Testing a camera w/4 year old film.

waynecrider

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 8, 2003
Messages
2,580
Location
Georgia
Format
35mm
Going to test my new to me camera with 4 year old HP5+. Any reason to do a push?
Other option is 2015 Tmax. Both always in cold storage.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,319
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
Shoot away, box speed (or 1/3 to 1 stop below box speed, if that's your habit) and develop normally. Film that age (either 2018 or 2015) isn't old enough to worry about speed loss unless it's been badly stored.

Do, however, remember to let it warm to room temperature before opening the sealed package, either 35 mm film can or the plastic wrapper on 120.
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,273
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
No, that's not old and both will be fine. ISO 9002 compliance meant manufacturers had to reduce expiry times, it has more to do with stock rotation than anything else.

Ian
 

benjiboy

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,973
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
The four-year-old monochrome film will be fine at boxed speed Wayne, even if stored at room temperature.
 

Alan Edward Klein

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2017
Messages
9,543
Location
New Jersey formerly NYC
Format
Multi Format
I don't develop my own film but send it out. But if I was going to test a new camera, I would use a fresh roll of film. With old film, if it doesn't come out exactly right, you're gonna wonder whether the film itself being old might have caused an issue or the camera.

It's always a good idea to deal with a constant which means fresh film when testing something. It's not like you have to discard the old film. Just save it fir later when you know the camera is ok and you know if you have to make any adjustments to exposure to offset camera issues.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,411
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
No, and shoot box speed so that you are working with a known quantity. Shooting less than box speed will only yield information that the film transport system works, better to leave the camera on the shelf for another ten years.
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,758
Format
35mm
4 years old cold stored? That's some fresh stuff. I'm working through a stash from the early 90's!
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,232
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Use the film that you intend to use in the camera if it turns out to be working correctly.
If you bulk load film cassettes, use a shorter length.
 

Tel

Subscriber
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
976
Location
New Jersey
Format
Multi Format
RalphLambrecht said:
Those should be good films and I would expose and process them normally.
Click to expand...
Ditto that. I just shot a roll of Portra 160 NC that expired in 2008 (color, long since expired, mostly refrigerated). Shot at box speed and developed normally. Shots look good except for a slight green bias that was easily correctable in post. Films hold up better than you might expect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…