Using Expired color film ?

[srtiwari]

Don't do color film photography anymore. So, left with many rolls of 35mm and 120 color film, expired in the last 1-3 years. I was thinking of selling it, because of possible color shift, as others may know how to use it. But I have wondered about using it, and then either trying to color correct, or use for B+W. So, interested in opinions-


Can Pro 400H or Reala's color shift be adequately corrected in LR3 or PS ?

Are there other changes to be expected (exposure/fog etc) ?

Too use for B+W, would you develop normally (C41) , or just go to conventional chemistry ?

Are any films better than others for this ?

Or would you just sell these now, and use the $$ for fresh B+W film ?

(I know I can always test some myself , but looking for some expert advice 😉 )

 

[btgc]

If film is stored properly, 1-3 years won't change it.

 

[smbilgin]

As said, most probably there will be no problem. Regular color negative films are very tolerant in my experiance.

On the other hand you can easily correct the colors with photoshop.

Using them for B&W is another option of course and you can choose the development method either way. You can have them develeloped as regular C-41 and convert the scanned images to B&W or you can develop them with your B&W chemistry by yourself. But you need to be careful of developing method since normally color negative films requires 38C degrees and B&W chemistries normally are used at 20C degrees. So, when I try to develop 400 ASA color negative film with regular B&W chemistry I develop at 26 or 28C degrees and double the developing time. But I assume it depends on films that is used. So I think you need to be experimental and risk a couple of rolls then probably you will find a way.

 

[valdas]

wanna dump it? i'll take it all. i only shoot expired. color shift is cool.
seriously - i have seen different results. no issues at all or really bad cases (4-5 years)... PS can do a lot but when color shif is different in different places of negative (bue sky is differently bue) you cannot fix it.

 

[Derwent]

I have loads of expired colour film I got cheap...the cold stored stuff even 5 years out of date has worked fine...the non cold stored stuff more than a couple of years out of date has generally had some colour shift but 1 or 2 years out of date shouldnt be too bad that way.