Do you buy out of date film?

[SamReeves]

Outdated film is an excellent value. As others have said throw it in the freezer and you're good to go.

[John Kasaian]

Depends.

I wouldn't buy color unless it was very recently out of date and I'd be shooting it very soon. I've got lots of dated b&w in the freezer, but I bought the stuff already frozen and it is a format I can't otherwise get (5" and 9-1/2" aero roll film) All my 120 B&W film is either dated or soon will be but it is obsolete anyway (Kodak VP) and I still have a stash of privately labelled APX 100 that is dated. I use the stuff and have no issues whatever.

For serious shoots I'd feel more comfortable with fresh film. As a pilot I was trained to always stack the deck in my favor and there are plenty of things to go wrong on a photo shoot so why add the possibility of something else to worry about?

[Glenn Thoreson]

Do I buy out of date film? Always. Refrigerate it, or freeze for longer term storage. It will last a long time.

[Ted Harris]

BTW, for the OP .... there are three "flavors" of Velvia; Velvia 50, Velvia 100 and Velvia 100F. They are very different films. All the raves you hear about Velvia are directed toward the Velvia 50 which is largely the same as the original Velvia. Velvia 100 doesn't perform quite the same although it is a nice film. I think you will find that Velvia 100F has may fewer admirers than the other two flavors. The film for sale on eBay is Velvia 100F. I wouldn't buy it. YMMV.

[Michael Kadillak]

The important variable in this discussion are the conditions that the film has been stored. If it has been refrigerated (and optimally frozen) that is the best of all situations. Many times you have to accept a persons word for this condition but I find most folks that claim that the film has been stored cold are stating fact because most of us store film this way.

While we know that higher ASA films are more susceptible to gamma radiation, a reasonable amount of B+F can be easily dealt with. Plus, in can be deal with in B&W quite easily.

Personally I would rather use outdated Ilford or Kodak than fresh Efke as the compromise of dealing with the possibility of additional density over erratic quality control is not even a close contest.

Cheers!

[rippo]

i don't think i've ever bought sheet film new! i always buy it used. wait...i bought some 2x3 Arista.edu Ultra new. but that's about it.

i happen to live within 30 minutes of a major photo college, so there are always students looking to unload 4x5 film after their first year. but i've bought ebay film too. just depends on the price. basically, i don't pay more than 50% of the new price, including shipping. never pay more than you can afford to throw in the trash without crying too much.

i've got more slide film than i'll use in a few years, and not enough b/w film to keep me going. i should do a swap with someone...

[davidb]

I'm about to shoot some Agfapan 100 that I was given.

It expired in 1987.

[Jim Becia]

I am new to lf and not a professional. Funds are limited and so I am considering buying out of date film from Ebay. I see 50 sheets of Velvia for $35, film that expired in the midde of 2007. Seems that it should be okay even if kept at room temp.
lThe guy has 20 boxes available.
Anyway, I was wondering if anybody here regularly buys out of date film.

I have been buying out of date color film for years without ever having a problem. I stick it in the freezer. I am shooting some E100VS that expired in 2001 without any problem. Got the film for about $15 for a box of 50 so I loaded up with as much as I could afford at the time. As for the Velvia 100F, I personally find it to be fine. I probably have 50 or so boxes of the cut and quickload film in the freezer. If your ultimate result is a print, I find the 100F a little less contrasty than the Velvia 50 or 100 in some images. As for the color pallette, that can be adjusted in printing. Try a box or two and see if you like it. I personally think it is a fine film. And with the new Velvia films going for 2 or 3 times the price, it's a nice value. Jim

[coops]

Thanks for the responses, I feel a lot better about buying out of date film now. But two questions:
1: If film is purchased to be used in a few weeks, is it worth freezing, or should it be frozed regardless?
2: How long after removing from the freezer can it be used?

Thanks again

[SamReeves]

Thanks for the responses, I feel a lot better about buying out of date film now. But two questions:
1: If film is purchased to be used in a few weeks, is it worth freezing, or should it be frozed regardless?
2: How long after removing from the freezer can it be used?

Thanks again

Usually a box will be thawed out in three to four hours at room temperature.