Pre-loading 4x5 Film Holders (?)

[Kent10D]

Today the weather went from drab overcast to beautiful blue skies about an hour and a half before sundown. It would have been a perfect photo op if I had been ready, but I would have had to pull the film out of the fridge and load the holders, and with the current humidity run the risk of condensation that would make the film difficult or impossible to load, and by that time the window of opportunity would have been gone.

So, and I know these are kind of a dumb newbie questions but please bear with me:

1) Do you LF shooters keep film holders pre-loaded in case such situations arise?

2) And if you do, do you keep the loaded holders in the fridge or out?

3) Are there any drawbacks to keeping holders pre-loaded for extended periods of time?

4) Or would it be preferable to keep some quick-load film on hand?

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom and experience.

Cheers,

[Uhner]

Hi Kent

1. Yes, I usually keep a few loaded holders at home.

2. I don’t store mine in the fridge. I keep them in a dark dry place with reasonably constant temperature.

3. Depends on how you define extended periods. I have not seen any image degradation on film that has been loaded in holders for several weeks.

4. Readyloads and Quickloads are, of course, one way to do this.

Cheers. C

[vdoak]

Thanks for your question Kent. I had been wondering.

If I might add to your question. Is there an increase in dust, more of a dust problem on film stored in film holders, provided they are stored in a sealed container. (ziploc, or plastic static free bag, etc.)

[Dave Miller]

This cannot be any different to leaving a film in camera for extended periods; and I wouldn’t expect to see any image degradation stemming from that. I can recollect having two Christmases on one film without detriment. Dust on film holders shouldn’t be a problem provided they are kept covered.

[jeroldharter]

I have about 25 film holders, enough for a box of 50 sheets. I try to load them all at once, or at least as much as I can at the same time because I hate loading film holders. Then I store the loaded film holders in bags of various sorts to keep them clean. It does not matter which box the film is stored in.

Readyloads are expensive, but I keep them on hand also.

[ragc]

Been pre-loading forever. No issues. I keep 4x5 and 5x7 holders loaded and in my camera bag, ready for just that ocassion!

[PHOTOTONE]

I keep plenty of holders preloaded. For months, sometimes, in black and white. No problems. I never refrigerate loaded holders, but I keep them in my studio, where the temperature is fairly constant room temperature until I go out to shoot.

[BrianShaw]

1. Yes
2. Out (but in a file drawer that is dark and relatively cool)
3. Only forgetting wheter holder is loaded or not; occasionally forgetting what film is loaded. (Both should be easily corrected with better notekeeping!)
4. Never tried it but sounds promising.

[John Kasaian]

I like to have my holders loaded and stored in zip lock bags for dust protection and kept in a cool dark place, but not the fridge. Boxes of sheet film live in the freezer, next to the Eskimo Pies, lamajoons and succotash

[Bob F.]

I usually have some loaded in the fridge inside plastic sandwich boxes in zip-lock bags (I use the boxes to carry the holders in my backpack to keep dust at bay).

I have no idea why I keep b&w in the fridge however - just habit I guess as I keep all other film in there too. I'm sure somewhere else cool would be just as good in practice.

Cheers, Bob.