Old 120 films found

[epp]

In addition to the (now) 11 rolls of Efke I mentioned in another thread, I found many more rolls, the vast majority being B&W. The other B&W films I found (with process-before dates):

• Kodak VP 120 - ISO 125 (11/1997 and 12/1997)
• Kodak TXP 120 - ISO 320 (01/1999)
• Kodak PXP 120 - ISO 125 (01/1998)
• Foma Fomapan 100 - ISO 100 (05/1996)
• Fujifilm Neopan 400PR - ISO 400 (01/1997)

The following films were only in the foil wrappers, without any process-by dates on them:

• Arista (Freestyle, pre-EDU line - plain white wrappers) - ISO ("ASA" on wrappers) 125 and 400
• Ilford FP4
• Ilford XP2

Where the above films are noticeably older than the Efke films previously mentioned, would there be a chance that any of these (at least the ISO 100 and 125 films) would still be good today? Please note, I do not know if any of the above films had been exposed to heat in the summer. Also, since Verichrome Pan has been discontinued by Kodak, would a lab still be able to process it, or other discontinued films, if any of the others above have also been discontinued?

 

[Alan W]

They can all be used and developed.The slower speed films will look better than the faster ones.You yourself can develop any of these films easily or send them to a lab(but where's the fun in that?)Rate them at half their original speed for starters,work from there.

 

[epp]

I do not develop my own.

The local places that previously processed 120, no longer do so or have gone out of business, so mailing to a lab is my only option. There is one lab that is less than 50 miles from here, so mailing and receiving would be only one day apart.

 

[j-dogg]

I shot 20+ year old Ektar 25 at rated speed and dropped it off at Walgreens for development and they were fine.

 

[agfarapid]

I recently found some old (20 yrs +) exposed rolls of Verichrome and Tri X. I developed them in Xtol with pretty fair results, although I find from previous experience that HC 110 Dil B is the best for developing old exposed film with minimal fog. This might be an excellent opportunity to try developing at home yourself. You can probably set up to process B&W negatives for under $100 including thermometers, changing bag and developing tanks. Although I have a full darkroom with enlargers, I find that scanning my negs myself gives me excellent quality with maximum convenience.

 

[wblynch]

I just used and developed some Agfa Superpan from 1984. It worked fine. Very nice tones and velvety grain. I used HC-110 diluted 1+19. A little foggy but nice.

That TXP and Verichrome Pan should work great.

 

[pgomena]

I tested for a friend a few rolls of FP4+ that expired in 1997. It had 1/3 stop extra base fog, but otherwise was fine.

Peter Gomena

 

[nworth]

I have some VP120 of about that age. It has been refrigerated for most of that time. I used a couple of rolls about a year ago, and they still worked, but a bit of fog was beginning to appear and the quality was not as good as when it was new. About time to toss them, but I still may shoot the last couple of rolls.

 

[epp]

It's now obvious that lots more older films are coming out fine. So can these develop-by dates be (more or less) taken with a grain of salt?

The Verichrome Pan film, I think, was one of the best B&W's that Kodak came out with. It's unfortunate that they discontinued it, it was one of their older films as well.

 

[toolbox]

There is no such thing as expired black and white film LOL. I shoot 20 year old stuff all the time in 120 with good results. I just shoot it at box speed. Oldest roll I've ever shot was just about a week ago actually...some Tri-X 320 that expired in 1976! I was two years old when it went out of date. I ran it through a Brownie Hawkeye. It worked better than I thought it would. It's definitely fogged, but I should be able to print from it I think. I just develop all this stuff in my usual divided D-76.

 

[epp]

I guess they shouldn't put dates on them, then.

After I shoot a few rolls, I'll find out how they were.

 

[epp]

I found a 12th roll of Efke 120 and (surprise!) one roll of Efke 127, so now I can use the 70-year old Kodak Baby Brownie Special again.