How to rate ORWO 25-year old film?

[Naumoski]

Hi,

I have ORWO np20 film, the man I got it from told me that it's 25 years old film. It's a 120mm film.
How to rate it, how to tell the lab to develop it? If I remember, the photo lab uses Efke chemicals.
What should I expect, is it usable at all?
Any experience with similar situation?

Thanx in advance,
Stevco.

 

[sevo]

NP20 was 20DIN/80ASA - should be rated like that, or perhaps 2/3 to one stop less. Don't let a lab handle it if you want the best possible results - the compensating developers used in hanging tanks are about the worst option for massively outdated film. Home development in HC-110 will give better results, as that already contains the anti-fogging agent you'd have to get hold of (not even possible in all places due to a mismatch between the minimum amount locally available and the maximum permitted without holding a permission to handle hazardous chemistry) and add to many other developers.

 

[Naumoski]

Sevo, thanx.

The problem is that I don't develop B&W film myself, so I don't have control on developing for now.

I would probably overexpose the film for 1 stop, to be secure a bit. Might play with it whatever the results might appear.

 

[sepiareverb]

I'd rate it as a waste of time.

 

[Schlapp]

Most probaly will fine. I'd rate it 40asa and develop in rodinal 1:100. I have used odler film than that will quite satisfactory results. I even shoot old glass plates and get nice negs

 

[sepiareverb]

Most probaly will fine.

Really? A medium speed film twenty-five years old will be

fine

? I guess we have extremely different ideas of what fine is.

My advice would be just throw it out and buy a new roll of film.🙄

 

[Naumoski]

I might use it, not for something important, maybe for shooting the lake, I haven't seen my lake all rude and grainy, I will must wait for some wind and waves as well 😀

Schlapp,
I've seen some photos on your first blog, the photos on the first page looks very nice, how do you achieve those pleasing midtones, there are still some blacks and no burning highlights. Is it the Rodinal, tonning's.. etc?