0
This topic is in the 2023 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2023Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
p.1 #1Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Or is he just laughing at you as you struggle to get any kind of recognizable image out of 30 year old rolls?
A really good friend of mine just graced me with about 40 rolls of finely aged film. I'm not saying they're old, but the developing instructions are written in hieroglyphics. I'm not saying they are old but the exposure instructions show woolly mammoths as the subject. I'm not saying they are old but the recommended lab is someplace in Pangea.
I will treat these with the utmost respect and hope my Leica M6 does not scratch them.
A really good friend of mine just graced me with about 40 rolls of finely aged film. I'm not saying they're old, but the developing instructions are written in hieroglyphics. I'm not saying they are old but the exposure instructions show woolly mammoths as the subject. I'm not saying they are old but the recommended lab is someplace in Pangea.
I will treat these with the utmost respect and hope my Leica M6 does not scratch them.
Nov 15, 2023 at 10:03 PM
p.1 #2Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
I recognize the Tri-X. I think ""Frasier" had just started it's first season.
Nov 15, 2023 at 10:41 PM
p.1 #3Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
I was gifted several times expired films by friends. My experience is a mixed bag here. None of the films I received were properly stored long-term in a fridge or freezer. I received a batch of them where the owner told me that they were sitting in an attic for almost 10 years. They were pretty much unusable at this point. I also had to toss a bunch of otherwise in theory very nice Kodak 120 and 220 color films. The rule of thumb to decrease ISO speed of given films by one stop for about every 10 years of storage at room temperature is from my experience very vague.
Good experience I made with some 10 years old Fujicolor 200 films and at least 20 years old Kodak Tri-X films.
In summary, expired films are a gamble. I would not use any of them for critical shots. Be prepared of failure if using films which were not properly stored.
Good experience I made with some 10 years old Fujicolor 200 films and at least 20 years old Kodak Tri-X films.
In summary, expired films are a gamble. I would not use any of them for critical shots. Be prepared of failure if using films which were not properly stored.
Nov 16, 2023 at 07:26 AM
p.1 #4Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
I just got a few rolls of FP3/4 and Panatomic-X that expired in 1972. My understanding is that slower film stays good for longer. But still, there is risk, and so I always argue for buying 2+ rolls so you can characterize one before deciding on how to use the others.
Nov 16, 2023 at 10:14 AM
p.1 #5Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
If the M6 scratches them it will go well with the expired Lomo look.
Nov 16, 2023 at 10:28 AM
p.1 #6Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old film that as not seen heat. But after the 20 yr mark things become iffy no matter how it was stored.
As I have received multiple rolls of the same type, testing one of each would seem prudent. But as this stuff will just be used for fun, who needs prudent? I mean, if we were prudent we would be shooting digital.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old film that as not seen heat. But after the 20 yr mark things become iffy no matter how it was stored.
As I have received multiple rolls of the same type, testing one of each would seem prudent. But as this stuff will just be used for fun, who needs prudent? I mean, if we were prudent we would be shooting digital.
Nov 16, 2023 at 12:18 PM
p.1 #7Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Desmolicious wrote:
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old...Show more →
+1. If rolling 35 mm films, expired film can be tested with a few test frames in a camera by cutting a piece of the film inside a dark bag and rolling it into a Kalt cartridge which can then be inserted into the camera. This way you know quickly if the film is still worthwhile to be used and don't just take >36 exposures for nothing.
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old...Show more →
+1. If rolling 35 mm films, expired film can be tested with a few test frames in a camera by cutting a piece of the film inside a dark bag and rolling it into a Kalt cartridge which can then be inserted into the camera. This way you know quickly if the film is still worthwhile to be used and don't just take >36 exposures for nothing.
Nov 16, 2023 at 12:52 PM
p.1 #8Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
panos.v wrote:
If the M6 scratches them it will go well with the expired Lomo look.
The majority of new M6 cameras which had the faulty back issue causing film scratches will never see a film inside anyway. Most are used as collector items or might hit the market in a few years for maybe an even higher collectible price.
If the M6 scratches them it will go well with the expired Lomo look.
The majority of new M6 cameras which had the faulty back issue causing film scratches will never see a film inside anyway. Most are used as collector items or might hit the market in a few years for maybe an even higher collectible price.
Nov 16, 2023 at 12:55 PM
p.1 #9Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Desmolicious wrote:
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old...Show more →
Indeed! So how would you shoot it? Couple of stops over? Push in development? Just normal and hope for the best?
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old...Show more →
Indeed! So how would you shoot it? Couple of stops over? Push in development? Just normal and hope for the best?
Nov 16, 2023 at 02:47 PM
p.1 #10Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
panos.v wrote:
That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old film that as not seen heat. But after the 20 yr mark things become iffy no matter how it was stored.
As I have received multiple rolls of the same type, testing one of each would seem prudent. But as this stuff will just be used for fun, who needs prudent? I mean, if we were prudent we would be shooting digital.
Indeed! So how would you shoot it? Couple of stops over? Push in development? Just normal and hope for the best?
Just shoot one sample from each group normally and see how it looks. Then adjust if possible for the rest.
Desmolicious wrote
Of course this thread is tongue in cheek, as my buddy could have made a killing selling this stuff on ebay! But he was nice enough to send it to me.That internet conventional wisdom of adding 1 stop exposure for every 10 years is just some made up BS that somehow got traction. Age matters, but more importantly is heat. Heat is the big killer, or big "look at my artsy results!" enabler. And both aging and heat can basically increase fogging. No amount of extra exposure is going to bring that back.
But I have had excellent results with old film that as not seen heat. But after the 20 yr mark things become iffy no matter how it was stored.
As I have received multiple rolls of the same type, testing one of each would seem prudent. But as this stuff will just be used for fun, who needs prudent? I mean, if we were prudent we would be shooting digital.
Just shoot one sample from each group normally and see how it looks. Then adjust if possible for the rest.
Nov 16, 2023 at 03:07 PM
p.1 #12Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
That Ektapress 200 is from 2003. Twenty years old. And it was half shot before I got it! Of course the natural assumption is after you shoot film you should process it immediately as the latent image starts to fade.
Well, I guess that is going to be put to the test here! Process immediately, or wait 20 years? What could possibly go wrong?
And yes, I shot the remaining 16 images on it so we can compare 20 year old captures vs 2 day old captures on the same 20 year old roll of film.
Well, I guess that is going to be put to the test here! Process immediately, or wait 20 years? What could possibly go wrong?
And yes, I shot the remaining 16 images on it so we can compare 20 year old captures vs 2 day old captures on the same 20 year old roll of film.
Nov 17, 2023 at 07:18 PM
p.1 #13Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
I would be surprised if the tri-X went bad or fogged. The glove boxes in my car were stuffed with the stuff baking in summer heat, and also freezing winters. I never knew which were the freshest rolls - just grabbed some and shot.
Desmolicious wrote:
This is getting developed today.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53337095523_f1acb6d395_c.jpg
And loaded a 30 yr old roll of TriX and will see how the Trioplan handles that nonsense.
Rating it at iso 400. Worse case scenario, I should get 'art' out of it...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53335987067_6a437c3f75_c.jpg
Desmolicious wrote:
This is getting developed today.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53337095523_f1acb6d395_c.jpg
And loaded a 30 yr old roll of TriX and will see how the Trioplan handles that nonsense.
Rating it at iso 400. Worse case scenario, I should get 'art' out of it...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53335987067_6a437c3f75_c.jpg
Nov 18, 2023 at 03:23 PM
p.1 #14Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
James Markus wrote:
I would be surprised if the tri-X went bad or fogged. The glove boxes in my car were stuffed with the stuff baking in summer heat, and also freezing winters. I never knew which were the freshest rolls - just grabbed some and shot.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53337095523_f1acb6d395_c.jpg
And loaded a 30 yr old roll of TriX and will see how the Trioplan handles that nonsense.
Rating it at iso 400. Worse case scenario, I should get 'art' out of it...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53335987067_6a437c3f75_c.jpg
Yeah but add 30 years of aging to that!
I would be surprised if the tri-X went bad or fogged. The glove boxes in my car were stuffed with the stuff baking in summer heat, and also freezing winters. I never knew which were the freshest rolls - just grabbed some and shot.
Desmolicious wrote
This is getting developed today.https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53337095523_f1acb6d395_c.jpg
And loaded a 30 yr old roll of TriX and will see how the Trioplan handles that nonsense.
Rating it at iso 400. Worse case scenario, I should get 'art' out of it...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53335987067_6a437c3f75_c.jpg
Yeah but add 30 years of aging to that!
Nov 18, 2023 at 06:12 PM
p.1 #15Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Well, my first roll of FP3 from that lot that expired in 1972 came out looking like garbage. At least 1 stop slower than ISO 50, spots all over, something rust-colored in the film border, and the film even tore when I tried to remove the tape from the end of the roll. 
Finders crossed the FP4 and Panatomic-X from that same lot are better behaved but I won't hold my breath.
Finders crossed the FP4 and Panatomic-X from that same lot are better behaved but I won't hold my breath.
Nov 19, 2023 at 05:57 PM
p.1 #16Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Plus some films can't be developed any longer such as Kodachromes. They no longer make the chemical to develop them. They're too toxic to use so everyone stopped making the developer a long time ago. You can buy a box of old classic Kodakchrome that's expired long ago and put it on your shelf, but you'll never be able to develop it.
Dec 01, 2023 at 09:41 PM
p.1 #18Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
I built up a nice collection of films in my freezer. Lost interest in photography after I picked up a new hobby so gave it all away. Dozens of rolls each of Astia 100, Reala 100, 400H, NPS160, Natura 1600, and over 50 rolls each of Across 100 and Neopan 400 (135 and 120; 50 rolls each).
My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.
My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.
Dec 03, 2023 at 05:48 PM
p.1 #19Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
rattymouse wrote:
I built up a nice collection of films in my freezer. Lost interest in photography after I picked up a new hobby so gave it all away. Dozens of rolls each of Astia 100, Reala 100, 400H, NPS160, Natura 1600, and over 50 rolls each of Across 100 and Neopan 400 (135 and 120; 50 rolls each).
My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.
That's a shame. You can have multiple hobbies, for example I engage in film photography AND digital photography.
I built up a nice collection of films in my freezer. Lost interest in photography after I picked up a new hobby so gave it all away. Dozens of rolls each of Astia 100, Reala 100, 400H, NPS160, Natura 1600, and over 50 rolls each of Across 100 and Neopan 400 (135 and 120; 50 rolls each).
My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.
That's a shame. You can have multiple hobbies, for example I engage in film photography AND digital photography.
Dec 03, 2023 at 06:14 PM
p.1 #20Is a friend who gives you a bunch of old film really a friend?
Desmolicious wrote:
My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.That's a shame. You can have multiple hobbies, for example I engage in film photography AND digital photography.
My new hobby is collecting sports cars, so the money I used to spend on photography is going towards that.
My wife used to complain about my camera collecting habit. She now looks at that as "the good ol' days"
rattymouse wrote
I built up a nice collection of films in my freezer. Lost interest in photography after I picked up a new hobby so gave it all away. Dozens of rolls each of Astia 100, Reala 100, 400H, NPS160, Natura 1600, and over 50 rolls each of Across 100 and Neopan 400 (135 and 120; 50 rolls each).My friends were quite pleased to accept my stash.
My new hobby is collecting sports cars, so the money I used to spend on photography is going towards that.
My wife used to complain about my camera collecting habit. She now looks at that as "the good ol' days"
Dec 04, 2023 at 10:06 AM