What do you do with lots of expired film?

[raid]

In the past, and before digital adjustments by PS or similar software, I would throw away expired film. Now I have a large quantity of 120 and 35mm film that is expired. If I am not interested in weird looking colors ("Lomo") or stuff like that, what are your experiences with frozen outdated film? Also, is there a difference between 120 film and 135 film?

B&W film: what happens to it after being frozen, say, for 8-10 years beyond the expiration date? Does it lose its ability to capture details? Is there a lower ISO sensitivity? Will images look muddied up?

Color Film: Is there a chance to save such outdated film by removing the colors with PS or will there be an obvious loss of overall image quality for the same reasons I listed for the B&W film above?

 

[OlliL]

For Color (C41), I wouldn't worry.
I shot film that's outdated by 15 years, without any problems. 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

I don't know if there is a definite answer. I think it depends on the brand and ISO. 3200 ASA film is notorius for not aging gracefully, even when frozen. I have used rather old negative film, both color and b/w, frozen/refridgerated and not, with acceptable results. I've also had some that didn't age well.

 

[Godfrey]

With all old film, base fog increases as it ages, reducing sensitivity. With color, the dyes shift color somewhat as well. Keeping film in the refrigerator or freeze slows down these changes so much that decade old film stored in the freezer is indistinguishable from new, at least for the slower speed emulsions.

Film not stored cold ages faster.

I wouldn't shoot "critical" or paid work with hugely outdated film that wasn't stored properly, but I don't throw any film away. Old film not stored in the freezer I use for play. If I am serious about a particular look and I have long-outdated film in the freezer, I pull a couple of rolls and test with one of them first to see what I get from it.

G

 

[JRG]

I've shot a lot of outdated B+W, also without any problems that I could attribute to the age of the film.

But, if you're really concerned and don't want to risk capturing some critical image on marginal film, why not give the outdated film away? There are folks out there who are just discovering the joy of film and classic film cameras.

A few rolls of outdated Tri-X [or whatever] might be just to ticket to another film convert, and we could use more of those.

 

[raid]

I don't know if there is a definite answer. I think it depends on the brand and ISO. 3200 ASA film is notorius for not aging gracefully, even when frozen. I have used rather old negative film, both color and b/w, frozen/refridgerated and not, with acceptable results. I've also had some that didn't age well.

Most of my expired film is ISO 100 film, but I have also some ISO 800 and 3200.

 

[LeicaTom]

I'm just planning on getting BACK into film.......so if anyone has any expired

C-41 Fujicolor 100ASA, Kodak Gold or Kodak Super Color 100ASA , Illord XP2 or Kodak BW400CN and Kodak EPR 64ASA or Ektachrome 100ASA color negative laying around that they don't want please let me know! 😀

Tom

 

[raid]

Have you taken a look at the asking prices for expired film on ebay or even Amazon? They are as high or even higher than the prices were when the film was still available.

I have Reala 100, Agfa 25, Efke 25-50-100, Agfa 160, Portra 160, IR film, ... etc. I may have 200 rolls of frozen film from such types of film.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Store film in freezer. Half hour to defrost. If unused return to freezer. No problem.

 

[raid]

I will try some of the film out as a test. Maybe the results are fine after all. I don't have much hope for Velvia or Provia slide film though.

 

[anjoca76]

Provia and Velvia should be fine too. I've shot plenty of expired slide film and can't tell any difference. Mine was all refrigerated or frozen, so maybe that helped. But I still think you should be ok, assuming it's not been sitting in a humid and/or hot place for years.

 

[LeicaTom]

Old expired slide film I x-cross process, so that's hit and miss but lots of fun 🙂

Tom

 

[raid]

Provia and Velvia should be fine too. I've shot plenty of expired slide film and can't tell any difference. Mine was all refrigerated or frozen, so maybe that helped. But I still think you should be ok, assuming it's not been sitting in a humid and/or hot place for years.

I always keep film frozen, unless I am using film, then I place the film in the refrigerator outside the freezer.

 

[ibcrewin]

I'll take your 120 film! 😉 or sell it on Craigslist. People will pay $3-4 a roll for it.

I've shot tons of expired film and my answer is... it depends.

I've shot Astia and Provia that was 4 years expired. It was kept in the freezer and the results were nice. I was happy with them.

I've shot expired 100ft rolls and they have been pretty decent too. Maybe a little flat but that might have been me.

Expired color film blows. Then again, sometimes I think fresh color film blows.

 

[Kenj8246]

Have you taken a look at the asking prices for expired film on ebay or even Amazon? They are as high or even higher than the prices were when the film was still available....

Amen to that. I wonder if they really get the prices they are asking? I'd rather have fresh film at lower prices and both Freestyle and B&H beat virtually all eBayer's prices.

Kenny

 

[Jamie123]

I would just sell it and use the money to buy new, fresh film.

 

[Mackinaw]

If I have too much expired film, I just give it away. Always to 20-year olds who have just discovered film. I just gave an aspiring model a few rolls of 120 Tri-X that she can use in her Holga.

Jim B.

 

[johannielscom]

Just sold a busload of old film locally, for EUR 35 only. Just to get rid of it quickly. It even had 1946-expired Kodak film in 35mm with it. And 1970's expired Kodak EPP in 120, and ORWO, and Ilford, and ..., and ..., etc. 😉

I put it up for sale here several times, no takers. Collectors or LOMO-crowd is your best bet to get rid of it.

I'm on an un-cluttering streak and currently sell off anything I do not use so you might prefer to do elsewise, but for me this worked fine: less clutter, more free space in the mind and in the fridge 😀

 

[Bill Clark]

I do have a small freezer that I use to store film.

Also have film in a cabinet in my office.

I only use black & white film now.

 

[Doug Smith]

I'm working my way through a freezer full of 10 years out of date Astia in 120 which looks just fine. However I wouldn't use it for anything critical. Given how much Fuji jacked up their prices on chrome I'm glad I have it.