Question for the film buffs out there
Apr 18, 2020 08:38:06 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
not for unrefrigerated... about 20 or more years back I had 6 spools of Kodak Plus-X that had been accidentally stored for 20+ years. They worked, for all I could tell, as good as if they were yesterday. Also had a couple of spools of Kodachrome that were stored a similar time... colours became more vivid.
Dik
Dik
Apr 18, 2020 10:33:57 #
B&W has a long life, I've seen people find rolls in cameras that was decades old. But I'm not sure about the sensitivity of the silver salts after all those years, I just know that once set with an image that image holds for years waiting to develop with little deterioration.
Apr 18, 2020 11:00:35 #
burkphoto wrote:
Scanning or copying with a macro lens will provide a great digital image, especially when converted to positive by the Lightroom Classic plug-in, Negative Lab Pro.
Good to know! I usually order the scans and prints when I get film developed today. I like the prints. And I have found that when I give them to people, they love them!
Apr 18, 2020 11:38:55 #
nadelewitz wrote:
Can anyone speak authoritatively about using 20+ y... (show quote)
20 years? I would only use it, if it was stored in a freezer!
Apr 18, 2020 11:43:33 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
wmurnahan wrote:
I just know that once set with an image that image holds for years waiting to develop with little deterioration.
Actually, the reverse is true. See the link I posted earlier.
Apr 18, 2020 11:53:45 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
burkphoto wrote:
I stored a 20 roll brick of 135 Ektachrome 400 for ten years in my studio freezer. When I finally used it, it was ruined. Same happened with a 5-pack of Portra 400 frozen for three years.
If it had been stored below 0° F at less than 60% humidity, it should have been good.
Apr 18, 2020 11:57:51 #
Carl1024
Loc: Kaneohe, HI 96744
I'm looking 4 a printer that prints 4x6 & 5x7. My Envy 4520 , prints only 8X10?
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Apr 18, 2020 12:49:33 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
twowindsbear wrote:
The definitive answer is a resounding 'maybe.' br ... (show quote)
I am not new to processing B&W film. I was an extensive film photographer, both in professional capacity and with home darkrooms, until 25-30 years ago. Gave it up when I no longer had a home I could fit a darkroom into, and digital started the demise of film.
Over a few years I have accumulated film processing gear, just waiting until the right time came along to use it. It's driven by wanting to see how well the cameras in my collection actually work, shutter and metering-wise. I have the ability to now have a "digital darkroom", having been given a Canon flatbed scanner with film-scanning capability. So I can do B&W printing, not just looking at negatives.
I may even get some creatively-good stuff to hang on my walls!
Apr 18, 2020 12:53:30 #
RWR wrote:
If it had been stored below 0° F at less than 60% humidity, it should have been good.
Not much water vapor (humidity) can exist in the air at 0 F.
Apr 18, 2020 12:55:51 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Bill's procedures are the best way to go, however, aside from curiosity I do know if all that work is worth the effort. If the fog level is as high as what I suspect, I wouldn't advise using that film on anything important. Fresh black and white films are readily available as is a selection of compatible chemistry. The old film might yield a unique special effect- only experimentation will tell.
The value of the effort is whatever I want it to be. I want to have fun re-engaging in what was an enjoyable, fun hobby years ago. Not striving for any particular results, so disappointment is not an issue.
Apr 18, 2020 13:02:52 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
JD750 wrote:
How was it stored?
It's been collected from peoples' cleanouts of their old stored-away film photography stuff, same way I acquired most of my camera collection.
So, no idea how any of the film and chemicals have spent the last decade(s). If it's in original packaging it's worth playing with to me. I have already bought new chemicals to use after seeing what the old stuff does.
Apr 18, 2020 13:05:59 #
nadelewitz wrote:
It's been collected from peoples' cleanouts of their old stored-away film photography stuff, same way I acquired most of my camera collection.
So, no idea how any of the film and chemicals have spent the last decade(s). If it's in original packaging it's worth playing with to me. I have already bought new chemicals to use after seeing what the old stuff does.
So, no idea how any of the film and chemicals have spent the last decade(s). If it's in original packaging it's worth playing with to me. I have already bought new chemicals to use after seeing what the old stuff does.
Ok so you have a lot of replies as to what to expect then. Let us know how it works out! Please post results here.
Apr 18, 2020 13:09:02 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
billnikon wrote:
In 1985 I developed and printed a roll of film for my father-in-law that was taken in 1955 and was stored in his humid basement for 30 years. It turned out to be shots of my wife's first communion. They came out fine. B&W film has a lot more latitude than color slide or neg. film.
You have nothing to loose except for the cost of developing and printing. GO FOR IT.
You have nothing to loose except for the cost of developing and printing. GO FOR IT.
Nice answer. That's EXACTLY what I'm doing! This is all FOR FUN! The whole rationale is that I don't need a darkroom to develop film, or even a darkened place to get the film from cassettes into developing tanks, having finally come across a brand-new-looking changing bag.
I'm renewing a HOBBY!
Apr 18, 2020 13:16:04 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
speters wrote:
20 years? I would only use it, if it was stored in a freezer!
Goodness. Not even worth trying it out? This is for fun.
There are those who would say that you should not even USE old (and after all, how old is too old?) collectible cameras for fear of them breaking.
Don't people collect and USE all sorts of history? Cars? Radios? Airplanes? Books?
Apr 18, 2020 13:19:28 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
JD750 wrote:
Ok so you have a lot of replies as to what to expect then. Let us know how it works out! Please post results here.
I know. I was looking for general impressions from people who have DONE it and got a lot more than I bargained for.
We'll see what happens. Good or bad results, I'll have fun doing it.
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