20 year expired film?

[Gray Fox]

I was digging through some boxes of photo odds and ends that I have carted around the world in Army service, and came across two Film Shield bags full of B&W film that expired in '88. A dozen rolls of 35mm FP4 and an equal number of 120 Tri-X. Is there any possibility this stuff is still useable or should I just chuck the lot?

 

[victoriapio]

Shoot and develop a test roll of each and see if there is consistency throughout the roll. They may be OK depending on storage although the small possiblity exisits you have tested the only two good rolls in the whole lot. But if the results are inconsistant with known exposure/development, then they may be fodder for the trash.

 

[MickH]

Suck it and see mate. You have enough to push one of each through a camera and see what the results come out like.

It could be very interesting.

 

[drewbarb]

Definately test it. Even if the results are inconsistent, this might be fun film for Holga or pinhole fooling around. It could very well be perfectly fine, provided it hasn't sat anywhere in high temperatures.

 

[venchka]

Old slow film seems to hold up better than old fast film. The lead bags may have protected the film from cosmic rays. A low fog developer like Rodinal may be good for saving your old film.

Use it!

 

[Tom A]

I have done 20-25 year old Pan F/Panatomic/Plus X without problem. Just go for a slightly contrastier developer combo (Rodinal 1:25/1:50).You will probably have a bit higher basefog, but that is no problem.
The Tri X 120 is most likely quite fogged. Faster films are more prone to this. The other problem is that it has been rolled up for a long time and will most likely behave like a spring when you try to load it on the reels.
Check with Photographers Formulary for some Benzotriazole (anti fog). It does cut the speed a bit, but will help. I mix 1 gr of Benzo in 100ml of hot water (it doesn't dissolve well in cold water) and then add 10ml of this for every 1000ml of developer.
I would do a test run and bracket "downward" as to my knowledge film does not get faster with storage! The Tri X do 400/250/125/64 - shoot the same subject to give you a point of reference. With FP4, do 125/100/50 and throw in a frame or two of 25 just in case.

 

[nikon_sam]

Okay guys...I have about 110 rolls of Kodak Verichrome (120 format) that expired around 1953...I have tried developing some of it and can only get a very faint image...I might try again with the Rodinal and as Tom has said lower it's ASA rating...
Other than that the boxes appear "As New" since all but 10 of the rolls are still in the "25 Pack" packaging and some are marked "Tropical Packaging"...these rolls are in a tin type case instead of the foil paper...

 

[venchka]

Looking for a good?

Looking for a good?

Okay guys...I have about 110 rolls of Kodak Verichrome (120 format) that expired around 1953...I have tried developing some of it and can only get a very faint image...I might try again with the Rodinal and as Tom has said lower it's ASA rating...
Other than that the boxes appear "As New" since all but 10 of the rolls are still in the "25 Pack" packaging and some are marked "Tropical Packaging"...these rolls are in a tin type case instead of the foil paper...

I wouldn't be opposed to adopting some of that film. Want to trade for some Fuji or Kodak C-41 color film from this century?

 

[cosmonot]

I was recently given a bunch of bulk film, panatomic-x, kodalith, some b&w cine film from the 80s-90s. One sealed 400 ft roll of Kodak Tri-X 5233 (320) cine film that expired in 1965 got me really excited, but initial tests were pretty uninspiring. It definitely will produce an image, but it's heavily fogged. Haven't touched the panatomic-x yet (~200ft) and not quite sure what to do with the kodalith.

That being said, I was home in CA recently and came across a roll of Plus-x that I had loaded from bulk back in high school, probably around 1997. I had found the bulk roll in my parent's fridge with an expiry date of 1977, and this had been sitting in one of my old boxes since then. Ran it through the rollei and threw it in with some other film in D76 1:1. Contrast was low, but it scanned nicely.

 

[iamzip]

I agree with drew, this would be ideal for a Holga or other such camera. Even if you don't own one, you might as well shoot it all anyway and see how it turns out, just don't use it for anything important! It could lead to some interesting experimentation since you've got nothing to lose anyway!

 

[nikon_sam]

Trade...

Trade...

I wouldn't be opposed to adopting some of that film. Want to trade for some Fuji or Kodak C-41 color film from this century?

Sure...I could let some of this somewhat old film go...I was just looking and I don't have any more of the rolls marked "Tropical Packaging"...
I do have four 25 roll packs of the Verichrome rolls and they do appear as new, most boxes have probably never seen daylight since packaged...(pun intended)
PM me to work out the details...

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Don't use it for your sister's wedding.

But do use it around town.

 

[venchka]

Sure...I could let some of this somewhat old film go...I was just looking and I don't have any more of the rolls marked "Tropical Packaging"...
I do have four 25 roll packs of the Verichrome rolls and they do appear as new, most boxes have probably never seen daylight since packaged...(pun intended)
PM me to work out the details...

Will do. As soon as I can come up for air here at work. I'll recount my C-41 film tonight so I have my facts straight.

 

[willie_901]

Nothing in the known universe can protect film from cosmic ray fogging.