buying expired film

Sometimes I shoot films that I know are going to come out with a HUGE color shift just for the fun of it, the chems are cheap enough to do so. I've gotten a few cool shots, like this one http://500px.com/photo/8342369 it was shot on super expired sensia, I love how it came out!

To my untrained eyes, the picture looks pretty good. A little faded and what appears to be lighter than the slide films I am used to (Velvia,Provia), but overall it looks good.

I've had mixed luck - mainly good - with expired color film. I have some Agfa Optima expired 2003 that I know was always refrigerated, because I owned it since new - it's as good as new. I have Fuji NPS 160, allegedly cold stored and expired in 2005, that has lost half its speed and is grainy. Some Ferrania 200 ASA that I believe expired in 1987 and is remarkably good. EXR 200T that expired circa 1997 and as good as new. Yes, black and white is a whole other story - I have Ilford stock expired in 1964 - yes, 1964 - and if I shoot at 50ASA instead of the rated 100ASA, you'd think it was manufactured yesterday. I suspect the real issue with what you are looking at is likely whether it really was cold stored. If so, if you have a problem it is more likely to be speed loss than uncontrollable color shift.

Bottom line -- how it was stored is hugely important.

What can I say? I just shot a roll of Verichrome Pan - 127 that expired in 1986.

No fog, no pattern from the backing paper, and no loss of filmspeed....

from experience I've found it depends on the brand/film you want to use..

And out of date slide film is no problem - just shoot it and process it to make black and white negs...no worries about funny color shifts then....