Which way would you develop 2001 expired Kodak T400CN 220 film?

[wordzenpix]

My reading suggests that B&W development leaves one with film that has typical silver grain, while C41 development removes the silver and replaces it with dye that is much more without grain.

As a longtime Tri-X fan, my earliest around 1970, I appreciate the characteristic look of grain when it doesn't resemble oatmeal. I've never seen an image from T400CN developed in C-41, so if anyone has one to post, I'd appreciate it. I'm a retired news photog and truly appreciate digital when it comes to shooting large events, something I did last night, but for contemplative photography, I'm really enjoying slow, thoughtful shooting with film, both 35mm and 120. I have a closet full of vintage cameras to exercise now and then.

 

[koraks]

Sounds like you'll fit right in; we're happy to have you!

 

[wordzenpix]

Sounds like you'll fit right in; we're happy to have you!

Thank you! I appreciate being able to scratch where the silver bug bit.

 

[cowanw]

here is t400cn in C-41

Lomography - Kodak T400 CN (35mm, 400 iso) User-Review

This is the ancestor of Kodak BW 400CN. This film is black and white, process-ready for C-41 chemicals but is already discontinued around 2003-2004. Perhaps having them are films already expired or used (good for doubles). One of my favorite B/W film!

www.lomography.com

Here is Ilford's XP2 in Flic Film Black, White & Green developer

An experiment with developing colour film in B&W chemistry – Beau Photo Supplies Inc.

www.beauphoto.com

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Some examples developed in C-41, EI=50. 35mm format. This film is long expired, so give it plenty of extra exposure.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/02/kodak-t400cn-film-in-greece-success.html

 

[Disconnekt]

I had a 35mm roll that had expired ~2004, I shot it at 200 & got it developed in C41 chems at a lab. To me the negs look ok:

 

[cowanw]

I just finished my 2014 stash last winter and shot it at box speed and developed at the lab. It was fine as well.

 

[loccdor]

Hey @wordzenpix , thanks for reply, I forgot about this thread from a year ago that I never followed up on. I'm glad your film worked well for you. Here is my result, I processed in C-41.

This is a narrower crop of a 6x4.5. In my particular film batch, it showed what I assume is oxidization near the edge, but the center was fine. I saw similar results from early 2000s 120 Ektachrome that I shot - brightening of the image towards the edge.

I suppose it's all down to storage. I have no idea how mine spent its life.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Hey @wordzenpix , thanks for reply, I forgot about this thread from a year ago that I never followed up on. I'm glad your film worked well for you. Here is my result, I processed in C-41.

View attachment 408726

This is a narrower crop of a 6x4.5. In my particular film batch, it showed what I assume is oxidization near the edge, but the center was fine. I saw similar results from early 2000s 120 Ektachrome that I shot - brightening of the image towards the edge.

I suppose it's all down to storage. I have no idea how mine spent its life.

In this example, I do not see any texture in the snow, at least as posted in this format.

 

[loccdor]

@Kodachromeguy A few factors must be going on there... flat overcast lighting conditions, 2000 pixel image with jpeg compression, the mentioned brightening of the edges, and the subsequent manipulation of the contrast curve to try to make the overall image look its best, which fails because the edge gradients require localized instead of global contrast adjustment. Exposure was correct - known good incident light meter and camera shutter. Both shadow and highlight detail look poor to me.

 

[wordzenpix]

Some examples developed in C-41, EI=50. 35mm format. This film is long expired, so give it plenty of extra exposure.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/02/kodak-t400cn-film-in-greece-success.html

Very nice, lovely gray scale. Clean, tight grain.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Very nice, lovely gray scale. Clean, tight grain.

Thank you. That roll looked great. But a subsequent roll that I used in eastern Washington was very thin. However, I think the processing lab may have made a major mistake on chemical concentration or timing.

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2025/09/2025-e-washington-road-trip-05-farms.html

I will try some Ilford XP2 soon.

 

[wordzenpix]

I'll try a local professional processor with C-41 on the next roll so I can compare. Hope it looks as good as yours.