Shooting expired film - interesting?

[Kai-san]

I think the merits of some of the discontinued films have been embellished over time, like our teen age years. I shot loads of Neopan 400 for 15 years but had no problems changing to HP5+ or Tri-X when I could buy 50 rolls cheaper. I ended up shooting them the same, developing them the same, and could tell absolutely no difference in the final prints.

I don't agree with you on this, but that's ok. I've shot too much HP5+, I hate the grayness that is worse than a rainy day in England as some people like to say about this film.

 

[Karlovak]

Every time I develop expired C-41 I get insane edge bleeding and mushy grain. I use the Filmomat machine. I wonder if the uneven development has something to do with the Filmomat's agitation system. Anyone else getting edge bleeding?

 

[Mark C]

Every time I develop expired C-41 I get insane edge bleeding and mushy grain. I use the Filmomat machine. I wonder if the uneven development has something to do with the Filmomat's agitation system. Anyone else getting edge bleeding?

What is edge bleeding?

Air transfer seems to be a big factor in aging. Foil sealed film keeps much better than any kind of open pack. I have open packs of 8x10 sheet film that you can cut a great 5x7 from by using the part farthest from the opening.

I see a darkening/underexposure creeping in from the edges on old 35mm that hasn't been stored in its container. I shot a roll of 220 last week that was out of its wrapper and has all kinds of edge and other odd issues. It is the comic book store picture I posted to Instagram yesterday (see my signature if you are interested), but also the seemingly perfect shot posted a few days before from the same roll (Sherry's Restaurant). I have two more rolls from the same pro pack that are wrapped and I am confident will be fine. I'll find out soon enough.

I don't know your processor or what your "edge bleeding" issue looks like so have no idea if this is processing or aging related. Color is less fussy about agitation than traditional black and white though.

 

[Karlovak]

Sample

Expired Portra 400NC, unknown storage and expiry date.
This is my typical result of developing expired film - strong color shifts, exaggerated grain and light bleeding along the edges.


I don't shoot expired film myself, but I often develop them for others.

 

[Dpingr1]

I like Plus-X, and it has performed very well long past its expiration date. I think most low ISO BW films do, as long as they were not stored in extreme conditions. However, I've never paid a premium for it, or even as much as fresh film. I wouldn't do that. Other than that, I do shoot found unexposed old film, but never for anything critical. For example, I bought some very old 127 film for the spools, and was surprised at how well it worked.

 

[Forest_rain]

I must say that I find these two examples pretty cool. However it seems like most people have had bad experiences with expired film and don't seem to like it - I would have anxiety about blank rolls and lost shots, I'm sure not all the results come out like the ones shown.

I think I'm going to go ahead and avoid the expired film, but maybe try a roll or two sometime if I can find it cheap.

Old Kodak Ektachrome 200.

Sample

Expired Portra 400NC, unknown storage and expiry date.
This is my typical result of developing expired film - strong color shifts, exaggerated grain and light bleeding along the edges.

I don't shoot expired film myself, but I often develop them for others.

 

[Mark C]

I must say that I find these two examples pretty cool. However it seems like most people have had bad experiences with expired film and don't seem to like it - I would have anxiety about blank rolls and lost shots, I'm sure not all the results come out like the ones shown.

I think I'm going to go ahead and avoid the expired film, but maybe try a roll or two sometime if I can find it cheap.

I think that is a wise decision.

I shoot expired film because it is either already here, or free. I average more than a roll a day lately, and with 120 color in particular that adds up fast. I enjoy the challenges of the expired film, have a lot of fun, and get results I like, but I would not be paying the prices that are usually asked.