# Film expiration **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397 "2003-12-06T17:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/1 "2003-12-06T17:32:27Z")
I have some 16mm film that’s been sitting around for about three years. Most of it is Kodak 7278 Tri-X Reversal and 7276 Plus-X reversal, but I also have a 400’ roll of Fuji 125 negative. It’s been stored in the refrigerator since I bought it, except that the Kodak was removed for a trip last September and again in November for my northward relocation. Since arriving in Washington it’s been in a room in the house that is basically being used as a storage place, and so is not heated. I’m pretty sure it should still be good, but does anyone know if it is? (I shot a roll of Tri-X yesterday and a roll of Plus-X in September that I will take for processing in the next couple of weeks.) ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/2 "2003-12-06T20:03:43Z")
Is that movie film you are talking about? My experience is with b&w stills film where I don’t think 3 years is all that long. Over time you can expect a reduction in contrast and effective film speed due to an increases in baclground fog level but not so much in only 3 years that you cannot still get excellent results. Maybe reversal film is more picky as you can’t adjust at the printing stage. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/3 "2003-12-06T20:54:21Z")
Yes, it’s 16mm motion picture film. I _think_ keeping it cool prolonged its usefulness, but I won’t know until I get it developed (or unless someone here knows for sure). ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/4 "2003-12-06T21:55:16Z")
I forwarded your question to a d.p. friend of mine. He says the best way to know is really just to run a test strip on each roll, have it developed and see. Otherwise, it’s just a crap shoot. Sounds like you already figured on that, though. Sorry I can’t help more… ---
**Author:** ![Striss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@Striss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Striss)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/5 "2003-12-07T13:42:46Z")
FYI: When I worked for a film lab eons ago, we kept our film stock in the freezer, not the refrigerator. 'nuff said…? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/6 "2003-12-07T16:48:37Z")
Interesting. I know that in the past film has been recovered from the Arctic and has been processed successfully, but I haven’t heard of people intentionally freezing their film. The two film suppliers I dealt with in L.A. kept their film in a refrigerated cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/film-expiration/217397/7 "2003-12-07T17:39:02Z")
We kept our pro stock in the freezer, moving batches of it to the front fridge (not frozen) each day when I worked at a busy pro oriented photo store. (We would take a batch out of the fridge and let come up to room temp if phoned ahead of time) Color balance is the first thing to go noticably wrong, but since you’re talking B&W, that’s not a problem. The contrast/exposure issues of which **tickle** speaks is the main concern for you. Both can be adjusted slighlty in the processing. So, I 2nd the test recommendation.