Are my films ruined ?

[-Benjamin-]

Hello,

After finally editing a short shot on Super 8 a few years ago, I felt the need to get back to shooting some more now that summer is here.

However, after opening for the first time in months the small fridge I use to store my unexposed films, this what I discovered :

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IMG_0644.JPG

The films are in their sealed foil, but do you think they'll be usable once I free them form the ice ?

Thanks for your input.

Benjamin

[BAC]

They should be good if they are still sealed in the foil pack. There may be something wrong with your freezer though. If moisture gets on the film and freezes the film can be ruined.

[Will2]

I went through several small fridges until I just sucked it up and bought a full size fridge/freezer that I keep in the garage. Those little ones will freeze and unfreeze randomly and moisture will destroy the boxes. Super 8 should be ok in the foil pack however.

Another suggestion is to always put film into ziplock bags. It will help keep the labels from getting messed up and freezing to the side like that.

[carllooper]

BEFORE OPENING THE FOIL BAG: make sure the foil bag is sitting at room temperature for at least 12 hours. Otherwise, if opened too early, condensation can form on the film due to the temperature difference introduced between the film and the air. Inside the foil bag it is protected from such a shock.

C

[-Benjamin-]

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for your replies.

Yes there's probably something wrong with the fridge, like I'm not taking enough care.
Also I think it's way too cold but I can't find any setting knob, maybe it's been caught in the ice too.

I managed to remove the carts gently. They're still in the foil pack.
I'll have to check them one by one before trying to use them in case there was a hole in the foil and some humidity / moisture made its way in.

And of course I'll let them warm to room temperature before using them.
Thank you all for your advises.

On a sidenote, I discovered I had somme pretty old, obscure stock in there, like surveillance film and even some carts labelled MFA films.
I'm not sure It's worth going through shooting, processing and TC with these.
So I was wondering if there were any place to send old unexposed films for recycling or safe destruction.

Any idea ?

All best
Benjamin

[Mana]

Ben, Just offer your films up to someone here. They'll just end up in the landfill if you "dispose" of them.

[-Benjamin-]

Hi Mana,

Just got your PM and replied to it.
I was assuming nobody would have interest in these old films with very uncertain results.
But a few PM I received showed me there are people interested in experimenting with these stocks.

Actually there's already a member in the line to get the films, but thanks to all.
And I'll be really happy that the films are used.

Still, I believe it'd be great if there was some facility to recycle or safely dispose of all those obsolete kodachrome, agfachrome and more exotic stuff that gather dust (or worse) on shelves...

Benjamin