Expired film trove - shooting and dev tips or test requests

[Yobo57]

Hello I recently picked up a bunch of expired film from the 70s through 2000s that was destined for the trash, most likely never cold stored.
I’m looking to shoot most of it, any advice on exposing/dev?

For old color film, would it be better to cross process as black white? Also is the 1 stop per decade a fairly ok rule for color?

For the BW film should I shoot everything more or less box speed and dev as normal?

There is also a roll of Ektachrome Infrared from the 70s, E4 process. Would E6 dev work or would c41 be better? Also what speed would be best, anyone have experience with this film?

If anyone also wants me to try any specific tests with exposure or development on a particular film, here is the full list of stuff I can experiment with:

35mm

Color

• Kodak max 800 expired 2005
• life color film - 2004
• Konica vx400 -2000s?
• Ektachrome infrared -1975?

BW

• 2x Kodak plus X 125 - 1980?
• 2x Tmax 100 - 1988
• 2x Hp5 400 - 80s-90s?
• 2475 recording film - 1976

120
Color

• Kodacolor ii 100 iso - 1984
• Kodacolor X 80 iso C22 - 1973
• Ektacolor gold 160 iso -90s??
• CPS (ektacolor?) - 70s?

BW

• Tmax 100 - 90s?
• Fp4 125 - 1974

Misc

Super 8

• 2x Ektachrome 160 - 1975

Polaroid

• Polaroid sx70 1970s?
• Polaroid instant ???
• Inovis project PX680 2010?

110

• Verichrome pan 125iso 110 - 1975
• Kodacolor ii 100 iso pan 110 - 1982

 

[Bill Burk]

I’m campaigning for people who shoot black and white film to occasionally bracket a normal shot with another identical shot with two stops greater exposure. We can evaluate this “two stop” test after you develop the film.

 

[BrianShaw]

I’d put most, if not all, of these on a shelf in my curio cabinet rather than using them.

 

[Saganich]

Generally more exposure is required for old B&W...how much more you ask? The internet oracle suggests 1 stop for every decade.

 

[Don_ih]

PlusX, Tmax100, and Verichrome Pan - expose normally (around iso100 outdoors - 80 indoors) - develop normally (you may have some trouble finding the proper times for Tmax from that date).
HP5 will be foggy but probably usable at iso200.

The Polaroid stuff is a coin toss regarding how bad it is.

The Super 8 film will probably not fare well in E6, due to fog, but it might be passable cross-processed and scanned. Is it worth that? Likely not.

I'd sell the colour film on ebay. Let someone else be disappointed.

 

[Yobo57]

PlusX, Tmax100, and Verichrome Pan - expose normally (around iso100 outdoors - 80 indoors) - develop normally (you may have some trouble finding the proper times for Tmax from that date).
HP5 will be foggy but probably usable at iso200.

The Polaroid stuff is a coin toss regarding how bad it is.

The Super 8 film will probably not fare well in E6, due to fog, but it might be passable cross-processed and scanned. Is it worth that? Likely not.

I'd sell the colour film on ebay. Let someone else be disappointed.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I think for sure I’ll shoot all the bw, but for the color you’re probably right. Maybe I’ll just keep it for display as Brian suggested

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Most likely, the SX-70 chemical pods have hardened... and the battery cells have died. But if you have the camera, it doesn't hurt to try.