Here's possibly an unpopular opinion: expired color film is only good for testing cameras. Because it prevents you from troubleshooting potential color balancing issues. If you can't get good color, problems with chemistry, development time/temp, and scanning are hard to tell apart even with fresh film. Adding another variable makes it even harder, even psychologically - you'll never be sure if you've done everything correctly.
B&W is far easier.
Prhaps unpopular but very realistic opinion, in my opinion.
Yup. If you need predictable results, don't do it. If you like to experiment, go ahead.What outdated film, especially color, is good for is "art photography" when part of the art is achieved through unpredictable results.
I have to agree. Overall I find shooting expired color film a very disappointing experience. At best, there's lots of fog and some wonky colors. But more often than not, it's just impossible to get good colors from the stuff, especially Portra.
I was actually thinking of starting to do my own c-41, so it might be frustrating working with expired film at the outset.
C-41 is not as complicated as you might imagine. But like any such process, you'll need to develop your own routine--one that works for you. I would recommend shooting and developing your expired film only after you have become comfortable with C-41 yourself. Start with fresh film; if you get results you don't like you'll know it's your processing that is likely at fault and not the film itself. Once you've got consistently good negatives from your processing sessions, start playing around with things like expired film, cross-processing and such. Picasso had to learn to draw first.
I've been souping C-41 in my kitchen since 2012. From the beginning I've used the Unicolor dry powder kits, except one time when I used a Tetenal liquid kit. It's nothing like rocket science: I mix the chemicals as the instructions say to and follow the processing instructions pretty closely and get consistent results. I typically get 16 rolls per kit, so that's somewhere between 2 and 3 dollars per roll. But cost saving isn't the only benefit: in my town there's only one camera shop that takes processing orders and I know for a fact that they send it out, so there's really no point asking them to do any special processing because (sad past experience here) it likely won't get done the way you want it.Yea, this is what I’m thinking too - start with fresh film. I’m really not even sure, at this point, whether I’m going to be shooting enough color to warrant processing my own. So far it’s only been four or five rolls of 120 (shot in a 6x9 back on my view camera) per month, so it might make sense to just keep sending it out. My local place charges $8 per roll for development, so it’s not cheap, but also not prohibitive.
I've been souping C-41 in my kitchen since 2012. From the beginning I've used the Unicolor dry powder kits, except one time when I used a Tetenal liquid kit. It's nothing like rocket science: I mix the chemicals as the instructions say to and follow the processing instructions pretty closely and get consistent results. I typically get 16 rolls per kit, so that's somewhere between 2 and 3 dollars per roll. But cost saving isn't the only benefit: in my town there's only one camera shop that takes processing orders and I know for a fact that they send it out, so there's really no point asking them to do any special processing because (sad past experience here) it likely won't get done the way you want it.
But many things could go wrong causing fresh film worse than expired film processed properly.
Expired films often produce interesting results. Not right, but interesting. I don't necessarily look for that in the film. Of course, disappointing results are often obtained. For this reason, in general, expired films are not suitable for work. But for the hobby - why not.
For home development - it's really a good time to gain experience. Yes, with a bad result, it will be unclear where the problem is - whether in the film or in the developing process. In fact, some kits on the market don't perform very well.
But as already written – the process is actually very simple. You just have to follow the instructions. No special expensive equipment needed - just a sous vide heater for precise temperature control. As long as the times are respected - the procedure will be fine. Either way, even if you give these films to a lab, the results will most likely not be good.
For acceptable results, one should start by applying the appropriate (for each individual film) overexposure during shooting. Of course, without any guarantee...
It depends on what your hobby is. My hobby, which I approach seriously, is making portfolios of photographs, not shooting expired film to see what I get. Nothing wrong the hobby of shooting expired film to see what you get. I am sure that is enjoyable for some people.
I learned how to develop color films - both color negative and color transparency - in the 1980's. Once I satisfied myself I could do it myself if I needed to, which occurred after the first roll, I processed enough rolls to use up up the chemical kits and resumed sending my color film out for processing. It was cheaper, less hassle, and the results were consistent. C41 is C41. E6 is E6. I don't know why you think lab results will most likely not be good. It sounds like you need to find a new lab.
These are two separate issues, though.
Processing C41 film at home to a decent quality level isn't very difficult. Many people do so, successfully. It doesn't take a Jobo ATL or similar, either.
The results with fresh film will generally be better than with expired film. There's no clear reason to associate fresh film with poor quality home processing and expired film with good processing. The only reason appears to be, is to somehow make expired film look more attractive than it really is. There's no point in doing this. Just tell a straight story to OP and let them decide.
The key to home developing C41 film is maintaining the proper temperature. That done it is not harder than developing black & white film, time each step carefully. I like to say that it is easier than falling off a moving motorcycle.
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