Old film?

[Rob Ruttan]

It's getting harder and harder where I live to get hold of 120 film, either in colour or B&W. Most of what's on ebay is old. So, how much does 'out of date' really matter? What do people consider to be the limits of using such film?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[Mark Mellen]

Depending on how it was taken care of "stored". If maintained it will last for many years beyond the expiration date. If not maintained it will normally last @ least the expiration date. I order most of my film through B&H and Calumet and have it delivered either overnight or 2nd day then store it cold until it gets used. Some people are not as fincky with film and film storage so you may get many responses that very. I have shot really old film that has not been stored properly with no problems, Just relize that is a gamble you take when doing this!
The trouble with private sellers on Ebay and such there is no way to be sure this has been done, no different when buying expired film from a dealer as well. How important is it is subjective.
One would hate to know they are at a location making a Photograph of a lifetime and have doubts with ones film.What would be worse is making of a photograph of a lifetime and the film was no good. Why would someone take such risk with such an important part of Photography.

 

[Anscojohn]

If you can receive film from shippers selling via ebay, you should be able to do so as well from Freestyle. Why not try buying 120 film from them?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

As long as its kept well, no prob. But I mail order all my film from B&H. Even with S/H its less expensive than my local shops (when they stocked it). I feel your pain, bro.

 

[fschifano]

I'll second what's already been written about ebay film. It's too much of a crap shoot, and the prices this old film fetches on the auction site are not bargain basement numbers in many cases. B&H, Adorama, Freestyle, and a couple of other reputable vendors are out there with selling fresh product at good if not bargain prices. Shop around and you'll see there are good values to be had. If you are interested in saving a buck on black and white film, there is Freestyle with their Arista.EDU Ultra line and PhotoWarehouse with their Ultrafine line. Arista.EDU Ultra films in 120 are all rebadged FOMA films, and I'm told, though I can't confirm that Ultrafine 120 films are the same. I've done business with both firms and have always been satisfied. Order enough to make the shipping charges worthwhile and store what you won't use quickly in the refrigerator.

 

[kevs]

Hi Rob,

Where are you located? If in the UK, you can mail-order via the internet through Silverprint in London (see APUG ad as they're an advertiser here), Retro Photographic, Jessops etc. You can even buy through Amazon.

If that doesn't help, Google is your friend.

As for E-Bay, unless you want unique film like Kodak Infrared, I wouldn't bother. Film is often good for months or years after its best-by date, but that depends on storage. As the others have said, it's too much of a risk, you can't see how it's been stored and you'll probably waste your money.

OTOH, shop rummage bins can be a useful way of buying out of date film, and it's nearly always been refrigerated. And rummaging is fun.

What do i consider the limit in shooting 120? Well, if and when it's no longer available, i'll have no choice but to stop using it. But i can't see that happening for a while. 35mm was supposed to have killed off roll film in the 1960's.

When the cost becomes prohibitive - maybe i'll stop, but i didn't pay all that money for my gear just to gather dust.

 

[Mark Antony]

Why not buy though the internet? There are dozens of good internet film sellers some selling 120 film at £1 or less a roll (in date)
I'm in the UK so use Retro photographic, Silverprint and 7 day shop.com the latter have Ilford B&W from £1.60 and Fuji colour for about £2 a roll.
In the US try Freestyle.
Mark

 

[Mattjcuk]

Hi,

I recently went into a local photographic shop to get some 120 film but he didn't have any in but what he did have was 2 rolls of Kodak Portra 160vc film, one had expired in 2004 and the other in 2002, he said that they had been kept in the bottom of his camera bag and he kindly gave them to me free of charge. Both rolls developed fine, there was nothing wrong with the negatives or prints at all.

Thanks

Matt

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Yeah, I've been down the I'll order it for ya road. Man, it's supply and demand as far as film photography. And that is why the shops that are sticking with film are closing up hand over fist. Less people out there to demand their supply and we few are not enough in most instances. We oughtta set up an APUG online film supply shop. Film, consign cameras, etc. If no one else can supply what we need we oughtta do it ourselves.

 

[canuhead]

You're not too far from Toronto so if you drive, maybe sacrifice a day to head down and do a supply run. There's Henrys in the Steeles/ Yonge area or if you're brave, head downtown to camera row. Alternatively, order it over the phone and have it delivered. Sucks if you want to support the local shop but the pickings are slim.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Sacrifice a day? Take the camera. ROAD TRIP WITH THE CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[canuhead]

or as Jay Maisel put it, "If you always have your camera with you, you'll never have to go out shooting."

 

[Brac]

Getting back to the original question, as many people have said on here in the past, black & white film can be perfectly fine years after its expiry date. I'm happy to use it 10 -15 years past expiry except for the very high speed stuff which is liable to fogging, loss of speed etc. But colour is more problematical, if its been stored in reasonable conditions maybe 2 or 3 years past the date, but I personally would draw the line at about 5 years. Certainly if you're photographing something unrepeatable it would be unwise to use old colour film.

 

[railwayman3]

Just to add my own 0.02$.

With anything like reasonable storage, film doesn't go bad, obviously, on the day after its expiry date! The manufacturers just guarantee that it's still perfect then, and doubtless allow some leeway for less-than-ideal storage.

My own stock of film is bought fresh, kept in the fridge or freezer and I use it confidently without too much attention to the expiry date, certainly up to 4or 5 years after.

Having said that, I'd not usually buy OOD film, unless it were something unusual to experiment with. For general photography, I always feel that the extra cost of fresh film is small compared with the cost of holidays, fuel, travel, etc., for picture taking. And, of course, the hidden cost of time and frustration if the old film proves a false economy!

 

[Snapshot]

I've used B&W film that was over 3 years out-of-date stored under normal conditions (room temperature in the original box) with no discernible impact. However, storage conditions and other factors may increase or decrease this tolerance. Personally, if the film is moderately out-of-date (1 year or less) and stored under normal conditions, I wouldn't worry too much.