Colorneg. how fast?

[AndersPS]

I have a question on color negative. I have two exposed films in my freezer, and I wonder how quickly I have to develop them in a lab before they become to grainy?

/ / / Anders S (SWEDEN

[railwayman3]

If you search back, there are several threads here on the keeping properties of films in the fridge or deep freeze, and on the use of films after their expiry date.

You can retain films for processing for some time (say, a few weeks) after exposure if this is necessary, but, in general, just process as soon as you can to avoid any risk of deterioration.

Personally, I have no concerns in using film well past its expiry date when I've kept it frozen unexposed from new, but, once exposed, I either process it myself or send it to the lab as soon as possible.

(Any particular reason why are you keeping the films unprocessed? )

[nickrapak]

It really depends on the film speed. I would give the following recommendations for keeping exposed film in the freezer:

ISO 1600+: Process immediately
ISO 800: 2-3 weeks
ISO 400: 4-5 weeks
ISO 200: 1-2 months
ISO 100 and below: up to 3 months

Any longer than that, you run the risk of latent image degradation.

[AndersPS]

(Any particular reason why are you keeping the films unprocessed? )

I´m lasy, thats all Stupid I know, but they are myt first films ever. I found my dad´s old Pentax MX, and these films are testingrolls to se if the camera takes godd pictures. If the colors are right and other stuff.

///Anders

[railwayman3]

By co-incidence, I use Pentax MX and LX...great cameras, and, if they're working properly, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Even if your exposed films have been kept a while, you could still see whether things like sharpness and film transport are all OK. Any deterioration of the exposed film will, of course, make it more difficult to judge the accuracy of the exposure and metering.

And judging color rendering of lenses needs a fresh quality film and good quality processing.

I'd get the films processed and, if all's well, start to enjoy using the camera.

[tiberiustibz]

Process it as fast as reasonable. It's not worth freaking out about though. I've gotten images from film 8 years old on 400 ASA but you do get degredation.

[Erik Petersson]

It really depends on the film speed. I would give the following recommendations for keeping exposed film in the freezer:

ISO 1600+: Process immediately
ISO 800: 2-3 weeks
ISO 400: 4-5 weeks
ISO 200: 1-2 months
ISO 100 and below: up to 3 months

Any longer than that, you run the risk of latent image degradation.

But when you are out travelling for a few weeks with no freezer available, you will have to strech this, of course. Colour negative films have been used by travellers without freezers for decades.

Out of curiosity, what film have you been using?

[EASmithV]

The latent image can deteriorate?

[2F/2F]

I guess I had better process all that T64 I shot two years ago and have kept at room temp...160 sheets of 4x5 Fuji QL and 40 of NPS.