How old is too old for expired film?

Graham_Martin · Aug 31, 2013

I'm about to take delivery of a Mamiya RB67 Pro S (actually this is my third time around with this camera ). The owner is including some film that is about 18 years old. Assuming that it has been refrigerated what are the chances that it is still usable? Generally speaking what is the maximum number of years that refrigerated film is still usable?

Thanks

removed account4 · Aug 31, 2013

hi graham

is it color or b/w ?
color doesn't hold up as well as b/w
and high asa b/w doesn't hold up as well as low asa ..
THAT all said, i have shelf stored tri x that is IDK 15 years old at least
and i still shoot it, and i have used tmax3200 that was stored in my sock drawer
for 15+ years that held up OK too ...
sometimes it depends on the developer &c too

you might poke around the apug archives using "developing expired film " to get some ideas
on what sort of developer you should use for b/w some swear by hc110
others like dektol, others like ansco 130 (i like caffenol and ansco 130 mixed together )

in any case, i would suggest you don't use the film for anything too important
i guess i wasn't much help.

don't forget to have fun!
john

Graham_Martin · Aug 31, 2013

Thanks John, I'll find out on Tuesday what the mix is between color and B/W. I will be using a local lab to do the processing, and I will let him know that the film is old. I'm looking forward to using this camera again.

Tom1956 · Aug 31, 2013

Black and white usually works out well. Color is very risky.

AgX · Aug 31, 2013

A good question for Radio Erevan... but, they are already outdated...

Peltigera · Aug 31, 2013

I have used film thirty years past its best-before date. I do not know how it was stored but I suspect just in a drawer. It was fine - no fog, no colour cast.

Graham_Martin · Aug 31, 2013

And thirty years from now I'll still be able to use the same digital camera I have today! NOT! :alien:

Fixcinater · Aug 31, 2013

I have some Tri-x from '88 or '89 that was not stored very well, apparently, and it's got a pretty heavy base fog even using HC110 which is supposed to help that issue. It will still print but it's not as easy to work with as fresh stuff.

I've also shot some very old Kodak Gold 100/200/400 that was tough to get the colors "right" on...compared to fresher stocks.

If it's been refrigerated the whole time, you're probably fine...it's at least worth the development costs.

cliveh · Aug 31, 2013

That depends on the effect you are trying to achieve. However, for normal response I would say colour film in a fridge (20 years), black & white not in a fridge (30 years), but if you live in death valley probably not.

gone · Aug 31, 2013

Regardless of whether it's color or B&W, my advice is to use it for testing cameras, and looking for light leaks and such. I have had lousy luck w/ expired film that was over a few years out of date, and it's just not worth the aggravation. Invariably you will get a great shot opportunity that will be ruined by a bad roll. There are some very good new, fresh films, available in 120 format for great prices, and they will give you consistent results. I have learned the hard way to buy it fresh from reputable sellers, and eliminate one more variable from my photography. What's amazing to me is that on the auction sites I've seen people pay as much for out of date film as they would pay for fresh film! Seems nuts to me.

heterolysis · Aug 31, 2013

I just shot some 19 year expired Ektachrome. I'll let you know how it goes...

xya · Aug 31, 2013

if it was refrigerated, it will be just fine, regardless if it's colour or b&w. a possible little colour cast will be easily compensated by the lab's machines. enjoy your extra present.

GregW · Aug 31, 2013

I've been using some very old Ektachrome (1980s) slide duping film and cross processing it. It looks great. Colors are very saturated, great contrast and has a unique look. Was fridged till a year or two ago when it got shelved.
I've also been shooting glass plates from 1947 that were marketed as being soft. They give the look of early pictorialist images.
Presumably the film is very cheap and may be worth experimenting with to see if it has a look or personality that spurs some cool ideas. I wouldn't rely on it but it may yield something unique for you.

Graham_Martin · Aug 31, 2013

One of the things that I like to do with MF photography is to get a bit experimental, and see how things turn out. Unless the images come out with light streaks all over them I'm sure that many of them will have some appeal even if the tonal ranges are a little off. Waiting for 10 days for the results is like waiting to open some small Christmas presents.

TareqPhoto · Aug 31, 2013

Good to know, because i have many films in the fridge that are not used, some expired in 2011 and some in 2012 and few expired before that like 2008 or 2005 maybe, so i am not sure if i shouldn't worry if they didn't pass 10 years or longer.

Dr Croubie · Aug 31, 2013

and if it's colour slide film, and you shoot one and the colours are a bit off, just go re-sell it on ebay with the words 'Lomography', 'holga', 'diana', and 'perfect for x-pro' written all over the listing, and you'll probably get more for it than buying new rolls fresh...

wiltw · Aug 31, 2013

Fixcinater said:
I have some Tri-x from '88 or '89 that was not stored very well, apparently, and it's got a pretty heavy base fog even using HC110 which is supposed to help that issue. It will still print but it's not as easy to work with as fresh stuff.

Refrigeration helps delay color shifts; it does nothing to stop Cosmic Rays from passing thru the film, accumulating exposure over time to create base fog.

benjiboy · Aug 31, 2013

Using outdated film is like eating outdated food, the outcome is unpredictabe, and rarely happy.

clayne · Aug 31, 2013

50 years.

Terry Christian · Aug 31, 2013

Others' experiences may vary, but in my limited experience, I've found that B&W film is usually just fine and may only lose a bit of speed. I just opened up a bulk roll of TMax 400, expired in 1991, that worked just fine. However, it didn't work well when I tried to push it two stops to 1600 for shooting inside a barn with only ambient light.
So I'd say you're probably fine with B&W at box speed or less, but beware if you try to push!

mopar_guy · Sep 1, 2013

I just used some Tri-X sheet film that expired in 1970. I was very pleasantly surprised at the negatives.

fotch · Sep 1, 2013

Send it to me and I will test it & let you know.

Steve Smith · Sep 1, 2013

Peltigera said:
I have used film thirty years past its best-before date. I do not know how it was stored but I suspect just in a drawer.

Same here - In my case it was Kodachrome.

Steve.

vsyrek1945 · Sep 2, 2013

I came across a couple of rolls of 1982 dated Ektachrome back in 2000 that spent most of the time in our basement fridge, except when the fridge was needed for dishes prepared in advance for holiday dinners (It was a 3.something cubic foot unit, so the food got preferential treatment). ANYway, in my case, the 18-year expired slides came out fine.

Thanks and regards,
Vince

pgomena · Sep 3, 2013

I just received a batch of Fuji RDP 50 4x5 sheet film that expired in May of 1987. I'll test it and get back to this thread with the results. It supposedly has been frozen all this time, but you never know. Twenty-three years is a long time for anything in a freezer.

How old is too old for expired film?

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