FP4

Peltigera · Jul 24, 2016

I have just acquired 19 feet of Ilford FP4 film which dates from October 1974. Obviously I am going to try it - and I shall develop it in Rodinol (the only developer I have). I would appreciate any advice on exposure and development times - always assuming the film is still any good. It has been stored in a shed for at least 15 years!

The reason I have acquired it is that is in in a bulk loader I have been given - loader is definitely in good nick.

Andre Noble · Jul 24, 2016

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Peltigera · Jul 24, 2016

Thank you, Andre. I shall try for ASA 25.

BAC1967 · Jul 25, 2016

With the poor storage and over 40 years old I would go slower, like 5 to 10 ISO. Since you have so much a short test roll at different speeds would be a good idea.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 25, 2016

BAC1967 said:
With the poor storage and over 40 years old I would go slower, like 5 to 10 ISO. Since you have so much a short test roll at different speeds would be a good idea.

Yup, and Rodinal is a poor choice for this too. I'd use HC-110.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 25, 2016

Let's see, you have a very small amount of 40 year old FP4 and don't have a developer usually used for outdated film. Why bother?

Peltigera · Jul 25, 2016

Why bother? Why not!

Sometimes curiosity and a challenge are more important than achieving excellence.

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 25, 2016

A tip... or two,
You can use 1+100 stand for 1-1.5h.
Check your fixer clearing times.
Recently I was given a roll of HP5 that had no date. From the canister design it could be up to 30 or more years old.
With the same fixer mixture fresh Fomapan 400 cleared in less than 30 sec while the old HP5 cleared in 2 minutes.
So, I suggest longer fixing time and wash as well.

Slixtiesix · Jul 25, 2016

Is there a rule of thumb for the film speed in relation to the age of the film?

pdeeh · Jul 25, 2016

Slixtiesix said:
Is there a rule of thumb for the film speed in relation to the age of the film?

it's generally quoted by Those Who Know as being about 1 stop per decade, but so much depends on the film stock itself and the storage.
Think: an ISO100 film that's been in the freezer for 50 years versus an ISO800 colour slide film that's been in the kitchen drawer next to the cooker for 50 years ?

Peltigera · Jul 26, 2016

I am exposing a test film at 3 frames each at 3, 8, 20, 50 and 125 ASA and I shall develop it 1:100 Rodinol stand for 1.5 hours as suggested by Ricardo.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 26, 2016

Please post up a couple of the results.

Peltigera · Jul 28, 2016

Peltigera said:
I am exposing a test film at 3 frames each at 3, 8, 20, 50 and 125 ASA and I shall develop it 1:100 Rodinol stand for 1.5 hours as suggested by Ricardo.

I have developed the test film and I am amazed by the result. I would have been content with blank film considering the age of the film and storage conditions.

Developing was nearly as Ricardo suggested except I used 1:50 dilution instead of 1:100. Stand development for 75 minutes. There was a high level of fog - the clear parts of the film are a mid-grey - and shooting at 50 ASA produced the best results (I didn't actually try 125 ASA but wish I had).

Links to the negative scans as scans are not appreciated here and I am not going to print the photos.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BycMFbaY_CsOUDI4VV9Yd2c0X1U&usp=sharing

MattKing · Jul 28, 2016

Peltigera said:
Links to the negative scans as scans are not appreciated here

Negative scans are absolutely fine on APUG - for these sorts of purposes.
It is the discussions about scanning that aren't appreciated.
By the way, great results. Isn't photographic "history" fascinating.

Peltigera · Jul 28, 2016

Matt, I will bear your comments re scans in mind for future use.

I was impressed with the ability of such old film but doubt I will be using it seriously - actually, it will be fine for testing old cameras for light leaks and faulty shutters.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 28, 2016

Peltigera said:
Why bother? Why not!

Sometimes curiosity and a challenge are more important than achieving excellence.

My point, which I thought I made clear, was that testing might be justified if the OP had a larger supply of this film. There are a number of considerations that must be made. As I pointed out FP4 is no longer being made. The film is four decades old, ...

Amazingly people on APUG do no seem to value their time and effort. Now when I find it difficult to go out and take pictures I wish I had taken more and wasted less time in not particularly fruitful endeavors.

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 28, 2016

Peltigera said:
I have developed the test film and I am amazed by the result. I would have been content with blank film considering the age of the film and storage conditions.

Developing was nearly as Ricardo suggested except I used 1:50 dilution instead of 1:100. Stand development for 75 minutes. There was a high level of fog - the clear parts of the film are a mid-grey - and shooting at 50 ASA produced the best results (I didn't actually try 125 ASA but wish I had).

Links to the negative scans as scans are not appreciated here and I am not going to print the photos.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BycMFbaY_CsOUDI4VV9Yd2c0X1U&usp=sharing

Very nice results. Thanks!

MartinCrabtree · Jul 29, 2016

I like the look. It would suit certain subjects well IMO. Thanks for sharing the results.

FP4

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