Ilford XP1

[kully]

I've got 400ft (100*4) of this. Manufactured date is January 1985, storage conditions unknown.

I've loaded a few rolls already and will test tomorrow.

I was wondering whether anyone knew the difference between XP1 and XP2 (with C41 processing). And. Whether anyone else has used OOD XP1 this old (there are some threads on the web, but they stop before the askee comes back with the results).

cheers,
kully

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

XP2 was an improved version of XP1 and was itself replaced by the current XP2 Super. XP1 was the first chromogenic black and white film. I never used it though, it was before my time. I tried XP2 for the first tine in high school so i can't remember when XP1 was replaced.

 

[whitecat]

I have probably shot hundreds of rolls of all the xp's and find it all excellent. 4 rolls in front of me now. They used to have an XP development C41 kit which I am very sorry they took off the market.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Whitecat,

Did you find you got better quality using their developing kit compared to commercial C-41 processing? I have never processed my own color films because the home chemicals were costly, had short shelf life, and required more precision in temp control than is generally possible using hand-tanks. It was cheaper to use a good lab. Was the Ilford stuff better or cheaper than using a C-41 equipped pro lab?

 

[whitecat]

I always got excellent results from it and really haven't tried the others to compare. The kit was packed and colored just the same colors as the film. Really neat.

 

[kully]

Put a couple of rolls through a C41 machine today and looking at them now.

No base fog, edge marking a little weak.

The default scan with the V700 shows low contrast, but (auto) adjusting levels sorts things out something lovely. No major difference that I can see between this and XP2 Super.

Worst thing? Realising half-way through the first roll that the lens cap was still on 🙂