Should you buy Expired Film?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2024
- Expired film is a rare commodity these days and the price certainly reflects that, however is it worth buying? This is a deep(ish) dive into some consumer advice to hopefully help you make that decision for yourself.
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I make one exception for >2004 Fuji Pro 400H, as long as each roll is
You should not buy expired film. You should allow the person who failed to shoot the film before it expired to wallow in their shame.
Great topic for discussion. Can't say I agree on not buying expired film though, I think there are a few factors consider such as... 1) Your location as this could affect prices. Here in the UK I'm still finding good deals, a lot cheaper than new film. 2) Worth the cost if you are specifically going after that look, and... 3) The fun of not knowing what you're going to get. I recently picked up some 1998 Agfa Agfacolor HDC 200 and it's probably been stored like crap but I'm super excited to see how it turns out, that's the game we play! Anyway, loved this video man! Keep it up.
I just shot some sketchy agfacolor and adore how it came out!
I love shooting the expired film I’ve accumulated since 2020 when I discovered what it was all about. There are good and bad examples of all types. Yes, the way it was stored is key to the image quality today. I use it for the creative fun of it (supposedly photography is sometimes about creativity, right?), and to learn about all the different varieties of film they produced back in the day. It’s a rewarding learning experience you can’t get with the limited types of film today. I say, always leave a little room in your film budget and try a roll of expired film now and then. You will learn a lot. 👨🎓
A few weeks ago I was touring King Island, think North Western Tasmania, Bass Strait, roaring 40s etc. I carried with me my loyal Canon AE1+P loaded with 15+ year old Fuji Superia 400. The end results were grainy with an "art-like" character. Clouds were rendered most interestingly. Having now had this experience I would employ exposure compensation when using future 15+ year old film stocks if light was dull-ish.
My first trip to Scotland I took only expired film and even shot some 10 year old Provia at box speed that surprisingly turned out great, I’d love to check out Tasmania and see if I can find some Tigers but so stoked to hear it came out alright for you!
A few weeks ago I got 3 packs of Fujifilm Superia 200 (expired between 2002 and 2005) from a flea market for 15 CHF (roughly 15 USD). I figured it was worth the risk, even not being sure about storage conditions. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to shoot at least one roll and develop it before the end of the month... At 6 EUR for development and scanning is still marginally acceptable, I reckon. Anyway, let's see what the film fates have reserved for me 😅. BTW, I also find the occasional roll of expired film on bought cameras... Have a white label Fujifilm 200 expired one waiting to be (batch) developed also, not so sure about the expiration date though, but somewhere between 15 - 20 years. Can't wait to see how they turn out!
I bought a roll of kodachrome for the singular purpose of deving it myself in b&w to say I did it.
I've had really good results with a specific camera store's rebranded superia, but I'm gonna keep that to myself because the prices are low due to not many people knowing that thats what it is
The most expired film I bought is some month out of date fomapan lmao. I've considered buying some expired colour negative, no older than 10 years past expiry since that seems to be the range where it's cheaper and not more expensive than fresh film but I've already got a mountain of film to shoot so that comes first.
Funny, I can't remember the last time I shot anything that wasn't expired. One of my favorite films is Fujifilm C200. Hard to come by now a days, but they used to sell a 4 pack of 24 exposure rolls. I find that even stored in room temp, you can shoot them at 200, and they come out perfectly. I will note that, I don't buy anything that's 10 years + expired. They run about $15 (for a 4 pack). They're great for testing cameras and when you don't want to shoot 36 exposures.
It all depends on how imaginative and experimental your minds eye really is. Expired film never bothered me. I just knew it’d come out experimental and the chemicals would be unevenly spread during development. But that’s just me, personally.
I've got a few rolls of expired film but there is no way I'd pay the extortionate prices for it.
I got a roll of expired lomo colour 100 thrown in with my recent Olypmus trip 35 purchase!
I'll end up buying it occasionally when the price is right and give it a go, but only if it's a type of stock you can't find anymore.
For all that's still being made, I'd say a hard pass.
I also end up buying old cameras and often they come with film... So being freebies so to speak I end up checking them out.
Helps having a friend that develops and scans them in 24mpx for about 10 USD a roll
Great info! One question - I found an ancient roll of 120 Tri-X (exposed) in a recently purchased vintage Agfa folding camera that itself was about 70+ years old. So I am guessing the latent images on the film are at least 60, and more likely 70+ years old; judging both from the style of the camera and the green/yellow label of the film wrapper, with the text which looks like Little Orphan Annie cartoon font. Any ideas about how much extra time in the developer to rescue these old images? I have XTOL, Rodinal, D-76, etc. ... not sure if any one type would offer a safer alternative.
you could try stand developing with rodinal 1+100
Decently priced expired film seems to have vanished here on ebay. Locally at estate sales and on facebook some stuff still appears.
Unrelated question:
Today I just picked up a Minolta XG1. What do you think of them? I kind of like them and think of them as an ME-super with a speed knob. Only issue is, the foam under the top cover seems to ruin the prism. I've had this happen to several of my XG-1's. Also, they work with my pile of SR/MC/MD lenses that I've been hoarding with all my SRTs.
I managed to acquire an expired (June 81) 5 x pack of Ilford HP5 in 220 format, 5 films all in the original carton. I contacted Ilford to ask about the history of this particular film by supplying them with what appeared to be a serial number; however, they weren't able to ascertain the exact history of this particular batch as the series of numbers didn't match a usable serial number but did mention that with the use by date the film was likely manufactured in 75 or 76. Recently I've been umming and arring about whether I should attempt to use the film and see what results I get. A quandary then entered my mind, do I maintain the film as it is, stored in the fridge and keep it as an 'historic document' or do I use the film, seeing what results I get and in doing so lose the historic legacy that the unused film could have?
Market for any kind of decent expired film options seems to be pretty much dried up at this point. I was buying mostly lots of Vericolor III in 120 when I could find them for under 12 dollars a roll, but the supply for it is trickling now. It's cheaper for me to just buy fresh Gold 200 and Lomo 400 and 800 now.
NFW. Prices are ridiculous and new fim is actually cheaper but I've noticed that expired film is not selling on ebay as it once did so maybe sellers will wise up
Expired film has always been a cruel mistress to me. Pretty much agree 100% with everything you've articulated. Great video mate.
I like to take the gamble on expired film. Sometimes its shit sometimes its great. Although I never pay more than 5 bucks for an expired roll and of course it sucks when good picturs get ruined because you came across an especially badly stored roll.
I only shoot B/W, and had mixed experience: Slow speed (ISO 100 and below), zero issue even after decades.
ISO 400 film (Orwo NP27 or HP5 non-plus): Not good. Lost so much sensitivity that it effectively became ISO 25-50 and 100 film respectively, the Orwo is ultra grainy and the HP5 produces very flat negatives.
As a general rule, I don't buy expired film if it costs more than ~70% of the cheapest modern one per roll (meaning 2€ for 135, 3€ for 120). Some of the prices really are just pants-on-head stupid, I've seen bulk rolls go for the same or double the price of a fresh roll.
I also made the mistake of buying old Polaroid film, don't bother. A whole box of pack film, all still in foil, were all dried up and unusable, I also found something for the Image/Spectra system expired 2008, also unusable. Instax fared much, much better, the lot with the same expiry date I got only dropped from ISO 800 to ISO 560 and still produces nice results.
Well, when where you live kodak gold goes for and equivalent of 30$ usd and ektar 100 for 42$ solaris is the only thing you can shoot (goes for 9$ to 10$ usd) or ECN-2 film (15$ usd). Even B&W is expensive, kentmere 400 goes for 18$, ilford pan 100 for 22$ and HP5 for 27$!
I shoot lots of expired film but I bought it all new and it has been frozen in my dedicated freezer since new. Shoots like new. However I would not buy expired film from anyone you don’t really trust about the storage. Why go to all the effort involved in shooting film to just rubbish back because the film stock is bad. Take more care with each shot and use good film. You are not learning anything about exposure by using inconsistent stock.
I still shoot a ton of expired film but not like I used to. The economics have changed gone are the days of finding a 100ft of hp5 or whatever for 20 bucks. I've totally stopped buying expired color films. 10 years ago, there was a ton of ex pros trying to get it out of their freezers and those days are also gone.
I hope you enjoy the remaining expired film you have on hand. All the best.
No. Err, except 220 CN with the intent of using it for B&W.
brother i got some kodak gold 200 that expired in 2004, that costco pack. film is film for me. my budget doesnt match my ambition
Prefer new film than rolling the dice with shifting dyes.
I've got a roll of Kodak 400 TMax, it's probably only about 20 years expired, I'm gonna try it and you can't stop me. PS: Check your email :)
Only if its cheaper than new.
Exactly 😎
Best expired film is free expired film. Or like it's in the pockets of a camera bag that you buy. Also I've had some success with expired slide film by cross processing it in C-41 chemicals. It's not a guarantee, but I think it can save some really aged slide film stocks that people aren't aware of the condition.