granolablimp
Member
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
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
Steve M.
Veteran
Yep, freezing your film will allow you to use it after it's expiration date, exposing it to heat will cause it to go off earlier. Before you shoot all the rolls, try one as a test and get it developed to see how it has held up. I'd bet things are fine, but it makes sense to try one roll first.
I recommend you get started developing your own film....now. It's cheap to buy the materials, and easy to learn. I first learned it at nearly 60 years old, so anyone can learn, and I very much regret having spent so many years and so much money sending it out.
I recently sold all of my developing and darkroom stuff because I was going back to painting, but decided to make a few portraits, which meant the film had to be sent out to a lab. They did a poor job, and it was very grainy. I had mastered the film I was using, and my own developing looked 10 times better than what they did. And that's the thing: as long as you send your film out, you will never know if you screwed up or if it was the lab. It's very rewarding doing it yourself, and a lot easier than people think. Lots of great youtube videos to walk you through it.
The first two shots below is my developing, the bottom link is the lab's developing. Huge difference. I managed to fix things in software, but in a darkroom it would have been a royal PITA. The negative is the basis for your image, so you want it as optimal as can be.
I recommend you get started developing your own film....now. It's cheap to buy the materials, and easy to learn. I first learned it at nearly 60 years old, so anyone can learn, and I very much regret having spent so many years and so much money sending it out.
I recently sold all of my developing and darkroom stuff because I was going back to painting, but decided to make a few portraits, which meant the film had to be sent out to a lab. They did a poor job, and it was very grainy. I had mastered the film I was using, and my own developing looked 10 times better than what they did. And that's the thing: as long as you send your film out, you will never know if you screwed up or if it was the lab. It's very rewarding doing it yourself, and a lot easier than people think. Lots of great youtube videos to walk you through it.
The first two shots below is my developing, the bottom link is the lab's developing. Huge difference. I managed to fix things in software, but in a darkroom it would have been a royal PITA. The negative is the basis for your image, so you want it as optimal as can be.
Fjäll
■̷̛̈́̉̓́̽&
Unless it's way past its expiration date you won't notice any difference. I finished a roll of HP5 yesterday, expired almost 30 years ago. Although a bit grainy (pushed to 800) Still came out.
Laterna Magica
Member
Be relaxed.
These "expiration dates" are not real expiration dates, but a kind of "best before" and guarantee date. So the manufacturers guarantee best quality if you use them up to this date.
But it does not mean that - als like with food - the film gets quickly bad after this date.
And in most cases film companies are quite conservative with these dates.
Color film is stil fine even if the film is about 2 years over the exp. date when the film is stored at normal room temperature. BW film is even more stable.
Only exception are high speed films above ISO 800. They don't last long above the expiration dates.
General rule is: The less sensivity (less speed) the films have, the better their long term stability.
If you put your films in the fridge, you can prolong their lifetime by another 5-7 years.
And refrigerated 10-15 years are no problem.
These "expiration dates" are not real expiration dates, but a kind of "best before" and guarantee date. So the manufacturers guarantee best quality if you use them up to this date.
But it does not mean that - als like with food - the film gets quickly bad after this date.
And in most cases film companies are quite conservative with these dates.
Color film is stil fine even if the film is about 2 years over the exp. date when the film is stored at normal room temperature. BW film is even more stable.
Only exception are high speed films above ISO 800. They don't last long above the expiration dates.
General rule is: The less sensivity (less speed) the films have, the better their long term stability.
If you put your films in the fridge, you can prolong their lifetime by another 5-7 years.
And refrigerated 10-15 years are no problem.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Think of those dates like one you’d find on cider or yogurt. Might not be perfect after the date, but might be better. Or worse.