djamkaarat

Does anyone here have any experience with LONG since expired Polaroid 4x5 type 52 in the Polaroid 545 back?
Not looking for perfect. Stuff I'm considering expired in 1978.
Thanks!

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I would think that would depend a lot on how it'd been stored. Was it refrigerated?

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Shoot some and let us know.

ELNikkor

Way back a friend shot some that was 2 years expired. All the whites were magenta.

djamkaarat

I'm considering black and white 'roid film. Did your friend shoot color?

djamkaarat

I'm trying to determine that.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

Go for it. It should still be good. I have used old film like this in the past and it was okay.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You will get something, but I bet it won't be what you want. Let us know how it turns out.

MrPhotog

The problem with old Polaroid films is that the developing agents dry out, or coagulate in their pods, over time.

After exposure you pull a paper tab to remove the exposed (paper-based) film, the paper on which the image will be deposited, and a pod of chemicals which seals these two parts together, develops the image on the negative and transfers some of that image to the receiving paper.

The ‘goop’ in that pod of chemicals is caustic and can cause the pod to crack or leak. When air gets to it it will dry and become useless. If the pod is still in a pristine state, the chemicals inside may be less chemically active, resulting in darker pictures from under-developed negatives, or the goop may have thickened enough that it does not spread evenly and reach the entire surface of the film/paper sandwich.

Refrigeration and freezing keeps the sensitized emulsion from declining with age, but doesn’t always help the aging process of the developing agents.

Each pod is independent, so a pack might have one bad pod, or only 1 good one.

The only real answer is to shoot until you get a good picture or run out of film.

Before you get to using that film, be sure to clean all the old junk off of Both of the steel rollers inside the camera. Warm water on a cotton swab usually does the trick. Alcohol will dissolve any major residue. Should the film pack be viable it would be a shame to have junk on the rollers mess up the developing.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

I would guess that you have nothing. I once used a lot of that film and found it had a very short shelf life. As someone else said, the chemicals dry out, among others things. If you actually have it, rip one open, see what it looks like inside. If what is supposed to be liquid is powder or goop, chuck it. I wouldn't put it in any holder until I checked one out.
...Cam

twowindsbear

Do you have a Polaroid 545 back and an appropriate camera?

How much are you considering paying for this film?

If your answers are 'yes, yes, and less than pocket change' then go for it! I see nothing to loose but some time.

On the other hand, if you have to spend money on this project. . . I'll suggest avoiding it the way I'm avoiding this plague.

Good luck! Post your results

Bob Werre

A few years ago I let loose of all my large format stuff, but somehow forgot to sell my Polaroid 8 x 10 processor. Not sure what to do with it now--probably just junk. However, I did buy some outdated color film and it produced some nice images, but it has a distinctive Polaroid look! I used it mostly to show the client what I was getting--sometimes they liked the Polaroid better than the final Fuji chromes. If you do some research, you an get into emulsion transfer. this where you remove the emulsion from the roid and transfer it to some art paper. I tried it and did okay but nothing is hanging in a gallery either!

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

If you own a Polaroid 8X10 processor you have gold. Contact the Impossible Project People, they will buy it from you as they still make the old 8X10 film.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Polaroid film does not keep well after the sealed envelop has been breached. Polaroid in the sealed envelope last a long time regardless of refrigeration. I have used 10 year out of date materials. I was a Creative Use Consultant (CUC) with Polaroid.