Expired film for a "once in a lifetime" trip?

GarageBoy · Aug 11, 2015

I have a cross country trip coming up, and I have two rolls of e100vs I've been dying to use. I also have a stash of e100gx that I bought expired. I love that film and it'd be perfect for the look I want, but it expired back in 08, but was kept refrigerated. I had a test roll shot and it looked a tad cold... Should I just buy fresh provia or velvia and call it a day?

darkosaric · Aug 11, 2015

Expired in 08 is nothing. And you test it. Go for it.

fdonadio · Aug 11, 2015

If you don't like the cold look, get some fresh film. Otherwise, just go for it.

Sent with Tapatalk. Please, forgive autocorrect and my fat fingers.

Sirius Glass · Aug 11, 2015

Do not take a chance. Buy fresh film.

BradS · Aug 11, 2015

Yes, absolutely! Buy fresh film! (I think you already know this to be the only reasonable thing to do).

I love E-100G but, would definitely NOT used expired film for anything important!

Fixcinater · Aug 11, 2015

Film is cheap compared to the costs associated with such a trip. Buy Provia, bring the E100 and shoot it all. Vacations and time spent with family/good friends is a perfect situation to shoot heavily.

Are you bringing two camera bodies that you could use as A/B with the expired/non-expired film?

Sirius Glass · Aug 11, 2015

Fixcinater said:
Are you bringing two camera bodies that you could use as A/B with the expired/non-expired film?

Are you bringing two camera bodies that you could use as A/B with color and black & white film?

Ken Nadvornick · Aug 11, 2015

If you know in advance (via pre-testing under similar lighting conditions) that the look your expired film (stored well or poorly, doesn't matter) will produce is acceptable to you, then use it accordingly.

If you have any doubts that cannot be resolved by pre-testing, then purchase new film (chosen for a look you already know will be acceptable to you), and hold on to the expired film until you encounter another situation where its pre-tested look will be more appropriate.

The goal is to not be surprised in those situations where an unhappy surprise would not be welcome.

Ken

bdial · Aug 11, 2015

Nothing wrong with shooting the expired film if you've tested it, and have an expectation of what to expect. Even if you're working with fresh film, for a "once in a lifetime" event you'd probably want to test anyway.

If the coldness is a problem you may be able to compensate with a warming filter.

Stephen Schoof · Aug 11, 2015

Are you bringing two camera bodies that you could use as A/B with the expired/non-expired film?

This would be my advice, given the "once-in-a-lifetime" qualification. If that's not possible, I'd go with mostly new stuff, just in case there's another variable that didn't show up in your test roll (the effects of heat, delayed processing, etc. - none of which may be a problem, but I'm kind of cautious myself).

Photo Engineer · Aug 11, 2015

I hope you have good memories!

PE

fdonadio · Aug 11, 2015

GarageBoy, sorry for hijacking your thread but... I have to ask PE: is it OK to photograph a Kodak moment with Fuji film?

Sent with Tapatalk. Please, forgive autocorrect and my fat fingers.

fotch · Aug 11, 2015

Would you cook & eat a fish that is past its prime? Will you, years into the future, say to yourself, "I should of used fresh film"?

GarageBoy · Aug 11, 2015

I guess I could bring my Rebel/40STM and throw a second roll in there

removed account4 · Aug 11, 2015

GarageBoy said:
I have a cross country trip coming up, and I have two rolls of e100vs I've been dying to use. I also have a stash of e100gx that I bought expired. I love that film and it'd be perfect for the look I want, but it expired back in 08, but was kept refrigerated. I had a test roll shot and it looked a tad cold... Should I just buy fresh provia or velvia and call it a day?

hi garage boy
i am not one to suggest to anyone to buy fresh film ...
BUT if you tested it and it wasn't to your liking, i'd shoot something else ..
i'd shoot something you get results you expect, not a dream ...

good luck !!
john

railwayman3 · Aug 12, 2015

IMHO, for a once-in-a-lifetime event, it must be fresh, known, film.

I personally enjoy experimenting with old and discontinued film, and for general work I pay little regard to expiry dates (within reason), particularly if I bought the film new and froze it myself. But never for irreplaceable shots.

A small "saving" on materials now could be a regret for years if your pictures fail.

darkosaric · Aug 12, 2015

GarageBoy said:
I had a test roll shot and it looked a tad cold

My English ...
I have understood that this means that you like it - that is why I wrote "go for it" .

GarageBoy · Aug 12, 2015

Thanks- I figured it was now or never with the E100GX stash- I could not think of what else to shoot with it-

darkosaric- your english is beyond ok; I do understand the confusion - as "cool" things are generally good, but I literally meant the color temperature was cold- (not sure if it's because of age, or if it's because the film is not what I remember)

flavio81 · Aug 12, 2015

GarageBoy said:
Thanks- I figured it was now or never with the E100GX stash- I could not think of what else to shoot with it-

darkosaric- your english is beyond ok; I do understand the confusion - as "cool" things are generally good, but I literally meant the color temperature was cold- (not sure if it's because of age, or if it's because the film is not what I remember)

If all rolls of the batch of film were kept at the same environmental circumstances (which is the case, because they were in the same fridge), just shoot one (1) test roll, and if it turns out OK, then you know that the rest of rolls is just fine.

BTW, for travels i'd bring two cameras, one for color and the other for B&W. Last time I went to Maccu Picchu, i brought a Nikon FE and a Nikon FG, both small, light and reliable cameras with manual backup mode (indeed, one of the batteries ran out, perhaps due to cold weather).

benjiboy · Aug 12, 2015

fdonadio said:
GarageBoy, sorry for hijacking your thread but... I have to ask PE: is it OK to photograph a Kodak moment with Fuji film?

Sent with Tapatalk. Please, forgive autocorrect and my fat fingers.

"A Kodak moment" has changed it's meaning these days, it now is used in business and commerce to mean failing to anticipate technological change and missing the boat.

flavio81 · Aug 12, 2015

benjiboy said:
"A Kodak moment" has changed it's meaning these days, it now is used in business and commerce to mean failing to anticipate technological change.

LOL!!!

Photo Engineer · Aug 12, 2015

I don't agree with Benji in his definition. However, a moment which moves you to take a picture is the classic definition, and as such any medium would do.

You will have to answer for it someday. Muahahahaha. :devil::devil:

Sirius Glass · Aug 12, 2015

benjiboy said:
"A Kodak moment" has changed it's meaning these days, it now is used in business and commerce to mean failing to anticipate technological change and missing the boat.

No, not really. But IBM and PC does mean that.

BrianShaw · Aug 12, 2015

flavio81 said:
LOL!!!

... And a drum roll

Andre Noble · Aug 14, 2015

The biggest problem with old transparency film is it needs to be processed soon after you expose it. It really starts to age thereafter. Get a 5cc red filter for the lens too if your cold shift is toward cyan.

Expired film for a "once in a lifetime" trip?

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