B&W film 6 months past use by date OK?

[RalphLambrecht]

to all: nice anecdotes but, always better to have fresh film at hand. If we all use our frozen stuff until it's gone, film manufacturers will be gone too.

 

[Dali]

to all: nice anecdotes but, always better to have fresh film at hand. If we all use our frozen stuff until it's gone, film manufacturers will be gone too.

Frozen films were bought from manufacturers who did a profit on it. As such, I would not feel sorry for using expired films.

 

[Cholentpot]

to all: nice anecdotes but, always better to have fresh film at hand. If we all use our frozen stuff until it's gone, film manufacturers will be gone too.

I use whatever I can get my fingers on. Someone at some point bought the film so it's no loss to the manufacturer. Kodak would sell miles of B&W if they had a budget B&W bulk line. $90 for 100 feet? Bring that down to $30 and see how fast it flies off the shelf.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't have good experiences with expired delta3200. Significant loss of speed and high fog. I suppose I haven't had much luck.

I have not been able to get ISO 3200 out of Delta 3200 120 film. I use replenished XTOL and a Jobo processor. Any useful suggestions are welcome.

 

[koraks]

I haven't tried it in xtol/mytol, but I think it probably tops out at 1600 if you're somewhat critical of shadow detail.

 

[guangong]

I have always considered the expiration dates to be guides, like the sell by dates. Plenty of leeway. Most films are aged before they leave the factory. A couple years not make any noticeable difference. Movie films are different and should be used as soon as possibly because even slight differences in quality from roll to roll is noticeable during projection.
Have fun!!!

 

[abruzzi]

I still use milk up to two weeks after the expiration date, but like film, the further you go past the expiration the more imperative it is to sniff it before drinking. I have 5 rolls of Plus X (PXP) from 1993. I just shot the first roll at EI60, and there is a significant fog and the exposure is still a little weak. The next roll will probably get shot at EI25.

 

[Agulliver]

I have got ISO 12800 from Delta 3200 in ID-11. Certainly 3200 is fine with ID-11 or Microphen. I regularly use it for gigs and used to use it for night club photography when the owner of said club wanted photos taken of guests (with permission) without a flash in the pre-digital days.

To answer the question without getting into ethics......B&W film six months out of it's expiry date should be totally fine unless it's been kept in very hot conditions for months/years on end. The date is just the date at which the manufacturer is happy to absolutely guarantee fresh new performance. In other words the manufacturer believes that up to that date there is zero chance of the film performing lower than expected. Like most foods, the film's performance doesn't dive off a cliff one day after it expires. It's a slow process whereby the film might get less sensitive to light or fogged by cosmic rays....and that process takes years. Decades for B&W film.

 

[removed account4]

Hi forum,

I'm in the market for a 30.5m tin of 35mm film. I found a tin of Ilford Delta 100 at a good price held by a reputable dealer that is six months out of date. I believe it would have been stored correctly. Do you think this film will perform well and worth the risk? it's at 1/2 price.

All the best!

Iain

you are so hosed, so completely gonna waste your time shooting that film. 1/2 price .. should be FREE !! delta100 totally gonna be totally dissapointed !
i hope buy it and then just so you won't be so completely disappointed you send it to me. i'll even let you over night it and pay for the shipping.
i'll be PMing you

have fun with the film, it will be good for YEARS not months past the exp date...