Blues Dude

I recently found a stash of B&W and color slide film that's probably about 10+ years old. Is this film still viable? Or should I dump it and sell my Nikon DF?

BebuLamar

Many people use expired film. They tend to increase exposure. I have never used expired him so I don't know. However you can't use any film with the Nikon Df so why you have to sell it if you dump the film?

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I am not an expert, but from other similar threads, the film's viability would depend on its age and on the storage history. As to selling your Nikon, that hinges on your desire to keep it and the reasons whether to keep or dump it. If the camera is still functional and you want to try film photography, keep it and try out your old film. All decisions you can make by yourself. Think about what are your interests and go from there.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Depends on how the film has been stored. I try to buy expired film from people who claim to have kept it frozen, or a least always refrigerated. If it has been kept in cold storage, it should be good, with minor adjustments on your end. Even 'unstored' B&W should still be good (enough), with some adjustments on your end.

At 10-years for color, try adding +1 stop of exposure. So, for ISO-400, shoot at least as ISO-200, maybe even more. You can do this by overriding the DX code in the camera (400 to 200) or use Exposure Compensation (EC) against the meter. You might research how the film was being used when new. Lots of people shoot Kodak Portra 400 at +1 when fresh, so if that was your expired film, try at ISO-100, adding 1-stop for age, and 1-stop for general usage. When the film arrives to me, I keep it frozen, except for a few rolls I expect to shoot in the next 6-months. Those I keep in the fridge, letting frozen thaw for 2+ days in the fridge, and then 2+ hours at room temp before loading and shooting.

The B&W would be the same approach, maybe focused more on how the film is / was used fresh and a more modest addition for age. Consider maybe at the boxspeed +1/3 or +2/3 stop of more exposure, if the film tended to be shot at boxspeed when fresh.

Process the film at the boxspeed, regardless of how much over-exposure was added when shot.

BebuLamar

The Nikon Df that the OP has can not shoot any film. It's a digital camera.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Owning a photo lab we encountered expired film often.
Having said that, 10 years is pretty long. Especially if it was not stored in a controlled environment.
If you wanted to just experiment with one roll, that's what I would suggest but I would not try to use it for anything like family shots etc.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

p.s., I don't think you would find anywhere to get slide film developed. The last lab to do slides shutdown years ago.
Also, please do not just toss the film. It is hazardous waste because of its silver content. Try to find someone that refines silver or even if there is a lab that develops film. They can develop it to extract the silver content.

BebuLamar

Slide film with E6 process like Ektachrome and Fujichrome can still be processed. Only Kodachrome process K14m can not be processed.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Thanks for that info. I was not aware people were still developing it. But then again, I have been out of the industry for 7 years now.

Blues Dude

Sorry, I'm meant to say Nikon FM. I'm old and easily confused.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What film did you get / find? Someone sold or gave it to you? Or, something random / forgotten of your own?

BebuLamar

Oh OK thanks. If you decided to sell let me know.

Ekeeton

There's only one way to find out

MrPhotog

Not quite. The Kodachrome process no longer exists.

But the chemistry for E-6 compatible slide film is still produced by several companies. That basically is all the currently produced slide films, plus those that are 20 to 30 years outdated.

There are numerous labs in the US and around the world processing Ektachrome film, as well as Fujichrome, and the European color slide films.

Or, anyone can buy the chemistry and process this at home. A quart of chemistry is usually good for 8 rolls of 36 exposures.

Cinestill says you can get 16 rolls processed in their 1 liter kit.

https://cinestillfilm.com/products/cs6-creative-slide-3-bath-process-for-color-timing-chrome-reversal-and-e-6-compatible-film

B&H sells Arista E-6 chemistry for about the same price.

The hard part is finding the slide mounts at a reasonable price.

ELNikkor

The B&W will still be good, the color slide may have a color shift; won't know until you shoot a roll and process it. If scanned, you can adjust the color with software which is probably already on your computer. (Have it scanned at the time of processing!) I say, keep the FM, if only to shoot that B&W.