working with expired film

[TexasRancher]

I've been working with expired (2006) FP4 in Rodinal and have been generally pleased with the results. I do see a bit of base fog compared with new negs. Assuming I can get to a densitometer, how much base fog is too much? Or do I just print through whatever is there?
charlie

 

[cmacd123]

base fog reduces the available range from dark to light. you can compensate in printing by using slightly harder paper, but you will never recover the full range compared to fresh film. Mind you, you seldom NEED to use the full range.

SO my answer would be if you are satisfied with the results you are getting, there is no real Maximum acceptable fog level.

If on the other hand you are finding your shadow detail is AWOL, the base density would be the first place to suspect.

 

[removedacct1]

I've experimented with some moderately expired - to seriously expired films, and IMO they rarely have much to offer, other than compromised tonality, severely compromised speed (sometimes), and physical issues like horrible curl (Good luck getting it to flatten enough to put in a neg carrier/scanner!) and from what I've seen - acuity suffers, and grain structure can be horrible too (clumpy, ugly stuff).

The oldest film I tried out was last month, when a friend gave me some GAF Super Hypan 500 ASA, which was severely fogged, curled like an SOB and the speed was closer to 32 ASA, while still delivering grain characteristics of a very old stye 500 ASA film! I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for, but I can't say it is tempting me to do much with it. (Though I am grateful for the gift!)

 

[heespharm]

I've experimented with some moderately expired - to seriously expired films, and IMO they rarely have much to offer, other than compromised tonality, severely compromised speed (sometimes), and physical issues like horrible curl (Good luck getting it to flatten enough to put in a neg carrier/scanner!) and from what I've seen - acuity suffers, and grain structure can be horrible too (clumpy, ugly stuff).

The oldest film I tried out was last month, when a friend gave me some GAF Super Hypan 500 ASA, which was severely fogged, curled like an SOB and the speed was closer to 32 ASA, while still delivering grain characteristics of a very old stye 500 ASA film! I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for, but I can't say it is tempting me to do much with it. (Though I am grateful for the gift!)

I've found just the opposite... Expired black and white film that's been frozen behaves just like fresh film with maybe a smidge of base fog... But I've only worked with expired film that's 2-5 years off


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[removedacct1]

I've found just the opposite... Expired black and white film that's been frozen behaves just like fresh film with maybe a smidge of base fog... But I've only worked with expired film that's 2-5 years off

Well, I was talking about an experience using film that has been stored at room temperature and expired in May of 1968! That's not the same as using ten or fifteen year old film that has been kept in a freezer for the entire time. I simply wanted to point out that there's a limit to how much damage an old emulsion can take before it's not worth bothering with.

 

[heespharm]

Well, I was talking about an experience using film that has been stored at room temperature and expired in May of 1968! That's not the same as using ten or fifteen year old film that has been kept in a freezer for the entire time. I simply wanted to point out that there's a limit to how much damage an old emulsion can take before it's not worth bothering with.

Oh yeah when it's that old at room temp... 9/10 it's a goner


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[TexasRancher]

Let's have some feedback

Hello again,
Attached is a detail of a scan of a straight print of a neg of a film test on 2006 FP4 developed in Rodinal for 20 min with initial agitation and again at 10 min. The print was done @ grade 1.5 for 14 sec. I am trying to find out if this film can still be used. The dark patch at the middle of the print metered at zone 3 while the murky woods at bottom right metered at zone 4. Although they were murky to the eys, I don't like the way they print.
Any advice is helpful
charlie