Opinions on this Fuji Astia 100

[Rich Ullsmith]

Expired in 2003, but I know as fact it has been either refrigerated or frozen for all but one year of its life (came from a photo store fridge, then I froze it.)

I understand the sensitivity of transparency films to age . . .but might this box have any hope? It's a bit expensive and time consuming to run tests, if somebody could opine on this.

Additionally, if I were to shoot this, would it be safe to assume at least 1 stop speed loss?

Thanks for any wisdom up front, check back in the p.m. P.S. this is a box of 20 4X5 quickloads if that makes any difference.

 

[heterolysis]

I saw someone on twitter had shot some 220 recently (expired 2005?) and it still looked great. Just make sure your chemicals aren't as old as the film and hopefully it will turn out okay

 

[railwayman3]

I've quite a stock of Astia 35mm and 120 in the freezer and use a few films from time-to-time....dates are around 2004-2008 and, so far, it comes out just fine.

 

[wy2l]

Please explain why one would expose this film stored in a freezer for a long period of time with "at least 1 stop speed loss"?

 

[Roger Cole]

If it's really been cold stored I'll bet it's fine.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

This is good to hear. Therefore I shall give it a blow.

To explain maybe why there might be lost speed with frozen/refrigerated film, well there was one unavoidable year spent in a closet in a south facing room. I don't expect it to be perfect, in fact I hope it is not! Just wanted to make sure it was still (possibly) a viable material.

 

[Roger Cole]

I have some expired in 2005 I believe, cold stored since bought according to the guy I bought it from on eBay though I've no way to know for sure before I got it (and except for shipping of course) and frozen by me since the day I got it in a big box of mixed 120 and 220 film. It's been a couple of years since I shot a roll of the Astia but it was perfect.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The problem with Astia is that it tended to sell slower than the other Fujichromes, so might have been a bit old when it was purchased to begin with. No way to be sure except to shoot some and process it. The problem with outdated chrome film in general is that once you thaw it out, it needs to all be used up sooner than fresh film or there might be risk of accruing symptoms, which in the case of Astia tends to be a bit of highlight crossover and general tendency to blaah. Good luck.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

Ah, it was never purchased from the photostore fridge, which is where it was since they took delivery years ago. They gave it to me free as it was expired (and I buy lots of their used consignment crap I don't need, so they are nice to me.)

I'm taking a road trip next week, and I plan on shooting six frames just to see. If I get more than a rorschach (sp?) blot, I will consider it productive. Thanks everybody.