Expired NHG120

[akfotog]

Have found quite a bit of Fujicolor NHG120 print film that has an expiration date of Jun 1999. I know the film has been frozen for nearly 4 years, but believe it was only refrigerated prior to that.

Anyone have experience using this dated film type?

 

[DanielStone]

on older(like 5-6yrs old, which I COMMONLY shoot(cuz it's cheap !) film, I test a roll doing the following(all of the same scene, camera on a tripod, I'm not creating art here ):

shoot a grey card in 1-2 frames
meter how you usually do(spot, ambient, etc., whichever way you regularly(and reliably) work, in general)
if you have a warming filter(81A, or a skylight(not really warming since it's mostly pinkish, but helps at higher altitudes) use that on a few frames as well
rate 1,2, and 3 stops slower than box speed(so 200,100, 50 for 400ASA(box speed) film)

My general guess is that you'll have a slower ASA by approx 1-2 stops, and some color shift towards blue/magenta. This is based on my shooting of a few purchased quantities of older(pre-2000 dated, but cold stored nonetheless) Fuji(especially) emulsions. Kodak and Agfa usually went somewhat blue, Agfa sometimes went a bit warmer(which I liked personally).

Have fun, make sure to test though prior to committing time and energy to shooting stock that might just be good to grace the trash can's presence, and not your camera

cheers,
-Dan

 

[adelorenzo]

I've been shooting Ektacolor Pro 160 from 1999 recently and I would definitely agree with Daniel. I have been getting a lot of blues but otherwise good. I've been shooting it at 125 so maybe half a stop slower and that seems to be working.

In terms of Fuji, I shot a whole pile of NPH 400 that expired in 2005 at a wedding this summer and it was perfect. Skin tones were amazing. I can't remember but I would guess that I metered for 320 or 250 ISO.

If you're doing that thing that we're not allowed to talk about on this site then the color shifts shouldn't be an issue.

 

[adelorenzo]

Here's an example of some of the blue color cast, this is the Ektacolor Pro exp. 1999.

 

[TheToadMen]

I use many sorts of expired Fujifilm - even when not refrigiratored - and had no problems yet.
Sometimes some beautiful color shifts I mostly like and won't correct.

 

[akfotog]

Thanks for the advice all. I'll shoot a test roll this weekend.