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Hi Gordon,
Its like a follow on from your question about out of date film.
Film has a bell curve for lifetime against quality (for the want of a better word)
New film has to age to reach its best perfomance and continues about a level for a given time and a given temperature. (I heard a story once of photographers on a trip to the Agfa factory who got film straight off the production line, they used it there and then and when they developed it they got nothing - the film needed time to age to reach the performance level!)
Just before the performance curve drops - thats usually when the expiry date is set.
Pro film has a shorter shelf life than consumer film because the performance level is set high and only guaranteed for the peak of the curve.
Either way film is safe after the expiry date but I wouldnt trust it for important shots.
Getting back to the fridge (or freezer) putting the film in cool conditions slows the rate at which the film degrades therefore expanding the curve and preserving the film life.
Just keep the film in the fridge until a couple of hours before you use it. Take it out (still in its wee plastic containers) and let it come up to room temp before using (to avoid condensation) and you should be grand.
Its good practice to keep film refridgerated.
If you can store film at -18 C or lower you can almost stop it ageing. I have kept film for several years past its use by date in this conditions and when tested sensitometrically it was found to be less than a third of a stop slower than it should have been. Keeping film in the fridge is not as effective as freezing it but it will keep it in good condition especially in a hot climate. Remember to warm the film up prior to use, leaving out at room temp for a few hours is best or if you forget this under the armpit or down the pants works quite well.
Remember the climber lost on Everest in 1924. It was thought that he may have been the first to reach the top. He had a camera with him, so if they could find it, the film would prove this. A couple of years ago they found his body, but sadly no camera. Thats what I call keeping power.
Ron
Depends if its still in the camera or not?
And why use half a film?
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