Unused film in a camera - use or discard?

yusuf · Apr 25, 2019

I have been not shooting films for some time, over 2 years. However, for my next trip, I decided to take only the film cameras.

Now I noticed that one of my cameras is already loaded with Fuji CA-36 film with just two frames used. Since the camera was lying unused for over 2 years in my dry cabinet, just wondering, should I use this film or load a new film (Ektar 100 - expired but stored in the cold storage).

Thanks

Sirius Glass · Apr 25, 2019

Shoot and develop the film.

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Kevin Caulfield · Apr 26, 2019

What Sirius said.

railwayman3 · Apr 26, 2019

Definitely use and process the film, it will almost certainly be fine. (The expiry date of fresh film is often up to 2 to 3 years ahead, so your film might be only slightly outdated even now.)

koraks · Apr 26, 2019

It depends. Some cameras are not perfectly light tight which may not show up over a period of a few weeks, but it can result in issues over the course of a few years. You may in any case note slight variations in density and color across the roll. If want to be absolutely sure of the results, obviously use a new roll. If it's just non-critical snapshots you're planning to do, you could consider taking the small risk.

Agulliver · Apr 28, 2019

That's Fujicolor 200, right? Chances are you won't notice any difference compared to fresh film. At the very worst, given the conditions you describe, there will be slight colour shift which any decent processing lab can sort out when they make prints or you can sort out when you make prints yourself or scan yourself. Go ahead and use it.

Born2Late · Apr 28, 2019

Shoot and develop; you have little to lose.

Unused film in a camera - use or discard?

yusuf

Sirius Glass

Kevin Caulfield

railwayman3

koraks

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Agulliver

Born2Late

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