Film expiration question.

Denisw · Dec 30, 2008

Hello Everyone,

I have some questions about film expiration dates and how accurate the date on the box is.

To start, I'm a film newbie and starting to get more use out of my MF kit and have been randomly buying various Ilford (Delta 100, FP4+) and Fuji films (Velvia 50, FP-100B). I realize that the dates on the box are important and are there for a reason. However, I'm the type of person that if the date on the milk is 1 day over, I get rid of it (which is fairly accurate as can be seen from the lumps as I pour it out.).

I have started refrigerating my film as I get it, in a Wine refrigerator with UV protected glass at a temp. range of 54-56 F. Earlier rolls of Delta 100 and Velvia did not get this treatment until well after the expiration. To date these expired films have not been used. So what I'm after is:

1) Is there a limit to how long film can be refrigerated after expiration?
2) Is non-refrigerated film bad if not used a month after the expiration?
3) Is refrigerating expired film a bad idea or waste of time?
4) I will be getting some Ilford PanF+ soon, anything special I need to do with storage?

If location makes a difference, I live in South Florida and my house stays at about 78F throughout the year.

Thanks in advance.

Konical · Dec 30, 2008

Good Afternoon, Denis,

Outdated color film is more likely to suffer than is outdated B & W film, mostly because there can be color shifts. Fast film, either color or B & W, is more likely to suffer than slow film. That said, most of us would not hesitate, particularly for non-critical purposes, to use color film at least some months or B & W film at least some years beyond expiration date, even if the film has not been frozen or refrigerated. Freezing film extends its life greatly. Most slow/medium speed B & W film should be good for decades; color film for at least several years.

This topic has been discussed at length here on APUG; just do a Forum Search for more detail and opinion.

Konical

wogster · Dec 30, 2008

Denisw said:
Hello Everyone,

I have some questions about film expiration dates and how accurate the date on the box is.

To start, I'm a film newbie and starting to get more use out of my MF kit and have been randomly buying various Ilford (Delta 100, FP4+) and Fuji films (Velvia 50, FP-100B). I realize that the dates on the box are important and are there for a reason. However, I'm the type of person that if the date on the milk is 1 day over, I get rid of it (which is fairly accurate as can be seen from the lumps as I pour it out.).

I have started refrigerating my film as I get it, in a Wine refrigerator with UV protected glass at a temp. range of 54-56 F. Earlier rolls of Delta 100 and Velvia did not get this treatment until well after the expiration. To date these expired films have not been used. So what I'm after is:

1) Is there a limit to how long film can be refrigerated after expiration?
2) Is non-refrigerated film bad if not used a month after the expiration?
3) Is refrigerating expired film a bad idea or waste of time?
4) I will be getting some Ilford PanF+ soon, anything special I need to do with storage?

If location makes a difference, I live in South Florida and my house stays at about 78F throughout the year.

Thanks in advance.

Film your planning on using in the next week or so, can be kept near room temperature (20℃/68℉), films that will be used within a few months can be kept refrigerated, film that will not be used within a few months, should be frozen. Slow speed black and white films like Pan-F can be kept frozen for a long period of time, fast films like Delta 3200 will last much less time in the freezer, colour films last a shorter time then B&W films, as colour shifts can occur when films pass their prime. Fast colour films that are frozen should be used within 3 years, of when you freeze it, slow black and white films can last decades. If you have film that is more then 4-5 years frozen, you should shoot a test roll, before using the film for anything important.

Same thing applies to your expired film, run a test roll before using it for anything important.

Denisw · Dec 30, 2008

Thanks for the replies. I apologize for the redundant questions, next time I'll do a more exhaustive search in the forum. The returns on my previous search related to darkroom chemicals, paper, and pack film. Again, sorry about the repetative questions.

Film expiration question.

Denisw

Konical

wogster

Denisw

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