fp-3000b longevity

[kiss-o-matic]

Can anyone comment on fp-3000b after it's expiration date? B&H has some for $18 a pack, but it's about 15 months expired. I know for 35mm b&w is generally better but I'm kind of new (and way late to the game) on peel apart.

Also, I read that if you want to store these a while, refrigeration is the way to go, as freezing might damage the emulsion.

Comments?

 

[sevo]

Mine started to fail little more than two years after expiration, in spite of cold storage. So that probably will still be ok, but it won't have much of a shelf life any more...

 

[Skorpiius]

Also you might want to consider ebay, where you can find some May and June 2015 expired packs. I believe there are no packs with an expiry newer than June 2015.

Also I bought two of the 2014 expired packs from B&H and they worked fine, although admittedly I haven't compared that 'fine'-ness with a 2015 expired pack. Yet anyway, I just got 10 2015s with another 10 on the way from a tiny shop I found that had 30 may 2015's yet, I'll compare soon.

 

[Skorpiius]

Note, as to sevo's comment about two years, I just noticed that on the filmneverdie.com site on the page where they're selling fp-3000b it states:

"**But, film life can be extended up to 2 years or more if store in fridge (not freezer) **"

So it sounds like sevo's experience is typical and you get 2 years before heading into the 'lomography' realm.

 

[yossarian123]

Yikes. I have about 30 boxes I'll need to get through.

I wonder what it looks like once it's past the 2 year window though - useable?

 

[ped]

I've just finished a pack which went off in 2014. It's been kept indoors, not refrigerated and it was fine 🙂

 

[David Murphy]

I've used lots of film 10-20 years old with great results.

 

[sevo]

Yikes. I have about 30 boxes I'll need to get through.

I wonder what it looks like once it's past the 2 year window though - useable?

It grows blank blotches - apparently the gel grows too viscous to spread evenly. This makes it quite useless, as random areas in the picture are missing...

 

[2wenty]

I know this is an old post but thought I would update with my expired 3000b.

Mine expired in 2014. Its been in the fridge since I bought it new from B&H about 6 months before it was cancelled. Just shot this the other day. Its as good as it was when it was fresh. The scan isn't the greatest.


Dina (polaroid) by 2wenty, on Flickr

 

[lawnpotter]

Mine are dated 2014

Mine are dated 2014

I stored in fridge from day one. Just used a pack yesterday. 3 turned out and the rest were black. I have 8 packs left 🙁

 

[JChrome]

I stored in fridge from day one. Just used a pack yesterday. 3 turned out and the rest were black. I have 8 packs left 🙁

Surprised. Every issue I've had has been my own fault and never problems with expired film.

Sounds more like a camera problem than a film one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lawnpotter]

Yes it could be a camera problem. at one point yesterday the film ejected out of the wrong slot. higher up

 

[lawnpotter]

Also, I realized today that I took pictures as soon as I removed it from the fridge. Should I have given the film time to warm up before I used it ?

 

[lawnpotter]

Took some more black pictures. The chemicals smell really strong

 

[williaty]

I know this is an old post but thought I would update with my expired 3000b.

Mine expired in 2014. Its been in the fridge since I bought it new from B&H about 6 months before it was cancelled. Just shot this the other day. Its as good as it was when it was fresh. The scan isn't the greatest.


Dina (polaroid) by 2wenty, on Flickr

No one else has mentioned it, but that is a really crackin good photo. The only thing I don't like about it is that there's a fair amount of space on the left not doing anything for me. Cropping the left edge just inside (to the right of) the in-focus tree trunk really strengthens an already very nice image for me.

Well done!

 

[JChrome]

Took some more black pictures. The chemicals smell really strong

I don't think the chemicals need time to warm. You should fully test out the camera. I'm really certain it's not the film from your description. Make sure the shutter fires correctly. Are the rollers rolling the chemicals onto the film itself?


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[sevo]

I don't think the chemicals need time to warm. You should fully test out the camera. I'm really certain it's not the film from your description. Make sure the shutter fires correctly.

I agree. My issues with expired instant peel-apart film generally took the shape of large white blobs (bubbles) or soft, weak, streaky photographs - I never had an all black one. That the picture turns out black means that the chemicals still manage to transfer substantial amounts of silver to the positive (which usually is the more vulnerable side of instant processes)...

 

[lawnpotter]

I don't think the chemicals need time to warm. You should fully test out the camera. I'm really certain it's not the film from your description. Make sure the shutter fires correctly. Are the rollers rolling the chemicals onto the film itself?


Thank you so much. I think you were right. I emptied camera with more black pictures. I then looked through shutter and saw no light. so I fired many times and finally I saw light. I kept firing until I saw consistent light each time. I put a new pack in and the 1st pic is perfect. In the last 2 years I barely used the camera so I am guessing the shutter just needed exercise. Sadly I wasted 2 valuble packs and I only have 8 left. On the positive side, 8 is better than none. I wish fuji never cancelled this awesome film

 

[2wenty]

No one else has mentioned it, but that is a really crackin good photo. The only thing I don't like about it is that there's a fair amount of space on the left not doing anything for me. Cropping the left edge just inside (to the right of) the in-focus tree trunk really strengthens an already very nice image for me.

Well done!

Thank you. The photo was taken in almost total darkness so I could really see well to frame. I was kinda guessing.