About to expire Delta 3200

[andredossantos]

So I was rummaging through the film in my freezer and discovered some rolls of Delta 3200 that were hiding behind a pork shoulder (just kidding though I did forget about them).

The expiration date on them is March 2011. Basically now. I know this stuff goes bad quickly so is it even worth shooting it? I don't want to waste it but at the same time shooting then discovering I have 5 rolls of crappy looking film will suck.

Any experience? What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rob-F]

Go ahead and shoot it. It will be fine. Heck, it's not even expired yet. It's just expirescent! I've used Delta 3200 a couple of years old (edit: a couple of years out of date), also stored in the freezer, and it was fine. It will not last as long as slower films, stored in the same way. But it's not going to croak the day after tomorrow either.

 

[Chris101]

Nah, it's dead Andre. Send me the remains and I'll bury it for you. 😉

(actually it should be just fine. As long as it doesn't ever get hot, it'll last considerably past its expiry.)

 

[andredossantos]

Thanks, guys!

Chris: well, I'd like to take you up on your offer to dispose but I've already burned through two rolls and have only two or three to go 🙂

 

[jan normandale]

Ilford Delta 3200 will last a long time in a fridge, a freezer or even a place with constant temps of 70 f degrees. I've shot it two years past the expiry date no problem.

I would mention one thing. There is debate regarding the actual "true" ISO of Delta 3200. Some people insist it is closer to 1600 ISO. Check some images on flickr to see what you like for an ISO. Finally I use DDX to develop 3200 and I rate it at 3200. It does a fine job. Check flickr one more time to see DDX and Delta 3200

have fun!

 

[Rob-F]

I would mention one thing. There is debate regarding the actual "true" ISO of Delta 3200. Some people insist it is closer to 1600 ISO.

As a matter of fact, I insist it's closer to 1000 or 1250. 🙂

 

[Chris101]

... Chris: well, I'd like to take you up on your offer to dispose but I've already burned through two rolls and have only two or three to go 🙂

Ah! Immolation seems a good end to it then. 😉
Fortunately they make more, so you can replenish once you are addicted.

I rate Delta at 3200 sometimes when I need the speed, and it works fine (14.5 mins at 20C with HC110b), but I also expose it at lower speeds. 1600 requires a little more than half the development time (9 mins) but the real magic starts when I overexpose AND over develop. It seems under those conditions, the light can "break through" the halation layer and do haloing, similar to old IR film.

You need to be careful of your subject to do that though - it's easy to wash everything out with too much light.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

As a matter of fact, I insist it's closer to 1000 or 1250. 🙂

Yes, that's its speed. And it's a flatter film in contrast than TMax3200, so it works very well for situations where apart from low light, there's high contrast, as theater or concerts, where ambient light is way below the real light beams. And it can be really pushed (even to 6400!), especially on DDX. For normal contrast, everyday low light, I prefer TMZ's more punchy look...

Cheers,

Juan