What's the oldest film you've used?

[Scott --]

Hey, everyone -

Ok, this is complete fluff, but after receiving some old film today, I exposed a couple 4x5 sheets of use-before-02/1963-vintage Ansco Super Hypan. I gave it an EI of 250, somewhat arbitrarily. Developed in HC-110, dil B, 7 min @ 20C, also somewhat arbitrarily. Surprisingly, the film worked, and (to my eye) worked well. Click for a big version:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/ansco00.jpg (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/ansco00a.jpg)

Originally thinking I'd likely sell off the Ansco, and all the rest of it, as collector's stuff on eBay, I'm thinking now I'll have to try some of the 5x7 Ansco Triple S Pan 200. Did I mention this stuff was all stored in an attic? :p

So, just out of curiosity, what's the oldest film you ever used with some success?

Scott

[mark e mark]

Kodax Tri X 120, October 1971, taken and processed Feb this year. Being rolled up film was like a spring and did the coating no good at all. Processed for 15-20% more than recommend, but came out OK (but over developed). I suggeset normal processing or 10% more. Negs had emussion flaking off. Box they were stored in had mould on it, and Hey... I still have 5 rolls to go (but not for best).

[Scott --]

Actually, I fibbed - this shot was wide open on the old old Tessar, f/4.5 at 1/10. EI 250 would've been f/11 at 1/10. What's that make it, EI 80 or so?

[David A. Goldfarb]

I posted some samples from some 1950s 2x3" pack film in this thread--

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum37/4925-royal-pan-other-experiments-film-archaeology.html

[FRED COLE]

I still have two twenty roll packages of 120 PANATOMIC X AND SEVEN ROLLS BEYOND
THAT. A few months ago I developed a roll for quality also in Kodak HC-110 for 8 minutes
1:63 68 degrees F. The prints were first rate showing great sharpness and tonal range.
The film base is very thin making it easy to produce half moons however.

FRED

[Mark Sawyer]

I have five 16-sheet 4x5 Tri-X film packs, still in unopened boxes and frozen since new, sitting in my freezer, all marked "develop before May, 1976". Don't know what I'll do with them, maybe when they hit fifty... (hmmm, wonder what year they were made...)

[John Curran]

Although not LF, I shot and processed 5 rolls of 6 year old (refrigerated) velvia in 35mm with no problems.

[Glenn Thoreson]

I am currently running a roll of 616 Verichome Pan from 1963 through an Ansco Flash Clipper. I have one 2X3 Tri-X film pack left, ca. 1971, I think.

[Toyon]

I've used some 1972 vintage frozen panatomic-X that developed beautifully.

[65Galaxie]

2001 Fuji NHG11 800 speed ran as 400 speed. On Speed Graphic, 135 Optar and 6x9 back. Scanned with my Epson 2450.

[Diane Maher]

Mar 1977 4x5 Kodak High Speed Infrared. Did some a few years ago and did some more this past weekend. We'll see how it comes out. Haven't developed it yet.

[Robert Hughes]

WW2 era Dupont 16mm negative. Completely fogged, except for one (?) frame. D'ya suppose it was shooting a nuculear blast?

[PViapiano]

Mar 1977 4x5 Kodak High Speed Infrared. Did some a few years ago and did some more this past weekend. We'll see how it comes out. Haven't developed it yet.

Diane...let us know how it turns out! I'm curious...

[Turner Reich]

That's really too bad, all the work you must have gone though just to have it not turn out. When I went to the thread on the site it said web site not found.:eek: :eek: :eek:

[Donald Qualls]

I've *processed* a fair amount of old film, some going back to the 1950s. The oldest I've *shot* was a roll of Verichrome Pan 620 that had expired in the early 1970s, shot about two years ago (so close to 30 years out of date when used). Unfortunately, having spent that 30 years in a leather camera case in an attic, it had lots of fog, unevenly distributed (seemingly most prevalent where the roll had been against the leather, and never mind the 1970s vintage foil pouch), and had lost one or two stops of speed.

[Chris Strobel]

Nice image Scott


Hey, everyone -

Ok, this is complete fluff, but after receiving some old film today, I exposed a couple 4x5 sheets of use-before-02/1963-vintage Ansco Super Hypan. I gave it an EI of 250, somewhat arbitrarily. Developed in HC-110, dil B, 7 min @ 20C, also somewhat arbitrarily. Surprisingly, the film worked, and (to my eye) worked well. Click for a big version:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/ansco00.jpg (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/ansco00a.jpg)

Originally thinking I'd likely sell off the Ansco, and all the rest of it, as collector's stuff on eBay, I'm thinking now I'll have to try some of the 5x7 Ansco Triple S Pan 200. Did I mention this stuff was all stored in an attic? :p

So, just out of curiosity, what's the oldest film you ever used with some success?

Scott

[copake_ham]

That's really too bad, all the work you must have gone though just to have it not turn out. When I went to the thread on the site it said web site not found.:eek: :eek: :eek:

FYI - APUG site is undergoing maintenance. It's taking much longer than expected. Went down at 2AM CDT for what was supposed to be an hour....

[Ole Tjugen]

Perutz "Peromnia" glass plates, expired 1951. Foggy, but still usable. :)

[Olivander]

I have a couple boxes of Defender XF Pan 4x5 from 1948 that I've shot several sheets of. Only a couple have turned out at all usuable. The quality is gradually improving as I get deeper into the box.

I've shot a couple rolls of 1961-1964 Verichrome Pan 127, and a couple rolls of 1975 Kodacolor II 120 which all came out nicely. A 1952 box of Kenmore 116 awaits in the fridge.

[eddie]

i gave a box of kodak 125 in 5X7 (i do not have a 5x7) that was expired 32 years ago! came out perfect. correct speed, the photos looked great.

personally i have shot 18 year old tri x and about the same vintage ilford 125 both in 4x5. it was stored in an out side garage in the attic! as for color film i usually use E6 and C41 as far back as 10 years. the color film that came out of that same attice was no good::(((.

all this talk of old film is going to make it more difficult for me to get all this girted film.....ssssshhhhhh!

eddie

[jcoldslabs]

Just found this thread. The oldest I've shot with successfully is Gevaert Ultra Panchro that expired 1944. Here's the box:


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/5x7-Gevaert-01.jpg



And an image taken earlier this year:

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/5x7-Gevaert-%2744-Glass-v3.jpg

Jonathan

[Jim Noel]

Kodak Super XX, Use by December 1948.