Recently expired iso 800 film?

[matt fury]

I've seen some Sept. 2005 dated Fuji Superia 800 around for a good price lately. It's being advertised as having been refrigerated since arrival at the store. I hear that hgiher-speed emulsions aren't as good for using after expiration, do you think this film would still be worth buying and shooting? And if so, how much longer do you think it would last in the freezer? For the prices I'm seeing the film doesn't have to perform 100%, but there's no point in using it if the shots are going to turn out like garbage.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I think you should buy a roll and shoot it. Faster films do age more quickly (and are more susceptible to fog from radiation (cosmic, background, airport etc.)), but the proof is in what the film will do for you so shoot a roll and see what happens. I wouldn't stock more than you can use in the near term, if color balance is important to you.

Ben

 

[BJ Bignell]

If it's still in the fridge, it should be fine. Shoot a roll or two, and if it's not right, do something strange with it. Pinhole camera, cross-processing, run it through b&w developer...

 

[JoeFriday]

here's a shot I took a couple weeks ago with expired Superia X-tra 800 at the Madison RFF meeting.. kinda hard to see in this image, but the results I've been getting are pretty good

I got the film off eb*y for about $1 a roll with shipping included, which wasn't bad.. I wouldn't pay any more for it, tho

 

[matt fury]

Thanks Brett, looks pretty good to me. Yeah, I was looking at the $1/roll on eBay too. It's just that it's in bricks of 20, and I wanted to make sure I didn't end up with 20 rolls of something unusable.

Thanks for the tips, guys.

 

[JoeFriday]

I bought the 20-roll brick, too.. it seems to be good stuff.. just keep it refrigerated until you use it

I rate it around ISO 640 and get the best results that way

 

[Dracotype]

Don't worry at all. I think Brett has already said enough, but just to add to it. I had some Sensia 100 that was over by a couple of months, and it still came out great. I wouldn't worry especially if it is only a couple of months off.

Drew

 

[Doug]

Same here on NPZ800 in 120 at around $1 a roll from eBay, dated April 2005. I've had it in the fridge; been using it recently and it's fine. It came from UltraFineOnline I believe.