How old is too old? FP4 from 2008

[Kirbot]

Somebody has a bunch of fp4 bulk rolls on ebay pretty cheap. He says it's been stored in a cool room, but not frozen. I'm sure the film will still work fine, but do you think I'd see any difference?

I usually avoid expired film, but I like fp4 and this stuff is almost half the price Kentmere bulk.

 

[colyn]

I quit buying film off eBay since many of the "frozen" rolls were fogged. It's easy to say frozen when it may or may not have been.

Film from that date if frozen is still good but since the sellers says stored in a cool room there is no guarantee as to quality. How cool does he consider a cool room???

 

[tunalegs]

If it is less than 10 years, it is probably unnoticeable. I've used slide film that I forgot about for nearly 5 years and which was not in the fridge, and it only had the slightest magenta/purple tinge to it. Of course the faster the film is the faster it fogs.

 

[shadowfox]

Buy fresh whenever it's financially possible, it helps Ilford to keep producing film for us.
NOTE: I'm not saying don't get those ebay deals once in a while.

 

[vdonovan]

My only photograph in a museum collection (Oakland Museum of California) was shot on 20-year old expired Tri-X. It was foggy, but that was part of the effect.

I agree with others, though: buy fresh Ilford film! As much as you can afford, every single day!

 

[AusDLK]

i've some bulk loaded rolls of Plus-X from the early 1960s that developed ok a few years ago.

 

[clayne]

2008 FP4 is nothing to worry about frozen or not.

 

[henri klein]

If it is less than 10 years, it is probably unnoticeable. I've used slide film that I forgot about for nearly 5 years and which was not in the fridge, and it only had the slightest magenta/purple tinge to it. Of course the faster the film is the faster it fogs.

Some emulsions brittle when stored over prolonged time at -20. Neopan 1600 for example. Longterm storage at room temperature seems to be preferable here.

 

[Vobluda]

Exactly, that is fresh stock of BW film.

2008 FP4 is nothing to worry about frozen or not.

 

[sevo]

If it is FP4 (rather than HP4 as in the subject line) and the seller is honest about age and storage conditions, there is nothing to worry about - that is essentially fresh. It probably would still be fine even when stored at room temperature.

Beware if you buy HP4 bulk, which still sometimes shows up on ebay. HP4 was already discontinued in 1989, and had only been made in cine versions since the seventies. So that would be very much older, and what's more, it would probably come BH perforated, which will jam or tear in many photo cameras.

 

[joeswe]

Some emulsions brittle when stored over prolonged time at -20. Neopan 1600 for example. Longterm storage at room temperature seems to be preferable here.

Just a remark, as you mention Neopan 1600. Long term storage of such high speed photographic film should be avoided altogether. This kind of film will deteriorate quickly through ambient radiation,and storage in a freezer will not offer any protection from this effect. Buy as fresh as possible, use as soon as possible.

 

[Kirbot]

If it is FP4 (rather than HP4 as in the subject line) and the seller is honest about age and storage conditions, there is nothing to worry about - that is essentially fresh. It probably would still be fine even when stored at room temperature.

Beware if you buy HP4 bulk, which still sometimes shows up on ebay. HP4 was already discontinued in 1989, and had only been made in cine versions since the seventies. So that would be very much older, and what's more, it would probably come BH perforated, which will jam or tear in many photo cameras.

Yeah it's FP4, I must have had a brainfart with the title!