben.

Jeff

I wasn't being flippant Jeff, it really works, try it.

[cmacd123]

I recall using ben's method in the distant past. But only with refrigerated film. (not frozen) Mind you this was walking on cool spring days in Ottawa, so the air temperature was not much warmer than the fridge.