Freshest Film Stocks UK

[250swb]

About the 2 year expiration date, interestingly I have seen 3+ year expiration for 35mm Kentmere 100, whereas the dates are shorter with 120 and Delta (specifically 3200 for sensitivity reasons). I would wager that despite the tighter regulations (35mm) ISO 400 and lower B&W film still keeps quite well past the 2 year dates.

Since you mention 35mm it may be worth saying that the expiry dates seem to be much, much longer. I have some 35mm FP4 in the fridge that I bought last year and the expiry is mid-2027 so it reminds us this discussion is purely about 120 and if anybody has bought the same film at the same time from a stockist with a high turnover in both 120 and 35mm it would be interesting to know how the expiry dates compare.

 

[Prest_400]

Harman distributes their products in the UK.
They do not distribute their products in Canada, the USA and some other parts of the world - they contract with others to deal with those areas.
The promotions they do are generally restricted to the areas of the world that they are also distributing to.

Noted, the OP is in Great Britain and I just thought about that distribution channel. So to clarify, that person that mentioned the sale at Ilford was also British.

Since you mention 35mm it may be worth saying that the expiry dates seem to be much, much longer. I have some 35mm FP4 in the fridge that I bought last year and the expiry is mid-2027 so it reminds us this discussion is purely about 120 and if anybody has bought the same film at the same time from a stockist with a high turnover in both 120 and 35mm it would be interesting to know how the expiry dates compare.

I can actually provide that, based in Sweden and October 2023 as the acquisition date. I went to a distributor sponsored event that gave us some 35mm film and a voucher that I used to purchase 120:


Kentmere 400 35mm: 4/2028
HP5 35mm: 5/2027
Delta 400 35mm: 4/2026
Delta 400 120: 3/2025
HP5 120: 6/2025

It was very interesting that the salesperson gave some figures of the demand in the Nordic region: From 12000 circa pandemic era to 150000 rolls sold a year post 2022.

 

[koraks]

sold a year

Actually sold, or order backlog? Not too long ago there were astronomical backlog numbers that will never actually materialize as real sales. It was basically the retail sandbagging orders in the face of restricted supply of color film.

 

[Prest_400]

Actually sold, or order backlog? Not too long ago there were astronomical backlog numbers that will never actually materialize as real sales. It was basically the retail sandbagging orders in the face of restricted supply of color film.

The context is with some quite loose encouraging pitch as to why they organised such event, seeing that the regional sales of film increased 10 times.
Good you ask about it, as C41 was in very short supply during the pandemic and it should be the leading volume; but the distributor was mostly vouching for Ilford ("yes we do Kodak as well").

 

[Lachlan Young]

I don't think there was ever 5 or 8 years on photo film, but in the past 3 years was not uncommon.

Have had 2029 dates on some 135 HP5+ this year (and I recall FP4+ has similar) - generally 2 years though on all Ilford 120 & some sheet products. I recall that Delta in 135 might be a tiny bit more generous and I would need to check the dates on 4x5 HP5+. Only reason I remembered the 2029 date as significant was because it was so long! Also suggests that FP4+ & HP5+ don't use organic components with short shelf lives - which may be as much, if not more of a limiting factor than the nature of the packaging alone - and the metal can of 135 will provide a higher level of protection from atmospheric radiation etc too.

 

[Lemmythink]

Just out of interest from what sources did you get the impression it had become common?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Here.

 

[Lemmythink]

I would second this. Had mottling on 2020 exp Delta 120 that developed in the 2.5 years after it expired, no problems in 2021 shoot and developed roll, notable mottling in 2022. Film was room stored since I bought the rolls in 2019. As lower temperature slows chemical reactions, it might also help out with the offset with current film.

About the 2 year expiration date, interestingly I have seen 3+ year expiration for 35mm Kentmere 100, whereas the dates are shorter with 120 and Delta (specifically 3200 for sensitivity reasons). I would wager that despite the tighter regulations (35mm) ISO 400 and lower B&W film still keeps quite well past the 2 year dates. Caveat for the backing paper in 120; But I had no issues with 1-2 year expired HP5 and Delta 400.
Delta 3200 will fog with age due to sensitivity.

Ilford themselves seem to sell film directly off their website. I recently read a user mentioning them having a "hidden" black friday sale with 10-15% discounts off their website.

I do remember when I was at College my Tutor spoke about keeping his film in the freezer.

 

[Agulliver]

Here.

It looks common because we are more likely to be critical of minor defects on Photrio. Also when one person reports a problem, the chances are a few members out of thousands will find the same problem and report it here. So it looks more widespread than it is.

That said, both Kodak and Ilford did have issues affecting specific batches a few years back which needed to be solved. The problems were real, as is the modern need to expose and develop your 120 film before it expires.