What would you do with a boatload of expired film?

[thedancefloor]

I bought a box of expired film recently. In it were approx. 200 rolls of 35mm film that included 40 rolls of Tri-x from 1984ish (lots of fog), 40 rolls of Ektachrome from 1984ish and 40 rolls of HP5 from the 90s. And a whole bunch of consumer kodak and fuji films. But there were some really awesome films too that I will keep and use. Those were original Ektar, all sorts of Ektapress, some high speed konica stuff and some panatomic-x.

I would use it all, but I don't like surprises. I've been giving it away to other photogs, and they've been pretty happy about it. What would you do with a huge box wildcards?

 

[Grainy]

About 7 or 8 years ago I threw away a bunch of expired film wich I had kept in the freezer, and still I regret it. Don't know why I did it. A couple of months ago I got a large box of several types of expired paper, and that I will keep.

So far I've used the paper for creative/alternative work, and I find it really funny.

With a huge box of wildcards I would use it for some creative work.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Make a big pinata and have a party?!?

ETA: I'd love some of the 1984 tri-x. Postage?

 

[removed account4]

i only shoot expired film.
process it ( even color ) in caffenol
with a tiny bit of print developer ( i use ansco 130 )
who cares if it is a little foggy ... the prints will probably
have more character than brand new film ...

have fun !
john

 

[tomalophicon]

What would i do with it?
USE IT! You'll regret it on your death bed if you don't...

 

[Rick A]

'F I had a boatload of ANY film, I would do the exact same as I do now, shoot, develope, print. Lather, rinse, repeat...

 

[guitstik]

Shoot, shoot and uh shoot. I shoot any film that I get my gready hands on.

 

[fstop]

Bonfire

 

[MDR]

jnanian can you point me to a few examples of photographs shot with expired film on your website

Thanks Dominik

 

[Pfiltz]

I'd shoot it, then try my hand at developing it. Just bought my first MF Camera, so I'm excited on learning to develop the film myself.

 

[bdial]

I got a few cases of expired Fuji color a few years ago. I gave away a bunch of it, both locally and through here, and I've used it otherwise for testing cameras and knocking around.

 

[removed account4]

jnanian can you point me to a few examples of photographs shot with expired film on your website

Thanks Dominik

hi dominik

if you go to jnanian.imagekind.com or nanianphoto.com
about 60-70% of the images in the galleries
were all done with expired film, both color and black / white.

it would be easier to list the ones that weren't because
they are the minority, but still it would be a lot of typing ...
i'm not trying to be elusive, or misleading, but i just don't want
to type ... and type ... and type ...



- john

 

[CGW]

Sell it on APUG.

 

[tomalophicon]

Sell it to a Pug...

 

[mopar_guy]

What would I do with a boatload of film?

If it was bulk, I would dust off my 250 film back and crank up my motor drive.

 

[kitanikon]

From 10-year old Fujicolor Press 800 for Professionals:

Daylight shot "correctly" exposed.....no post processing

Night shot SOOC....no post processing

From this experience I'd suggest taking one roll and shooting in daylight and at night to determine the effect of fogging...night shots didn't seem too badly affected by it...(I've got 30 36-exp rolls to play with...)

 

[aroth87]

I've got close to 100 rolls of expired B&W film right now. I've shot most of the FP4 (expired mid-80s) I had and if exposed around EI 64 it turned out pretty good. I had some Verichrome Pan that was completely fogged and some Pan F that came out clear. I'm working through a bunch of Tmax 100 and 400 (expired mid-90s) and a bunch of 120 Plus-X (expired late 80's) right now. If you've got a lot of it you can shoot a couple rolls and figure out what kind of condition its in and get pretty reliable results, otherwise do some experimenting you would otherwise not do if you had paid good money for the film (assuming you got it for free).

If you don't want to take a chance it looks like there are plenty of us that would gladly use it

Adam

 

[Bill Burk]

Shoot the Tri-X at 64 or 80 and expect fog. Shoot the Panatomic-X at 32 and expect good as new.
That's what my recent results have been.

 

[altim]

I'm kind of in the same boat, have a large usps mailing box full of expired rolls.. I know about half of it spent its life in a freezer, the rest who knows.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I bought a box of expired film recently. In it were approx. 200 rolls of 35mm film that included 40 rolls of Tri-x from 1984ish (lots of fog), 40 rolls of Ektachrome from 1984ish and 40 rolls of HP5 from the 90s. And a whole bunch of consumer kodak and fuji films. But there were some really awesome films too that I will keep and use. Those were original Ektar, all sorts of Ektapress, some high speed konica stuff and some panatomic-x.

I would use it all, but I don't like surprises. I've been giving it away to other photogs, and they've been pretty happy about it. What would you do with a huge box wildcards?

I would use it. Learn how the Tri-X works, and then shoot all of it.... Start with the oldest. Stick the rest in the freezer.

Often you can print right through the fog and make some pretty fabulous prints from it. In my early days of photography I had to bargain-hunt a lot, because I couldn't afford to buy new film. I'm just as happy printing those negs as I am newer ones.

Whatever you do, don't let it go to waste.

- Thomas

 

[thedancefloor]

Ok this is good. I'm glad to hear that I can print through the fog. Thanks for the responses!

I just might stick some on the classifieds.

 

[mr. mohaupt]

DO WANT! I would totally help you shoot it up. I love expired film too. Recently acquired 5 rolls of Ektrachrome SW 97 Vintage... Yummy, it looks great too

~M

 

[BradS]

When my grandfather died, we found piles of film stashed all throughout the house. Ten rolls in a dresser drawer, a box of fourty or so in a closet corner...etc. There were over 150 rolls of film in all. Almost all of it Tri-X. Dates were 1973 - 1996. None of this film ever saw the inside of the fridge and his house in rural Wisconsin wasn't even air conditioned. All of the film landed in my hands. I shot it all and was very pleased with it. I laugh about people who insist that film will go bad if not kept in the freezer.

What would I do with a boat load of film? USE IT! and be happy.

 

[altim]

What kinds of issues do you have with expired film? Is the exposure just a bit wonky, or do the photos just not turn out at all? I would hate to lose a whole roll just because it was expired or mistreated.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Base fog increases, which decreases contrast, for better or worse. Usually prints will also be more grainy, also for better or worse.
Trying to understand just how much films will change is difficult at best. Environment matters, particularly temperature.