How long can keep a roll of film for a 35mm?

Answer 1

so long as kept dry and in the package or canister, i've found it good after a couple years

Answer 2

If it's professional film, then it's a matter of weeks in the fridge as the film is 'matured' for a set amount of time to ensure optimum results and batch consistency. You also buy it from the refrigerator.
I think your ordinary film has a develop by date on it, but this represents maybe a couple of years since manufacture and doesn't take into account how it's been stored. All film should be stored in cool conditions (though brought to room temerature 30 minutes before use if out of the fridge) and developed as soon after exposure as possible.
I have kept many films (not my professional ones) for up to 5 years after exposure and have had various results from them. Many I've been able to bring to a presentable state by scanning and image enhancing. With some this has miraculously hardly necessary - about 30 out of a batch of 57 were ok five years after exposure, but had been kept in dark, cool conditions for much of that time.
Many of the photographs we take represent treasured moments and it's best that they are treated with due reverance.
I'd always recommend you follow the dates on the film and develop asap after exposure as the chemical changes accelerate after this and you cannot predict the outcome.

Answer 3

When I would buy film in bricks of 20 rolls I would keep them in their containers, in the freezer for several years. I was working on a book project that required covering the subject over a long period of time. I wanted to keep the same emulsion number for the entire project. When it came time to shoot the next installment I would pull the film from the freezer, let it warm over night and begin shooting in the morning. It worked like a charm. I still have a few rolls in my home freezer (wife doesn't care for it too much). However, I will probably toss it since i can no longer process it myself and the local slide processing center pulled the plug last Fall.
If you are talking about a roll of film that has been left in a camera unprocessed for several years.....that's a real toss up. I have run rolls of B&W for friends that have found rolls in their father's hand-me-down cameras. Some had images...most were total fog.

Answer 4

If it has been left in a car on a sunny day, or on a radiator, the film could potentially already be dead. When stored within normal conditions, it'll be good until around end of this year. If you don't plan on using it within the next six months, put it in the fridge or even better in the freezer. That will let it last years beyond it's expiry date.

Answer 5

I've just discarded six rolls of used film, three from cameras, not used inside six years.

They degrade if not kept cold, store them in a fridge and they may last a long time, but I doubt they'd go for six years.

Anyone want to buy the cameras;-) I went digital in 2000.

Answer 6

When I was using film, I kept all rolls in a freezer in my basement. I used them for a couple years even after the used by date on them. You won't notice any different. I've heard once you start pusing 2 years, the image quality isn't as good.

Answer 7

I've kept mine, with no container, in the fridge for years! Yup, almost 7 years! I actually took it in to WalMart this past January and found beautiful pics of my mom with our family at Christmas. She died in March 1999, so it has been at least 7 years. Now, if it wasn't in the fridge, well, you may be out of luck. Don't use it for any special occasion, and if it is already used, take it to a place that won't charge you if it;s no good, like WalMart. GL

Answer 8

keep it in the fridge & it should be good for ages. All film has a 'best before' date on it but I have used film a year or so past that date what I've stored them in the fridge.

Answer 9

If its kept in the dark and at a low temperature it will keep a good 2 years after the useby date. Infact its a nice way to save money, the photography shops sell the out of date stuff at a fraction of the price, there is nothing wrong with it!

Answer 10

keep it dry and in the foil, and box that it comes in put it in the firdge
Then u need to let it come to room temp. before using it... I have keep it there for sometimes up to 3/4 yrs. I have seem it on sale and would get as many as i could, all kinds of speeds...as a X photogragher I alway has it on hand. U never know when U wanted to take some photo's... wherther it be in the middle of the night and trying to find some where that even had film................
unless you are taking alot of photo's U don't need to have to mush on hand. a coulpe rolls on hand to ya!!!!!!!!!!!\
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~GOOD LUCK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~in what U want to do with so many rolls

Answer 11

With fillm of this type the main thing is that it is not subjected to overt heat--once that is done--even if it is within the dated limit--forget it--the emulsions will go south on you and the reteculation will go amuck--But film kept in reasonable cool dry conditions has given good results well past the use-by date