Ansco 127 film expired in 1962

[kvschwartz]

I don't know much about expired film - Would this be a bad purchase for an instamatic camera, or a 4x4 brownie starlet? I love the quality of the old film, I just don't know if it will do me any good with these cameras.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[venchka]

Instamatics use 126 film. A totally different animal than 127.

Can't you buy new 127 film? I think so. Check Freestyle Photo.

That said, unless it's been frozen, 1962 may be a bit past due. I routinely use B&W film that is 1-5 years past expiration without fear. I got 2 boxes of 1976 4x5 Plus-X today. I'll know in a week or two what it looks like. I'm not holding out any hope. It wasn't stored well at all.

Good luck. Buy a roll. Try it. See what happens.

 

[kvschwartz]

ok, cool - i bought them both today and they're equally foreign to me, so I stuck with the 127 idea, though I remembered seeing 126 on one of them, thought it was the brownie and then checked and was wrong...anyway, so if its not frozen, you wouldn't recommend? I've seen some taken with the same camera with film expired in '74 and they looked alright.

Thanks for your help

 

[venchka]

Try 1 roll first. I also think Walmart sells new 126 film. I know thaey sold 110 film in recent memory. 1962 to 1974 is a long time. Maybe the 1974 film was frozen? It varies. Many people say that get good results from old film while others don't have such good luck. Each roll is different.

 

[kvschwartz]

I found a large amount of cheap expired film so I figured I'd ask, but 'll get to know the camera first

 

[rjbuzzclick]

FWIW, I just picked up four rolls of Verichrome Pan in 120 format that expired in 1969. I got it for $1/roll at a camera show. I suspect that it's never been frozen. I shot it at box speed, and developed it in Diafine, which means I overexposed it one stop. It came out really well, but I think next time I will do the same but shoot it at 64. Here's a shot from that roll:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=118291&ppuser=31347