What does time do to BW film?

mark · Apr 19, 2011

I was about to chuck some outdated film that has been stored in a closet and got to thinking about it. I have no idea what happens to BW film as it ages. I know color film gets some funky colors but no clue about BW.

Does it just fog? Is the fogging even or does it work its way in from the edges? What about exposed film that is left in the holder for like years?

Jim Noel · Apr 19, 2011

The film will fog over time. The more variance in temperature the more it seems to fog. Fogging begins at the edges ans works its way in. It may also lose a little speed which may or may not be noticeable to most users.
Best to take a sheet, or a roll, expose it and develop it. If you are lucky, the problems will be insignificant.

GRHazelton · Apr 19, 2011

I seem to recall that benzotriazole, often called anti fog, is useful for outdated paper. It might work for old film. Jim Noel's suggestion is a good one, you could develop a snipped 1/2 roll, if no fog, great, if fog, add benzo to the developer and try that.

bwrules · Apr 19, 2011

fog and speed loss. the slower the film, the less fog it gets over time. very slow film ages very well.

c6h6o3 · Apr 19, 2011

Tabular grain films don't hold up as well over time as traditional formulations.

mark · Apr 19, 2011

What do you mean tabular grain? Why don't they hold up as well?

Vaughn · Apr 19, 2011

What does time do to BW film?

Click to expand...

It get better and much more fun to use.

One can toss it is the camera and just expose it without worrying about nuthin. Make images one normally would not make. Then if the first roll (or sheet) ends up being unfogged -- then one can be more cautious with the rest!

Out-dated Tech Pan (holds up well) -- expired in 1976, maybe 1979, I forget. Not cold stored. Used in 2009 or 2010. Diana camera. Scanned carbon print...my three boys on an boiler of an old ship wreck. North Jetty, Humboldt Bay, CA.

Just used this image in my show that is now up -- on my artist statement. Show title -- An Area of Refuge

Vaughn

chriscrawfordphoto · Apr 19, 2011

mark said:
What do you mean tabular grain? Why don't they hold up as well?

T-Grain films are Kodak Tmax and Ilford Delta films. They use flat grains of silver rather than cubic shaped ones. Makes the pictures have finer grain. They don't go bad any faster than normal films, with the exception of the 3200 speed versions, but all high speed films have short shelf life.

c6h6o3 · Apr 20, 2011

chriscrawfordphoto said:
T-Grain films are Kodak Tmax and Ilford Delta films. They use flat grains of silver rather than cubic shaped ones. Makes the pictures have finer grain. They don't go bad any faster than normal films, with the exception of the 3200 speed versions, but all high speed films have short shelf life.

My Tri-X seems to have held up a lot better than TMY.

Wade D · Apr 21, 2011

I'm using up some old Plus-X 120 that expired in 1987. The only thing I had to do was reduce the ISO to 50 as the film lost some speed. Very little fog to worry about.
The film was in the back of a desk drawer for all those years so there was no temperature control at all. Of course results vary so load a roll and see what happens.

hpulley · Apr 21, 2011

I often shoot old Verichrome Pan and Pan-X, 1959-1985 expired. I still rate it at box speed and find that works fine. I like to develop it in HC-110 1+31 at low temperature for low fog. 120/620 rolls can be fogged, especially the first few frames if not tightly rolled and have backing paper marking shadows if not well kept but 126 cartridges seem particularly good at keeping the film with it protected by both plastic AND backing paper. Sometimes the tape is dried out on 120/620 rolls and you need to retape it or the film will come off the backing paper. With 35mm that old I sometimes worry that the film may get stuck together but so far I haven't actually found that to happen.

pgomena · Apr 21, 2011

I recently tested some FP4+ that expired 10 years ago. It was frozen the entire time. There was 1/3 stop of extra density due to fog compared to a new roll. Speed appeared to be close to normal for that film. I told the friend I tested it for to just shoot it.

Peter Gomena

What does time do to BW film?

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