When is out of date actually out of date

[skellum]

Ian, I have seen a colour shift in expired film.
Some while back I experimented with colour in 5X4.
Sheet Velvia was quite pricey, and I bought a box of "expired but well stored" Velvia 50. It was a couple of years past its use-by date, and every sheet had a slight magenta cast.
God knows how it had really been stored.

My own personal rule for colour is that if it matters, I buy fresh film. I do have some out of date 135 Velvia I'd happily shoot tomorrow for fun, in the knowledge that if it was colour shifted I'd be disappointed, but wouldn't let anyone else down.

ps- 5x4 colour transparencies are stunning!

[vincent]

My reservation with using out of date film is that on the occasion that your camera is loaded with it you come across the most extraordinary scene or event. And your film fails to perform.

[photomi7ch]

I have always under stood that it is a best before date meaning you will t get the results the manufacturer would expect and beyond this time your results may not conform to that expectation. A type of limit on the manufactures liability.

Surely the use of the term "expiry date" is a misnomer in that it suggests it is dead as a parrot When in truth it has a lot of life left and just sleeping:

[Rob Archer]

I often use film a year or so beyond it's expiry date. I find faster film (e.g. HP5+) is fine up to a year over if it's been stored OK. Slower film can still be fine 5 years over if it's been kept in the fridge. I've just been given some rolls of PanF+ that expired in May 2011. I ran a test film, expecting the dreaded 'blotchiness' that this film can sometimes exhibit but no, it was absolutely fine. I tend to use paper stocks up quickly as I don't but too much at a time but I was given a couple of boxes of Agfa Record Rapid recently. I don't think that's been made for at least 25 years and it was still good, with no sign of fogging. OTOH the same person gave me a box of Kentmere Art Classic that's fogged to death - it still lith prints beautifully though! As others have said, if it's important use fresh materials (particularly film) but don't dismiss old stuff out-of-hand.

[Terry S]

Originally Posted by Rob Archer

...I was given a couple of boxes of Agfa Record Rapid recently. I don't think that's been made for at least 25 years and it was still good, with no sign of fogging. OTOH the same person gave me a box of Kentmere Art Classic that's fogged to death - it still lith prints beautifully though!

Some good points there Rob, as I have smaller packets still of the Agfa paper that I've been meaning to use 'when the right picture comes along...'

Good to hear that the Kentmere Art is still usable as well. I only used once or twice in college in the early 80's and loved it, but never thought that it would eventually disappear. If I had known, I think I would have bought a LARGE amount to store away. And if there's a wish list, I think this would be in my top papers to bring back.

And I too have been given a LOT of boxes of various papers when I bought a slot washer off of someone locally, who's turned to the other side. All of the papers were of various ages, and only one box turned out to be unusable (a box of Jessops 7 x 5 glossy, in a box of 250, with about 50 sheets left when given to me). This wall all well fogged, but that's been finished now for a while.

Terry S