Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 6/15/99 8:42:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, skobrin@yahoo.com writes: << I am concerned with deterioration of "professional" film, especially if it is neither developed nor refrigerated for a week or more after it is shot. Am I being too careful or should I use the two "consumer" versions of Ektachrome on these trips?? Also, can anyone recommend a Fuji chrome film faster than Velvia, which I do use quite a bit, (but have the same reservations about storage). >> Steve, *all* film "ripens" along a curve, from the date of manufacture, to a peak, then gradually deteriorates. Pro film is not shipped to the dealers until it hits the peak, whereupon it is refrigerated (freezing is actually better) to retard further aging. Amateur film is shipped right away, and how far along its ripening curve it is when you buy and use it is subject to a few unknown variables, since you don't know exactly when it was manufactured or at what temperature(s) it has been subjected to. Just how critical this all is is open to individual use and opinion. In any event, unless film is really cooked (like in a hot car) it isn't likely to deteriorate noticeably due to lack of refrigeration in the time-frame you mention. If you possibly can do so, keep any film (especially the exposed film) in an insulated cooler away from direct sunlight. When I travel I keep my film in ziplock bags and place them either in the mini-bar refrigerator or a wastebasket with some ice cubes each night. If I'm travelling by car in a hot climate I buy one of those inexpensive styrofoam coolers on location and keep my film iced in it. This regardless of whether its pro film or not. The faster Fuji chrome film I've had good luck with is Provia (or Sensia, the amateur version). If you want the type of saturation of Velvia, there's a lot of talk about the new 100VS and it's amateur counterpart , from Kodak. I haven't used them yet, but a friend who has tells me they give up some sharpness and grain to 100S and SW. DT