Out of date film....

antihero

antihero

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Paul
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...forgive the maybe naive question...

I got given some studio gear from a friend of mine and have just discovered half a dozen rolls of XP2 at the bottom of the bag. They haven't been in the fridge or freezer but have been kept in cool conditions, but they are nigh on 3 years past the date on the box.

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to film, but would I be right in thinking that it will still be ok to use but may yield more grain? and would it be advisable to set the speed of the film to around 200 rather than the rated 400?

go easy!

thanks

Paul
 
Paul, No such thing as a niaive question in my book. Out of date film can be difficult to predict and I wouldn't use out of date film for a really crucial shoot but all that said I have never had any issues with out of date film myself. I shoot a lot of it, mostly bought from Ebay where there is no guarantee how it has been stored what ever the seller might say. The two shots below are from two different rolls of the Kodak equivalent of XP2 5 and 6 years out of date respectively. Neither had any history of its storage before I bought it. I do fridge store once in my possession. I was pleased with the results, especially as I have a shed load of it! From a rating point of view I tend to stick with the original ISO although I know that some increase it by a stop or even two to compensate for any loss in sensitivity, never tried this myself. C41 monochrome films like XP2 and CN400 have pretty wide latitude in my experience, hence why I tend to stick with the films original rating.

Hope this helps.


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3 years out of date XP2, kept in reasonably cool (out of sunlight) conditions? I reckon you'll get away with shooting it at box speed and it'll probably only be slightly more grainy than fresh.

If the results come back from the lab and they aren't satisfactory, shoot the remaining rolls at maybe ISO320 or 200.
 
Just to echo what has been said:- The only problems I've had with OOD C41 (XP2 is also C41) films is from professional films that should have be used fresh and a "no name on neg" film bought at a bootsale for 10p. That said.... they all produced an image, the professional film was about 12 years OOD and just kept at UK room temperatures, and the problem was hard to correct colour shifts. And the 10p film just gave a poor quality print for colours.
AAMOI I have some Ilford B/W films 30 years old, stored at room temps that still give very good results.
 
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just been to my local Tesco and they've binned the processing station! ack...will try the other a few miles away! I was looking forward to the results!
 
antihero said:
just been to my local Tesco and they've binned the processing station! ack...will try the other a few miles away! I was looking forward to the results!
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That's sad to hear!

This might sound stupid but I wonder if it would be worth keeping a machine like this at home? If someone gave it to you for free would it be worth having to develop your C41/E6 film? (imagine space is not an issue)
 
Cezar said:
That's sad to hear!

This might sound stupid but I wonder if it would be worth keeping a machine like this at home? If someone gave it to you for free would it be worth having to develop your C41/E6 film? (imagine space is not an issue)
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:lol: i've got a big old garage...to be honest, it would probably be more trouble than it's worth!
 
antihero said:
just been to my local Tesco and they've binned the processing station! ack...will try the other a few miles away! I was looking forward to the results!
Click to expand...

Well I used to use Tesco when they dev films and CD while you shop :clap:, but now go to Asda :clap: ...Tesco changed to sending films away :razz: and dev was 99p and with CD £3, but you have to wait about a week ...dunno what the prices are now.
 
Two out of three local ASDAs now don't do on-site processing; I believe the 3rd does, but it's hard to get to. It's quite annoying! I've been using Max Spielmann instead recently...
 
ChrisR said:
Two out of three local ASDAs now don't do on-site processing; I believe the 3rd does, but it's hard to get to. It's quite annoying! I've been using Max Spielmann instead recently...
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Same problem for me as my convenient Asda stopped doing film and there is one left that is 10 miles away, h'mm time you add fuel costs :'( but in summer, cycle there for exercise or sometimes use my free bus pass and even that can take 2 hours there and back. But I just want my shots done straight away so if this Adsa stops will have to think about DIY and if I'm going to do that, will switch back to medium format.
 
It's probably fine. The longest out of date film I have used is Kodachrome dated 1986, used about three years ago. Always stored at room temperature.

It was fine and Kodak even honoured the twenty + year old process paid envelope.


Steve.
 
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