Outdated film question

[Lonius Funk]

Can someone tell me roughly...how long does outdated film that was kept in a "cool place" last? I see people buying outdated film on forums and on eBay and was wondering if I should take a chance by buying outdated film to shoot with ..just to save some money....Oh..I normally use B&W..

Thanks in advance..

 

[wyk_penguin]

The only thing I can say is, "A long time". There was once a packet that expired one year ago and I still got things out of it. It depends, mine stayed in the cupboard.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Ages with B+W -- but if there were a fixed answer, expiry dates could probably be a lot longer. You'll lose speed, gain fog and usually get bigger grain, but how seriously depends on storage conditions and what you consider acceptable. Ive used 2-year-old and older film, but usually it's been refrigerated.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[phototone]

It can be good for many years. The slide film type would be the first to have noticable deterioration, as with this type of film, there is no chance to correct for age when you make prints like you have to do from negative film.

Medium speed and Slow Speed b/w film ISO 50 to 400 would have the longest shelf life when stored in cool environment. It might be possible to get good image from cool stored b/w film for up to 10 years past expiry date.

 

[phototone]

I would also like to add, that film (of any sort) that has been stored since new in the freezer, with original factory moisture seal packaging intact should not have any noticable deterioration for decades.

 

[hjfischer]

Of course, no matter how well you store outdated film that you purchase, you can't be sure that it was properly stored before listing on ebay, etc.

 

[canonetc]

If you really want to save money, buy a bulk loader and do it yourself. Film cost is cut almost in half.

Chris
canonetc

 

[Michael I.]

I widely use 120 agfapan apx(old type)which is due to 1995,so it's at least 12-13 years old with no problem.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I don't think your question was outdated. 😉

Like some said, if it's been refrigerated, then it shouldn't matter much; if the expiration date was some time in the past 6 months, it shouldn't matter much. If it's been more than that and no refrigeration, then you should consider it for "art" purposes.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If you really want to save money, buy a bulk loader and do it yourself. Film cost is cut almost in half.

Not quite true all of the time; if you buy in bulk from B&H or Adorama, for example, buying about 20 rolls (36 exp.) of one kind of film vs. 100 ft. which yields about the same, you break about even, and at least you don't run into the potential problem of your film getting snapped off the spool at the end (it's happened to me three times).

The only exception I've found is with Tri-X, where a 100ft roll is about $24-28, and buying 20 rolls of 36 exposures at $3.60 each is over three times that.