Acros Shelf LIfe

RattyMouse · Jan 2, 2014

I just bought a box of Acros film and it is to expire on 5/2014. That's not all that far into the future so I'm wondering what is the typical shelf life of this film. Is it usually 2 years or so? Are all films roughly made with a 2 year shelf life or do they all vary?

I'm not worried about this particular box. I doubt it will last me more than 2 weeks. I'm just curious.

Thanks!

Simon R Galley · Jan 2, 2014

Dear RattyMouse,

We put a film expirery date ( not shelf life ) of between 3 and 5 years at manufacture, dependant on product ie type and iso rating ( speed ). As all APUGGERS know, most films, correctly stored will remain usable after these dates.

To the best of my knowledge KODAK and FUJI use very similar periods.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

RattyMouse · Jan 2, 2014

Simon R Galley said:
Dear RattyMouse,

We put a film expirery date ( not shelf life ) of between 3 and 5 years at manufacture, dependant on product ie type and iso rating ( speed ). As all APUGGERS know, most films, correctly stored will remain usable after these dates.

To the best of my knowledge KODAK and FUJI use very similar periods.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

Hi Simon!

Thank you for your reply. Yes, expiry date is a much better term than shelf life. I should have said that instead.

I bought some Delta 3200 last weekend. It's date of expiry is 5/2015. I doubt that film will make it past this weekend!

paul_c5x4 · Jan 2, 2014

RattyMouse said:
I just bought a box of Acros film and it is to expire on 5/2014. That's not all that far into the future so I'm wondering what is the typical shelf life of this film.

I have a few boxes of Acros 100 that are over eight years past the expiry date stored in the freezer. As with most films (IR and high speed excluded), keep it cool and it will last for years.

GarageBoy · Jan 2, 2014

It's slow and B&W
Put it in the fridge and it'll be fine (or shoot it and buy more)

wildbill · Jan 2, 2014

you could also do a search on expired film and find dozens of previous threads on the subject.

chip j · Jan 2, 2014

How is Acros pronounced? Thanks, Chip

cmacd123 · Jan 3, 2014

Shot a roll of EKFE R17 this summer that had been freezer stored and expired in 1986. Looked better than more current R25. but the faster the film, the faster it goes "off"

clayne · Jan 3, 2014

Slow films last a very long time.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 3, 2014

chip j said:
How is Acros pronounced? Thanks, Chip

Ack-rose

chip j · Jan 3, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Ack-rose

Thanks, Richard Chip

Peter Trenchard · Jan 4, 2014

I've had a 10mtr tin of Agfa Ortho 25 in my fridge at 4deg C since about 1989. It has an expiry date of Jan 1990. A few months ago I took it out and wound a short length into a cassette and the resulting exposed negs were perfect. During an inactive period of photography from 2004 to 2012 I also had in the fridge some HP5, TMax 400, FP4, Delta 400, all way past their expiry dates and they were all OK. You don't need to freeze the film, a fridge will do.

I would like to see production or expiry dates for paper. Unless you have a vast fridge, which I don't, I find papers losing their edge after a year or so. When you buy paper you have no idea how long it has been on the retailer's shelf before it is sold. Adox now put a Production date on their packaging but I think they are the only ones who do. Ilford show batch numbers but there is no way to link these to dates.

wildbill · Jan 4, 2014

Peter Trenchard said:
I've had a 10mtr tin of Agfa Ortho 25 in my fridge at 4deg C since about 1989. It has an expiry date of Jan 1990. A few months ago I took it out and wound a short length into a cassette and the resulting exposed negs were perfect. During an inactive period of photography from 2004 to 2012 I also had in the fridge some HP5, TMax 400, FP4, Delta 400, all way past their expiry dates and they were all OK. You don't need to freeze the film, a fridge will do.

I would like to see production or expiry dates for paper. Unless you have a vast fridge, which I don't, I find papers losing their edge after a year or so. When you buy paper you have no idea how long it has been on the retailer's shelf before it is sold. Adox now put a Production date on their packaging but I think they are the only ones who do. Ilford show batch numbers but there is no way to link these to dates.

see this: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/photocommunity/forums/theforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5480

Acros Shelf LIfe

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