film and expiration dates.

[granolablimp]

I have recently got into film with a new (to me) canon ql17. I found 5 rolls of kodak T-max that I shot last time I dabbled into film with a nikon fe. Anyways, i'd imagine its been about 3 or 4 years since I shot those rolls. Obviously these would have passed the expiration date indicated on the box. I am wondering if I should even bother to get these processed or if the results will be disappointing.

On a somewhat related note, I don't develop at home, but eventually plan to maybe try developing some B&W, but at the current time I'm using one of the only local photolabs I could find that still does film.


Is the date on the film the date you should process the film by, or just the date it should be exposed by? I know some people also intentionally shoot long expired film to get weird colors and such. Also, I assume some films "age" better (so to speak) and are more usable after the expiration. Black and white film doesnt have to worry about the color shifting, for example.

Finally, I have been doing reading about people who freeze or refridgerate their film. Can you really keep film good past the date by doing this? I don't plan on having a huge stock pile, but I want to buy rolls here and there when I have a good price, but my aim is too shot no more than 1 or 2 rolls a month, as this can get expensive quick. I just feel with all these old films being discountinued that I should pick some up, but I'm not sure if i'll have it all shot by the date.

Anyways, I hope this wasn't too overwhelming and look forward to getting these questions answered. I am not an expert so feel free to correct anything that may be false.

Thanks

 

[traveler_101]

Some years ago, bought 75 rolls of Arista Premium 400 (rebranded Tri-X) and have kept it in the freezer. It expired in 2014 - down to two rolls left now and it is still fine. The time between shooting and developing is critical with a few films, for most of them it is o.k. to wait a while. Well, I do wait for as much as 4 months at times before I develop them. Not proud of it, but working with film when you develop and scan yourself is time consuming. Exposed film that's been sitting around for four years - I don't know.

Tell you what: why don't you buy a development tank and the needed chemicals and use these old films to start? Buy from Freestyle in Los Angeles https://www.freestylephoto.biz or B&H in New York https://www.bhphotovideo.com

You'll probably love hand developing. It's really cool - I recommend it.

 

[Bill Clark]

I have film that expired in 2003 and 2004 and still use it. It’s mostly 50 & 100 ASA film. The higher speed stuff is a little foggy kinda like my mind!

 

[charjohncarter]

I was gifted some Tmax 100 that is about 2003 and never refrigerated. As above I've been using 50 (which is what I usually shoot for EI) and they have been fine. I develop in HC-110h which is good for fog. And I have no evidence of fog.

This is Tmax 100 expired 2003 developed in HC-110h:

Rolleiflex T, Tmax 100, HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[ellisson]

The rolls you already exposed may still give good results. Like unexposed film that is past the expiration date, there are a number of factors that affect the results: Length of time past the expiration date on the film box, temperature, humidity, environmental radiation (cosmic, radon), and the manufacturer-rated recommended sensitivity (ISO 800 or higher more vulnerable than lower speeds).

If your exposed rolls were stored at room temperature or colder, it would be worth processing. You could start by processing one or two rolls and then decide if you want to process the others.

For new film that you want to keep past the expiration date, freezing is the best, refrigeration is second best for keeping your film usable for many years past expiration.

For very long times past expiration - a decade or more - the effects of radiation become more prominent, especially at room temperature and higher. You don't know what you'll get in black and white film, but expect some fogging, decreased sensitivity, and increased grain. As you noted in your post, color films with dyes can show color shifts and reduced saturation from chemical changes in the color dyes. Some people shoot long expired black and white film at slower speeds to compensate for loss of sensitivity, e.g. shoot a film rated at 400 at 200.

 

[lonelyboy]

I store all my film in freezer at -18C and I have used color reversal film that expired 4-5 years and show no visible problem.

 

[charjohncarter]

I think brand makes a difference too. I have some Ektachrome 200 that is 2003 that I know wasn't stored at anything but room temperature and is good. While Velvia 50 store the same way in the same place is useless.

Ektachrome 200 room temperature stored from 2003:

Ektachrome 200 expired by John Carter, on Flickr

Same as above but different roll:

Kodak EktaChrome expired 2003 by John Carter, on Flickr

Both shot at 200, the next roll I'll drop the EI a bit.

 

[granolablimp]

thats great to hear. Considering it's only ISO 100 BW film, I think I'll be fine. It might be an idea for an experiment in home developing but not sure I want to go down that rabbit hole.

 

[dxq.canada]

From explanations that I got in the olden days ... the expiry date is what the manufacturer calculates as the best time to develop the film.