How expired is too expired?

[Tom A]

Orwo MA 8 copy film, expired 1982 rated at 6 iso, Leica R6 and Macro Elmarit 60f2.8. Developed in home made POTA developer.
The Tessina roll from 1968 was fogged completely - but I was mostly interesting in getting the cassette anyway.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Efke 25 Exp 5/05 Pyrocat HD 1:1:100 10 min 500cm 120mm makro planar hand held

Technical Pan 120 Expiry 8/1987 Totally wrong light for the film, wrong developer as well 6min Xtol !!

Both films courtesy TomA.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

FP4 was introduced in 1968 @125 ASA discontinued in 1990 for the Plus version. So this roll, undated as was an an IXMOO cassette loaded on purchase, was a minimum of 24 years old. Bracketed well and used Beutler which adds little or no fog. I estimate 1 and 1/2 stops loss of speed.
Scan of film edge ID.

 

[nomadia]

Ilford FP4 expired in March 1979
developed last night :http://flic.kr/p/o54iyi

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Used some 12 years old provia, nothing wrong with the film other than that you have to adjust filmspeed downward

 

[James1]

Agfa Isopan IF expired 05/1967 @EI20, Orwo A03 developer, Olympus 35RC, yellow (022) filter. Taken March 2014:

 

[Sid836]

Badly aged (poorly stored) Panatomic X (note the hair marks all over the frame)

 

[newtorf]

Kodachrome, expired in 1984, and poorly stored. Taken on July 12, 2014.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

What does it mean: 'lots of base fog, but no effect in printing?' Wouldn't fog affect contrast? Even if it's 'compensatable' later, doesn't that change the properties of the film? If i'm shooting Tri-X and processing in D-76 because i love Tri-X in D-76, wouldn't fog affect the imagery?

Anyone have specific experience with Plus-X? I have a bunch of 220 in my father's freezer... for about 6 years. Thoughts?

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

1963 Rexall Drug film

1963 Rexall Drug film

This is from a roll of 620 film from the Rexall Drug Company from 1963. I shot it in a mint green plastic Savoy camera manufactured in 1957. I seldom do self-portraits, but I think this will do the trick...

 

[raid]

I have plenty of frozen Fujichrome left. I should use soe rolls while I still can.

 

[Red9Dwarf]

I just "Found" a Watson Film loader just marked Lith and 80' Left. I bought this over ten years ago along with a Retina IIIc and a Box camera for $40 at an estate sale. It was all thrown in a box and forgotten. I know that must have been stored in a barn and in an attic for some time! Despite its rough life, I thought I'd give it a try. Since it won't cost me anything but some developer! Being low speed and orthochromatic it just might have survived. Wound off 6 rolls! Now if I can just remember how to shoot Lith, ASA 8-25? D-19 Developer diluted 1:10 because the A-B soup is no longer available?

 

[sevo]

Lith film seems to be eternal, I am still using sheets from the early eighties. Hard as nails though, and unpredictable when developed for low contrast. The best use for it (outside its original application) might be printing black and white slides, and even that needs reduced contrast development.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Since I shoot mostly test films on rebuild/serviced camera's I started buying old film. The 35mm color film is about 10 to 15 years old.
The slide films are about 5 to 10 years old.
For each 10 years I rate the films one stop below their indicated speed. In most cases the colors came out great.

 

[bhop73]

I only shoot photos as a hobby, so if I found a roll in an old drawer or something, I wouldn't hesitate to use it and see what happens.

 

[icebear]

I don't really care anymore, I sold my 3 film M's today.
Gone, over and out, chapter closed.

 

[Rob-F]

I have some rolls in the freezer of Plus-X expired in 1998 that still shoot and process fine.

 

[Fotohuis]

Efke 25 / Rollei PAN 25 135-36 and 120 roll film exp. 2012/2013, Rollei Retro 100 / APX-100 135-36 exp. 2011 and some Efke 820 IR film exp. 2013 is the oldest film I still have now in the freezer, apart from some Ortho Lith film from around 2000 at least in B&W. In color I have some Fuji Reala 100 in 120 roll film from 2012 in the freezer. Maybe a few Kodak E-6 too. But that's it. I am normally working with fresh film, especially in color to reproduce the natural and correct colors.

 

[raid]

It looks as if (very) expired B&W film still looks "OK", while (very) expired C-41 film has color shifts. The latter may appeal to photographers who fell in love with polaroid cameras and film. Such film can also show colors differently.

 

[Fotohuis]

It depends of the brand and especially the film speed. Delta 3200 exp. over 3-4 years is IMO worthless.