Reclaiming outdated film: good news.

[df cardwell]

A few years ago, I took possession of a LOT of out of date 8x10 film: mainly Royal Pan, and some Plus X. I'll leave out the long-but-interesting story of how this came to be, but the film lived out it's offical life in a film cooler, and then became mine.

And it went straight to my freezer. Life being what it is, I haven't had a chance to get at it for... a long time. I set out the oldest box last night, and today made an exposure to a calibrated step wedge and dropped it into the HC110 tank, my developer of convenience.

No fog, and a reasonable EI of 200 for Royal Pan. Amazing.

I expect the film won't like being out of the cold for long... but that is just a feeling.

I'll try a couple different developers tomorrow.

Moral: out date film can be bad or good, give it a try.

NB The bump at Zone IV is a an accurate representation of the step wedge, a bit lower than ideal.

 

[Ole]

Great!

There's hope, then, for my one dozen Perutz Peromnia 13x18cm glass plates

 

[Mark Layne]

Worst I've encountered with well stored old film is a little fog.
Mark

 

[df cardwell]

Congratulations! I'm glad it worked out for you. I hate to see film go to waste. Now go into the field and make proper use of your treasure.

Jay

Yes Sir !

.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I've used kodak pack film that had expired in '72 with excellent results..
Unfortunately a full 250sht. box of 11x14 Kodabrome didn't fare as well (I think it was stored in fluctuating temperatures... hot and cold, for about 12 years..)

Glad it worked for you!