Should we use expired film or it's garbage ?

[Paul Howell]

This is true! I have a cache of Panatomic-X in 35mm and a roll or two of it in 120. I can't say that it's "better than" TMX, but it certainly has a nice look to it.

Tmax 100 has finer grain and higher resolution than PanX, but contrast is different, I find Tmax 100 in MCM 100 comes close to Tmax in D76 stock, still not PanX.

 

[MattKing]

120 backing paper issues arose for Kodak in a recent timeframe.

I have to disagree with this.
There have always been issues with wrapper offset and other backing paper related problems. What has changed from time to time over the more than 100 years that 120 film has been around is the frequency of occurrence and, most likely, the public nature of reports.
The most recent spate of Kodak problems may have been more extreme than most, but they weren't the first occurrence by any means with Kodak products. And other manufacturers like Ilford/Harman have also had issues.
There is something that is only barely compatible with rolling up tightly a printed strip of paper and a strip of film substrate coated with an emulsion designed to be sensitive to tiny amounts of light.

 

[Maris]

I have used heavily expired film for speculative and possibly expressive effects. Here is an example:

Past Imperfect #7
Gelatin-silver photograph on Ultrafine Silver Eagle VC FB photographic paper, image size 16.4cm X 21.3cm, from a 4x5 Tri-X Pan Professional negative
exposed in a Tachihara 45GF double extension field view camera fitted with a home-made 150mm f4 Wollaston Meniscus soft-focus lens and a #25 red filter.

My photographer friend died after a long long illness and some of his equipment passed into my hands.
There were many film holders that he had loaded with Tri-X fifteen years previously but could not expose.
The film had corroded through the passage of years but I took it to those places where we had previously walked with our cameras.
I tried to make this Past Imperfect exposure as a kind of meditation on time and loss.

 

[abruzzi]

Most of the expired film in my freezer wasn’t expired when I bought it…

 

[Bill Burk]

I have to disagree with this.
There have always been issues with wrapper offset and other backing paper related problems.

I meant Kodak. I’m aware backing paper issues have been around forever. Not quite opaque, mottling, etc. I think that Kodak's old paper was always the standard to compare against, and I could be wrong it’s just a feeling. That few years though were no fun at all.

 

[MattKing]

I meant Kodak as well .
But I agree about Kodak's old paper.
Particularly when in combination with the old Kodak distribution systems!

 

[Pioneer]

I have used heavily expired film for speculative and possibly expressive effects. Here is an example:

Past Imperfect #7
Gelatin-silver photograph on Ultrafine Silver Eagle VC FB photographic paper, image size 16.4cm X 21.3cm, from a 4x5 Tri-X Pan Professional negative
exposed in a Tachihara 45GF double extension field view camera fitted with a home-made 150mm f4 Wollaston Meniscus soft-focus lens and a #25 red filter.

My photographer friend died after a long long illness and some of his equipment passed into my hands.
There were many film holders that he had loaded with Tri-X fifteen years previously but could not expose.
The film had corroded through the passage of years but I took it to those places where we had previously walked with our cameras.
I tried to make this Past Imperfect exposure as a kind of meditation on time and loss.

I like this Maris. I think it is a great way to honor a friend. Thanks for posting.

 

[Chuck1]

I have used heavily expired film for speculative and possibly expressive effects. Here is an example:

Past Imperfect #7
Gelatin-silver photograph on Ultrafine Silver Eagle VC FB photographic paper, image size 16.4cm X 21.3cm, from a 4x5 Tri-X Pan Professional negative
exposed in a Tachihara 45GF double extension field view camera fitted with a home-made 150mm f4 Wollaston Meniscus soft-focus lens and a #25 red filter.

My photographer friend died after a long long illness and some of his equipment passed into my hands.
There were many film holders that he had loaded with Tri-X fifteen years previously but could not expose.
The film had corroded through the passage of years but I took it to those places where we had previously walked with our cameras.
I tried to make this Past Imperfect exposure as a kind of meditation on time and loss.

I'd call that magical

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Film or paper; if the price is right it can save $$
The purchase of a lot of darkroom equipment , last year, gave me a bulk loader with over half a roll of Tri X which was not fogged.
This year another lot gave me a full 100 ft roll of Kodak TMax 100 which is in the freezer awaiting inspection.
With todays price of darkroom film and paper the amateur has to consider all possible savings.